Tara Pilgrimage in Japan 2010
Excerpt from the chapter, “My Life with Tara†Angels and the Goddess.
By Rev. Jacquelyn Sendak Zavaleta
Arriving in Japan felt like coming home. In 2007 I had made a commitment
to my Japanese Tara sisters to dance the 21 Praises of Tara with them at Ise, the temple of the Sun Goddess. This was my Fourth trip to Japan and I was happy to be able to fulfill this aspiration.
Felicity, the organizer and leader of the pilgrimage, had asked us as preparation for the pilgrimage, to look into a mirror and attempt to see all aspects of ourselves.
My husband, Rigdzin was coming to dance as a protector of our mandala. So I also looked into the mirror with him, my opposite who reflected aspects of myself that I went unnoticed.
I felt the strength of the Tara I was to dance, Tara #1 of Swift protection, grow within me. Many came to me for help and advice. The Japanese women called me MaMa san. I felt my willingness to protect and support them like a mother her children.
Gathering in Ise, it felt like my spiritual family had come for this important event. So much love flowed from our Japanese Tara sisters who had worked so hard to realize this dream. It took some years for them to receive permission to dance at Ise.
The odds were against them. For centuries women were banned from dancing in public on this location. Since WWII, the rituals of dancing for the Sun Goddess and local deities were not practiced.
In Kyoto, we met up with Sophia, another American Tara who joined the pilgrimage, her son, and the Australians Taras who also came to support this vision. All are part of my ever growing international Tara Dance family.
On the train ride from Kyoto to Ise, we shared our challenges, dreams, histories, jokes and a sense of adventure.
In Ise we laughed over the delicacies of strange sea creatures and vegetables during meals. We went to a museum of otherworldly photos of Nature and its Sacredness. Ise is a Shinto Shrine. The Shinto religion honors and works with the elements and nature. I was touched by the simplicity and elegance.
On the day of the dance offering we dressed in our conservative “salaryman/woman†suits. We walked to the Ise shrine in the pouring rain. Protectively carrying our precious, hemp and silk costumes, we embraced the rain and wind, feeling the forces of nature purify and bless us. Every pilgrimage provides its challenges and how you respond can make or break the experience. For the most part we laughed through it all and marched steadily forward.
Our hotel provided umbrellas. Our procession wound through town, then crossed a most incredible wooden bridge over the river Ise onto the shrine land.
We felt the rain was a blessing of the kami (gods and goddesses) as well as the tears of those who had suffered as a result of the bombs and previous wars.
Crossing the bridge felt like another phase of transformation.
Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan. Mr. Hara and Hideo, two of my Shinto friends, came to join us and presented fascinating insights into the spiral energies in Ise. Witnessing the spiral of our dance, they said it created a huge pillar of light from the heavens into the center of our Tara Mandala and then into the earth.
Mr. Hara demonstrated a dance of this spiral energy, swaying with very feminine Goddess movements, the spiral gently moving through his body. The women clapped, whistled, and laughed to see this man totally embody the Goddess. He is a Shinto healer and teacher, as well as a Master swordsman, and has a vast understanding of the Sun Goddess and the forces of energy, in Nature and us.
My friend Hideo Izumoto, also a Shinto healer, offered some Sacred Chants to our group. Many Taras shed tears during his powerful Shinto Healing chant. He told us how important our offering is, that it would change our lives and the planet.
I had visited the outer shrine with Mr. Hara on my last trip to Japan, but this was the first time I entered the inner shrine. Tears of emotion built up and released in me as I prayed. We clapped, bowed, and offered our prayers to the kamis, let the Sun goddess know of our intentions, and then left.
We walked on small rocks that when rubbed together can make a flame. It smelled like fire when my shoes hit the stones. When we arrived at the indoor shrine, we sat on tatami mats where only priests and priestesses were allowed. We witnessed an ancient Shinto dance accompanied by chanting, drums, flute and other instruments. The dancers held branches of a Sacred tree and chanted what sounded like familiar sounds that transcended language. The Priests and Priestess both danced. Their rhythms and movements were natural and powerful. The Sun Goddess came alive on the stage.
Then we went to a room to prepare for our offering. As I ironed my wet costume, I patiently chanted the Tara mantra. We all helped each other. I discovered one of my gold earring was lost but Felicity came to the rescue, with a pair that matched my necklace perfectly. I felt the Goddess was telling me to be spontaneous. I had make up to share. But I needed help with my hair.
“In Japan we always dance with fresh flowers in our hair,†Felicity remarked. Izumi, a Japanese dancer, expert in Bhuto, arranged flowers around my crown in a unique style. Everyone praised each other as we saw Tara’s light in each other.
Yuuka, Jacquelyn, Izumi
We had practiced the Mandala Tara Dance a great deal, and I am confident with the steps, but nothing prepared me for what happened during the offering.
We slowly walked onto the stage two by two supporting each other. As we entered the stage, the elemental activities increased, and as the dance progressed the wind violently blew the surrounding trees, and rain poured down onto the open stage. Felicity danced as the Central Tara. As she rejoined the mandala she whispered into my ear that the wind had blown her dress open.
At first, I froze. But then I thought, the offering must go on. I walked forward as Tara #1 of Swift Protection. I felt completely without fear and I felt the power of Tara flow through me.
At one point, I lost awareness of my body and felt the Goddess energy move me. I never had this profound experience in the dance before. At some point in my praise I became once again fully conscious of my body and danced to complete the praise. I thought I had just stood still however, later I saw on a video that I did dance. I thanked the Goddess who held me during this experience and my dance teacher Bonnie Myers who helped to prepare me for this offering so that I had imprinted the movements. Rejoining the mandala I felt the unity, love, and support of being part of the Tara Dance family.
The next day, after wonderful sharing of our experiences, the group dispersed. Rigdzin and I did a bit of touring. We all had gotten so close that we continued to email and call each other throughout our separate travels. I was reluctant to leave Japan.
Just before leaving Tokyo we were watching the only English speaking TV station. The local newscaster announced that the first female was appointed as a CEO in a position of influence and leadership, breaking the “bamboo ceiling†for women in Japan. I felt this was associated with our Tara dance offering, spreading its blessings. Our pilgrimage and offering at Ise was a success. Om Tare!
