“O-Jizo-sama is basically like a mother to us.
We ask for help or implore it, as we would a mother.
Because of all the deities, it is the one we feel closest to.”
These sculptures from Banana Peel are just so adorable. I actually had to google to find out a bit of history about them. Always love learning something new. I thought I would quote an article on them here. The article can be found here O-Jizo-sama. There is so much online about these sculptures. I really encourage you all to do some more research on them. Below is a bit from the article above.
"Jizo, protector of travelers: Jizo is the first deity most people encounter when they set foot in Japan. This is because he is the protector of travellers. You’ll find Jizo peeking out among the grasses along the road, standing at intersections, overseeing borders, or sitting in a wooden shelter built especially for him. Jizo is at temples too, where sometimes he holds a baby in his arms. He is found at boundaries between places both physical and spiritual, between here and there, life and death.
Jizo, protector of children: The story goes, that the souls of children who die before their parents, are not capable of crossing the fabled Sanzu River (similar to the Styx river in Greek mythology) in the afterlife. This is because they have not had the time to enough good deeds (karma) and they have made their parents suffer. It is believed that Jizo saves these souls from the punishment of having to pile stones eternally on the bank of the river. O-Jizo-sama, is thus widely recognize as the saint patron of dead children, especially still-born and aborted children. Jizo takes care of the souls of unborn children and those who die at a young age. Children “in limbo” in Japan are said to go to a place called sai no kawara, where they must create piles of stones into small towers. But every night the stone towers are destroyed by demons, so the next day the children must make new piles of stones. The making of these towers is to help their parents accrue merit for their own afterlife. This is why you sometimes see stray stones that have been made into little towers alongside Jizo statues. People make them for the souls of these children, to help them achieve their goals. People also leave toys, candy or fruit as offerings at the base of Jizo statues.
Women also pray to Jizo for fertility and easy childbirth. Some temples sell amulets for this purpose."
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.bp. monk rock pensive {dark} x3
.bp. monk rock pensive {light} x3
WildlyFluffy Natoma Grass Circle Diminishing 1700 v.018 x 6
Leucanthemum cindy - Circle 1 (Warm) v.STM.001 x (ALOT)