I'm going to start using
this prompt generator in order to write entries. The first prompt was 'How does religion affect your life?' I would time myself but as I am essentially writing half-blind right now (my eye got worse), I will ignore that.
'Religion' is a loaded word to many people and can conjure up images of strict and outdated beliefs. I think that I am more comfortable with the term 'faith'. But of course, not all religious people have faith, and not all people who have faith con sider themselves religious and so the words get pretty mixed up.
If you were to ask me 'are you religious?' I would probably say no, as I do not belong to any major World or Abrahamic religion. Instead I follow what could be described as folk beliefs and a mix of formal and informal practices taken from Shinto, Konkokyo, Buddhism, Druidry, Wicca and other paths. Above all, I would probably consider myself a Shinto-Pagan. Shinto is a complex one as it is not really considered a religion, even in Japan. It is more a set of old indigenous and imported beliefs based around the ancient peoples' understanding of the world and nature. Despite this, Shinto is still relevant today and especially with the spiritual and 'new age' renaissance.
So back to the question at hand. I'll use the word religion to describe my beliefs for the ease of this entry. Religion affects my life in a big way. I pray to kami or gods every single day, either formally or informally. I make offerings daily and do things in my gods' names. I caretake for various shrines in my room - two kamidana and a general/working altar. I celebrate the esbats, sabbats and holy days of each god. I make sure to uphold my personal morals and beliefs as much as I can and try to treat others as I want to be treated. On a day-to-day basis, I ask the gods and kami for their input into my weekly tarot readings from which I plan my week. I ask them for help with many things and carry jewellery and pouches made in their names. If I cannot sleep I will often lay awake in conversation with Loki, Inari or another entity.
I get a lot out of my relationship with the Divine. On a personal level I get empowerment, clarity and support through my life. I receive blessings of food, air, shelter and water every day from Kami-sama and I have the satisfaction that I am never alone, always having someone to talk with. On a wider level I can act as a medium between the Gods and a client, passing on information and guidance. I do not claim to be psychic or anything like that, but I do know that I have a very clear connection with Inari-Okami and various other deities, and I use that to help others.
Religion gives me structure to my day, my year and my life. I love observing the sabbats/holy days, the full and new moons. It really helps be appreciate each season more and helps me understand the changes going on around me. Druidry especially helps me connect with my local area and land on a much more spiritual level.
What I love the most about religion in general is how it is based on myths that span thousands of years, which have survived in one form or another to this day. Mythology is fascinating to me as it really acts as a snapshot of the time period the myths were formed - how our ancestors saw the world and how they attempted to explain it.
Despite the many negative aspects of religion, it still continues to be highly relevant and essential to many people across the world. My beliefs are absolutely a light in the dark, a powerful connection which can blast me out of any dark mood. And if I can't be gotten out of that dark mood? Well, Loki might just join me and we can simply bathe in it together.
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