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Some ten days after I left I was back at Nachi-san - the eastern trail head for the Nakahechi Route as I wanted her to share the vibes it gets as serene and peacful locationto
Nachi-San is located on the littoral coast of the Kii Peninsular. It overlooks the seaside village of Kii Katsu Urua - about ten kilometers away.
She walked along a part of the trail. Thus - she has equal "bragging rights" together with any spiritual benefits.
The following photos show how you can almost reach out and touch the mountains, waterfalls, streams, forests, trees, boulders - they seem omni present:
Photo: Paul - without walking stick with the three storey pagoda and waterfall in the background.
Photo: Paul - without walking stick with the three storey pagoda and waterfall in the background.
Photo: Carmel negotiating 300 metres of the Nakahechi Imperial Route from the Pagoda to the Waterfall - highest waterfall in the Kumano region
Photo: Carmel with that Yatta! Look (Japanese for : I did it!) as she arrives at the base of the waterfall
Photo (above): Carmel at the Kumano Nachi Grand shrine- looking from the Pagoda and waterfall in the background
Photo (below) The Dai_Mon_Zaka Stairway the symbolic end of the Nakahechi Route
Photo (above) Not to scale - Grand Shrine, Seiganto-ji temple, Pagoda, rock steps to base of waterfall, trees to Daimon Saka pathway
Photo (Below) Dai Mon Saka path towards the Grand Shrine and ceremonial well (left) The Tea-House facility to kit up for the ceremony
Photo (above) Not to scale - Grand Shrine, Seiganto-ji temple, Pagoda, rock steps to base of waterfall, trees to Daimon Saka pathway
Photo (Below) Dai Mon Saka path towards the Grand Shrine and ceremonial well (left) The Tea-House facility to kit up for the ceremony
Stepping Back to the Past
Stepping Back to the Past
At the base of the Dai Mon stairway/path, there is a tea-house wherein couples can hire and get fitted up with costumes in thestyle dating back to the Hei-an Era (794-1185 the period where the three major temples (above) were constructed and infrastructure developed for the purpose of veneration)
In the picture below, a modern couple, ascends the 600 metre path to the temples at the top and ask for blessing along the way. They negotiate the uneven cobblestone steps in sandals and socks.
They pass by the 800 year old "Husband and Wife Trees" Me-Oto-sugi".... where the roots are entwined beneath the path
The symbolism did not escape me.
The symbolism did not escape me.
The stairway leads to the Grand Shrine. The stairway rises toward the Grand Shrine. There, under Carmel’s gaze, I drank ceremonially from the fountain—an offering of thanks to a Greater Power beyond my understanding, for the gift of a loving marriage and for her healing, her remission from cancer only a year before. (I performed the same act again in 2024 in front of Dan - this time thanks were given for my family)
The stairway leads to the Grand Shrine. The stairway rises toward the Grand Shrine. There, under Carmel’s gaze, I drank ceremonially from the fountain—an offering of thanks to a Greater Power beyond my understanding, for the gift of a loving marriage and for her healing, her remission from cancer only a year before. (I performed the same act again in 2024 in front of Dan - this time thanks were given for my family)
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