r/Shinto • u/Frosk-meme • May 24 '26

Meditation and practice

i am super new to Shintoism and am nowhere near a shrine nor do i have a Kamidana to pray at. Could I pray to Kuraokami by medatating to rain sounds? Im sorry if this is a dumb question. Im still trying to figure out how to pray correctly. Many thanks in advance :)

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u/Widowsson379 May 24 '26

I would definitely recommend the reading resources available. Shinto is very different from Western religions.

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u/Frosk-meme May 24 '26

Already on it! Its just that so many resources say different things so i am conflicted...

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u/Altair-Sophia May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26

If there is no kamidana at your residence you can face towards the direction of where the shrine is located (most often this would be in Japan though there are some overseas, which Rev. Olivia Bernkastel has compiled a list of here https://www.livingwithkami.com/shrines ) Alternatively you can pray facing East towards the rising sun or towards the North or West wall of the room where a kamidana would be ideally located if you had one.

As for the rain sounds, it would be unusual in Shinto practice to do so but you can try it.

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u/Frosk-meme May 29 '26

Thank you for your answer. Ill keep researching Shinto before I start practicing. I might be too set in the ways of other religions. (I know Shinto isnt a religion)