A Komainu with an Adorable Pup! (Patreon)

Komainu (lion dogs or shishi or in Okinawa shi-sa-) can be found in pairs outside (mostly) shrines and temples in Japan. There are always two, usually one has its mouth open ("Ah") and the other has its mouth closes ("Un" or "N"). Ah/あ being the first sound in the Japanese "alphabet" (a i u e o...) and N/ん being the last sound. Together they're called a-un/阿吽 symbolically representing the beginning and end of all things. It also represents the Indian word: Om or Aum~~ 🤯

And it's not just komainu, but you'll also find the Niō guardians outside temples will also be doing the Ah-Un thing, one mouth open, one mouth closed.

All that to say, I found that first photo up there I took awhile ago and remembered how adorable I thought the little pup komainu was. So I wanted to share. Komainu ward off evil and bad spirits, so that, too, I wanted to share with you.

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A quick update on recovery. Things got darker there for a bit 🥺. I seemed to have picked up an omiyage (souvenir) while in the hospital. [No, not a ghost! Although...I do have a story about my father-in-law's presence, some very specific to him synchronicities, and the overwhelming feeling he was with me through some of it. But that's another story.] Anyway, the flu, corona, and some other nasty respiratory gunk has been going around the city and wiping people out. On day three of being home it was very obvious from my sore throat, high fever, headache, and cough, I'd gotten smacked with one of them. My fever broke last night, though, and I think the worst of that is gone. Wew! Now my body can focus on the ol' blood clot dissolving issue, reducing the swelling in my leg and learning to walk properly again. My mood is much, much better. I'm excited to think about things like oracle decks, podcast episodes, short stories, guided relaxations, and reading the Pillow Book again. Thank you all for being with me and rooting for me.💕 You're positive vibes and healing thoughts absolutely have made all the differenceヾ(๑╹◡╹)ﾉ. I'm sorry I haven't responded to comments yet, but I will. I was really wiped out there for a few days. At the moment, I have a few good hours in the morning, then back to zoning out, sleeping, resting. But I really am feeling a wee bit 💪✨.Oh, crow story!!: I haven't been able to put out peanuts or anything for the crows at all. Richard did for me while I was in the hospital. But since I've been back, just going upstairs and falling into bed was all I could manage for several days. Yesterday though I hobbled to the door early in the morning when I saw their shadows fly by and land on the neighbors's roof. I opened the curtain some more and Buddy (the dad crow) and Chaos (the whacky hilarious son crow) were both on her antennae. Chaos saw me and started cawing like crazy. It was sooo sweet!! I cried. Buddy kept bristling. I don't know how to describe the action, but when he's paying close attention and very interested in something he'll sort of shimmy, shake his feathers. He's never been as vocal as the mom or babes. Anyway, that was a lovely little welcome home 🐦‍⬛💕, too.

Thank you again, everyone stay safe and well. Once my voice comes back to normal I'll be able to record some Pillow Book to put up here. I'm looking forward to that. XOXO,

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