The Clumsy Interloper

The Ise Jingu of Japan, originally built 2,000 years ago, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the solar goddess Amaterasu. I say originally built because every 20 years it is dismantled and rebuilt on an adjacent site to the same exacting specifications. The basis for this practice is the Shinto belief of tokowaka which emphasizes the renewal of objects to maintain a strong sense of divine prestige in pursuit of eternity. The current Ise Jingu dates back to 2013, being the 62nd iteration to date, with the next scheduled rebuild slated for 2033. The artisans and carpenters who are hired to rebuild the shrine must be skilled in specific ancient techniques as power tools are not allowed within the area of the shrine.

When I reflect back 20 years ago I have tremendous difficulty mentally docking with the college-aged edition of myself. I have glimmers of events and general preoccupations from that period, but in the name of self-preservation much of “myself” has been washed away with the sands of time. However, our senses can slice through the artifice of psychological suppression and deliver us to a past once forgotten. A whiff of lavender perfume, a jazzy needle drop or first bite of comfort food can plumb a depth charge down into that vast reservoir of memory. On the whole we seek harmony and balance which means painful trials which led us here often become relics we would rather forget. The locals regard Ise Jingu as original because the intent and design of the structure is the same as it was 2,000 years ago. The materials are not the essence of the building, rather they are a means to connect with their ancestral origins.

We are all collections of experiences who can’t reach exit velocity without taking those first steps into the unknown. Look in the mirror right now and this current self you keep chiseling away at is the same basis and spirit of your former half-forgotten iterations. Like the Shinto, I encourage you to take some time today and bow to your inner-tokowaka. Have grace, empathy and even reverence for those younger versions of yourself. Your body is merely a vessel but your journey, from beginning to present, marks the sacred bond we all have with eternity.