Pilgrimage
to Kurama 2006 - Tour Log
This is the 6th year i am going to Japan for 3-4 weeks.
I leave this Thursday, Oct 26th and will arrive on the 27th
(thanks to the international date line).
Every year I do a combination of teaching classes, playing
tourist, leading a tour group, and attending some Reiki events.
I have been teaching Reiki since 1993, so I am well accustomed
to the synchonicity, wonder and strangeness of life. And
when I go to Japan, it multiplies.
The following is my personal blog about my experiences for
my 2006 trip. It is a combination of magical and mundane.
It starts at the bottom and reads UP so entries at the top
are most current. So if you are just starting to read, go
to the bottom. Some of most recent entries may be brief,
i will fill in detail as I go. Time passes so quickly.
Nov 20
This was my last trip to the mountain. I picked up the crystals
I had left there on the first day. I didnt think they had
too much energy until I went to sleep.
Sat Nov 18 - Sunday Nov 19th Taught the Reiki 1&2 class at the Kyoto Holiday Inn Fri Nov 17
Lauren came from Guam to attend the class. She arrived in
the morning, and we went to Kurama. Lauren really enjoyed
the mountain. We had dinner with my friend Mary Heerin, who
had just come back from visiting England. She brought us
to a local place, where we had a variety of dishes, one of
the most memorable being Mochi pizza.
This was m y 100th visit to the mountain.
Thur Nov 16
Did a few more prayers, as I got some of the requests later.
Wed Nov 15
A great day. Went up to Kurama. Read the prayers and felt
a great surge of energy. Saw a deer by the tracks.
Linda met me and we did the hair ceremony. Kurama sisters.
Afterwards we went and spoke to Sonesan about the book.
she is happy it is coming out, but is wary of having the
temple carry it because of it's Reiki emphasis.
Tues Nov 14
Today I had the great idea to contact JTB about future tour
arrangements. They aren't the cheap cheapest, but they are
good, reputable, and a big company. I'll let you know.
Went to the Holiday Inn and paid for the rooms for my group,
all of whom are departing today. Hiroku Chatani showed me
the little jar of chocolates Robert got her and was really
pleased.
Went to a late breakfast at Speakeasy, and saw Sherry. She
gave me instructions for going to Koyasan, which I would
like to do on my next trip. Started me thinking on differences
between sacred places.
Went up to Kurama. I stopped at the Yuki shrine.
17/97 Mon Nov 13
Today I didn't go to the mountain. Instead I re-attended
the third day of Tadao Yamaguchi's class.
Robert and Tsutomu went to the Kurama onsen, which they
really enjoyed. Sun Nov 12
Robert and Tsutomu did things on their own today. I took
part of the day off, and of course, then I went to Kurama.
For dinner I met Tadao Yamaguchi and his class, and Robert
joined us.
One of the people in the class mentioned she had been to
Kurama three times because of Usui, and always felt it was
a strange and hostile place.
So on the way home to the guest house I started thinking
about it, and found that when I thought of D. being on the
mountain, I felt like there was an energy connected to the
mountain that hated the idea of her coming. It was alike
a ball of long hair, and it spit and rattled and hissed.
So I talked to it. It seemed like it disliked her personally
for some old grudge, probably over a man. Since that seemed
unlikely that D who lives in another country would have managed
in her three visits to create such a grudge I wondered if
it might be a case of mistaken identity. So I thought about
time, and how to express it to a spirit. It did not remember
Yoshitsune and the monks of that time, so I think the spirit
was more recent, then I remembered that Osugi Gongen fell
in a typhoon in 1950, and it seemed this would be something
a spirit would remember. I explained that since that occured
over 50 years ago, that D was not even a babe when that occurred.
I got the sense this came as a bit of a shock. If you don't
have a body, time kind of runs together. I further explained
that any grudges against people for incidents that occured
before
the tree
fell were wasted as those people are probably already gone,
or so old that pursuing them would be cruel. I got the sense
of a great saddness from the spirit, of regret and loss and
old pain. So I comforted it, letting it stay with me, and
receive the reiki energy. I spoke to Kwan Yin who is one
of the major deities of the mountain, and a spiritual being
I have honored since long before I even knew about Reiki.
I asked Kwan Yin if this spirit could be accepted into the
pure land. I got a qualified yes, that certainly she could,
but first she needed to give up the grudge. Periodically
during this I thought about D coming to the mountain and
got the same spit rattle and hiss, but now I started to sense
change. I told it to takes its time, and that i would see
D tomorrow at class, and it could judge for itself then.
16/96
Sat Nov 11
I met Robert and Tsutomu at the Holiday Inn, and we went
up to Kurama. Robert especially really enjoyed it, but it
was Tsutomu, who is 82 had a difficult time, so we took it
slowly.
We had a lovely sushi dinner at the hotel. As i was getting
ready to leave, I realized I didnt have my Bike key. This
is a problem. I managed to ask the Hotel front desk and the
man who summons taxi's outside if they had seen it, but they
hadn't. I decided to walk towards the train tracks in the
faint hope that I would find it, and instead found the cycle
shop. Someone there spoke enough English to understand my
plight, and walked with me to the Holiday Inn and replaced
the little lock for me. I was very grateful, and insisted
on tipping him. Tipping is not usually done in Japan, but
it can be done if you feel stongly about it, and I did. He
was surprised.
15/95
Fri Nov 10
This morning I woke up and felt the presence of Kwan Yin
smiling in my room. It was not like a meditation, it was
not a dream, it was not a call to pray for what I want, just
a sense of a smiling presence, who remembered what it was
like to be human, and have all the everyday worries yet still
seek beyond it.
I met Clifta and we went to Kurama, spending time at the
stream in Kibune, and at Osugi Gongen.
We came back and met the group at the Kyoto Handicraft center
(we took a taxi from Demachiyanagi). They enjoyed the morning
tour and the making of woodblock print crafts. I got a sheet
that talked about the different crafts that you can do there.
It all worked out great.
We took 2 taxi's to DaiMaRu Department store, and I took
them around the food aisle. We stopped and had some free
samples and some kind of waffle equivalent. Afterwards we
went to the Nishiki food market and Teramachi.
Hyakuten had agreed to meet us at 6:15 at "The big crab",
an easy landmark in Teramachi, and it was about quarter to
six when I was in a stationary store that I looked up and
found Hyakuten was there watching me, waiting for me to notice
him.
He suggested the 7th floor buffet at the Hankyu department
store which was quite good, very traditional japanese, the
kind of food you dont get in Japanese food restaurants. Everyone
had a good time, and Hyakuten was as always gracious and
willling to answer questions. Cost was about $20/person plus
alcohol.
14/94
Thu Nov 9th
Today the tour group and I hiked the mountain from the
Kibune side to the front. It was a great day.
It started out with my meeting my group, showing them
the pictures from the first day on Kurama. I gave my little
presents to Chatani of the maple sugar candy, which she
liked. It appears I must have misunderstood Ari the manager,
for she just wanted to meet me. I thought about deleting
the reference to that from yesterday, but left it. Multi-cultural
travel and conversation is full of little shifts of expectation.
Just flow with it.
Getting started this morning was a little frantic cause
I had to get my phone recharged for time, and i had to
make sure Robert had what he needed to join the group for
when he arrived that night, and Clifta told me she didnt
want to go on the tour, she wanted to just go up with me
to Kurama again. This had been the original plan when she
was hear a shorter number of days than the rest of the
group, but I had assumed, that with her now staying the
full number of days, she would want to take the tour, and
of course we hadn't been able to talk about it.
So we asked the hotel to call JTB and cancel 1 of the
reservations, and to find out if my giving them my credit
card in person was really necessary like it said on the
reservation sheet, since I wasn't going. Having the hotel
call was Natalie's idea. And it did make the language translation
of this much smoother. Then we had to get food for everyone,
then I had to get the phone recharged, decided to give
the agenda sheet to the hotel to give to Robert, and then
catch up on my bike to meet them at Chayama station.
Which all went perfectly, actually. However one of the
major differences between me and a more experienced tour
guide is that I still get a bit frazzled by it all, and
I am still working out the intricacies of free willl vs
tour guide dictatorship. When do you give people choices,
when do you decide for the group, when do you change plans,
when do you stick to the original plan. I think on the
whole I am doing fine, I just need to relax a bit more,
which will come with practice.
So we started in Kibune, and walked along the river til
we got to the village. It was a truly beautiful morning.
We all commmented on how the weather has been perfect this
trip. We saw a brown dipper, the little bird that walks
underwater, and we all relaxed into just being in a more
natural Japan of growing trees and plants and river.
13/93
Wed Nov 8th
I started the morning at Speakeasy, and met Sherry, who
is a friend of Linda's and who told me last year about Koyasan,
which is a very famous Shingon Buddhism temple I keep hearing
about in various contexts. I called Linda to arrange meeting
for the day and put her on to chat for a minute, before riding
my bike down to the Holiday Inn. Today we went to wake up the statues at Sanjusangen-do,
with Linda joining us. It was an amazing experience. Natalie
had been their 4 years ago, and hadn't liked the place for
the same reasons I hadn't. That it seemed like a warehouse,
with no life in the statues. This is the third year I have
asked people to come energise the statues, and the energy
of the statues is definitely getting better every year. I
am sure it isn't just my Reiki people, but other people feeling
called to come and send energy. The statues don't need energy
from us to send compassion to the world (or 1000 worlds as
these are 1000 armed Kannon), instead they need energy to
be awake and aware enough to do what they seem to have been
designed to do, which is radiate energy to the world.
Afterwards I was more tired than I realized, and chose to
follow my original plan of going to SpeakEasy to watch the
election, while the rest of the group went to Kiyomizudera
temple, and to the surrounding little shop district. Linda
and I got to SpeakEasy and met the Democrats abroad group
of which Linda is president. They were toasting with champagne
the democrats win of the house. I stayed til about 3:30,
and was really too tired to go to the mountain, but even
though I would arrive late I figured I could at least go,
even if I didnt go up very far.
So I got there and after waving hello to my friend near
the temple stairs, I took the cable car to the main temple.
Met a nice Japanese women (no English) who was there at the
end of the day and we went and sat inside the Maoson temple.
She rang the bowl (which I recorded), and then we spoke to
Tomoko-san for a few minutes.
It is amazing how just being on the mountain energizes me.
I decided to walk down slowly instead of taking the cable
car. I recorded some of the sounds I heard along the way.
I sat in several lovely magical places and exchanged hellos
with several people, and to the ones who spoke English, mentioning
my book. When I did this at the tree shrine I felt like the
mountain was laughing at me. Not in a bad way, just that
the mountain thought my doing this was some great cosmic
joke.
Further down I heard an odd animal which flew overhead.
Could have been a night bird, or a flying squirrel. i hope
the sound came out on the recorder. Heard some other animal
sounds too in different places. Got off the mountain and
was in the train station when I looked over and saw a tanuki,
which is sort of a raccoon dog animal. I was able to tape
it with the camcorder and take a few quick pictures of it.
While on the train I got a call from Natalie that they had
just made it to SpeakEasy. So I went and joined them for
dinner. They had stopped showing the election, and the place
was quiet, but we enjoyed it. I got to hear about their day.
Afterwards they took the train back and I stopped at the
market, and decided to walk to the Holiday Inn along the
river. I was almost there when I heard my name called. It
was the hotel manager. He said hello and that Miss Chatani
would meet us tomorrow and have something for me tomorrow.
I have been so happy with the hotel that I think if anything
I should give them something. So I stopped at the Quinat
and got a couple more little jars for some of the maple
sugar candy I brought. Then I called Linda and asked if she
thougth that as a gift this would be appropriate. She seemed
to think it would be fine, and agreed with me that something
larger might be uncomfortable. These two have been wonderful
to our group and to me.
At the end of this my phone said "1 minute left' and I confirmed
this is a message I need to get the phone recharged tomorrow
with a new minutes card.
So then I got home, and got an email that finally my purchase
of the panorama stitch software I have been trying to buy
for a week has been approved and I got a registration key.
The company's tech support has been very nice. Said it was
refused because it was a US customer in Japan, and they got
it to go through, just took a bit. (and me a while to figure
out that i should contact support).
12/92 Tue Nov 7th
Brought the group to Kurama, and had a great day. Showed
all my favorite sites from the village to a quick trip to
Osugi Gongen.
On the top someone called my name and it was my chiropractor
friend that I met the day I met the Yoga group from Osaka.
So they joined us at Osugi Gongen and I did a Reiki healing
attunement on everyone.
Jennifer came from Osaka and joined us on the mountain,
and afterwards we went to the Falafel Israel restaurant by
Demachiyanagi at Jennifer's suggestion. This is the same
place I went with Ayumi the other night.Jennifer says the
person who owns it is a Reiki person which explains why it
seems to be a Reiki post Kurama hangout. Jennifer is writing
an article on the future of Reiki for the Canadian Reiki
Association, and asked me some questions for the article.
(11/91)
Monday Nov 6th
Today is arrival day for most of the tour group. I went
through and fleshed out the travel plan a little more and
included prices on things and exactly how we are getting
around. Yesterday Ayumi suggested I get in touch with her
travel group and that she would be happy to include some
cultural activities for the group. Stay tuned.
Pam and Jordan arrived around 1pm, and we went to lunch.
I told them about Hyakuten's Reiki share as an option, and
offered to take them around for the afternoon but they decided
to have a quiet afternoon. So I went
to Kurama. (10th visit this trip) My friend at the gate
gave me some sweets, as a thankyou for yesterday's
gift
of
the
maple
sugar
candy. I am clearly an amateur when it comes to gift etiquette,
and need to talk to someone about this. In the meantime he
introduced his friends that were in the shop, and motioned
that they had had some candy too. I tried to say I would
come back tomorrow, and I tried pointing at a calendar,
but it just wasnt getting across. So I waved goodbye and
left.
Got an email this morning from my publishers asking
how many copies I would like. The book is becoming more
real
to me all the time. I have been joking about how the third
edition will be the best. The first would have lots of
errors in spite of my best efforts, the second would probably
break
some things that were right the first time and the third
will be just right. As I was walking by the Buddha of the
Future, I figured out a more gracious way of saying it.
I am writing this book because I want to know everything
I
can about Kurama mountain, and that I look forward to having
people more knowledgable than myself add to and clarify
what I have learned so far.
10/90
Sunday Nov 5
The day started out with an email from my publisher saying
the book is looking very good to go to print in a couple
weeks. They say it is 264 pages and is lovely. They are going
to send it out to printers for bidding. So I am sending energy
for
the best printer for the project to come forward.
The day actually started out with art.
Pathetic, terrible art, suitable for grade school but art
non-the-less, or at least craft. I brought some maple sugar
chunks from the US and found some little jars at the 100
yen store. This morning I used nail polish to write "Maple
Sugar" on jars, and attempt to draw a maple leaf or a tree
or something. It is amazing how hard it is to tell the difference
between the leaf and the tree. Like I said, pathetic. Let
us hope the thought counts, and maple sugar candy, while
a pleasant treat in the US is rare and exotic here where
while there are many maples, there are no sugar maples to
make syrup or candy from. What inspired this project was
my friend by the front gate who two years in a row has given
me little presents that he carved himself. It seems like
in answer I should give something a little more personal
of myself, however inept. Would you believe he still has
the pen i gave him 3 years ago and the little flourite dolphin
I gave him in a little box in his shop?
I met my friend Ayumi at the station. We stopped at my friends
and gave them the jar of maple candy and explained what it
was. Then we headed up the mountain. As the third day of
a three day holiday the mountain was once again very crowded.
We stopped by Osugi Gongen, and I gave her a pendant that
had been charged up with the energy of the mountain. The
colors of the leaves and dirt seemed to match the pale green
and brown of the pendant. We continued on to Okunoin, and
spent nearly an hour there but the steady stream of people
making random noise was very distracting.
In Kibune we found a wonderful restaurant on the side of
the road opposite the river up a ways from the Kibune bridge.
After dropping off Ayumi at Demachi yanagi and having dinner
at the Falafel restaurant near Demachiyanagi, I met my friend
Barry and we had fun evening chatting and catching
up Barry
is the one I met on the bus to Kurama a few years ago who
recognised me from my picture which he had seen on my website
the night before.
(9-89)
Saturday Nov 4
My friend Linda was feeling a bit better so she called me
and we went to the Speak Easy restaurant for breakfast. She
had an appointment so Shoji drove us to an overlook where
you can see all of Kyoto spread out. It was a hazy day, but
was still very amazing to see. We heard that there has not
been enough rain this year, and that the nights are not cold
enough yet for the leaves to turn, so that it might not be
the best foliage year. As a former New Englander, I understood
perfectly. Every year is different. In the meantime I am
enjoying the weather. Chilly nights and mornings, to t-shirt
weather (especailly when hiking) mid-day and afternoon.
So after Linda rejoined us, we went up to Kurama. I paid
my membership dues at the temple. (I joined the temple 3
years ago, and to remain a member you go in person every
year to pay your 1000 yen ($10) dues) Getting to be a member
was a process as they really discourage peole (especailly
foreigners) who are only interested in Reiki from joining.
But the relative detail and types of questions I asked convinced
them.
At the little bamboo shop by the front gate, we spoke to
my friend, and I bought a little toothpick box with a bird
on it that pulls out the toothpick for you. It was just sweet,
and I like to get something from him every year in principle.
We spoke
to a friend
of mine who is an attendant at the temple and speaks
a little English. I met some people who don't speak English
down below the temple and showed them where the three hidden
statues are. Turns out one of them did Reiki. Then Linda
came and did some of the finer translation. We took the
cable car down and I got to talk (through Linda and Shoji)
to another
person at the temple I frequently exchange smiles with.
When he heard that I had been to Kurama 88 times (today was
my
8th visit this trip), he came and shook my hand and complemented
me on working so hard. He then said some things I imperfectly
followed the translation of about how reaching 100 or 99
of anything would be a really special achievement. I
will reach that number either at the end of this trip
to Japan or the beginning of the next one.
(8-88)
Friday Nov 3
I was supposed to get together with my friend Linda for
dinner yesterday but she was sick with a flu-like thing.
Since i had originally hoped she could translate for me
at Hiroshi Doi's class, I was very glad I had canceled.
It seemed like every Japanese person who could
go to Kurama mountain decided to do so. I have never seen
the mountain so full of people. The train, where usually
everyone gets a seat with a few to spare was so full that
no one had to worry about falling down if you didnt have
something to hold onto because we were so packed in.
On the way back from the mountain, i managed to get onto
the bus from Kibune to the station. If I had stood straight
up, I would have been in the door stairwell which they dont
allow, so I took the 5 minute trip with my feet on the top
of the bus stairs while my body was suspended over empty
space and I held myself up on the handrail
Everywhere on the mountain was crowded, so while I like
to take most of my shots without anyone in them, I had to
frequently compromise, because even waiting for people to
pass, there were still too many people. I managed to get
finish all the shots of the trail I wanted. I have about
1500 pictures so far. I will take more of course. The leaves
are barely beginning to turn, and in some places the light
was better than others. I also got to indulge my love of
taking pictures of little details like bark, and trees, and
roots. I want the extended version of the DVD tour to give
people the feeling like they are really there. Also, if ever
I am not able to return, it will give me something to look
at. The journey is as important as the destinations.
I also took my digital voice recorder
Now most of the time, recording sound on the mountain has
been a bad idea. There is construction going on, children
shouting, the rustle of people moving, Japanese conversation.
You never realize how noisy a place is, until you start
trying to record it. I did get some great sounds. I recorded
the sound of the bell. I recorded the sound of the bowl at
Okunoin, and the clank of people ringing the 'bell' in prayer,
but the best part was I got to record the sound of a conch
shell being blown. I also took a photo of the man doing so,
though he was dressed ordinary enough.
I spent a quiet evening, sent out my newsletter, went through
some photos and at least turned them upright, and rewatched
Spirited Away.
(7-87)
Thursday Nov 2
I went up to Kurama in the morning. I am experimenting with
taking photos to stitch together into a 360 degree sphere.
I am having some trouble with the software. All I have is
a demo version, and while it seems to work well, I am having
problems registering and getting the full version.
Because
of a minor misunderstanding with Iphoto, it decided, i
chose a publish to the desktop option, which translated into
it
switching my screen backg round to all the shots I am using
to stich together a picture of Osugi Gongen, where Mikao
Usui recieved Reiki. It switches pictures every few minutes
and I can feel the power off of them, even with another window
(like the one where I am typing this)_ up over it. I just
adjust to the energy of one picture, and then it changes.
I hope to include some stills on CD/DVD project so you can
experience this for yourself.
I had a quite day, felt kind of grumpy. This is often a
symptom of energy overload, so I wasnt too surprised, considering
the evening on Kurama the night before. Also it was a morning
when i couldnt figure out what i was supposed to do. So I
went to the mountain and took some pictures. My current idea
for the DVD is to do a lot of photos. Not all fancy, just
shots to give people a sense of the real place in the way
you dont have a chance to in the book. So i have 50 pictures
of the train trip to Kurama, just to give people a sense
of the scenery changes. So I am doing the mountain in regions.
I expect there will be well over 1000 photos in all, maybe
as high as 2000. Then i will do a few versions of the tour,
and, probably after I get home, add voiceovers. I would like
to do some camcorder filming as well, but I am still not
happy with the picture quality, especially the shakiness,
so it will be probably just small clips of places difficult
to film with my camera. I'd like to do a really long version
for people who just want to sit in the energy of the mountain,
then shorter narated versions suitable for classes, and do
a few special topics versions. I also want to do 360 spheres
of various spots so you can really see the place from all
angles.
I came down from the mountain and decided to go to the Teramachi
shopping district. I really like the bustle and variety of
this area, but I wanted to just touch base with it again
before I bring my tour group here, and revisit all my old
haunts. I had a great time, and got to have an Andrews egg
tart, and pickled veggie samples from the department store
and i had a paper cup full of really good Sake. I went to
my favorite 100 yen store. I bought the tabe socks (big toe
separate) which i like. I went into the woodblock shop, stopped
for 1 minute to watch players in a pachinko parlor. I got
to marvel at all the foods known and unknown in the market.
I stopped at the movie theater but nothing looked promising.
Then I went and ate at the conveyor belt sushi restaurant.
(6-86)
Wed Nov 1
I met my friend Gabi and after a leisurely brunch at her
house we headed towards Kurama by subway. She was certain
there was a closer train to the subway than the one I usually
use in that direction, and we got lost. We ended up in a
shrine dedicated to a pigeon god. (we found it very funny
too). Here is what she sent me about it.
--- It's me, Gabi~
That was great fun yesterday. I went to research the pigeon
shrine mystery
right away, asked my friend Candy (Kayo) but she did not
know, said she
would ask her sensei.
Miyakehachiman is
the name of the shrine. I did a net search (of Japanese sites)
In all descriptions I've found there's an explanation that
the god there was
originally in charge of keeping harmful insects away from
the fields, and
later to keep harmful 'peevish-making' spirits (in this case
also called
'insects') away from children.
-----
I did a healing on the pigeon shrine building, as it seemed
that there was a certain amount of energy around from upset
parents. It didnt take much, and I had the odd sense the
pigeon shrine had heard of me and wanted to see what I would
do. I later commented to Gabi, that the god of the shrine
probably picked the form of a pigeon because it is so non-threatening,
especially to a deity trying to calm children. A pigeon was
probably a much better choice than the form of for example
the God Fudo, the red faced demonic looking warrior god
with sword, and sitting
in flames.
We then saw a field where an old woman was burning brush,
and two children were playing in the aquaduct. Gabi says
the aquaducts over kyoto (and i assume the one in Kurama)
were originally used to water the rice fields. We found our
way up to another temple/shrine nearby and watched the sunset
Then even though it was getting dark, we decided to go to
Kurama anyways. You are not officially allowed on the temple
part of the mountain after dark, and yet how do you close
a mountain? We went up and spent time at the upper level
waterfall. Gabi found it spooky at first because the variable
stream of water made it sound like people or spirits were
washing themselves in the dark. I found the energy very strong,
and could even call it up through my feet. The air had a
density too it, I felt I could just sit forever. Gabi sat
for a while, then decided to do karate exercise kata. I felt
the mountain watching her, and its enjoyment of it. It was
like the mountain enjoyed watching such things, and had seen
some legendary experts in the past, but it didnt get to do
so very much anymore. Gabi had a similar sense of it.
Then we went up to the Yuki shrine, and I spent time with
the Yuki shrine tree. This tree and I had always had an odd
relationship. Usually, I would ask to touch the tree, and
the tree would say no and laugh. It wasnt that the tree minded,
just that it seemed so funny to the tree that someone would
ask, and then take no for an answer. Now, there are signs
up which probably say dont touch the tree, but since I cant
read, I am not sure.
But this time was different. The tree first said no, sort
of as a greeting, it is what I expect, how we know each other.
Then It says yes, and I touched the tree. And because I had
Gabi with me I put her hand on the tree as well. She later
said it felt like she was falling into the trunk, and then
drawn upwards. I had something similar, but it felt more
like the small furry being that was me was being reassured
and loved.
(5-85)
Tuesday Oct 31
The other day I had gotten an email from Ikuko, who is
Tadao Yamaguchi's assistant and English translator that she
was going to the mountain today with a family from Sweden.
After a few false starts, I joined them at Kurama temple,
and we toured the rest of the mountain. Over the course of
the hike, her husband was able to finally feel energy for
the first time, at the mandala in front of the Fudo shrine.
We had dinner with Tadao Yamaguchi and his and
talked a lot about life in general, and even about the history
of
Kurama
mountain. I got to see the old Kyoto style house they are
refurbishing to teach classes in. It was also great for me
to be able to talk to his wife/assistant about Kurama. They
confirmed the story of the meteorite at Okunoin. They complemented
me on what I knew and I said "Among the people who cant even
read Japanese, I probably know more than anyone" Everyone
laughed.
(4-84)
Monday Oct 30
I had not heard back from Hyakuten on his Reiki share so
I did an internet search to try and find out about it. I
found a Jennifer, a Reiki master from Osaka
who has a lovely website who has studied with Hyakuten, and
she emailed me the link, which said the Kyoto Reiki share
is Monday night, and wrote that she was going. So we decided
to meet before hand at Starbucks.
I returned to the mountain, and had a great day shooting
lots of pictures and got back just in time to make it to
the Reiki share. I got lost of course, but finally got turned
around and met Jennifer and we headed off the Reiki share,
where I met a number of other very nice people. Jennifer
and I agree to meet again for a trip to the mountain.
Hyakuten's Reiki share takes place in a Buddhist temple.
It includes chat time, a meditation, reiju (attunement) and
time on the tables. The website with details, including of
his other Reiki shares in Osaka and Kyoto-Kita is http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/%7Ereiki/english/share.htm
(3-83)
Sunday Oct 29
Started out as a cloudy day, so I decided to try my hand
at videotaping. It definitely looks better on sunny days,
and the film shakes a lot when I am not using a tripod, but
I think I will get the hang of it. I think the DVD will be
best as mostly a series of photo stills, with stationary
movie clips except for a few key areas.
I rented a bicycle which is great for fetching groceries
and getting to the train station from where I am staying
at the Green Peace Guest house, and bought a few groceries.
I had a small odd happening. As I was walking to the Bike
shop I saw a small bracelet of black handmade glass beads.
As there was no one around to return it to, and it would
just have gotten destroyed by being on the sidewalk, I picked
it up. Then as I was returning to the guest house on the
other side of the street, I saw a matching bracelet on that
side,
so
of course I picked it up as well.
I was tired, but figured that I would just do a little on
the mountain. I took the cable care up to the main temple,
and went down below, and showed a Japanese tour group how
to find the deity statues. Somehow I never let not knowing
the language keep me from teaching!
Decided that even though I was tired, i would try to go
up to the top of mountain. As they seemed interesteing
in playing with energy I of course had to attempt to talk
to
them even though they spoke very little English. I showed
them some of the good ki spots.
I buried some crystals on the mountain at Osugi Gongen,
which I will leave for 21 days to charge with the energy
of the mountain. My plan is to sell some to my students,
and to give a small quartz point charged with Kurama energy
to the first group of people who buy my forthcoming Mt Kurama
book directly through me.
Had a long 'talk' with Maoson, felt I was urged to go towards
Kibune. So much for being exhausted! I met the group again
at Fudo shrine. I wish I had a picture. I showed them the
ki from the mandala, and how
much hotter it was than area right outside. We decided
to travel
together, and went to Osugi Gongen. I showed them a few
things about that, which perked the interest of two other
gentlemen,
who, especially since one spoke English pretty well, was
sort of incorporated into the group of about a dozen people.
They decided to go to this tea shop in Kurama, so first
we had to walk all the way to the Kibune station, and take
the
train the one stop up to Kurama. We went to Aquarius, which
is in Kurama, and also does massage, so a group of people
doing Reiki and even chiropractic (the other gentlemen
was a chiropractor), we had a great time. We exchanged info,
and several are interested in learing Reiki from me.
Linda came over with the charger for my phone, and we started
to watch a movie, but I was very tired from Jetlag, and 2
days of mountain climbing, and didnt make it through.
Went to sleep and slept solidly til morning.
(2-82)
Saturday Oct 28th
(There is no 27th, because I left on the 26th, and because
of the date line, arrived on the 27th)
I tried to set my PDA phone as an alarm, but it insisted
in going off at 2:30 am. And of course while I verified the
alarm would be loud enough to hear, I neglected to try and
figure out how to turn it off. I tried to go back to sleep.
Thought of a few new things to write, but couln't so I pulled
out my trusty computer and answered some email. One of my tour people needed the flight ticket number,
and since I hadnt heard back from the travel agent on my
request a few days ago for flight seat information, I gave
him the phone number. I got a reply a few minutes later from
my Reiki person saying the travel agency had canceled the
tickets for lack of a credit card number!!!
Now it is Saturday 4am here (thus it is abou 12:30pm Friday
on LA time) Fortunately
I had bought a phone card yesterday. I am not supposed to
make calls after midnight at the guest house, but If i waited
it would be his weekend, so I called, and miracle I was able
to talk to him directly. I would have really really really
liked to yell, but that would have waken up everyone in the
house, and probably not gotten me what I needed.
I had told him of course that I was making a series of reservations
for me and my students and to use the same credit card. We
even had a few emails back and forth while I got the groups
exact names, made date changs, and clarified the gender of
each person. Apparently he forgot the part about the credit
card, and just used it for my reservation.That would be bad
forgiveable, but to not even contact me that he was canceling
the reservation? So I took a deep breath and asked him about
fixing it. He is going to try to rebook it.
So, While you know how this is going to turn out by just
skipping to the next paragraph, I don't. I sure hope this
aint no big thing to rebook, and doesnt
end up costing me a ton of extra money, or result in my having
to cancel the trip, but from here I just don't know.
I sent some Reiki to the situation, and pulled out one of
my worry cards and slept with it in my pj's waistband over
my belly. (These are something I designed, I sell them if
you
want one) The nice thing about worry cards is when you are
too upset, distracted or bothered to do Reiki or do anything
other than fret, it sends positive energy into what you are
worried
about, which helps people, including me, feel better. Saturday morning came and I still had not really heard anything.
I was busy composing an email to Robert, when i got his with
a slightly differerent series of dates. I wrote an email
explaining everything to my tour groupand sent it out. I
finished it just in time to pack my pack quickly, before
meeting my friend Linda for breakfast, and then heading up
to Kurama to meet Kathleen.
Meeting Linda & Shoji, Kathleen & Dennis
Linda is one of my best friends in Kyoto.I think we first
met 4 year or 5 years ago, when she came to take a Reiki
class
with Mary that I was teaching, but neither of is quite sure.
I think of her has my age, and while she does look a bit
older than my 43, no one believes she has a son my age. She
has been living in Japan 37 years.
She picks me up at the agreed time, while I am busily trying
to pack for the day. We go and have breakfast at a local
"American" place called Speak Easy with her husband Shoji,
then she and I head up to Kurama.
We meet Kathleen and her husband Dennis. Since they are
from Long Island, and Linda is originally from there everybody
is thrilled. Kathleen marvels that she had never even thought
of going to Japan, until she saw my slideshow at the ICRT
Reiki retreat, and it was like a dream that her husband suddenly
got offered a business trip to Japan, and so she could go.
So of course she planned to go to Kurama. She and a friend
were talking and wondered if I might be in Japan at that
time, and she contacted me. So of course the 1 full day they
would be in Kyoto just happened to be my first day in Japan
this trip, so of course I was going to the mountain.
But since it was my first trip, and I had Linda to translate,
we had to talk to a few people first. There is an older man
who has lived in Kurama all his life, and runs a shop and
parking lot just to the left of the temple stairway. And
we have become friends even though we don't speak the same
language. Now most people who visit Kurama are Japanese tourists
or a few foreign tourists that come once and never again.
Since I come so often in the fall, we got used to seeing
each other, and always bow to each other and smile. Occasionally
I even buy something from his shop, he has some wonderful
masks and bamboo things. Then when I have someone with me
who speaks Japanese, we have more of a conversation. He has
been a wonderful person to ask questions about the mountain.
Above the shelves in his shop he has pictures of Kurama village
and the temple gate, and pictures of the fire festival. Then
he started giving me little things when I visit, and I started
giving him little gifts too. Then last year he gave me a
Kurama Tengu head he had carved himself. In the winter time
when business is slow in the shop he carves things from wood
as a way to pass the time.
Today he gave
me a dolphin he carved. It is in a burlwood base imitating
waves, and has a ring on its nose and a ball in its fins.
It came with a title card which says in English "Nice
Catch". He invited me and Linda to come back next year
for the Kurama fire festival Oct 22 and see it from his shop
and have dinner with his family, a very great honor, so I
guess I will be going to Japan a
little earlier next year.
So we climbed the mountain, and I showed them my usual favorite
spots. Kathleen was amazed at the power of the Yuki tree
pouring down onto her head. We spent time in front of the
Buddha, and went up to the main temple.
And we got to speak to Tomoko-san. Tomoko-san used to be
stationed in the room with the Buddha, so what with me visiting
there so often, and her learning to speak English, we got
to know each other. She also really enjoys it when I have
Linda along so that we can all talk together. We tried last
year to get together for dinner, but the timing didnt work,
so we made plans to try again this trip.
A little while later we were below the main temple, in the
room with the statues of the deities of Kurama when Tomoko-san
appeared, and was filling a bottle for one of the members
of the temple with water from the healing spring beneath
the temple, so we all emptied our water/tea bottles and got
some too. As I hadnt known anything about the spring, other
than where it was I was really happy.
After we emerged from the temple, everyone else went off
to find the restroom, and I decided to wait inside Komyoshinden,
which contains a statue of the deity Maoson. Maoson is a
figure of a stout looking man with wings. He is the one deity
unique to Kurama, and many associate him with the legend
of the Kurama Tengu. So I found myself sitting and talking
to Maoson, and for the first time, I really felt connected
to his energy.
We had a conversation.. I felt like he was reading me a
list of all the things in my life I have been asking for,
including the fate of the tour group (see yesterdays listing),
and getting my Kurama book out. It wasnt like he was promising
solutions, just a sense of kindness towards the hardships
of life, and a reassurance, that yes I have been heard. There
was a sense of a wider and longer prospective. As Osugi Gongen,
the tree beneath Mikao Usui is likely to have meditated beneath
to receive Reiki was considered an incarnation of Maoson,
I took this seriously. I also conveyed greetings from my
friend Chad who felt a connection to Maoson, and asked Maoson's
blessing on all of my regular healing clients.
At the top of the mountain, we met some Reiki people, and
talked to them for a bit. Then headed back down and had a
nice dinner.
When I got home I found that progress had been made on the
trip. Everyone was still coming. They had managed to find
flights for a day later, then yesterday the travel agency
managed to negotiate with United Airlines, so they will be
coming directly to Osaka on something resembling the orignial
dates. Thankyou Kurama, Maoson, Robert, and everyone else!
(1-81)
Thursday Oct 26th - The Long Travel Day
Getting to LAX Jeff took me to the LAX airport three hours early, which
is what they ask for for international travel. It took
about an hour with little traffic. I investigated using the
new
Fly away service, but decided that with no traffic, it
didnt make much difference. (La Fly away allows you to take
Gold
Line or other LA area public transit to Union station (which
from Sierra Madre Villa takes about 20 minutes, then has
a bus from the train station directly to the airport (takes
up to 45 minutes). For Domestic travel, if you get there
early enough, they will check your baggage for you.)
Domestic vs International Thai
airlines is no longer flying direct, so this time I am
taking United, as will my tour people soon. I was a
little uncertain what to do since I am getting on a domestic
flight
then an international flight. Turns out getting to the
airport 2 hours early would have been fine, since there
is no more
to do at the LAX end than for a domestic flight. I was
directed to United at Terminal 7 by my ticket, then told
to go to
Entrance G, which handles international baggage. I weighed
by bags on the scale this morning to make sure they were
under 50 lb each, which is the domestic limit.
There was a moment of excitement at the security checkpoint
when the security people suddenly called out "Code Bravo",
and then stilled all activity at security, and wouldn't answer
any questions. About 5 minutes later some one called out
an all clear, and that was that.
Currency Conversion I got my money changed at the LAX currency counter. They
do take Master Card and Visa, but I used cash. The rate for
today(Oct 26, 2006) was .0093 + 4.95 transaction fee. For
practical purposes, think of a yen as a penny, and just move
the decimal when you see Japanese prices, ie, if something
costs 1000 yen, think of it as $10, though at todays rate,
it would actually cost only $9.30
Nearly Late Flight
I probably should have at least checked whether I could
have gotten on an earlier plane, instead of just working
on this here website entry and updating my class dates. I
did some web stuff which I paid for the wireless connection
for via T-mobile. If I could have figured out how to join
a computer to computer network, i could have gotten internet
for free, but my mac wasn't cooperating.
Because of snow in Denver and wind in Chicago the incoming,
and thus outgoing flights were delayed, though they made
up most of the time in the air. Arriving at SFO I checked
my watch saw boarding of my flight to Osaka would start in
less than 5 minutes and hustled. To get from the domestic
United Terminal to International you have to take a little
shuttlebus. Keep alert, their are signs for "International
Terminal" but I almost missed it, I got on the bus which
took us to the international terminal, we then were packed
onto an elevator for the 3rd floor. Fortunately the terminal
was right there. I took the escalator downstairs for gate
94 just as they were starting boarding and heard my name
called.
Now I have always wondered why they call out people's name
during the boarding of the flight, and I was a little concerned,
not to mention concerned that my luggage would make the trip.
However that is why they called my name, because of the delay,
they wanted to make sure I was actually at the gate in time
and getting on the flight before they would load my luggage.
Filling Out the Customs Forms
Leaving the US does not require any special trips through
Customs, that comes when you are entering Japan (and on the
return trip, when entering the US.
However on the airplane, they give you a Disembarkation
/ Embarkation form to fill out that you will hand them at
passport control in Osaka. I've done this a number of times,
but I still find
it confusing.
The left, smaller half of the form is for returing home.
Fill in your flight information for Leaving Japan.
The officails in Japan will attach this form to
one of the pages inside your passport. Family Name means
last name, Given Name means first name. Leave the top line
blank. Notice that date of birth is in Day first
The rignt side is for your being in Japan. Ignore the top
line, and fill in the Family (last) name and the Given name
(or names). Notice that date of birth is in Day first. Include
your arriving in Japan flight info. (They dont care about
any flights before that). Select the purpose of your visit
as Tourism.
Then put in where you are staying in Kyoto, and the Kyoto
TELEPHONE Number.
All the forms are in English and Japanese, with some instructions
on how to fill them out in other languages in the inflight
magazine. All the announcements on the plane are in English
and Japanese.
Plane Food, Drink, Time & Temperature
On international flights, alcholic drinks are free, but
it is recommended not to overimbibe. It's about 2 pm now
Los Angeles Time on Thursday. That makes it about 6 am on
Friday in Japan. Food and headset rental is also complementary.
Its a long flight, about 12 hours. But in some ways its
easier, all you have to do is spend the day on the plane.
Watch movies (Cars, Devil wears Prada, Xmen 2)
The United flight shows different shows on different channels,
some with an English soundrack, some Japanese. You can also
listen to their XM music channels, or watch the map.
Planes are on the warm side, so wear layers. Layers are
also good so they can double as pillows. I like to get the
window seat, so I can try to sleep leaning againste the wall.
My seat was on the left hand side of the plane, and for the
trip to japan the window shade area was hot from the sun.
Next Entry - (blank)
Top#Top Tuesday Oct 24th - Pretrip
Hello!
I am coming to Japan, leaving Thursday and arriving Friday
Oct 27th and staying til Nov 21st.
My Japan luck, which scrambles my life in odd ways, is already
occurring.
The good news is I dont need to worry anymore for how to
find accomodations for the people who wanted to take my classes
with me in Japan, and that I now have plenty of days to spend
on my mountain and do some of the things I want to do. This
is because Everyone who wanted to take a class with me in
Japan has independently decided the dates I picked didnt
work for them, made me pick different dates, then after a
protracted series of emails, canceled. 1 couldnt get a travel
visa from Iran, 1 found out her school has a celebration
day on one of the class days that she was invited to participate
in, 1 had her business trip schedule changed. 1 had some
unexpected expenses so cant travel right now. 1 (who is coming
from another asian country) insisted i teach them during
the week, which would probably have ended up being a 3 day
private class, then told me they couldnt pay for the class
and would I teach them anyways.
So with the air of following the flow, i am probably not
going to teach any classes this time, other than I would
still like to teach a Reiki 1&2 Nov 18-19 (although one
of the above was a cancelation for that class too)
The tour group is still happening, I will have up to 6 (i
have 6, a record for me, but i had to stagger the dates).
They will be here from Nov 6-Nov 14. If any of you would
be willing to come meet with my group for an evening in exchange
for buying you dinner during that time that would be wonderful!
They are a nice bunch.
I expect this will be the last small tour year, because my
book on Reiki;s Birthplace: Mt Kurama will be coming out
soon, and i expect a lot more people are going to want to
come with me. Does anyone know someone who books groups professionally?
I am happy booking 5-10 people with occasional help from
you all, but if it gets in the 10-30 range, this will become
excessive.
About the book. Soon is all i know. There have been a lot
of delays. First because some of the people working on the
layout/editing of the book completely screwed up the text,
which I had to extensively re-edit. Second because of some
misunderstandings between me and the publishers which resulted
in delays and frustrations on both sides. At some point during
the trip I hope to get a publication date at very least,
and at very best, there is some chance I will receive some
copies of the finished book that I can give/sell and bring
to the mountain before I return to the US.
I would love to spend time with everyone. So far my schedule
looks like this. You are also welcome to come on any of the
tour days. One of the Kurama days will be from the kurama
side up to the main temple, the 2nd will be from Kibune over.
Not sure which I will do as "day 1' and which as 'day
2' yet.
About Hiroshi Doi's Friday/Saturday class. The cost is 120,000
yen plus for me the cost of a translator, and it is in Ashiya.
It includes Reiki 1 through Reiki Master. Hiroshi Doi is
one of the people teaching traditional Japanese Reiki. I
got the feeling they didn't have a translator for the class,
(and I think I would be the only non-Japanese) I need to
check, but if one of you were willing to translate for me
and help me get to the class, you would be able to attend
for free (or we could split the cost somehow, whatever seems
fair to you, but i cant afford to pay for the class and a
translator, and may just end up not going.)
Fri Oct 27th - Arrive
Sat Oct 28th / Sun Oct 29th - I will meet Kathleen on one
of these mornings who is
traveling with her husband on a business trip and will be
staying at the Kurama Onsen.
I hope to go to the mountain both days, and will be fighting
jetlag in the evenings.
Mon Oct 30
Tue Oct 31
Wed Nov 1
Thur Nov 2
Friday Nov 3 - I may take Hiroshi Doi's class in Ashiya-city
between Osaka and Kobe.
Sat Nov 4 - I may take Hiroshi Doi's class Ashiya-city
between Osaka and Kobe.
Sun Nov 5
Mon Nov 6 - part of my tour group arrives
Tue Nov 7 - I take the tour group to Kurama - (each person
on tour goes twice) day 1
Wed Nov 8 - Take group to Sanjusangen-do - sending Reiki
to statues & somewhere with gardens
Rest of group arrives.
Thu Nov 9 - Kurama with everyone - day 2
Fri Nov 10 - Group goes on morning JTB tour, except me who
does Kurama 1 with
one tour person.
Midafternoon/early eve we do the Teramachi and eat at a conveyer belt sushi place
John introduced me to.
Sat Nov 11 Kurama 1 - day for those who arrived Nov 8
Sun Nov 12 - I may be taking people on tour, or reviewing the Jikiden class
Mon Nov 13 - I may be taking people on tour, or reviewing the Jikiden class
Tues Nov 14 - last of group departs
Wed Nov 15
Thu Nov 16
Fri Nov 17
Sat Nov 18 - Reiki 1
Sun Nov 19 - Reiki 2
Mon Nov 20 - Jess's last trip to Kurama
Tue Nov 21st - return to US
I just got a camcorder and am planning to create a DVD about
the mountain.
Next Entry - Oct 26
Top#Top
Dates and Cost if Register by
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