“Amaterasu Omikami” was created for the ‘Gods & Monsters’exhibit at Pale Horse Gallery.
T-shirts are available here.
An ancient Japanese religion, Shinto is the “way of the gods,” aritualistic expression of profound respect for the kami (the intrinsicgod-like spirit) in nature. Purity and fertility are paramount Shintoconcepts, and cannabis is an essential symbol of both.Shinto creation stories tell of two creator deities, who descendedfrom heaven and together produced the various islands of Japan, withthe mountains, rivers, and surrounding seas. Their first procreationwas Amaterasu Omikami, the Great Sun Goddess, whose radiance shonethrough the six directions: north, south, east, west, above, and below.She is enshrined at the holiest of places, the Ise Shrine in Mieprefecture. At the shrine, the special prayer given for the foundingGoddess of Japan is called “taima”, which literally means “cannabis,”and these ceremonies are still conducted five times a year. In fact,cannabis and mulberry fiber, and cloth and paper made from them areoffered to the gods at all Shinto shrines, along with salt, sake andrice.
T-shirts are available here.
An ancient Japanese religion, Shinto is the “way of the gods,” aritualistic expression of profound respect for the kami (the intrinsicgod-like spirit) in nature. Purity and fertility are paramount Shintoconcepts, and cannabis is an essential symbol of both.Shinto creation stories tell of two creator deities, who descendedfrom heaven and together produced the various islands of Japan, withthe mountains, rivers, and surrounding seas. Their first procreationwas Amaterasu Omikami, the Great Sun Goddess, whose radiance shonethrough the six directions: north, south, east, west, above, and below.She is enshrined at the holiest of places, the Ise Shrine in Mieprefecture. At the shrine, the special prayer given for the foundingGoddess of Japan is called “taima”, which literally means “cannabis,”and these ceremonies are still conducted five times a year. In fact,cannabis and mulberry fiber, and cloth and paper made from them areoffered to the gods at all Shinto shrines, along with salt, sake andrice.
