Concerning Kitsunes

 

"Neighborhood Watch" by the extremely talented Haylee Morice!

Ah, Kitsunes. The shapeshifting fox demons (yokai) of Japanese lore. I've been fascinated by them in the recent past (as many are beginning to be!) 

As said above, the enigmatic Kitsune is a fascinating creature that recently has decided to "come" to many...even those of us that have no connections to Japan. (Actually scratch that, I do have a cousin that moved to Japan many years ago, and lives there with his Japanese wife and kids!)

But while pondering Kitsunes and why they might be a "guide" for an American with Celtic and Germanic ancestry, something "beeped" in my mind. Kitsunes can be a *great* symbol for autism advocacy. Yes, many individuals with autism, as some may known, have a heavy fascination with Japanese culture, and that could be a good tie-in. Then as a matter of fact, as seen in the image above, the "traditional" Kitsune coloring is white and red... Red Instead for Autism Acceptance! 

Kitsunes are often considered a "trickster" spirit, which always isn't necessarily a bad thing. As anyone who's fairly close with Loki, for example, would tell you, trickster spirits/guides are here to teach one to "think outside the box." Conventional ways don't always work...and when they don't, other ways need to be considered. And again, this ties into neurodiversity. if you ask me, neurodiverse individuals are here to teach the world to think outside the box, go outside of your comfort zone of thinking...etc. I can certainly see a Kitsune being used as a mascot for Autism Acceptance.

So yes, Kitsunes are great guides to have on your side! They are still very greatly honored by those who practice the Shinto faith. Many Shinto practitioners see them as sacred to the goddess Inari and guardians and protectors of Her shrines. There are also several variants of Kitsunes...fire, air, earth, darkness, thunder, even time. I'd love to write a story about a Kitsune some day. What can the Kitsune do for *you*?  

Fire Kitsune Tree of Life being offered up to Sigyn and Loki. This "Tree of Life" is courtesy of MadamVonTrinkets, whose awesome jewelry can be found on Etsy!