Purity in Ryobu Shinto unfolds as a graceful dance between Shinto’s elemental rites and Esoteric Buddhism’s sacred fire and mantra. At the heart of the ceremony sits a small altar laden with salt, water, sakaki branches, gohei (paper streamers) and the esoteric implements: vajra, bell, and mandala cloth. First, a handful of salt is scattered around the ritual space—a nod to harae’s power to dispel impurity—while a slow sprinkling of water over the altar mirrors misogi’s cleansing currents.

Next comes the goma fire rite, borrowed from Shingon traditions. Logs carved with Sanskrit seed syllables are offered to the flames, each spark rising like a prayer. As the fire crackles, practitioners chant hybrid texts: classical norito entwined with Sanskrit mantras to Dainichi Nyorai and Amaterasu Ōmikami. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone—honoring the sun goddess and the cosmic Buddha in a single breath.

Hand gestures, or mudrā, guide the flow of divine energy. Palms clap lightly before positioning the vajra and bell in perfect balance, invoking inner and outer purification. A ritual sash, dyed in vermilion and white, wraps around practitioners’ waists—a symbolic bridge between flesh and spirit. The final act involves touching the tip of the sakaki branch to one’s forehead, heart, and lips, sealing the rite with a gentle blessing that resonates long after footsteps leave the shrine grounds.

Modern Ryobu shrines in Kyoto and Tokyo have even begun streaming these ceremonies online, reflecting Japan’s post-pandemic pivot toward virtual worship. Whether standing before an ancient altar or tuning in via smartphone, the essence remains the same: a seamless tapestry of water, fire, word and silence, weaving pure intention into every heartbeat.