While Shinto is distinctly Japanese, anybody can practice Shinto and have faith in the Kami.
After all, every person is in the midst of divine nature and every person receives its blessings, such as the fruits of the earth and the warmth from the sun.
You can practice Shinto alongside other faiths or spiritual paths. However, it is recommended keeping the practices separate! When practicing Shinto, follow its traditional practices and etiquette, while keeping other religious practices separate rather than mixing them in. Doing so would be disrespectful to the Kami-sama.
The relationship Shinto practitioners have with Kami-sama is a vertical one, not a horizontal relationship as is often seen in Neopagan faiths (horizontal being a relationship similar to two coworkers, siblings or one between friends). This is not to say that vertical relationships cannot result in close bonds.
Kami-sama are our teachers, we revere and learn from them. They guide us and protect us. It is akin to a teacher-student or a parent-child relationship. So respect and gratitude is very important!
For instance, someone working as a mortician or in funeral care might worry about being in contact with death and whether that affects their spiritual standing.
In Shinto thought, this is not seen as wrongdoing. Working with the deceased can be viewed as a service that supports families during difficult times. Any spiritual “impurity” connected to death is understood as something temporary that can be cleared through purification practices such as Temizu (washing your hands and mouth) or Misogi, along with a sincere and respectful mindset. Reading the Ōharae-no-Kotoba also purifies and gets rid of the Kegare (Impurities) connected to death. Because this kind of work is professional rather than personal mourning, it does not automatically prevent someone from continuing a normal connection with Kami-sama.
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I’m new to Shinto. How can I get started?
Shrine Etiquette and How to Pray
