Am I a Pilgrim? - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

In our last trip to Spain, we somehow strung together a series of cities along the Camino Francés (or French Way, in English) of Camino de Santiago (or Way of St. James, in English), Burgos being one of them. One thing leading to another, I found myself on a mental journey searching for the meaning of pilgrimage.

In my mind, it’s obvious when there’s a church involved, especially done with the safety of many others around you.

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Or, going it alone, even if it means taking a break from the group for the sake of clear air and clear mind, would cut it.

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If we stretch a little and take a liberal interpretation, standing afar and staring into the grandiose monument could provide much-needed enlightenment as well.

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Unfortunately, this belief system came to a halt when I read that a pilgrim is "always in danger of becoming a tourist" by the Christian priest Frank Fahey. He writes in Pilgrims or Tourists? “Pilgrimage … is more about the journey than the destination. This may seem a contradiction to a modern pilgrim who flies off to a distant shrine or holy city, eager to arrive there to see as much as possible”.

All of a sudden, the concept of pilgrimage seem more relevant to me. For someone that doesn’t tally up the number of countries visited and is silly enough to visit certain countries multiple times (what a waste) while skipping certain others, could she be a pilgrim in this life on earth?

As a practitioner of substance over form (thanks to the professional training in my “previous life”), I seem to agree that "a pilgrimage is a journey ... where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience." (per Wikipedia)

What do you think? Am I a pilgrim? Are you?

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It's fire, It's Good Fire at Setsubun in Japan - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

Don’t panic, this is not what you think and I can explain.

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Remember the last time I shared an experience where praying, burning and bean throwing is involved in Japan? Well, I thought I’d come back to finish what I started, the burning part.

As Setsubun signifies the beginning of a year (end of winter and beginning of spring), it’s customary for people to drive away the evils and wish for good luck for the coming year. Here at the UNESCO heritage site of Shimogamo-Jinja (下鴨神社), offerings and amulets are sent, along with the flames, to the great power above, in the chanting of priests.

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What other cultures/civilizations does fire have a significant role in rituals/ceremonies? Share in the Facebook box below so we can all learn.

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Wishing You Lots of Beans, Fortune Beans - Los Angeles Travel Photography

Many people in the world have just celebrated the beginning of yet another new year, Lunar New Year, that started yesterday. In Chinese, the word 春節 literally means Spring Festival.

While in Japan, we got to experience a different custom related to spring that traces back to the 8th Century in China, which involves praying, burning and bean-throwing. During Setsubun (節分), among many others, rituals are performed to drive away the evils and bad spirits.

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Traditionally, roasted soybeans (called "fortune beans" (福豆 fuku mame)) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing a demon (Oni in Japanese) mask, while people say "Demons out! Luck in!" (Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!) and slam the door. Then, as part of bringing in luck, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans in the number that corresponds to one’s age, and in some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one for bringing good luck for the year to come.

At Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines all over the country, Priests and invited guests will throw roasted soy beans (some wrapped in gold or silver foil), small envelopes with money, sweets, candies and other prizes. We had fun witnessing beans being thrown and the tactics used to catch them in the Shinto Shrine of Shimogamo-Jinja (下鴨神社). I mean, look at the “containers” they bring. One has to dream big to achieve big, I guess.

Every year, Setsubun occurs on the day before the beginning of spring, i.e., Risshun (立春). And coincidentally, this year, Risshun happens to be the day before Lunar New Year. So, whether it’s spring or Spring Festival that you are celebrating, I wish you lots of fortune beans. Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! :D

I reckon, I shall be back for the burning part later.

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