Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 21/05/2026There are many people in the modern world who scoff at those that revere and worship the divine that is nature and all around us. Without convincing through fear (which is real in its own way) I'd like to introduce why it's actually very logical to do so as well 1286
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 21/05/2026If you visit Fushimi Inari Taisha, remember please that the shrine grounds, the forest, the subsidiary shrines - all of it is a holy and sacred sanctuary. It's not a park at all, but you're in a place that is like church grounds. I hope that people will come to understand this 170
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 21/05/2026I have a great sadness to see the burnings of the shrines and temples around Japan. I truly hope it is not arson or anything sinister. Most importantly I hope they can rebuild and be protected against future fires 040
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 23/03/2026On the rainy morning of the Spring Equinox, we did our gravesite visit and gave prayers before the ceremony... The scenery was very beautiful and moving to see - grey and misty but the greenery and flowers of early Spring revealing themselves as we walked through the cemetery. 161
Reposted by Olivia BernkastelIlya ✯ イリヤ @cosmic-faerie.bsky.social · 19/01/2026このビデオが國學院の企画展を説明されていた。神道や神様の関係と流動的な性別について展示だ。 本当に面白いと思うよ。 Video on Kokugakuin's specific exhibit on gender and Shinto/Kami. It's unfortunately only in Japanese but still worth watching imo. youtu.be/LxlqzXAYyx0?...youtu.be企画展「性別越境の歴史学―男/女でもあり、女/男でもなく―」を展示解説!!YouTube video by 國學院大學博物館 Online Museum 031
Reposted by Olivia BernkastelIlya ✯ イリヤ @cosmic-faerie.bsky.social · 20/01/2026Apparently the name of this shrine 恵茶人 is pronounced エチャシト, and is derived from an Ainu word. The name according to Kotobank refers to the practice of releasing bears to run along the beach during festivals. 041
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 31/12/2025Happy New Year from Japan! ⛩🎇🐴🎍明けましておめでとうございます!今年も宜しくお願い致します🌌 080
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 13/12/2025Mixed fruit and vegetable offerings for today's monthly ceremony🙇🏻♂️ 070
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 12/12/2025I finished preparing 60 Goshinmai (Sacred rice pouches) for the December month and New Years season 🙏🏼 When I finished, I humbly requested they be blessed by Kami-sama🙇🏻♂️ 161
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 12/11/2025Today I helped to clean up, set the altar space, and officiated a Kamidana installation and Fushimi Inari Taisha Ōmitama enshrinement today at a friend’s home ⛩🌾 Inari Inari Faith Inari Okami Shinto Torii Kamidana shrine foxes Japan Japanese religion 2100
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 23/10/2025Some reflections today on a series I finished and I adored! 020
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 22/10/2025Today, October 22nd, 2025, marks 10 years serving as a priestess and toritsugi mediator! I am eternally grateful for these past 10 years and I pray for many more years to be able to serve Kami-sama and people!🙇 170
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 17/07/2025Yesterday, I mailed out sacred items to Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Australia, and USA. It's nice to see Shinto and Konko Faith growing around the world. ☺️☀️ 2161
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel𝑪. 𝑫𝒂𝒂𝒆́ @christinedaae.bsky.social · 03/07/2025As a mixed Japanese Shinto shrine maiden + a fantasy writer myself, I've seen many non-Japanese anime/cyberpunk fans trying to write their own stories. Some of them do a ✨great✨ job. Others... not so much. So, let's unpack how you can be a better writer, especially if you're borrowing from Shinto.⛩️ 14614
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel𝑪. 𝑫𝒂𝒂𝒆́ @christinedaae.bsky.social · 16/05/2025Your local shrine maiden here with a friendly reminder to please not rely on ChatGPT as a source for knowledge on Shinto ChatGPT can’t discern between sources that are legitimately verifiable or not in English, so relying on it to explain the more delicate, detailed aspects of Shinto is unwise 27920
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel𝑪. 𝑫𝒂𝒂𝒆́ @christinedaae.bsky.social · 16/05/2025The awesome @kaitlynugoretz.bsky.social was referenced for her help with the Religion for Breakfast’s series on Shinto. She literally has a PhD studying Shinto and gave a presentation at Kokugakuin University about it. youtu.be/qlKeVY_FsVg?...youtu.beWhat is Shinto?YouTube video by ReligionForBreakfast 1206
Reposted by Olivia BernkastelDr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz @kaitlynugoretz.bsky.social · 24/05/2025The torii irl: 0111
Reposted by Olivia BernkastelDr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz @kaitlynugoretz.bsky.social · 24/05/2025Found the perfect omamori (strap type) for #torii fans at Kogane Shrine 金神社 in Gifu! ⛩️😍 #お守り #神社巡り #神道 #Shinto 2378
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 22/05/2025Nice to meet you, my name is Olivia! I'm a licensed Shinto priestess of the Konko Faith, currently working at @yokosukakonko.bsky.social Please feel free to contact me at livingwithkami@gmail.com🌿 (Photo is when I was graciously able to officiate a wedding in Scotland, and my shrine) 090
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 22/05/2025Some old photos of the offering of Kibimai sacred dance at our shrine over 50 years ago! Not sure the exact dates, but more to come. ✨☺️ 252
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 21/05/2025Even if you can't afford a big Kamidana, or acquire sacred items or materials from Japan just yet - I think it's good to start from the heart and have even just a space you can focus your prayers. This was my very first Kamidana from 2011, just a little alcove in my bookshelf! 2100
Reposted by Olivia BernkastelIlya ✯ イリヤ @cosmic-faerie.bsky.social · 05/05/2025京都御苑での厳島神社の水彩絵を描いた。 Watercolors I did of Itsukushima Shrine at the Kyoto Imperial Gardens. 041
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 10/05/2025Preparing for the Spring Grand Ceremony at our parent shrine ☺️🌸 050
Reposted by Olivia BernkastelDr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz @kaitlynugoretz.bsky.social · 07/05/2025And did I mention that the Japanese Journal of Religious Studies is open access for FREE? You are welcome to submit a related manuscript for consideration! We publish monographs and edited volumes too. 😗 @jjrs-nirc.bsky.socialmedia.tenor.coma black cat says " you 're welcome " in front of itALT: a black cat says " you 're welcome " in front of it 3305
Reposted by Olivia BernkastelIlya ✯ イリヤ @cosmic-faerie.bsky.social · 13/04/2025面白い祠に通り合わせた。矛の形があった。 An interesting hokora I came across. It has a spear motif 0113
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 26/03/2025Waiting at the okekkai (barrier seat between Kami-sama at the altar and the worshippers side for toritsugi mediation) 050
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 21/03/2025Photos from Spring Grand Mitama Ceremony yesterday at @yokosukakonko.bsky.social shrine 🌸💐 I'm very thankful to everyone who made it and even those who could not join us we prayed for them and their loved ones! 0122
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel金光教横須賀教会 Konkokyo Yokosuka Shrine @yokosukakonko.bsky.social · 21/03/2025Yesterday's Spring Grand Mitama Ceremony at the shrine 🌸💐 we are very thankful to everyone who made it! 175
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel金光教横須賀教会 Konkokyo Yokosuka Shrine @yokosukakonko.bsky.social · 21/03/2025Our mascot Oni-chan helped yesterday too to greet worshippers! 074
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 21/03/2025Yesterday's cemetery visit and grave cleaning as part of the traditional Spring Equinox memorial to the ancestors and those who have gone before us 🌸🙏🏼 this time, we cleaned up all of the pebbles in front of the grave too. It was such a peaceful and warm day 071
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel𝑪. 𝑫𝒂𝒂𝒆́ @christinedaae.bsky.social · 05/03/2025Today is March 5th in Japan, which means it’s Miko day (巫女の日)! Not an official holiday, but definitely observed by those who practice or are interested in Shinto. Why March 5? Because of the play on words! 3 can be read as “mi” (三) 5 can be read as “ko” (五) As a Miko, I love today! 412325
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 19/03/2025Opening the Mitama altar doors for tomorrow 🙏🏼 071
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 19/03/2025Preparation of the offerings for tomorrow's Spring Grand Mitama Ceremony! 🌸 061
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 10/03/2025Around the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, the Sun will set with the light shining directly on Kami-sama's altar, and it's always so beautiful to see! 🌸 192
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 18/02/2025This may not be exactly Shinto related, but I feel valuing someone based on their heart, morals, and desire to be a better person in spite of inevitable mistakes - will always be more important than valuing someone based on their worldly achievements, image, or perception from others. 1162
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 02/02/2025Our shrines Setsubun altar ! 👹🫘 In Konko Faith one of the Kami-sama we honour is Konjin-sama, who was said to be such a fierce Kami-sama like an oni. But even with such fierceness means also such great power, and so we should have reverence for even the rough sides of nature. 1215
Reposted by Olivia BernkastelDr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz @kaitlynugoretz.bsky.social · 30/01/2025"But Kaitlyn, where can I read about alcohol and global Shinto?" 🥃 I got you, friend. 😎 works.hcommons.org/records/czj7... 1/🧵works.hcommons.orgDo Kentucky Kami Drink Bourbon? Exploring Parallel Glocalization in Global Shinto OfferingsScholars of Japanese religion have recently drawn attention to the global repositioning, "greening", and international popularization of Shinto. However, research on Shinto ritual practice and materia... 1153
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel三上(Mikami) @yoshizukushi.bsky.social · 06/09/2024始祖(火神・軻遇突智カグツチ)とその系譜(經津主神フツヌシ)🔥⚔️ 0115
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel三上(Mikami) @yoshizukushi.bsky.social · 13/01/2025【諏訪大明神】 お正月は義実家でしたので初詣はお諏訪さまでした。早く鹿の国観たい🦌 0123
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel三上(Mikami) @yoshizukushi.bsky.social · 22/01/2025【天苗加命】 經津主神の御子神で香取連の祖。摂社・又見(またみ)神社には、香取・鹿島・枚岡(春日大社の神神)の御子神がお祭りされております🌱 0132
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 22/01/2025I pray and hope, and will do all I can to support Kami-sama so that everyone facing difficulties, suffering, and turmoil in their heart can feel healing, safety, and a newfound sense of strength and hope to keep walking forward each day. 190
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 21/01/2025I feel deeply Shinto is a practice that can help heal the world, both from an individual and broad sense for all that is around us. The more that can be known about it, I feel very thankful as it may be able to help someone in their life. When we feel strong, we can make good changes in the world 0123
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 21/01/2025I was browsing the Shinto-related articles on English Wikipedia and I just wanted to express a huge thank you to all the people who've contributed to them! They have improved amazingly over the last 5-10 years and I saw recently even art of the various Kami-sama has been added! 1120
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 31/12/2024Happy New Year !! 🥂🎊🎉🗻🍆🦅🌌 あけましておめでとうございます! 160
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel𝑪. 𝑫𝒂𝒂𝒆́ @christinedaae.bsky.social · 30/12/2024Some photos from today’s ceremony! It was my honor to serve for the year end ceremony at the shrine ⛩️✨ 2658
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 16/12/2024Today I attended Tsurugaoka Hachimangu's Gochinza Kinen Sai 御鎮座記念祭 "Shrine Foundation Ceremony" where "Gochinza" 御鎮座 is the term for Kami-sama to rest and dwell upon a place. It was my first time attending as a Suukeisha of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu! 1101
Olivia Bernkastel @livingwithkami.bsky.social · 16/12/2024I had a wonderful time yesterday with friends listening to my friend Dr. Ugoretz's (@kaitlynugoretz.bsky.social) presentation on the Globalization of Shinto at Kokugakuin University! I really hope she'll get more opportunities to do this presentation or similar presentation on the topic elsewhere! 2162