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Central to the practice of Shinto is the concept of kami. [[Kami]] is commonly translated as god, but a better concept would be equating a kami to a spirit. There are generally three types of kami:  

Central to the practice of Shinto is the concept of kami. [[Kami]] is commonly translated as god, but a better concept would be equating a kami to a spirit. There are generally three types of kami:  

1)Lesser (Kunitsu-kami)-the spirits that inhabit natural objects (mountains, rocks, water, trees, etc) and animals.  

#Lesser (Kunitsu-kami)-the spirits that inhabit natural objects (mountains, rocks, water, trees, etc) and animals.  

2)Ancestral (Senzo-kami)-deceased ancestors , emperors, and other important people.  

#Ancestral (Senzo-kami)-deceased ancestors , emperors, and other important people.  

3)Greater (Amatsu-kami)-these are the legendary heavy hitters like [[Amaterasu]] the Sun Goddess and [[Hachiman]] the God Of War.  

#Greater (Amatsu-kami)-these are the legendary heavy hitters like [[Amaterasu]] the Sun Goddess and [[Hachiman]] the God Of War.  

Kami can be petioned for favors and enjoy the active worship of humanity. In fact, it is said that a kami who is no longer worshipped ceases to exist and becomes a vengeful Ko-jin or Onryo.  

Kami can be petioned for favors and enjoy the active worship of humanity. In fact, it is said that a kami who is no longer worshipped ceases to exist and becomes a vengeful Ko-jin or Onryo.  

Shinto worship covers a huge variety of practices and ceremonies. There is no such thing as a Shinto 'bible'. However, any form of worship will always have these three steps:  

Shinto worship covers a huge variety of practices and ceremonies. There is no such thing as a Shinto 'bible'. However, any form of worship will always have these three steps:  

1)Purification (Misogi)-usually by ceremonially cleansing yourself with water from a water basin located on the Shrine grounds  

#Purification (Misogi)-usually by ceremonially cleansing yourself with water from a water basin located on the Shrine grounds  

2)Petition The Kami-firstly, you must get their attention, usually done by clapping your hands twice or tugging the Shrine's rope (attached to a bell and ending in a tassel) to make a racket. Then you will make a silent prayer to the kami that lives within the shrine.  

#Petition The Kami-firstly, you must get their attention, usually done by clapping your hands twice or tugging the Shrine's rope (attached to a bell and ending in a tassel) to make a racket. Then you will make a silent prayer to the kami that lives within the shrine.  

3)Offering-to thank the Kami, it is customary these days to place cash in the offering box. In the time of the samurai, almost anything of value to the giver would be left (rice, water, paper fortunes, or O-Fuda talismans).  

#Offering-to thank the Kami, it is customary these days to place cash in the offering box. In the time of the samurai, almost anything of value to the giver would be left (rice, water, paper fortunes, or O-Fuda talismans).  

Shinto shrines range in size from a breadbox to the Empire State Building (well, not quite). Many Japanese have small kami-dana (god shelfs) within their homes to pay homage to ancestral kami. The Inari Shrine in Kyoto features thousands of feet of Torii-mon (the orange gates that signify the entrance to the shrine). Smaller shrines use a ceremonial rope festooned with folded paper instead of Torii.  

Shinto shrines range in size from a breadbox to the Empire State Building (well, not quite). Many Japanese have small kami-dana (god shelfs) within their homes to pay homage to ancestral kami. The Inari Shrine in Kyoto features thousands of feet of Torii-mon (the orange gates that signify the entrance to the shrine). Smaller shrines use a ceremonial rope festooned with folded paper instead of Torii.