The Prince and the Priestess

[Raja kumarie]

The days pass as I learn everything from clothing to tea and more. Finally as our second week is coming to a close I find myself out in the garden shrine which lotus as she talks about magic.

"So you're telling me that if I say a prayer this rock will fling its self at the wall because my prayer makes the rocks spirt willing to obey? Why not just throw the rock?"

[GamesMaster]

"Because that wouldn't be magic," she says simply. Lotus has a way of saying things in a nonaggressive, patient, soft manner, gently answering the question as asked instead of trying to over-explain. 

[Raja kumarie]

"Right but prayer isn't magic either." I say pointedly "if prayer were magic than every present would be a king!"

[GamesMaster]

"I do not understand this word, 'prayer', as it please your ladyship." She bows her head in faux shame. 

[Raja kumarie]

I look at her for a second "to speak and make offerings to the gods and spirits. Like here in this shrine I ask the cats to word offf sickness and evil spirits and I ask Vishnu to protect my husband and our family."

[GamesMaster]

"Aaah," she says, nodding. She uses a different word, then, one in Japanese. "Giving reverence is [word]," she adds, "but asking something of the spirits is [word]. If I were to ask a cat to ward off evil spirits, she would want repayment from me, because that is a hard duty I am asking. just as if I were to ask a servant to guard a building."

[Raja kumarie]

"Oh I see it's the diff ranch so your mages command the spirits aid them and in exchange give an offering."

[GamesMaster]

"Yes, it is much like that. It is best to appease the spirits around the home regularly with offerings at the family shrine, because those are the spirits most called upon for aid."

[Raja kumarie]

"Then we have nothing to worry about then" I beam "I leave each statue their own offering every morning and personally anoint them weekly."

[GamesMaster]

"Good, good. And the family altar?"

[Raja kumarie]

"I haven't been yet but I send offerings every day and have been invited to go with mother to decorate it for tanabat"

[GamesMaster]

"Ah yes. you'll have to wear yukata for that."

[Raja kumarie]

I nod "I've been practicing wearing it so this time I won't fall" I laugh rembering the first time I tried to walk in such a straight long robe and how quickly I stopped on a sleeve and tripped

[GamesMaster]

She nods. "You should order made up some with your own personal style. Be sure to request short sleeves, as you are a married woman."

[Raja kumarie]

I nod gently "short sleeved..... do you think one of my saris would be enough fabric?"