onmyodo

Onmyodo, also known as the Way of the Gods, is a traditional Japanese religion and spiritual practice that focuses on the worship of the kami, or spirits, believed to inhabit the natural world. It is one of the oldest and most influential indigenous religions in Japan, with roots tracing back to the Jomon period. Onmyodo is characterized by its use of divination, ritual, and the study of the natural world to understand and communicate with the kami.

The practice of Onmyodo involves the use of various tools and techniques to gain insight into the will of the kami. These include the use of yomiuri, or omens, found in nature, and the practice of shinto, or the art of divination. Onmyodo also emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with nature and the kami, through practices such as purification rituals, offerings, and the observance of seasonal festivals.

Onmyodo is closely associated with the practice of shinto, and many Onmyodo practitioners are also shinto practitioners. However, Onmyodo is distinct from shinto in its focus on the study of the natural world and the use of divination to gain insight into the will of the kami. Onmyodo is also distinct from other forms of Japanese spirituality, such as Buddhism and Taoism, in its emphasis on the worship of the kami and the belief in their ability to influence the natural world.

Onmyodo is practiced by a small but dedicated community of practitioners in Japan, as well as by a growing number of people around the world who are interested in the history and philosophy of Japanese spirituality. While Onmyodo is not as widely practiced as other forms of Japanese spirituality, it remains an important and influential tradition in the history of Japanese religion and culture.