Ryōbu Shintō ceremonies often look and feel like a dance between two worlds, where Shinto’s natural reverence meets the disciplined precision of Shingon and Tendai rituals. A few standout elements:

1. Goma (Fire Ritual)
   • Borrowed straight from esoteric Buddhism, goma involves kindling a consecrated fire to consume wooden prayer tablets (gomagi).
   • Mantras—especially to Fudō Myōō—are chanted continuously, invoking purification and warding off malevolent forces.
   • Mudras (hand seals) accompany each chant, sealing the ritual’s protective intent.

2. Mantra Recitation
   • Sanskrit seed syllables like “A,” “Un,” and “Hum” often precede prayers to kami such as Amaterasu or Hachiman.
   • This vocal layering blurs the line between Buddhist veneration of cosmic Buddhas and Shinto’s ancestral spirits.

3. Mandala Offerings
   • Small mandalas, painted on silk or paper, are presented at the honden (main sanctuary) alongside traditional tamagushi (sacred branches).
   • Each mandala becomes a microcosm where kami and esoteric deities share the same symbolic stage.

4. Abhiṣeka-style Water and Sand Ablutions
   • Purification rites sprinkle holy water laced with blessed sand—reminiscent of the esoteric abhiṣeka (initiation) ceremonies at Mount Kōya.
   • This double-purity approach both cleanses and consecrates participants, whether lay worshippers or priests.

5. Shingon-Derived Talisman Inscription
   • Shakujō-style staffs and ofuda (paper talismans) are inscribed with Siddhaṃ characters.
   • These carry protective mantras and are placed near Shinto altar beams, reinforcing the shrine’s spiritual armor.

Catch a glimpse of this fusion at festivals like the annual Narita-san Taisai, where mikoshi parades pause for a sudden burst of Buddhist chanting. It’s a vivid reminder that, even today, Ryōbu Shintō continues to bridge two rich traditions—proving that spiritual syncretism still has plenty of fire left in its belly.