'A highly personal journey of remembrance and healing leads to an exploration of the mystic realms of Japan . . . Full of practical lessons that can change your life' Alfred Birnbaum, translator of Haruki Murakami
'A timely and moving pilgrimage through Japan's ancient spiritual traditions . . . Shows us how we might ease our own suffering and reawaken a profound appreciation of the beauty of the world' Ruth Ozeki, Booker Prize Finalist and winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction
Everything has a spirit. The heavens above, the ground below, the mountains afar. That is the fundamental essence of Shinto: a millennia-old Japanese philosophy that is closely attuned to the natural world. Shinto tells us that while we may feel alone, or subject to forces beyond our control, we are also part of a much bigger story. And that can make us very strong.
For Hiroko Yoda, these traditions helped pull her from the loneliness that followed a period of grief and loss. Within the pages of this transformative book, Yoda guides us through the furthest reaches of Japan, unveiling the profound ways in which you, too, can introduce Shinto traditions into your daily life. Together you will journey far and wide. You will trek into the mountains with practitioners of Shugendo, learning how to develop the art of a positive outlook. You will come face to face with Japan's most furious kami in downtown Tokyo, to learn the power of acknowledging anger. And you'll discover that forging your own spiritual path means never journeying alone.
