Olivia Bernkastel
@livingwithkami.bsky.social
Licensed Shinto Priestess of the Konko Faith🌿教派神道金光教の神職です。I share about my life as a priestess and Shinto traditions. 📬Contact me at: livingwithkami@gmail.com | https://livingwithkami.carrd.co
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Nice to meet you, my name is Olivia!
I'm a licensed Shinto priestess of the Konko Faith, currently working at @yokosukakonko.bsky.social
Please feel free to contact me at livingwithkami@gmail.com🌿
(Photo is when I was graciously able to officiate a wedding in Scotland, and my shrine)
I'm a licensed Shinto priestess of the Konko Faith, currently working at @yokosukakonko.bsky.social
Please feel free to contact me at livingwithkami@gmail.com🌿
(Photo is when I was graciously able to officiate a wedding in Scotland, and my shrine)
Today I helped to clean up, set the altar space, and officiated a Kamidana installation and Fushimi Inari Taisha Ōmitama enshrinement today at a friend’s home ⛩🌾
Inari Inari Faith Inari Okami Shinto Torii Kamidana shrine foxes Japan Japanese religion
Inari Inari Faith Inari Okami Shinto Torii Kamidana shrine foxes Japan Japanese religion
November 12, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Today I helped to clean up, set the altar space, and officiated a Kamidana installation and Fushimi Inari Taisha Ōmitama enshrinement today at a friend’s home ⛩🌾
Inari Inari Faith Inari Okami Shinto Torii Kamidana shrine foxes Japan Japanese religion
Inari Inari Faith Inari Okami Shinto Torii Kamidana shrine foxes Japan Japanese religion
Some reflections today on a series I finished and I adored!
October 23, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Some reflections today on a series I finished and I adored!
Today, October 22nd, 2025, marks 10 years serving as a priestess and toritsugi mediator! I am eternally grateful for these past 10 years and I pray for many more years to be able to serve Kami-sama and people!🙇
October 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Today, October 22nd, 2025, marks 10 years serving as a priestess and toritsugi mediator! I am eternally grateful for these past 10 years and I pray for many more years to be able to serve Kami-sama and people!🙇
Yesterday, I mailed out sacred items to Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Australia, and USA. It's nice to see Shinto and Konko Faith growing around the world. ☺️☀️
July 17, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Yesterday, I mailed out sacred items to Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Australia, and USA. It's nice to see Shinto and Konko Faith growing around the world. ☺️☀️
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
As a mixed Japanese Shinto shrine maiden + a fantasy writer myself, I've seen many non-Japanese anime/cyberpunk fans trying to write their own stories. Some of them do a ✨great✨ job. Others... not so much.
So, let's unpack how you can be a better writer, especially if you're borrowing from Shinto.⛩️
So, let's unpack how you can be a better writer, especially if you're borrowing from Shinto.⛩️
July 3, 2025 at 8:27 PM
As a mixed Japanese Shinto shrine maiden + a fantasy writer myself, I've seen many non-Japanese anime/cyberpunk fans trying to write their own stories. Some of them do a ✨great✨ job. Others... not so much.
So, let's unpack how you can be a better writer, especially if you're borrowing from Shinto.⛩️
So, let's unpack how you can be a better writer, especially if you're borrowing from Shinto.⛩️
Happy Tanabata! 🎋🌌💫
July 7, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Happy Tanabata! 🎋🌌💫
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
Your local shrine maiden here with a friendly reminder to please not rely on ChatGPT as a source for knowledge on Shinto
ChatGPT can’t discern between sources that are legitimately verifiable or not in English, so relying on it to explain the more delicate, detailed aspects of Shinto is unwise
ChatGPT can’t discern between sources that are legitimately verifiable or not in English, so relying on it to explain the more delicate, detailed aspects of Shinto is unwise
May 16, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Your local shrine maiden here with a friendly reminder to please not rely on ChatGPT as a source for knowledge on Shinto
ChatGPT can’t discern between sources that are legitimately verifiable or not in English, so relying on it to explain the more delicate, detailed aspects of Shinto is unwise
ChatGPT can’t discern between sources that are legitimately verifiable or not in English, so relying on it to explain the more delicate, detailed aspects of Shinto is unwise
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
The awesome @kaitlynugoretz.bsky.social was referenced for her help with the Religion for Breakfast’s series on Shinto. She literally has a PhD studying Shinto and gave a presentation at Kokugakuin University about it.
youtu.be/qlKeVY_FsVg?...
youtu.be/qlKeVY_FsVg?...
What is Shinto?
YouTube video by ReligionForBreakfast
youtu.be
May 16, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The awesome @kaitlynugoretz.bsky.social was referenced for her help with the Religion for Breakfast’s series on Shinto. She literally has a PhD studying Shinto and gave a presentation at Kokugakuin University about it.
youtu.be/qlKeVY_FsVg?...
youtu.be/qlKeVY_FsVg?...
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
The torii irl:
May 24, 2025 at 3:34 AM
The torii irl:
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
Nice to meet you, my name is Olivia!
I'm a licensed Shinto priestess of the Konko Faith, currently working at @yokosukakonko.bsky.social
Please feel free to contact me at livingwithkami@gmail.com🌿
(Photo is when I was graciously able to officiate a wedding in Scotland, and my shrine)
I'm a licensed Shinto priestess of the Konko Faith, currently working at @yokosukakonko.bsky.social
Please feel free to contact me at livingwithkami@gmail.com🌿
(Photo is when I was graciously able to officiate a wedding in Scotland, and my shrine)
May 22, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Nice to meet you, my name is Olivia!
I'm a licensed Shinto priestess of the Konko Faith, currently working at @yokosukakonko.bsky.social
Please feel free to contact me at livingwithkami@gmail.com🌿
(Photo is when I was graciously able to officiate a wedding in Scotland, and my shrine)
I'm a licensed Shinto priestess of the Konko Faith, currently working at @yokosukakonko.bsky.social
Please feel free to contact me at livingwithkami@gmail.com🌿
(Photo is when I was graciously able to officiate a wedding in Scotland, and my shrine)
Some old photos of the offering of Kibimai sacred dance at our shrine over 50 years ago! Not sure the exact dates, but more to come. ✨☺️
May 22, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Some old photos of the offering of Kibimai sacred dance at our shrine over 50 years ago! Not sure the exact dates, but more to come. ✨☺️
Even if you can't afford a big Kamidana, or acquire sacred items or materials from Japan just yet - I think it's good to start from the heart and have even just a space you can focus your prayers.
This was my very first Kamidana from 2011, just a little alcove in my bookshelf!
This was my very first Kamidana from 2011, just a little alcove in my bookshelf!
May 21, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Even if you can't afford a big Kamidana, or acquire sacred items or materials from Japan just yet - I think it's good to start from the heart and have even just a space you can focus your prayers.
This was my very first Kamidana from 2011, just a little alcove in my bookshelf!
This was my very first Kamidana from 2011, just a little alcove in my bookshelf!
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
京都御苑での厳島神社の水彩絵を描いた。
Watercolors I did of Itsukushima Shrine at the Kyoto Imperial Gardens.
Watercolors I did of Itsukushima Shrine at the Kyoto Imperial Gardens.
May 5, 2025 at 10:07 PM
京都御苑での厳島神社の水彩絵を描いた。
Watercolors I did of Itsukushima Shrine at the Kyoto Imperial Gardens.
Watercolors I did of Itsukushima Shrine at the Kyoto Imperial Gardens.
Preparing for the Spring Grand Ceremony at our parent shrine ☺️🌸
May 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Preparing for the Spring Grand Ceremony at our parent shrine ☺️🌸
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
And did I mention that the Japanese Journal of Religious Studies is open access for FREE? You are welcome to submit a related manuscript for consideration!
We publish monographs and edited volumes too. 😗 @jjrs-nirc.bsky.social
We publish monographs and edited volumes too. 😗 @jjrs-nirc.bsky.social
May 7, 2025 at 8:21 AM
And did I mention that the Japanese Journal of Religious Studies is open access for FREE? You are welcome to submit a related manuscript for consideration!
We publish monographs and edited volumes too. 😗 @jjrs-nirc.bsky.social
We publish monographs and edited volumes too. 😗 @jjrs-nirc.bsky.social
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
面白い祠に通り合わせた。矛の形があった。
An interesting hokora I came across. It has a spear motif
An interesting hokora I came across. It has a spear motif
April 13, 2025 at 6:35 PM
面白い祠に通り合わせた。矛の形があった。
An interesting hokora I came across. It has a spear motif
An interesting hokora I came across. It has a spear motif
The cherry blossoms in bloom!🌸
April 6, 2025 at 12:34 AM
The cherry blossoms in bloom!🌸
Waiting at the okekkai (barrier seat between Kami-sama at the altar and the worshippers side for toritsugi mediation)
March 26, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Waiting at the okekkai (barrier seat between Kami-sama at the altar and the worshippers side for toritsugi mediation)
Photos from Spring Grand Mitama Ceremony yesterday at @yokosukakonko.bsky.social shrine 🌸💐 I'm very thankful to everyone who made it and even those who could not join us we prayed for them and their loved ones!
March 21, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Photos from Spring Grand Mitama Ceremony yesterday at @yokosukakonko.bsky.social shrine 🌸💐 I'm very thankful to everyone who made it and even those who could not join us we prayed for them and their loved ones!
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
Yesterday's Spring Grand Mitama Ceremony at the shrine 🌸💐 we are very thankful to everyone who made it!
March 21, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Yesterday's Spring Grand Mitama Ceremony at the shrine 🌸💐 we are very thankful to everyone who made it!
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
Our mascot Oni-chan helped yesterday too to greet worshippers!
March 21, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Our mascot Oni-chan helped yesterday too to greet worshippers!
Yesterday's cemetery visit and grave cleaning as part of the traditional Spring Equinox memorial to the ancestors and those who have gone before us 🌸🙏🏼 this time, we cleaned up all of the pebbles in front of the grave too. It was such a peaceful and warm day
March 21, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Yesterday's cemetery visit and grave cleaning as part of the traditional Spring Equinox memorial to the ancestors and those who have gone before us 🌸🙏🏼 this time, we cleaned up all of the pebbles in front of the grave too. It was such a peaceful and warm day
Reposted by Olivia Bernkastel
Today is March 5th in Japan, which means it’s Miko day (巫女の日)! Not an official holiday, but definitely observed by those who practice or are interested in Shinto.
Why March 5? Because of the play on words!
3 can be read as “mi” (三)
5 can be read as “ko” (五)
As a Miko, I love today!
Why March 5? Because of the play on words!
3 can be read as “mi” (三)
5 can be read as “ko” (五)
As a Miko, I love today!
March 5, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Today is March 5th in Japan, which means it’s Miko day (巫女の日)! Not an official holiday, but definitely observed by those who practice or are interested in Shinto.
Why March 5? Because of the play on words!
3 can be read as “mi” (三)
5 can be read as “ko” (五)
As a Miko, I love today!
Why March 5? Because of the play on words!
3 can be read as “mi” (三)
5 can be read as “ko” (五)
As a Miko, I love today!
Opening the Mitama altar doors for tomorrow 🙏🏼
March 19, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Opening the Mitama altar doors for tomorrow 🙏🏼