In norito, how important is getting the words right?

I'm talking about kotodama. kotodama can be taken one of two ways: the soul or power of language, or the spirit or spiritual power residing in words.

The first refers to the ability to transmit ideas and information from one person to another; to help them see and understand in new ways. Language is also a record of the past, not just of the individual, but of the social group.

To a large extent, language constrains how we think and what we think. It's hard to think about something we don't have words for — hard, but not impossible. That's where the second meaning of kotodama comes in.

The second refers to the ability to transmit experiences from one person to another. When the words to describe an experience don't exist, words allow us to point towards the experience. Using words allows someone who's 'been there' to lead another to a place to place they've never been. "I can't tell you what it was like; I don't have the words, but go there, and you will experience it and know."

norito are beautiful words — poetry — addressed to the kami. The key word there is poetry, which gives us humans a way to point at that which can be experienced, but which is inexpressible by language — that which is a mystery.

Mystery is not that which is not told, that's just a secret. Mystery is that which can't be told.

So yes, getting the words right is important, but mostly to us for the feelings they evoke in us; for allowing us to 'see' in new ways.

It's been my experience that as far as the kami are concerned, they react more to your intention and sincerity, than the actual words. They don't expect perfection; they won't ignore you for a verbal stumble. If you're trying to do your best, they're satisfied.