The first Shinto shrine ever built in North America is actually nearby to Seattle, though sadly it is closing later this month.
As such I felt like paying a visit.
So what I really liked about the shrine is that it's very directly tied with the local nature and really the shrine itself is small, it's kinda the forest around it with the river running through it that is impressive
This is a view of the gate to the shrine a few steps away from where I parked
And once you're in, you're on a forest path, and the shrine is a bit deeper in
Once I got there I didn't feel it was reverent to take more pictures even though I saw other people doing so.
But it's what I am vaguely familiar with. The shrine itself is a small building and you can purify your hands and mouth with water, make your offer, ring the bell, and approach the multiple kami that are enshrined.
After that it then recommended going and experiencing the grounds around the shrine
So a bit of a ways on, you can find the river itself with a little rocky beach with many smooth stones.
The forest is all around, but there's a clearing to some degree so you can see lots of the sky and birds flying by and all that
Just standing here on this beach was really where I talked with the kami, and made a little structure of rocks because I saw others had done so
I stood with my thoughts and took it all in and then headed back to my car and drove home
And... I feel so light, so good. It really feels like something happened, whether that was spiritual or just being in nature and separate from my normal worldly situation
So yeah it was really good and I'm sad it's moving further away across the border, but I'm really glad that I went at least once and hope to even get up there to the new location as well as visit again before it closes