The Naked Stranger – Episode 10: Kawayu Onsen
As the Crow Flies: Yatagarasu and the Kumano Kodo Trail
If you are finding it hard to get a sense of direction during these crazy times, perhaps a little confused or lacking in motivation, the doctors may try and prescribe you pills, counseling or life coaches. Fear not, you can forget all that psychobabble and new age mumbo jumbo because all you need is the counsel of a good, old-fashioned three-legged crow.
You read that right. If you really want to fill that cavernous void in your life then you need a crow, with an extra leg, preferably god-like, such as Yatagarasu (八咫烏).
The Naked Stranger was recently in Wakayama Prefecture at the behest of this ornithological scallywag, who coo-ed and caw-ed, luring him away from his comfortable materialistic malaise, down to the world heritage region of the Kumano Kodo Trail, to search for a good walk, a long soak and some well overdue spiritual awakening.
Yatagarasu. Crow-god, symbol of guidance, Shinto rock-star, avian freakshow and just an..