Sweet dream おだやかな夢

Badminton バドミントン

Great trees 巨木

At a park 公園で

Happy birthday, Oyasama, おやさま、誕生日おめでとう。

“April 18, 1798” On this day, Oyasama was born. This painting depicts not only her birth but also various aspects of Oyasama through symbolic imagery. At the top of the painting is the primordial sea of mud. The white snake (which contains a turtle’s tool and represents Izanami) is a symbol of the mother of humanity. The newborn Oyasama holds the plum blossom that the white snake is carrying in its mouth. This implies that Oyasama possesses the soul of the mother of humanity. The plum blossom is a symbol of Oyasama’s teachings and the protection of her divine assistance. A man is offering a red kimono. This foreshadows the red robe that Oyasama would later wear. A child holds a brush and paper. This alludes to the “Ofudesaki.” Three children are clasping their hands in prayer and beating a drum. This alludes to the “Tsutome.” The area enclosed by a hedge is shaped into a hexagon, symbolizing the “Jiba,” and the red house in one corner represents the residence of the living Oyasama. The paths extending in all four directions from the hexagon represent Oyasama’s “Path of the Model.”

Petal stars 花弁星

Spring magic 春のマジック

Before you know it, the dandelion blooms, and before you know it, it turns into a fluffy seed head. When did that happen? I looked it up and found a video online. It showed the yellow flower folding up and closing tightly, and when it opened a little while later, it had turned into a fluffy seed head. Closing tightly and transforming—it’s like a first-class magic trick. Nature is full of wonders.