Outer Court Materials Ready!

The Outer Court lesson is complete!


It took a few months to evaluate the criteria and to think about how this would work out, then to rework the lesson and rework it some more.  Next is to work on the Dedicant level information.

Sophia Risings: Momiji Moon will consider applicants in... JUNE!

That way Dedication will be close to Samhain.

Momiji

Momiji is referred to as a kami in Japanese Shinto tradition. A kami cam mean many things: ghost, spirit, elemental, god, otherworlderly being, etc. In this case, she is seen most closely related to a dryad or tree spirit. She represents the essence of all Japanese maple trees. This ranks her as a spirit or minor deity.

In one myth, she aids the Goddess of Autumn (Akibimi). "One day a dryad named Momiji stumbled upon the mountain (Akibimi, powerless and transformed) and, realizing that the beauty of the earth could not be appreciated without the slumber brought on by Akibimi's powers, offered to free the autumn. To this end, Momiji climbed up onto Akibimi's head and set down roots, and through her, autumn once more fell on the world." (https://broomcloset.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/akibimi-japanese-goddess-of-autumn/)

To this day, there are special festivities in the Autumn to view the changing leaves of the Japanese maple trees. This is called Momiji-gare. It is both a social and a spiritual experience. There are even protocols for proper viewing, like there are for tea and calligraphy. While viewing, one should try to come into spiritual communion with the leaves, listening and communicating with the gods and spirits of these trees. The aim is to "enter nature" and let it touch your heart. Internalize its beauty. "Man enters Nature, and Nature, in turn, enters man." This viewing festival is important in all sorts of tales, like the Tale of Genji, and throughout history where meetings of officials were held in peace under the watchful eye and the beauty of Momiji. This leads to notions of peace and prosperity being associated with Momiji.

The leaf shape of the Japanese maple tree is akin to a child's hand (momiji) or the webbed hand of a frog (kaede). Often the Autumn coloring makes for crimson colored leaves (momizu, to become crimson-leaved).

Momiji is found in many Japanese poems for all the reasons mentioned above. It was also a poetic euphemism for eating venison. Each Japanese tree became associated with a kind of animal and thus meat. The cherry tree (Sakura) is associated with horses and eating horse meat. Momiji is associated with the deer and thus the eating of venison.

Momiji Moon venerates Momiji as its main spirit or totem, and treats Momiji as a deity. It is through Momiji that the coven and tradition had been revived, and through Momiji that the smooth blending of East Asian traditions could find balance.

(References also from: https://printsofjapan.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/momiji-%E7%B4%85%E8%91%89-the-japanese-and-their-love-affair-with-the-maple-tree/)