What is Rei doing when shes chanting in front of the fire?
Rei can call upon the kami at will, usually with a series of mudras or ritual hand gestures, paired with meaningful words (specifically “Rin Pyou Tou Sha Kai Jin Retsu Zai Zen”). Mudras came to Japan from Buddhists from India (by way of China and Korea). These sacred rituals are necessary for calling on the powers of the kami. Households, coincidentally, may also possess kami in the form of local nature kami or ancestors; the resident family pays homage to these kami as well, ritually offering them rice, fruit, incense, or votive plaques.
