Category Archives: Spiritual

Life In Japan: Shinto Monk Home Blessing

Posted on December 18, 2019 by johnrachel

How many of you folks can say they’ve had Shinto monks come by your house to bless your home, your life, and all of those in your immediate family? Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Festival of the Portable Shrines

Posted on October 24, 2019 by johnrachel

Every year during the third week in October we have a most unique and marvelous festival here called the Festival of the Portable Shrines, as the streets fill with colorful costumes, huge shrines either on wheels or being carried by the heartier men — many of whom are extremely inebriated on local sake — and visitors from all over who come to enjoy the festivities. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Shrines and Temples

Posted on February 18, 2019 by johnrachel

Houses of worship, i.e. temples and shrines, are everywhere here in Japan — even some Christian churches — but at a much more modest level of “everywhere” than the U.S. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Japanese Maples

Posted on November 27, 2018 by johnrachel

We make a point of going every year to Kumanoshingu Shrine for its spectacular Japanese Maple trees, which in November turn fire red, yellow, orange, brown, and every shade in between. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Persimmons

Posted on October 27, 2018 by johnrachel

Ever had a persimmon? You should try one! I’m glad I did. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: A Lost Wallet

Posted on October 22, 2018 by johnrachel

Every year in October, we have here in Sasayama — my hometown — the Festival of the Portable Shrines. It’s one of my favorites! An incident occurred during this year’s festival which speaks volumes about the people here and the general level of moral integrity. Continue reading →

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Book Review: “Healing the Land with Tao” by Gary Lindorff

Posted on June 11, 2018 by johnrachel

Intentionally or not, with his new book “Healing the Land with Tao”, Gary Lindorff has created a loosely structured operating manual for the soul. We’ll all get different messages and meanings. We will benefit to differing degrees. But if I could choose only one book to help break the chains of my mental and spiritual incarceration, it would be this book. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: The Nesting Tree

Posted on April 24, 2018 by johnrachel

Great egrets and gray herons must number in the hundreds here in Sasayama. They can be seen everywhere, along the riverbanks, in the rice fields, soaring high overhead above our rustic town. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: New Years

Posted on January 30, 2018 by johnrachel

Oh yes, what a wild time we had bringing in the New Year. Fasten your seat belts and savor the events which surrounded the onset of 2018 for us here in Japan. Continue reading →

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A Simple Straight-Forward Message for a Complex Convoluted Time

Posted on December 30, 2017 by johnrachel

This is about “Happy New Year”, my holiday greeting card to the world, a song I wrote three years ago, performed by my lovely and extremely talented wife and myself, here in my home studio in Japan. I believe it offers a simple straightforward message for a complex convoluted time. Continue reading →

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