Firstly, it is best to learn about Shinto and practice it so that you become familiar with Shinto itself. Building a solid foundation in the traditions, beliefs, and practices of Shinto is an important first step! It will help shape your behavior, mindset, and etiquette in a respectful and appropriate way.
It is also helpful to understand that a Miko is not what many people imagine from anime, manga, games, or popular media. A Miko is not a “junior priest”, a medium, a psychic, or a special spiritual rank. Traditionally, Miko serve a shrine and support its daily operations. So it mainly involves shrine office work, assisting the priest, and offering Kagura performances to Kami-sama.
In practice, ceremonial duties make up only a small part of the work. Most of the responsibilities are similar to the work our in-person volunteers already do, such as helping with events, administrative tasks, and supporting the shrine community.
If you are interested in priest assistant training, you should begin by volunteering at our shrine in Los Angeles and assisting in person or online. This allows you to gain experience and learn directly from Rev. Izumi. It is recommended that you attend ceremonies, whether via YouTube or in person, to build the experience needed.
At this time, there is no fixed curriculum or set series of lessons.
It is important to first develop a basic knowledge and understanding of Shinto before pursuing any priest assistant training.
The term Miko (巫女) only refers to a female shrine attendant. For male applicants, the equivalent name is just priest assistant, which involves similar supportive duties at the shrine.
For more information about priest assistant training, current opportunities, and requirements, please send us a message through our contact form.
You might also like:
I’m new to Shinto. How can I get started?
Shrine Etiquette and How to Pray
Volunteer Opportunities
