When we went to Munetada shrine during New Year festivities 2023, I purchased three prayer tiles as I have a lot on my mind.
Each ema tile received a very specific wish/intention/prayer, written in black ink pen {I love that there’s an arts and crafts component to Shinto rituals}.
What does it say on the other side? Maybe I’ll tell you when I get to know you better.
Anyhow, the tiles are hung on racks, before or after (I’m not sure if it matters) depositing coins in a box, ringing a bell and clapping to alert the ancestors and kami you have something to say.
{I’m reminding myself to put a photo of the racks here cause I’m sure I snapped but just misplaced}.
As I understand it, after a certain period of time, the priests burn the decorative wooden tiles to float the prayers through smoke up into the sky or something like that.
You generally also take other holy religious artifacts of a sort that you’ve gathered throughout the year and put them in a big box for burning. I’m not sure if this is required, or just tidying up, or some of both.
We went of course together meeting with darling wife Ryoko and adorable son Ichiro and my wonderful in-laws. Ryoko did an extra ceremony for blessings for her business which happened inside the shrine.
There are food stands on site and we ate bananas covered with strawberry chocolate (I must have photos of that as well as seems like something I would do).
Then we went and ate delicious Ramen together.
