Welcoming the Shinto deity Sukunabikona to USA!

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Update as of 11/6/2023,

Hello, friends and families of Sukunabikona project!

We wanted to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude for being a part of this project!

We are finally here to tell you that we had a wonderful ceremony under such incredible weather on October 25th. Over 30 people have congregated for the ceremony to witness housing the deity Sukunabikona in the Hokora. According to Yamamoto sensei, the deity was extremely pleased, and Sensei’s received a huge ok sign from the deity! 「佳きかな、天晴れ」

(Yamamoto sensei and Mrs. Yamamoto)

Secondable, we have successfully installed an altar, kamidana, inside the Menla’s main bldg, Lhasa Inn.

Menla is open to the public, please come visit the deity at the Hokora site to pay respects or even just to say hello!

(Michael, Executive Director of Menla, and Yamamoto sensei)

(During his lecture)

This ceremony is just the beginning of this project, and we cannot be more excited that all of you are part of this journey with us. We'll keep you all posted on our next events in the Catskill and also NYC/NJ to celebrate the deity Sukunabikona!

Again, we could not have done any of these without your support!

Best regards,

Team Sukunabikona project

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Do you want to witness and be a part of this historic moment? We are welcoming Sukunabikona, the Shinto deity of medicine and fermentation in Catskill, NY for the first time ever in the history of this country and the land. He will be invited to reside in a natural rock surrounded by pristine nature and sacred springs through an authentic Shinto ritual. This holy ritual is scheduled to be conducted at the end of October 2023! Your precious donation will be greatly appreciated!

Any donor who can kindly support this project will receive additional information regarding the ceremony at Menla which will be taken place later Oct! 

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Update as of 10/14/2023

Here is the brief schedule for the ceremony for all the donors on October 25th, 2023 at Menla in Phoenicia, NY. We'll be sending a reminder with detail information regarding the ceremony to all the attendees.

10:00am: Ceremony starts (Please gather by 9:45am. No electrical devices allowed during the ceremony. Lower Parking is the nearest to the ceremony site)

11:00am: Lecture by Sensei Yamamoto w/ English translation (Accepting donation)

12:30pm: Luncheon ($25/person)

1:30pm~5pm: Seitai bodywork session starts ($150/30min - Cash or Venmo/Zelle only)

☆Our project has been featured in GREEN SHINTO! Please read featured articles here 1) International shrine project and 2) Interview with Fukiko Ostensen :)

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We are a group of Japanese women who are striving to bring the wisdom and beauty of Japanese culture, cuisine, and tradition through fermented food, medicinal plants, and spirituality to the US, especially to the Catskill region in New York state, where we are blessed to be surrounded by incredible natural beauty.

Recently, we have begun to embark on a project to introduce the Shinto deity Sukunabikona to this area through various causes and conditions. Sukunabikona is known to be a god of healing, agriculture, plant medicine, sake, fermentation, microorganisms, and hot springs. We believe that this deity would be of a great protector for us here in the community of Catskills but also in the US.

Shinto, the oldest religion in Japan is the spiritual backbone for many Japanese people and its culture seeing divinity in many natural objects. It is our hope that the creation of a small shrine for Sukunahikona-no Mikoto will offer spiritual support and many benefits for the Japanese and local communities in the area and that it will become a “power spot” for those who strive to bring harmony to the planet.

Here is a youtube video from KHON2 news explaining one of Shinto rituals for going back to school season!

We are collaborating with Sensei Seiji Yamamoto* (a practitioner and representative of Aiko-ryu Kiko Seitai as well as a Shinto master in Japan) to locate the perfect spot to welcome and house the deity. He will travel from Japan to commence a ritual ceremony to welcome the deity to reside in the new home here in the Catskill Mountains. We are very grateful that he has been a tremendous supporter of this project.

Recently the perfect location for the project was found within the beautiful grounds of Menla in Phoenicia, NY. Menla is a retreat facility and a renowned spa surrounded by pristine mountain forest, which was revered as a sacred place by its natives, the Esopus and the Mahicans. Menla operates under the auspices of Tibet House US in NYC, and it has committed to bring peace and spiritual awakening through their offerings. Their welcoming attitude to bring the deity Sukunabikona has been very moving. Menla’s grounds and its land are open to the public, and visitors who wish to pay homage to Sukunabikona are welcome anytime.

Our goal is to promote health and wellness of the planet and its inhabitants through Japanese tradition and knowledge of plants, food, and fermentation with the blessing of the deity Sukunabikona.

To fulfill our mission to welcome the deity, we are trying to generate the funds, which will be used entirely for this project such as travel expenses for Sensei Seiji Yamamoto and his team, preparation of the shrine site, and making appropriate offerings for the ceremony and the future.

Your donation will be greatly appreciated to commence the project to welcome the deity, Sukunabikona for the very first time in the US. Any questions you may have, please reach us at sukunabikonaUSA*gmail.com. All the updates regarding this project will be posted through this campaign page.

Sincerely,

Your friends of bringing Sukunabikona to the Catskill Mountains :)

Corporate sponsors:

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*Please click here for more information about Sensei Seiji Yamamoto.

**All the names of people who have donated to this project will be acknowledged during the ceremony in front of the shrine, which will be the natural rock in the picture. For those who have contributed more than $1,000 (or 13,0000 JPYen), their names will be listed on the back of the explanation board as supporting members, which is going to be built next to the shrine.

***日本語での募金方法の説明はこちらをご確認下さい。本プロジェクトにご賛同頂き心より御礼申し上げます。