The end of June and the beginning of July..... We are mostly drawn to the excitement of summer breaks. However, it is an important transition as it is the close of the first half of the year and the entrance into the second.
We often overlook this shift and I want to draw your attention.....
✨Summer Shinto Ritual of Purification✨
Nagoshi no Harae 夏越の祓 and Chi-no-wa Kuguri (茅の輪くぐり)
In Shinto tradition, this moment is honored through a bi-annual purification ceremony known as Nagoshi no Harae (夏越の祓), which literally means "Summer Passing Purification." It serves as a spiritual reset, complementing the year-end purification ritual held in December.
The purpose of Nagoshi no Harae (summer passing purification) is to cleanse ourselves of the impurities - both physical and emotional - that we have accumulated over the past six months.
At the beginning of the year, we often set meaningful intentions, but as time passes, we often find ourselves tangled in what we have to do every day. This mid-year ritual is a chance to pause, breath, return to zero, and realign ourselves, preparing the ground for a fruitful and meaningful harvest in the autumn.
At Shinto shrines across Japan, purification ceremonies are performed by Shinto priests. One common tradition involves writing one’s name on a small paper which is cut in the shape of a figure (called 人形 hitogata), prepared by the shrine. By writing our name on the figure, we symbolically transfer our impurities and mental burdens to it. The priest then performs a ritual to purify the energy, and the paper hitogata is ceremonially burned, releasing those impurities.
The central of this summer purification is the traditional ancient ritual of Chi-no-wa Kuguri (茅の輪くぐり) - a sacred act of walking through a large ring made of grass. 茅 (chi- or chigaya) refers to Cogon grass , a tall perennial plant traditionally used in purification and protection rituals; 輪 (wa) means "ring"; and くぐり (kuguri) means "to pass through." which has been performed since the ancient times and formalised in the Heian period (794–1185). This ring, resembling a portal, represents the crossing into a renewed and purified state. Passing through it symbolizes the shedding of our mental dusts -what we have accumulated in the first half of the year, and to welcome the second half of the year in a clear refreshed state of being.
The below are the photos of Chi-no-wa,this year, 2025, at our family shrine.
✨How to Practice✨
Your Own Purification Ritual Wherever You Are without Chi-no-wa..
I am based in Europe and I can not physically be in Japan now, but my parents always attend the ceremony on 30 June and I remotely do my own purification rituals and spend this transition, right now, from the end of June to the beginning of July.
Most of you are also not in Japan, and I will share how you can still incorporate this meaningful Shinto purification ritual into your life - no matter where you are in the world.
Purification is something I practice almost daily, but during seasonal transitions—especially this one marking the end of the first half of the year—I gather with like-minded people remotely: clients, friends, and members of my community. Practicing together not only deepens the experience, but also strengthens our energetic connection and sense of belonging.
STEP 1: CLEANSE YOUR OUTER SPACE
To remove impurities, we begin by cleansing both the outer and inner worlds. Start by tidying up your home. Clean, declutter, and sort through things you no longer need. Let them go.
This physical act of cleaning is not separate from spiritual purification—it’s part of it.
When you consciously sweep away dust, you are also sweeping away the dust in your mind. Consider and honor this process as a sacred ritual.
STEP 2: RELEASE EMOTIONAL BURDENS
Write down any emotional weight you've been carrying during the first half of the year. Be clear and honest. What thoughts, habits, or feelings are no longer serving you? What are you ready to release?
This act of writing helps you clarify and externalize what you want to let go of.
STEP 3: CONNECT WITH WATER
If possible, take a walk near water—a river, lake, ocean, or even a small stream. Water has powerful purifying energy. If you're near the ocean, observe the tides.
As the water is pulled by gravity, imagine it drawing away your burdens. Let go of what you wrote earlier—physically, symbolically, or energetically. You can tear the paper and let the elements carry it away (just ensure it’s done responsibly and respectfully to nature).
STEP 4: CLOSE WITH GRATITUDE
At the end of the day, before bed, say a quiet prayer of gratitude. Simply thank the universe for helping you let go, and for guiding you into the second half of the year with clarity and lightness.
And as an artist, I do make this ring, the circle representing this portal to symbolize this purification ritual.
I highly recommend this purification ritual at this time to clear and reset our energy field. Then, on July 7th, we have another beautiful opportunity to set intentions and make wishes. When we do so from a purified and grounded state, our wishes can be received with greater clarity and resonance.
If you’d like to learn more about Japanese ceremonial rituals for manifesting the life you wish to create, you’ll find a collection of seasonal and daily practices in my upcoming book, YOSHUKU – The Japanese Art of Manifesting—a simple, accessible guide to bringing ancient Japanese wisdom into your modern life.
You can also join my private community, Japanese Wisdom Academy, where you can directly connect with me, learn, practice Japanese Wisdom together.
