The Texas Shinto Study Group and Round Rock Bujinkan proudly presents
The 2005 New Year's Day Misogi
Saturday 1 PM, January 1st, 2005
Barton Springs, Zilker Park, Austin, Texas

The Texas Shinto Study Group (www.texasshinto.org) and Round Rock Bujinkan (www.roundrockbujinkan.com) will be holding a New Year's Day Misogi at 1 PM at Barton Springs on Saturday, January 1st, 2005. Misogi is a great ritual for purifying one's self; especially at the start of the new year.

About Misogi
The following is a condensed explanation of Misogi from http://www.tsubakishrine.com/test/Misogi.asp :

In the most literal sense Misogi is the practice of removing kegare (pollution) from the body/mind/spirit by ritual bathing in cold water... purification in a river, waterfall, or sea.

Since ancient times, techniques for achievement of higher levels of judgment and intuition as well as mental/physical/spiritual renewal have been practiced. These activities are sometimes called Gyo (exercise, training) or more formally Misogi Harai: cleaning/purification of the body/mind.

In practice, Misogi can refer to the whole technology or spiritual discipline of casting off impurities, tuning and invigorating the physiological being.

Misogi practices can be subclassified as cleansing the body, the heart, the environment, and the spirit. Cleaning the physical body involves literal washing away of external dirt and washing away toxins within the body by purifying the bowels and blood, adjusting diet and sleep, and regulating body movement in ways to increase centripetality as well as inner and outer harmony.

Heart Misogi is releasing old thought patterns and beliefs that are no longer life enhancing, moving towards a positive mental life and understanding of Kannagara to obtain inner peace and harmony, manifesting Kansha (thankfulness) leading to a balanced heart whose attributes are: Akaki Kokoro - purity and cheerfulness of heart

Details
Date: Saturday January 1st, 2005
Time: 1 PM CST
Location: Barton Springs, Zilker Park, Austin Texas
Contact: For more information contact John Hidalgo at (512) 310-2142 or oniyama@texas.net.
Attire: Men - Fundoshi or swim trunks, Women - White short kimono or keiko gi jacket/top with appropriate swimwear. Everyone - Hachimaki (I will try to have some by that time), kimono or robe, zori or similar sandals
Bring: Tatami beach mat or a beach towel. There is a changing room with showers on site so feel free to bring whatever toiletries you wish.

NOTE ON HACHIMAKI
Hachimaki are the white cotton headbands that usually have some sort of design on them. The design on the Hachimaki from the Tsubaki includes the red tomoe and Japanese lettering. They are available through the Tsubaki Shrine but I do not recall the price. I will try to have some spares by that time. If you want a Hachimaki of your own, please contact Rev. Barrish at (360) 691-6389, kannushi@tsubakishrine or www.tsubakishrine.com.