[steamboatsam]

Originally Posted by TalnSG

In my case it raised more questions than it answered, but it can be very helpful.

So far, Its been the same same experience for me to, but it has been much more informative than some websites I've gone to already

Originally Posted by Nyororin

Kami are anything other than people, really. You can have, for example, the little "kami" of an object, the nature "kami" of a river, and the ancestral one. They`re all right.

Thanks for clearing that for me (Thank you to Steven) , but there just two more questions about kami.
1. How does an ancestor become a kami? Reading from the websites that bELyVIS and TalnSG put up, they are people who were considered of importance (like warheros that died in battle and those who sacrificed their lifes for the betterment of Japan), but if that is case wouldn't a janitor who cleaned a elementry school so the kids can learn in a safer enviroment be considred a kami when he/she passes away because he/she sacrificed his/her health to help the kids?

2. While reading on the website put up by TalnSG, it stated different that kami interact by temporarly connecting with a physical object, including humans. Is it possible for a kami to choose to reside in a single object permanently, and is the idea of kami temporarly possessing a person still thought true?

Originally Posted by steven

You might have seen it happen before or read about it, but Japanese people sometimes apologize to inanimate objects. They will also apologize to small bugs and stuff like that.

No, I have not read or ever heard of that. Don't be sorry for rambling, I like to ramble to and listen to ramblers (if it wasn't for it, I would have never learned about what you said) .

Originally Posted by steven

I've heard people say there are even kami for things like toilets.

Originally Posted by Nyororin

There are - there really is one for everything. Our local shrine has the god of pickling...

Well its always dangerous doing those things cause you never gonna know what will...WHHAAAAAAAAAT
Had to do the joke, sorry if I offended anyone

Originally Posted by Nyororin

It is interesting as a lot of people outside Japan will say this is silly, and that it`s unthinkable... But yet they talk to their car when it won`t start, or swear that their (insert inanimate object) only works when they praise it.

I never found it silly. I thought everybody did it? I always talk to Sophi, my car (yes, I named my car ), when I think something is wrong with her. I also to a moth when I'm throwing it out of the house. It is a little suprising that people do it because of shinto.

Originally Posted by steven

I love it! You always have the most insightful posts about this kind of thing.

Yes, yes she does

Originally Posted by steven

if you treat things nicely (animate and inanimate things) then things usually work out.

That is true in my personal experience.


Few more questions
1. I read that shinto priests and priestesses learn things like archery and swordsmanship. Is it because of ritual purposes, and if so, can someone name a few?

2. Is shinto priesthood hereditary (passes down from parent to child) or could anyone be a priest/priestess?

3. how does practicing shinto affect your day-to-day life? (sorry if this question is a little to personal)