Cleansing Our House of Spirits | Shinto Ceremony

Oharae, or harae/harai is a Shinto cleansing/purification ritual. We decided to have an Oharae done to cleanse the house of any angry or bad spirits (or ghosts), particularly with the all the noise and mess we were making in the house with the renovations.

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Sources
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Music
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Song: Waking Dream
Artist: Mandala Dreams

#japaneseculture #shinto #lifeinjapan

[rihopytsep]

Oh wow, didn't know carpenters and architects also took part in the ceremony, that's pretty cool.

[yondaimehokage]

I feel like whether you believe ghosts/spirits exists or not, it is respectful to the original owner of the house and the people who lived there before to perform a ritual like this. Good job!

[alexander]

If anything i'm sure your neighbors appreciated it. Good relations with your neighbors is worth it even if you don't believe your self.

[andrewjones-productions]

I think you were very wise to have this ceremony done. Especially so for those that will work on the house and for the Japanese side of the family. It also serves as an 'official' detachment with the past of the house and adds to the feeling that this house and land is now yours. I say that, even though I don't follow the Shinto religion, but having lived in Japan for the past 28 years, it often surprises me how much of the superstitions etc also affect me. They especially affect you when times are tough and you start wondering as to whether you should have done this or that at a particular juncture in time.

[Cabral_del_Norte]

This is educational to watch a Shinto cleansing ritual

[AlexBlindness]

Watching this was oddly calming and soothing. The house is looking really nice. Good fortune with the renovations to come.

[mattsoca]

I am visiting Japan on a long-term stay for about 15 months - it's the final bucket list item of things that I have wanted to accomplish. And I'm nearing the end of a 3 and 1/2 month stay in Kyoto. It has been a joy to walk the neighborhood where I have been living. One item I have especially noticed, has been the number of old homes being demolished, with new ones being quickly built in their place. On one such location, I noticed a two-story home being demolished with the typical scaffolding set-up and external typical tarp-like material attached to the outside (I understood it's done in Japan so as to prevent falling objects from harming people passing by, or damage to other non-related structures). The old building was quickly demolished, land completely cleared, then the scaffolding was removed. I happened to be walking by on a Saturday morning on my way to the gym, when I noticed chairs and what later turned out to be a small altar being arranged on the completely cleared property which I thought was rather curious.

Returning from the gym, I caught a Shinto ceremony being performed with the attendants dressed in formal "business" attire (except of course, for the priest who was in Shinto garb). In the ensuing week, the base foundation work began, with restoration of the scaffolding and outer coverings following thereafter, but I also recognized that at least some of the workmen were present at the previously held Shinto ceremony. Less than 3 months after the demolition, a new two-story home has just been completed (even with all the rain, extreme heat, and the remnants of a typhoon in Kyoto). Likewise, the other new homes in the area are in various stages of near or full completion, with new kindred projects appearing here and there.

The complete demolition and reconstruction process of the one home has been such an interesting visual experience. From the care taken throughout (such as hiring a suitably dressed elderly man to direct people and traffic safety when needed based on the demolition or construction work being performed), to the speed and apparently well-planned execution of the project itself. But the one thing that really stood out for me, was the respect afforded to the project itself, as well as those not directly involved (such as passing pedestrians, vehicles, etc.). Then again, this is Japan. It is a major reason why I keep revisiting this country time after time, always wanting to return, while feeling a nostalgic sadness upon leaving.

[harambeexpress]

Wow, you were able to get the carpenters and the architect to participate. Super respectful.

[tokyo_taxi]

How fascinating! What a privilege to have participated in such a ceremony.

[Jessica-kkcz]

"I accidentally poured the priest a pretty big shot. Coincidentally or not, he was very friendly and we had a good chat afterwards." LOL 😂🤣 You may be in Japan, but glad to see you brought and kept your Australian sense of humor!

[misacruzader]

I've been very moved by this video. Assimilating to Japanese culture is so important in making Japan your home. These traditions are about connection with the present and the past, and about respect for the culture and its history. What a beautiful way to ask to be welcomed to your new home.

[simonhadley]

This house must have been the talk of the town when it was built. It is absolutely gorgeous!

[coffeepot]

"Accidentally poured the priest a pretty big shot" This is comedy gold!.
All jokes aside this was interesting to watch, never seen the actual ritual that they perform.

[moonrose]

The house is beautiful the owner Rest In Peace is happy that someone nice bought his house he happy u clean it and u pay respect to him

[claylover]

Such a stunning house. Can't wait to see how you finish it. Out of curiosity, the friends who felt "something" in the house, I wonder if they feel that way anymore....

[elizabethtorres]

🍃I can assure you, that any ancestral spirits in the home, is quite proud of the love and respect you have given, to bring this home, it's restored beauty it deserves. Thank for sharing. Every culture has it's own way of cleansing and bringing in the humbleness and showing the utmost respect to it's past owners.🍃

[rolandaustria]

That was definitely mesmerizing. When we moved to Japan almost a decade ago, there was a demolition of an old house near our place. When the entire thing was just soil again, they built a small wooden shrine and did something like what the priest here did. A a couple months later, a new apartment was up.

[kimihikotsukagoshi]

First of all, you are so lucky! I studied architecture in Japan and you don't see this extravagant style in private residential homes anymore AT ALL!! Second, I am so glad you did the ceremony. I don't necessary believe in spirits or ghosts but the previous owner must have been very proud of the house, therefore must have been attached to it as well and everyone who cleaned up the house probably went thru a lot of emotions, like felt like you are invading into someone's space even tho you own it, cleaning out previous owner's personal items out of the house wondering about them etc. Doing this ceremony gives closure to everyone(including previous owner) and I hope it gave you refreshed feel, a new chapter. Good luck with the renovation!

[EraldoFilms]

Excellent my friend! A new fresh beginning for the house and the family's peace of mind. Whether we believe or not in ghosts is culturally necessary, in my opinion, to perform this ceremony. Not just for you and everyone working in the house, but also for the previous owner who deserves the respect. Congratulations!!! がんばってください

[clarisd]

I became emotional watching this, as my Great Grand Mother and her Tribe The Niitsitapi would have simular cleanings and blessings for the inhabitation of hand crafted Ti Pi, they were so individual in their art works and the structures while being the same, were also decorative on the inside. So in the handing down of such a structure their were ritual cleancing and blessings for a new life and adornments!