What is the spiritual? Its meaning and a healthy way to enjoy it
Spiritual means “of the spirit or soul”. In Japan, the borrowed English word supirichuaru is used broadly for ways of thinking that value the unseen: the heart and soul, fortune, and our connection with nature.
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1.How it caught on
From around the 1960s and 70s, a movement known as the “New Age” spread in Europe and America, and meditation, healing and connections with angels and the universe drew interest. In Japan the word supirichuaru became widely known through TV and books in the 2000s, and visits to power spots and power stones became popular too.
Yet Japan already had a culture of living alongside the unseen: the yaoyorozu, the “eight million” gods of Shinto, care for one’s ancestors, protective charms and rites of purification. Interest in the spiritual links naturally with these traditions.
2.Words you often hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vibration (hadō) | The unseen “atmosphere” or “energy” a person, thing or place is said to have |
| Cleansing (jōka) | Resetting stagnant energy and tiredness. → Ways to purify |
| Higher self | “Another you” said to guide you from a higher point of view |
| Guardian spirit | A presence said to watch over a person |
| Synchronicity | A meaningful coincidence. → What is synchronicity? |
| Grounding | Keeping your feet on the ground and steadying body and mind |
| Law of attraction | The idea that thoughts and focus draw things into reality |
3.Ways to enjoy it
- As a nudge to settle your mind: write wishes at the new and full moon, breathe deeply, walk in nature.
- Enjoy the signs: look up the meaning of numbers you keep seeing (angel numbers) or of your dreams.
- Carry a charm or stone: let a power stone or an omamori support you.
- Visit shrines and temples: → Power spots and shrine etiquette
4.Three tips for a healthy approach
- You decide: spiritual words are hints that give you a push. Make important decisions by your own will.
- Beware of anything that stirs up fear: watch out for anything that pressures you into expensive products or contracts with “you’ll be unhappy otherwise”.
- Leave health and money to the professionals: for problems with body or mind, or worries about money, talk to a doctor or the right advice service.
We hope you will enjoy Yorozu Goyomi’s readings and articles, too, as hints for making each day a little brighter.
5.FAQ
How is the spiritual different from religion?
Religions usually have a system of teachings, rituals and an organisation. “Spiritual” is used more broadly for an approach in which a person, without belonging to any particular group, values the unseen and the state of their heart.
I was pressed to buy an expensive product or session. What should I do?
Be wary of sales pitches that stir up fear, such as “you’ll be unhappy if you don’t buy” or “sign today”. If you are unsure, don’t decide alone; talk to family or a consumer advice service (in Japan, the consumer hotline is 188).
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