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Some people acquire some things they do not want in a snap while
some try so hard to obtain it. Getting pregnant is one major example of this
occurrence. There are women who wish to be in the position of the "sudden
mothers" rather than having to wait for so long to have a baby.
For most couples who want a baby, frustration, disappointment, tears
and arguments arise because of failure even after many tries.
Certain measures are thought over by the couple to get the baby they
have always wanted. One particular action is through rituals. Many have claimed
that certain rituals have helped them to conceive a child. Though
scientifically it is not proven effective, for couples who wish to have a baby,
they resort to these rituals and hope that it deems successful for them.
Rituals vary on different countries and beliefs differ on every
person. Each individual has their own point of view, however, to make the
ritual work constant prayer and faith is needed.
In Japan,
a festival is held every 15th of March to celebrate the Hounen
Matsuri, a festival celebrating fertility and renewal. For tourists, it is commonly
referred to as the "penis shrine" or the "Japanese penis festival. Hounen means
bountiful year and it is held on this particular month because spring is the
time of rebirth where most seeds develop and some trees that are supposed dead
come back to life. This celebration involves 12 men, all aged 42, carrying a
huge two and a half meter wooden phallus for a short distance.
Young couples visit the shrine to pray for successful conception and
some even come to give thanks for a safe childbirth.
There are customary practices you
should follow if you wish to pray at the shrine for you to conceive a baby. You
must remember to stand a few inches away from the basin itself. First, you must
purify your hands by cleansing it in the water basin in front of the shrine.
Next, clutch the ladle with your right hand and pour water on your left hand.
Repeat the procedure, only this time your left hand must hold the ladle while
you pour water on your right hand. To conclude the ritual, hold the ladle again
in your right hand, cup your left hand and pour a little in it then bring the
water to your mouth. Never drink directly from the ladle. The water must touch
your lips, or you may also rinse out your mouth but do not swallow the water.
Drinking the water would mean ingesting impurities into your body. Spit the
water out on the stones at the foot of the water basin.
Once you are done with the ritual, you
can proceed to the main sanctuary. Once there, you must bow twice, then clap your
hands twice and lastly, bow for a final time once. Coins are offered as
donations and are also considered symbols of people's petitions to the deity.
Rituals may and may not work for some people. In
the end, it all comes down to your faith and belief that the baby you have been
waiting for will finally come into your life.
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