Goma Fire Ritual at Ekoin Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

Goma Fire Ritual at Koyasan, Japan

Goma Fire Ritual at Koyasan. The consecrated fire is believed to have a powerful cleansing effect spiritually and psychologically. The ritual is performed for the purpose of destroying negative energies, detrimental thoughts and desires, and for the making of secular requests and blessings. In most Shingon temples, this ritual is performed daily in the morning or the afternoon. Flames can sometimes reach a few meters high. The combination of the ritual’s visuals and sounds can be trance-inducing and make for a profound experience.