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Omamori disposal? 2012/10/16 09:33
Hi, I have a lot of omamori accumulated from my travel in Japan. I understand that for some, it is a custom to dispose of them every year. If I live abroad, what should I do, according to tradition? Thank you!
by sunyata  

Re: Omamori disposal? 2012/10/16 16:06
Hello!(^_^)/

It's not disposal but return.
oMamori is just an material, but it's accommodated with god's power.
So we have to return it to the owner.
The story goes so.

But Japanese gods are accommodating and open-minded, you know.
If you keep them clean with caution, and some other day you'll return them to any shrine that you can visit, it's O.K. I think.

In Japan, October is called "Kamnazuki" that means "godless month".
On this month, all gods' meeting convene in Izumo region every year.
I think maybe gods return entrusted oMamori to the owner with each other there.

Sorry, excuse my poor English.(x_x;)
by ajapaneseboy rate this post as useful

Thank you 2012/10/16 17:05
Thank you very much! Your answer was very helpful, and your English is fine. If I return an omamori to a shrine, is there a place I need to put it? Do I give it to a miko? Thank you for your help.
by sunyata rate this post as useful

Re: Omamori disposal? 2012/10/16 19:37
Yes, there is a place/box to return in large shrines.
BTW, at Narita-san temple, I saw a shed with belt conveyer that takes charms, dolls and so on inside.
The place/box looks like those pictures.
http://blog-imgs-29-origin.fc2.com/w/h/i/whiteberry1228/P1010912.jpg
http://blog-imgs-29-origin.fc2.com/w/h/i/whiteberry1228/P1010910.jpg
http://blog-imgs-29-origin.fc2.com/w/h/i/whiteberry1228/P1010911.jpg
http://goo.gl/PsyVQ
Or if there is not, you can give it to a miko.

BTW, if you are interested in, try goShuin (sign with red stamp) someday.
At almost all temples/shrines they write before your eyes, generally it's 300 yen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bu3NkXMOgA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDDGSHwsonk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5QbISeAd_M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf9ZzVfZxDw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIiBTJnZJjw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id6HgIjK-4s&list=PLF0E5A2A258C99D03
by ajapaneseboy rate this post as useful

Re: Omamori disposal? 2012/10/17 04:22
Thank you again! The information was very helpful.
by sunyata rate this post as useful

Re: Omamori disposal? 2012/10/27 10:52
As a related question, can omamori be opened after the one year has expired, or can they never be opened?
by Shimada Jiei rate this post as useful

Re: Omamori disposal? 2012/10/27 16:07
I think never be opened.
In general, they say omamori will lose effect, if you open it.
Oh, I see that expired omamori had lost effect already!(lol

In any way, to open omamori is meaningless
(at best there are only pieces of paper put into it)
and impolite, so no-one open it.

Although I feel like I opened omamori and looked into when I was a child.(^_^;
Maybe every year many "effective" omamori is opened by curious children.
by ajapaneseboy rate this post as useful

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