This 40 pages e-book gives an impression of some rituals of wishing I have encountered in Kyoto. At every block, on every corner of the streets, in every building, you will find a temple or shrine, or you can find small signs of Shinto attention. It is a daily practice to pay some attention.
There are many ways to express a wish. At a shrine, you can donate a few coins, pull the thick hemp rope twice and clap two times in your hands, bowing reverently. You can buy votive prayer plaques, wooden or paper slips, to write your wish. Or you can request a fortune telling. We see many ways to bring the wishes under the attention of the higher spirits: binding the papers with the wish on a tree, a rope, on a mound, etcetera. Many forms exist, almost per shrine or temple, all according to some local custom. That makes it even more interesting.
This e-book is dedicated to the people of Japan. Any proceeds will to the Netherlands Red Cross, to support their fundraising campaign for those still affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.