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Yukari no shiro | ゆかりのしろ

📌 Framing information:

About Yukarinoshiro (Altar of Connections)

ゆかりのしろは、すなたまししむらゆかりのひめひこの祭壇である。すなたまししむらゆかりのひめひこは、三組のひめひこの中でも巫女にとって最も個人的な繋がりのあるひめひこであり、巫女そのものをあらわすものである。

Yukarinoshiro is an altar representing Suna Tama Shishimura Yukarino Himehiko. Of the three himehikos, the Suna tama shishimura yukarino himehiko is the most personal to the Miko, as it represents the miko herself. As a miko progresses through her studies, her yukarinoshiro also evolves. Below are examples of four yukarinoshiro settings: Mirai no Miko, Honpo no Miko, Honpou no Miko, and Sozo no Miko.

Additionally: While it is encouraged to make offerings daily, there is no specific time to light a fire at the altar. Ideally, you light a fire in the UTSUWA once a week, but burning a candle is an ok substitute. If you have anxiety, worries, or wishes, it is a good idea to burn origami or herbs that symbolize them in a fire UTSUWA. If you are able to make this part of your Wednesday routine.

The Wednesday routine: A fire is lit every Wednesday evening. It is supposed to start from 11pm, but I think you can choose a time that is convenient for you. This is a good time to create a routine to eliminate your week's worth of worries or anxieties. Originally, it is preferable to light the fire during the "time of the Boar" (9PM to 11PM) or the "time of the mouse" (midnight) because it is the time of water.

毎週水曜日の夜に火を灯すことです。一応23時から行うことになっていますが、各々の都合の良い時間で良いと思います。このタイミングで一週間分の悩みや心配事を解消するルーティンを作ると良いでしょう。本来は亥の時間か子の時間（21〜23時、0時）に火を灯すのが好ましいです。水の時間なので。

Yukarinoshiro for Future Miko (Mirai no Miko)

はじめ、未来の巫女は手頃な深さと円周の容器、手のひら程度の石を三つ、容器を満たせるだけの砂か土を用意する。砂や石の種類や採取場所は、未来の段階では重視しない。都会に暮らす故にそれらを簡単に採取できない場合などは、ホームセンターなどでペットの水槽用の砂利などを購入しても良いだろう。

First, the future miko prepares a container of reasonable depth and circumference, three palm-sized stones, and enough sand or soil to fill the container. The type and location of sand and stone will not be considered important until future stages. If you live in the city and can't collect them easily, you can buy gravel for your pet's tank at a home center.

container of reasonable depth & circumference
Three palm-sized stones
soil to fill the container

素材が整ったら、五行を歌いながら手のうつわで砂を容器に満たしてゆく。充分な深さになったら、三石を円を描くように砂に深く挿す。石はあまり小さすぎてはいけない。形状にもよるが、砂中に石の半分程度を埋めて固定したうえで砂上に親指程度の高さが飛び出るような状態が好ましい。しっかりと砂に根差すよう、挿してゆく。この石それぞれが、すな、たま、ししむらのひめひこの依代である。三石が整ったら、中央に赤紙で三角を作り、棒に固定し、上向きの三角になるように挿す。この三角は、遠くない未来に巫女に灯る夢の火を象徴する。

Once the materials are ready, fill the container with sand using the bowl of your hand while singing the Five Elements. Once deep enough, the three stones are inserted deep into the sand in a circular motion. The stones should not be too small. Although it depends on the shape, it is preferable to bury about half of the stone in the sand and fix it so that the height of the thumb rises above the sand. Insert it so that it is firmly rooted in the sand. Each of these stones are divine representations symbolizing the priestesses’ Suna, Tama, and Shishimura's Himehiko. When the three stones are in place, make a triangle in the center with red paper, fix it on a stick, and insert it so that it forms an upward triangle. This triangle symbolizes the dream fire that will light the miko in the not too distant future.

出来上がったら、家の中の清らかな場所に据え、手前に小さな三つの器と蝋燭を灯す。小さな器は、すなたまししむらへの供物である。毎日、または定期的に、水や食べ物を供えること。

Once completed, place it in a clean place in your house, and light three small vessels and a candle in front of it. A small vessel is an offering to the Suna tama shishimura. Provide daily or regular water and food offerings

未来巫女のゆかりのしろ
Mirai no Miko’s Yukarinoshiro Example 1

未来巫女のゆかりのしろ
Mirai no Miko’s Yukarinoshiro Example 3

Yukarinoshiro for Wild Miko (Honpō no Miko)

未来の巫女に夢の火が灯り、奔放の参入儀式を通過したら、火のうつわをゆかりのしろの上に据える。この時、満たされた砂がすな、三石がししむら、うつわがたまのひめひこの依代となる。日々の祈りや拝火のおりには、このうつわの上で女神から得た火と再会することになる。うつわを支えるひめひこに、日々心を配ること。

When the future miko completes the unbridled initiation ceremony by receiving the fire in her dreams, she becomes a Wild Miko. she will place the fire vessel on top of the Yukarino Shiro. At this time, the filled sand becomes Yorishiro (object occupied by kami) for “Suna”, the three stones becomes Yorishiro for “Shishimura”, and the vessel becomes Yorishiro for “Tama” himehiko. During daily prayers and fire worship, we are able to reunite with the flame that we received from the goddess atop this vessel. The himehiko that supports the Vessel/Utsuwa, is to care for your self/soul daily.

奔放巫女のゆかりのしろ

Honpō Miko’s Yukarinoshiro

奔放巫女のゆかりのしろに火を入れたところ

Fire lit in the Honpou Altar

Yukarinoshiro for Miko of Enchantment (Kowaku no Miko)

蠱惑の巫女になると、歩きの行を行う。これは実際にさまざまな場所を旅して、土地や精霊、人々との交流の中で自身の祈りの術を磨いてゆくという行である。この行の道中で、巫女は自身のすなたまししむらの依代にふさわしい砂と石を探し、手にいれること。生まれ故郷の浜辺の砂や、学び深い体験をした森の石など。これまでの巫女行のなかで磨いてきた様々の技術や経験を活かして、しかるべき石を得ること。

When a miko becomes a Priestess of Enchantment, perform a walking line. This is a practice of actually traveling to various places and polishing one's own prayer skills through interaction with the land, spirits, and people. Along the way, the miko should look for and obtain sand and stones suitable for her Suna Tama Shishimura Yorishiro (object occupied by kami) For example, the sand from the beach where one was born, and the stones from the forest where one learned and experienced deeply. Making use of the various techniques and experiences that I have honed in my past as a miko, you are able to obtain the right stone.

(Image forthcoming)

蠱惑巫女のゆかりのしろ

Kowaku Miko no Yukarinoshiro

Yukarinoshiro for Miko of Creation (Sōzō no Miko)

創造の巫女になると、三石の中央に火を入れる。火のうつわに水を注ぎ湯を沸かし、人々神々精霊の生まれ清まりの儀式を行うゆばなの儀の祭壇となる。

When a miko becomes a Priestess of Creation, she will light a fire in the center of the three stones. Water is poured into Utsuwa to boil the water, and it becomes the altar of the yubana ceremony for the ritual of the birth and purification for the gods, spirits and peoples.

創造巫女のゆかりのしろにてゆばなが行われている様子

Sōzō Miko no Yukarinoshiro | Yubana Ritual + Song

この祭壇はこのようにして、少しずつ姿を変えながら未来、奔放、蠱惑、創造と、巫女行の終わりまで共に過ごすこととなる重要な道具であるため、心して整えること。

As this altar physically changes slowly along with the progression through Mirai, Honpō, Kowaku, Sōzō, and the end of Mikogyō, it is important to carefully prepare it and spend time with it.

Mariko