Misogi (禊) 「みそぎ」 A Japanese Shinto practice

Misogi (禊) 「みそぎ」 A Japanese Shinto practice of ritual purification by washing the entire body.

Upon the will of the Great Spirit, by which the Universe is initiated in the cosmic force of creation by the Kamis (Divine Spirit) of birth and growth.

Izanagi-no-Mikoto

The Kamis of purification came to exist from the impurities which Izanagi-no-Mikoto (Divine creator of the solar system) cleansed from his body in the divine river of heaven.

Izanagi-no-Mikoto

We will be able to recognize (see) the Kami (truth), only after we purify ourselves of all negativity, impurities, faults and restore ourselves to what we are meant to be (natural brightness).

Misogi 「みそぎ」

Misogi (禊) 「みそぎ」is a Japanese Shinto practice of ritual purification by washing the entire body. Misogi is related to another Shinto purification ritual called Harae – thus both being collectively referred to as Misogiharae (禊祓).

In Kyoto, people douse themselves under Kiyomizu Temple's Otowa no taki (Sound-of-Wings) waterfall, although the majority of visitors drink from the waters rather than plunging into them.

Every year, many groups take pilgrimages to sacred waterfalls, lakes and rivers, either alone or in small groups, to perform misogi. Mount Ontake, the Kii mountain range and Mount Yoshino are but a few examples of ancient and well known areas for Misogi in Japan.

In the United States misogi is performed at the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America at the Konryu Myojin no Taki waterfall each morning.

Before encountering misogi, members generally undergo some sort of preliminary purification. Such things as prayers, fasting, or some sort of physical activity is common. Generally, women put on a special white kimono (robe) and a headband and men put on a fundoshi (loin cloth) and head band.
They then begin furitama (降り魂) or "spirit shaking" by clenching their hands in front of the stomach and shaking them up and down, vibrating the upper torso.

The purpose of this is to become aware of/unified with the spirit's presence within. Following this is a "warm-up" or calisthenics (tori-fune 鳥船 or "bird boat" rowing). These two aforementioned practices are sometimes accompanied by special prayers or incantations.

After, the leader begins to speak out invocations/prayers that are said to activate the spirit. The followers generally speak along with them, thus affirming the potential for realizing one's own spirit, and thus unifying them with the kami around them.

The above exercises are done so participants raise their metabolism and some groups accompany this with deep breathing. They may be sprinkled with purifying salt and may be given sake to spit into the waterfall in three mouthfuls.

Sometimes the participants are given salt to throw into the waterfall as they enter. In some groups, the leader counts to nine and then cuts the air while shouting the word "yei!" to dispel this impurity.

The participants then enter the waterfall while continuously chanting the phrase harai tamae kiyome tamae rokkon shōjō (祓い給え清め給え六根清浄). This phrase asks the kami to wash away the impurity from the six elements that make up the human being, the five senses and the mind. The practice of this varies from group to group, each having their own traditions or methods.

六根清浄六根清浄（ろっこんしょうじょう）とは、人間に具わった六根を清らかにすること。
神社に参拝するときや神棚を拝むときには、「祓え給い、清め給え、神かむながら守り給い、幸さきわえ給え」（お祓い下さい、お清め下さい、神様のお力により、お守り下さい、幸せにして下さい）と唱える場合もあります。

神道では自らの祓い清めが信仰的にも神様に近づくための大切なおこないとなっているからです。

Tsubaki America Jinja (アメリカ椿大神社)

Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, also sometimes known as Tsubaki America Jinja or in Japanese as amerika tsubaki ōkamiyashiro (アメリカ椿大神社), is the first Shinto shrine built in the mainland United States after World War II. It was erected in 1987 in Stockton, California, and moved to its current location in Granite Falls, Washington, in 2001.

Gosaijin (enshrined Kami/Spirits) of Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America are Sarutahiko-no-Ōkami, ancestor of all earthly Kami and Kami of progressing positively in harmony with Divine Nature; and his wife Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, Kami of arts and entertainment, harmony, meditation and joy. Also enshrined are Amaterasu Ōmikami (Kami of the Sun), Ugamitama-no-Ōkami (Kami of foodstuffs and things to sustain human life/Oinarisama), America Kokudo Kunitama-no-Kami (protector of the North America Continent) and Ama-no-Murakumo-Kuki-Samuhara-Ryu-O (Kami of Aikido).

Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America is a branch of Tsubaki Ōkami Yashiro, one of the oldest and most notable shrines in Japan, which celebrated its 2000th anniversary in 1997.

The current Guji (Head Priest) is Rev. Koichi Barrish, the second non-Japanese priest in Shinto history.

Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山清水寺)

Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺), formally Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山清水寺), is a Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) UNESCO World Heritage site.

The place is not to be confused with Kiyomizu-dera in Yasugi, Shimane, which is part of the 33-temple route of the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage through western Japan, or the Kiyomizu-dera temple associated with the Buddhist priest Nichiren.

The temple is currently covered entirely by semi-transparent scaffolding while it is undergoing restoration works in preparation for the 2020 Olympics.