There are more enjoyable days for sure.

On this island, there are so many places to see,

Even if you suddenly take a detour onto a narrow path, I think nervously,

"This definitely isn't a road for cars, it's a pedestrian path, right?"

Though it is certainly approved by Google Maps.

If I overcome that anxiety, I always ended up back on a main street.

I find myself being impressed by things

that probably aren't all that significant.

This Island,

The history is rich,

The people are kind,

Their eyes are truly beautiful and pure,

and, it's a place full of vitality.

I wonder if the local people

can see the greatness of it.

That's what I was thinking today.

to be honest, this move has been quite challenging

but I'm not backing up!

I don’t feel like I am came “back” to Japan, but rather a feeling of “immigrating” to Japan.

What's difficult is not physical strength or financial matters,

it's the mental aspect.

How to deal with this indescribable sense of loss.

In my 51 years of life, I have experienced various kinds of feelings of loss. Pets, parents, relatives, friends' deaths, parting with the piano, and more.

The feelings of loss I've experienced before come on their own, and I know I can never get them back what I lost, so I have to accept the loss and move forward.

And the sense of loss I'm feeling now is as if I've lost something I haven't actually lost.

It's there, but it's not.

My loving husband is there, but not here.

My beloved dog is there, but not here.

My established status through Reiki was there, but not here.

Dear old friends in Canada are there, but not here.

If I were to go and get them, they would be there.

The option to go back and retrieve them exists.

However, for now, going back to retrieve them is not my choice.

I am experiencing a sense of loss I've never felt before.

At first, I even thought

"I wonder what I've done. To willingly plunge into something so painful. I might be making a huge mistake. Maybe I'm insane,"

Losing what I had, not having it taken away, not failing and losing it, but I chose to step away myself, yet knowing I can have it again if I choose.

Losing success. Not having it taken away, not failing, not making a mistake, but switching it myself, resetting to zero.

Leaving a place of comfort to create a place of comfort.

Leaving a place that nurtured growth to grow further.

Letting go of achieved goals to pursue envisioned goals.

This kind of loss with choices, or intentionally letting go, might actually be a more challenging hurdle than loss through death, which lacks choices. I think.

Why did I choose this?

Because I was immersed in happiness, and before challenges could be assigned from the outside, I created my own challenges. That's one of the many reasons.

I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of single mothers.

Because I'm living with my child now.

I really, really admire how hard single parents work, physically and mentally to keep children happy.

I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of separation from a partner through divorce.

Because we're living apart now.

It must take a huge courage and a loss for a couple to make the decision.

I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of solitude and uncertainty in the midst of solo journey.

I think it's really, really daunting. I want to tell the solo traveller, "Come and stay with me."

I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of those who lost everything in disasters, how difficult it must have been for them, how they must have struggled and how did they get over it. Just a little, but I understand now.

I want to become someone who can support those who feel vulnerable.

Because I'm currently being supported, and I'm truly grateful.

I want to become someone who can tell people with dreams and goals,

“Go for it! You got this! Take it step by step, it's okay to rest, it's okay to crouch, but look ahead,"

because I understand how empowering those words can be.

Thank you to everyone, thank you.

The adventure comes with not just excitement.

There are lonely days like that,

I wanted future me to remember that feeling,

so I wrote it down honestly.

That's the story for today.

＊Back to the life near the ocean after so many years＊

Taking a break from work, waiting for my son, who works part-time at a bakery in Tomie.

He comes back and made sandwiches with bread bought from the bakery,

Saying, "Let's go to the beach!"

This,,, is happiness.

Late afternoon is just perfect.

We went snorkeling, saw little bluefish, and striped fish, in large schools, and those bumpy, bonsai-like things, are they coral?

I'll look it up later.

All the fish, they're so cute with wide-awake eyes.

Sometimes, it startles me when a big one comes.

And even though my hair is wet,

It's not cold sitting by the seaside.

Canada's midsummer lakes are colder than Nagasaki's midwinter ocean.

When I swim and come out, it's cold!

And to dry off, we collected beach glass.

It's actually really fun!

I've gotten a tan as much as I did when I was racing windsurfing in my twenties.

My friends used to tell me I'm as dark as a Mexican wooden ornament.

If I could go karaoke with this tan,

It might revive the nickname from way back when,

"The tanned Songstress, Singing tanned Princess,"

Will it make a comeback after 25 years? lol

Today, I got so obsessed with collecting beach glass that I couldn't visit Sato-no-Shio Cafe.

Last time, I discovered something called "New Moon Salt"!

They carefully simmer concentrated saltwater on the day of the new moon and infuse it with prayers to finish it.

Sato-no-Shio-san says that for the salt to be good, it's essential for the creators to be happy.

Just being around them makes me feel so happy, so if everyone in the world were to lick it, they might all become happy.

I can mail some to Canada, so if you want some, let me know

I can have another reason to visit this beach.

After the challenging month,

today's bragging was about a happy time

unfamiliar sound

Different sounds between daytime and evenings

Sound of ocean

Sound of cicadas

Sound of crickets

So bright during a day

Pitch dark in the evening

Moon looked so bright because of the darkness.

I realized that I have forgotten about such an ordinary thing.

What a chance?!

”Even a chance acquaintance is decreed by destiny.” It is a Japanese proverb means,

"The encounters and exchanges with passing strangers are not mere coincidences; they happen due to destined connections."

In early July, we decided to visit Kamakura for sightseeing. As we strolled along Komachi-dori, I heard a voice calling out, "Hmm? Could it be?!"

"Himali-san?"

It was Himali-san, someone I had met only once in Vancouver, but who had left a strong impression on me.

Back in 2011, I was performing Reiki during a fundraising event for Tsunami recovery support, and this lady suddenly appeared. She walked with a straight posture, her hair tied up in a bun high on her head, and a flowing scarf wrapped around her neck. The moment I saw her walking confidently, I thought, "Ah! I want to be friends with her!" Since then, we continued to connect.

I had just arrived in Japan from Chilliwack, and She was thoroughly enjoying her visit to Japan with her family. To unexpectedly encounter each other in Kamakura felt like it had a deeper meaning.

2nd Photo

I wanted to express my gratitude to the young woman who created the first network with me on Goto Island. So, I invited her for lunch at my place, where I used the new oven to make homemade pizza and tomato sauce pasta and chance to use the many plates that came with this house.

I'm grateful for this connection.

Inconsistent life for now

 These three photos represent the lively life on the Goto Islands.　 My life is inconsistent right now, as you can see.

- The first photo shows me starting something new, venturing openly.

- The second one shows my Reiki room in Goto, I'm always ready to begin.

- And the third one captures the moment I am being asked to help in making bento lunches at a nearby store. （lol)

***It's refreshing to hear the real Goto dialect and be called "Okazaki-san.", not "Mari".

"Don't you need a resume?" Then I realized they can confirm my identity because they know where I live.

Actually, for the past 30 years, I've been able to do personal card readings.

In fact, I've been doing this much longer than practicing Reiki.

I think many people don't know about this.

Until now, I've kept it hidden, offering readings only to acquaintances through word of mouth. But since this is quite useful, I want to introduce it openly,,, finally.

This online session is open to anyone worldwide, in Japanese or in English. However, my first customer since coming to Goto visited my new/old house, where we laid out cushions in the tatami room and offered the reading in person!

"I was surprised by how accurate you could see. I'll read it carefully and apply it in the future. Mari-san's embracing warmth was comforting. I was happy to receive such kind words with a lovely smile."

This touching feedback moved me to tears.

If you ever feel uncertain in life or have something on your mind,

please don't hesitate to reach out.

www.mariokazaki.com www.jikidenreikiwithmari.com

Importance of the dates

I arrived in Japan on June 1st.

I was able to officially register my residency in Goto on June 15th.

In many aspects of my life, I seem to be going with the flow without thinking, 

but when it comes to things I find essential (at least in my own view), 

I tend to reflect and ponder.

And yes, I gave proper thought to these "dates" as well.

I left Canada on May 31st and arrived in Japan on June 1st. 

I was even studying the positions of the stars, thinking, "This is it!"

Moreover, the residents of Goto said,
"You will come at a good season."
So I thought, "Great!"
However, when I actually arrived, I realized that it might have been the opposite of what I thought.

Maybe he meant,
"Oh dear, you will come during an awful season..."

I'm not good at reading between the lines...

So, after spending 23 years and my body is fully accustomed to the Canadian climate, 

my body faced the intense Japanese summer. 

The temperature itself is fine, but the combination of heat and humidity is quite intense. And in the battle against bugs and mold, I was feeling quite drained and, at times, even defeated.

The humidity is terrifying enough to fog up my phone's lens, 

and there were spiders in the house as big as the palm of my hand.

I also recently learned that the kitchen exhaust fan is so powerful 

that it changes the pressure inside the house. The moment I turned it off, 

a strong airflow started flowing into the house (which I don't feel it). 

This explained why, after finishing cooking and turning off the fan to eat, 

we would suddenly be attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes. 

It wasn't that the mosquitoes became more active in the evening; 

it was more like the airflow inviting them in.

Every day is a learning experience.

Other residents of Goto says,
"You shouldn't move to Goto during this season! 

You'll end up hating Goto. Mold grows, bugs are abundant, 

and the rain pours. If you plan to move here next time, aim for around October."
(But I'm already here...)

This season is indeed challenging, and not just my personal opinion; even locals agree.

I used to have confidence in my physical strength; 

I graduated from a sports university and participated in windsurfing races. 

I spent summers and winters on the beach, always tanned. So, I thought 

I would be fine, but I've become quite delicate over the years. 

(Well, it has been 25 years.)

Even I have been jogging in the morning in the past three years...

--- Not now, too hot! I'm learning not to push myself to the extream.

I managed to recover by drinking saltwater and receiving distant Reiki. 

I am so thankful for my Jikiden Reiki friends around the world! 

By the way, there was a liquid I saw at "Satou no Shio" in Hantomari village. I asked,
"What is this for?"
She said, "It's good to drink when you are feeling unwell."
It might be helpful for summer fatigue or heatstroke. I'm sure it's rich in minerals and salt components.

(Photo is from last year)

And regarding the date of the 15th, in ancient times, 

it was a day to express gratitude to the moon for 

the harvest and to pray to the moon deity.

So, even though it was frustrating that it took a while to obtain 

my resident registration, I felt happy that the day I officially 

became a resident of Goto was on the 15th.
It was like, "Here is another sign!"

When I was four years old, I lost my father at a young age. 

My mother told me that he became the moon, so I feel 

a strong connection to the moon.

Becoming a resident of Goto on a day to give thanks to the moon (my father) and teaching my first Jikiden Reiki class in Goto on my father's memorial day, July 4th, I can't help but think there was some celestial arrangement behind it.
(I tend to connect things this way.)

So, that's the story of how I value dates and such.

That's all for today. 

By the way, it's not the moon, but since coming to Gotou,

I saw something moving swiftly across the Great Cygnus

in the night sky from the sun deck.

(Photo is from Google)

Many people call it Elon Musk's satellite, but I prefer not to

think of such a boring and realistic explanation.

To me, it's a spaceship!

The end.