Another Update and a Little Peacefulness (Patreon)

Internet is being a jerk. I finally have a bit of time and energy and want to post something and...wifi is crapping out.

Yeah. I check the news every morning and what a LOT. Jeez. It's enough to ruin my pleasant, mellow mood. So I wanted to share something peaceful. A tiny getaway. A tiny moment of Zen. Although not quite Zen. More: Bishmonten!

I visited Takkoku no Iwaya in Iwate this morning. It's a 1,200-year old temple built into the side of a cave/cliff. Stunning! It used to enshrine 108 Bishamonten statues ... now not so many, but the ones that were there were drop dead stunning. I am a nut for old statues. Just lose my mind. No photos were allowed, unfortunately. And when I asked the woman who did my goshuin stamp if they sold a picture book of the statues, she looked at me like I was crazy. Some places do, mind you. I totally would have bought it.

Bishmonten (the deity enshrined here) is a kind of god of war and over the centuries Takkoku no Iwaya became a place of prayer and devotion for some of Japan's most famous warriors. Minamoto no Yoritomo, who established Japan's first shogunate, visited in 1189. Centuries later, the legendary Date Masamune had the temple rebuilt. Being such a fierce deity, Bishamonten was especially revered by warriors seeking protection and victory in battle. So lots of visiting and prayers.

Here's the cliff temple.

But first, this is the walk up to the iwaya through the torii gates. Yes. There is a road off to the side. But you totally don't hear it when you're there.

This is just on the temple grounds. A spin around. The birds and insects were nice.

Aside from the prayer hall inside the mountain (breathtaking!), there is also a Buddha's face carved into the side of the cliff. Used to be a whole body, too. I took a photo but can't seem to find it. Here's one I snagged from the internet. It's quite enormous.

Then this is the cliff temple and the garden around it.

What was REALLY special was I left the hotel super early and hit here first. So I literally had the entire place to myself for about fifteen/twenty minutes. It is considered a power spot and I absolutely agree with that. Especially inside that cliff temple. My body was humming! Then I heard the tour bus pull up.

Still, everyone was kind. Japanese tourists are quiet and respectful and I am enjoying chatting with people along the route. Okay, I hope this brings a little peace to your day. Tomorrow is the UFO museum and Sessho Seki, The Killing Stone where the nine-tailed fox (Tamamo no mae) was trapped...until it cracked wide open right before the corona virus outbreak...coincidence? I don't know. XO, stay safe and well, so much more soooon 💕

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