A Blessing for the Festival of the Dead

In Japan it will soon be the Bon (or Obon) Festival – perhaps the closest equivalent Japanese festival to Samhain. It is a time for remembering and honouring departed loved ones through a wide variety of rituals including dancing (bon-odori), lighting fires and lanterns, and placing offerings for the spirits which are believed to visit at this time. The most widely recognised official date of the Bon Festival is August 15th, but throughout Japan Bon-related activities will take place before and after this date.

Obon is a Buddhist festival rather than a Shinto one, but due to the deep syncretism between Buddhism and Shinto in Japan, this distinction doesn’t really matter so much so you will definitely find those who describe themselves as Shintoist observing the Bon Festival. Up to now, I’ve generally treated the Bon Festival as a relatively minor event – not only because it is more Buddhist than Shinto, but also because Samhain is my main festival for remembering the dead. Nevertheless, I do try to do something to commemorate Obon, such as leaving a special offering of tea or sake at my altar to the kami Inari, or lighting incense (I try not to do this at my Shinto sacred space because some schools of thought suggest that the kami do not like incense).

This year, I’d like to commemorate the Bon Festival simply by offering this short, eclectic blessing here.

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On this night, I honour the souls of my family and friends who have departed from this world.

I honour the spirits of my ancestors, knowing that they watch over my family in this world.

I honour the God Thanatos, bringer of the Gentle Death, and thank Him for bringing final rest to those suffering and in pain. I pray that He is gentle when He must finally come for my own soul and the souls of my loved ones.

I honour the God Mercury and the Bodhisattva Ojizo-sama, guardians of the souls of the living and the dead, and thank Them for watching over the souls of my loved ones, both in this world and the next. I pray that They protect the souls of my loved ones here in this world for as long as you can, and that when our time comes to leave, They take us gently by the hand and lead us true into the next world.

So Mote It Be.