Servants of the Gods: Shinto Workers
By: Aya Hanazono
10/30/24
Do note, that this report is longer than usual, as it’s meant to be a detailed guide for those interested in working within the shrine.
OOC: Photos used in this report are credited to urrufu, Arkkwolf, lif_shy, and xaavia!
OOC: Photos used in this report are credited to urrufu, Arkkwolf, lif_shy, and xaavia!
Shinsei Seinaru Monastery, our beloved shrine here in Karakura... A place of worship and sanctuary that has bridged the physical and spiritual worlds for generations, one would wonder what truly goes on within its sacred grounds? Well my dear readers and viewers, you're in luck! I had the opportunity to interview our dedicated shrine workers, Maiden Haruka Hanazono (ahem, totally not my cousin), and Priest Evelin Löwe to give you a closer look into the daily life and duties that keep the Shinsei Seinaru Monastery thriving, as well as my own little research as well!
Shinsei Seinaru Monastery, our beloved shrine here in Karakura… A place of worship that stands as a holy sanctuary in a way, bridging the physical and spiritual realms for generations here in Karakura! When visiting, one might wonder: What really happens beyond its sacred grounds? Who are the individuals who work here and what do they do? Well my dear readers and viewers, you’re in luck! I was fortunate to interview two dedicated workers of the shrine, our Shrine Naishoten Haruka Hanazono and Priest Evelin Löwe, to give you a closer look into the daily life and duties that keep the Shinsei Seinaru Monastery thriving, as well as my own little research as well!
Background | What are Shinto Workers?
Before we jump into the interviews, let’s cover the basics: what exactly are the roles of the Shinto workers, or shrine workers as they’re often called here, within the monastery? For starters, these workers are more than ‘protectors’ or guardians of the shrine; they are caretakers, as the practices they do are to maintain harmony between humans and kami (deities or spirits). Shrine workers train in various rituals to ensure the offerings prepared for the gods are upheld.
Among their many tasks, shrine workers perform ceremonies throughout the year to with seasonal events such as New Year, spring, and more. (For deeper information on these festivals, check out past reports by my friend, former reporter, and current lawyer, Sky Volante.) But enough of my rambling on my research! Let’s hear firsthand from the shrine workers themselves.
[!] The recording begins with Aya adjusting the camera to show the shrine [!]
Aya: “-Think this is working now yeah,” For a moment a small rustle would be heard before it finally settled down. “So! Let's begin, shall we?” Clasping her hands together, she held a small grin as she spoke, “First things first, can you describe a typical day working at the shrine, Haruka?”
Haruka: Haru’s eyes seem to light up with life when the question was brought up, almost as if she was prepared for this. “Of course I can, I’ve been working in this shrine for a year now and I believe I am one of the most reliable people to ask that.” The maiden laughed softly at her own statement, “So a lot of people think that being a shrine worker means going out there and involving yourself with spirits, which is partly true during the month of October. But outside of that, a typical day is actually very peaceful and quiet.” Haruka: The maiden looked around the room with a rather prideful gaze, a smile of contentment plastered on her face as she explained, “A shrine worker’s job is more akin to one of a caretaker role. We keep the place tidy, maintain the flowers, trees, and vegetation that grows on the mountains, and tend to visitors of our Kami.” Haruka hummed softly, tapping her chin softly, “So in that sense, a typical day in the shrine would be something as follows: I wake up early in the morning with my colleagues and enjoy breakfast with them. After that, we delegate tasks and chores to each other, setting out to clean them by the afternoon. Once that is done, we may or may not take an afternoon nap after lunch... before we welcome our guests after school time! Some activities we perform for guests are tarot readings and tea making. After the night sets in and most of the guests have left, we typically spend the rest of the evenings cleaning and doing our own things before going to bed!” Aya: Gave a nod at that, curiosity filling her as she proceeded to ask the next question. “Some would have thought that a ‘day in the life’ of a maiden would be more chaotic, but I’m glad it isn’t! What is the significance of your role within the shrine then, and how does it relate to Shinto beliefs?” Haruka: “My role? Well, My official title would be Naishoten. If you break the term apart it stands for High Priestess.” Haru let out a soft groan towards her title and waved her hand dismissively, “At the end of the day, I am still a maiden and I wish to stay that way for a while. Hmm, my role in the shrine would be to look after the Maidens. I am responsible for teaching them everything they have to know about being a Maiden.” Haruka: Clapping her hands together, appearing rather cheerful as she continued explaining her role, “As for the other part of the question on how it relates to Shinto beliefs... well, Maidens have always been known to be assistants to Priests when performing rituals and ceremonies such as weddings and cleansings! There is also another act exclusive to the maidens where we perform a Kagura. It is a sacred dance performed during festivals and rituals to show the presence of our Kami!”
Aya: leaned forward slightly, as she pauses to collect her thoughts before looking back up. “Seeing that you guys do a lot of rituals and ceremonies, what kind of training is required to work at a shrine then? Any specific things to know or-” She waved her hand, allowing Haruka to answer. Haruka: Haruka nodded and folded her arms, trying her best to appear stern. “That’s a good question to ask seeing that we have just finished training the new wave of Maidens and Priests not too long ago!” Haruka: The maiden held up three fingers in front of Aya, “Generally our training is separated into three parts. The first part would be duty-related where we teach our trainees everything from chores, tea-making, gift shop management and reading tarot cards!” One finger went down, Haruka took the opportunity to make a peace sign, “The second part would be theory-focused. This is one of the toughest parts of our training as you’re required to learn about the backstories of Shinto and some of the interesting folklore local to our island.” Haruka: The maiden finally sat back down normally, folding her hands back into her lap. “And the last part of our training would be teaching them sacrificial rituals!” The maiden snickered with a devious smile, “No no I’m just kidding, mostly. The last part of the training would be a lesson on ceremonies and rituals such as cleansing, weddings, funerals and even the Kagura for the maidens. We recently got a new Guji and I’m hoping she and I can work together to provide more services to the community.” Aya: Gestures encouragingly for Haruka to continue, “Can you share any memorable experiences or special events held at the shrine?” Haruka: Haru glanced down at her wrist to look at the time, except that she was not even wearing a wristwatch in the first place… “If I’m going to be honest, I have so many memorable experiences here, I might take up your whole day so I’m just going to mention two!” Once again another peace sign made. Haruka: “The first memorable experience I can think of is the most recent one. It’s not really significant to the shrine’s work itself, but more towards what the shrine could be to everyone. We are a second family, we live in the same corridor and we even have our meals together when we can. The memorable experience was one where we spent an evening cozied up in my room’s pillow and cushion seats watching Barbie & The Diamond Castle. It’s definitely one of my most precious memories right now and I love every single one of my shrine members very much.”
Haruka: The maiden lowered her head and smiled to herself for a moment, her hand to her chest and clutched where her heart would be, “Now one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had was actually last year’s New Year Festival. To welcome the year of the dragon in the Chinese Zodiac, we had so many colourful dragon kites flying in the sky. So many people in town came to the shrine in Kimonos, the entire shrine looked like it had been decorated with the most beautiful and unique bed of flowers.” The maiden chuckled, “For that moment, it felt like the hatred and despair this island bears was forgotten and everyone chose to celebrate with one another. I was still a trainee at that point and I was selected to be part of the Kagura performance. I remembered so many eyes on me and how anxious I felt. In the end, the fireworks sealed the deal. I am seriously looking forward to what this year’s New Year festival will be like!” Aya: Tapping her fingers on her lap, she was brought her last question. “Hopefully it would even be cooler than the previous New Year festival, I have high hopes! But it's still a good few months away,” She chuckled, “But anywho, what motivated you to become a shrine worker actually?” Haruka: “Oh? What is my motivation? Wow, this sounds like an interview question... oh wait, we’re doing an interview.” Haru deadpanned for a moment, partially disappointed at herself before shaking her head to zone back in. Aya: Would laugh slightly, allowing her to continue. Haruka: “I guess my motivation lies in my love for nature. In Shinto, we like to appreciate things for the way they are and also pay respects to the Kami for providing us with everything.” Haruka nodded with a smile, “I actually grew up in a farm and I know how hard it is to grow crops and have the food safely end up on your plate. I guess it ties to my goal of wanting to take less things for granted in life. I want to constantly appreciate the story of each item and it’s an approachable feat in Shinto. We have Inari, the Kami of foxes and rice to thank for a safe harvest. Tenjin, the Kami of scholars to thank for our burning desire to learn. Susanoo, the Kami of storms to thank for bringing rain to our island. And finally, Chiharu Yamatsumi to thank for making Karakura a place to live in!” Haruka folded her hands back into her lap once more, giving Aya a small nod to indicate that she was done speaking.[!] As the first interview faded, the second video would play, this time, it was Priest Evelin Löwe who started [!]
Evelin: "A day in the Monastery? Well, we always start our day by collecting our laundry and doing our chores! Scrubbing the steps, sweeping the main area, washing off the fences and doing the dishes, along with handling our crops we grow! Personally, I also make sure to include my morning prayers to different Kami, from Chiharu to Amaterasu - the Kami of the sun. Afterward, we usually interact with guests and make tea! Lots and lots of tea-making. I'd say we make on average fresh tea every ten or twenty minutes? Depends on how busy we are that day! Sometimes people might come by and ask for a cleansing or want to learn about Shintoism, so we do teach for those who are curious! I also personally offer sparring lessons for anyone interested. By the end of the day, we all sit down and talk about things that occurred over some dinner, and retire to our rooms for the night!" Aya: “Sheesh, you can probably make a tea business at that point seeing how much you guys make in a day,” She joked with a slight grin, “What is the significance of your role within the shrine then as Priest, and how does it relate to Shinto beliefs?” Evelin: "Well, our role in the Monastery are to act devotees to the Kami. We tend the Monastery and watch over the grounds as it is a place for the Kami to come down and visit whenever they like. We also invite others to form connections to Kami through our daily rituals and prayers, assisting and guiding people through the way of the Kami. After all, Shinto itself is both considered a religion AND a lifestyle!" Aya: Nodding at that, she hummed, “Can you share any memorable experiences or special events held at the shrine at the shrine then? I would personally love to know what kinds of events you guys do besides the public ones.” Evelin: "Hmm... Well, I think one of my favorite events was the pumpkin carving our lovely Mitsue Heddo put together! We got to invite some guests, and all gossiped while carving the very pumpkins that are placed around the monastery now! Hehe, mine was of a cat face. Warm moments like these are what truly brings us together as more than just coworkers. If you want a more public event, the 'Bring your Kid to work day' held a special Kagura Dance! I can't wait for the New Year Festival, I hear some fun things are in store... You should come visit!"
Aya: “Heh! You and Haruka actually mention the same event, even she is excited for the New Year Festival- But Anywho, what motivated you to become a shrine worker then?” Evelin: "Back in Germany, I took a class on culteral studies back in my Private School. It was here that I learned about Shintoism - and felt a strange connection to the religion. After falling in love with the religion and lifestyle, I decided to follow it and only found my life improving due to it. Everything changed for me after I devoted myself to Shintoism, so I figured - why not offer guidance for those who want to as well?" Evelin: “Do you have any other questions for me, my dear?" Aya: “None, Miss Evelin! Thank you so much again for doing this interview with me,”[!] And with that, the video portion is done! [!]
Now, that was quite a lengthy video! Through these conversations, it’s clear that working at Shinsei Seinaru Monastery goes beyond a simple job, being a Maiden, or a Priest, or any roles at the shrine… It’s a lifestyle of devotion, humility, and community. Whether performing sacred ceremonies or sharing simple moments with fellow shrine workers, they embody Shinto principles in every task. Their dedication brings blessings not only to the monastery but to the entire community. They aren’t like any other jobs, as being a Maiden or Priest, is a calling to those who wish to serve the Kamis.
So, with that being said, next time you visit the Shinsei Seinaru Monastery, take a moment to appreciate the lives of those who maintain its peace, connecting all of us to something far greater than ourselves.
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