#1018 Relying on Good Luck Charms

Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m just getting dragged around...

It’s time I take some initiative and start doing things on my own.

Right now, my most pressing concern is taking care of my wife, who is having a tough time.

Platy is pregnant with our third child, and I want to do something for her.

After all, only women can endure the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth.

Us men, well, all we can do is watch and offer support from the sidelines.

We can’t fully understand the pain of giving birth, so all we can do is cheer them on with a “You can do it!”

It’s frustrating.

So, I’ve been racking my brain, trying to figure out ways to help her, even just a little.

When she was pregnant with Junior and Norito, I did a lot of things, but looking back, I think I can do more to support her this time.

Plus, this time around, a lot of families are expecting at the same time.

Thanks to some meddling god’s doing.

So, what should I do?

I started thinking of things I hadn’t considered with Junior and Norito.

Then it hit me.

Why not try some good luck charms?

The world is full of ways to make wishes come true that ignore all logic.

Things like wishes, charms, superstitions, and praying to gods.

A lot of people laugh these off as silly and pure delusions.

But there are things in this world that we can’t control, no matter what.

And there are a lot of them.

When people face these uncontrollable things, they often turn to the very things they used to mock, like gods and spirits.

Pregnancy and childbirth are definitely one of those situations where you want to rely on something beyond logic.

No matter how advanced science gets, children are a gift. You can’t just decide to have one and make it happen.

Even if you get pregnant, there’s no guarantee the child will be born safely.

That’s why people pray.

For safety at home, safe travels, academic success, business prosperity, protection from enemies, banishing evil spirits, and even the downfall of exploitative companies.

Praying for a safe delivery is a common request at shrines.

With Junior and Norito, I was so focused on their safe births that I didn’t think about anything else...

...But now, grateful for the safe births of our first two children, I think it’s a good idea to pray for the safe birth of our third.

Forgive me for only thinking of this now, after three kids. I’m not naturally the religious type.

And because I’m not that religious, I don’t really know what to do for a safe delivery prayer.

Should I buy a charm? A prayer for a safe delivery?

That feels too stereotypical.

Is there anything else I can do?

When in doubt, ask an expert.

So, I head to the otherworldly Tenmangu Shrine on our farm to ask its deity, Sugawara no Michizane.

“Inquiring a god directly? ‘Tis bold indeed.”

I figured as much.

But Sugawara no Michizane is the only one I know who’s knowledgeable about these things.

He’s a god, after all.

Sure, there are customs for praying for a safe delivery in this world, too, but I don’t trust gods like Zeus.

“Indeed… The frivolity of these gods here is enough to give one a headache just from witnessing it…!” Michizane says, rubbing his temples.

I sense he has his own share of struggles.

I’d heard that Michizane has been visiting the heavens recently for some reason...

“Well, even fools need to learn...”

And that one sentence made me drop that line of questioning.

“More pressing, however, is the matter at hand concerning thee. …The custom for ensuring a safe childbirth, is it? Typically, on the Day of the Dog, one would wrap a bellyband and make a pilgrimage to a shrine known for its blessings of easy delivery.”

Day of the Dog?

Bellyband?

Safe delivery benefits?

Suddenly, a bunch of interesting words came up.

First, what’s the “Day of the Dog”?

“In the old calendar, each day is assigned an animal from the zodiac. The Day of the Dog is one of them. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig—the twelve zodiacs.”

Yes.

I know the twelve zodiac signs.

“Animals such as dogs do bear many offspring at once, dost they not? ‘Tis said their birthing be light as well. Thus, one prays that, like the dog, one might also be blessed with an easy and swift delivery.”

Huh, dogs do seem to have lots of puppies.

I remember a neighbor saying, “Our dog just had puppies!” and the mother dog diligently licking her pups.

“...But don’t cats have a lot of babies at once, too?” 

“Cats art not part of the zodiac.”

Oh, right.

Good point.

“Then what about tigers? They’re in the same family as cats, so they must have a bunch of babies, too. And if we’re talking zodiac, rats are in it. Rats multiply like crazy, so they must be even better than dogs for easy births, right? Snakes lay eggs, and they can have lots at once too...!!!” 

“Cease with such endless nitpicking!!!”

Yessir.

Pardon me.

Complaining about good luck charms must be bad luck itself.

If I’m hoping for some divine favor, I’d better just trust it and go with the flow.

“...Next up is the bellyband.”

I know about that.

Pregnant women wear it to protect their bellies.

Even when Platy had Junior and Norito in her belly, she wore one. Batemy even worked hard to develop a new and improved bellyband for ultimate comfort and protection.

We’re all set there.

No worries.

“By custom, it is said that one ought to don the bellyband from the Day of the Dog when prayers for a safe delivery art offered... But very well, what remains is a visit to the shrine renowned for blessings of an easy childbirth.”

Um… does Michizane have any powers in that area?

“Think thou there be such blessings for a man who, in life, did naught but immerse himself in ruthless power struggles?”

True that...

“It is indeed the goddesses who art most renowned for bestowing blessings upon those seeking a safe childbirth. Deities such as Hariti, Konohanasakuya-hime, and Toyotama-hime art particularly venerated for their manifold graces in this regard.”

Even I’ve heard of Hariti.

Isn’t she the one with hundreds of kids, and Buddha took one away to teach her a lesson? That’s her, right?

I kind of summarized it a lot.

“Konohanasakuya-hime and Toyotama-hime, both goddesses of the divine lineage of the heavenly grandchild, art famed for their striking tales related to childbirth. It is likely owing to these tales that they art revered as deities of safe delivery.”

“Striking tales?”

“For instance, one such tale speaks of a goddess giving birth in a burning hut to prove her child was not fathered by another.”

What a hardcore goddess.

“Though, if thou dost wish to pay homage at a shrine, thou wouldst need to summon them into this world, much like I was summoned. A task that, for the likes of that Lifeless King, would be but a trifling matter.”

True.

Sensei the Lifeless King can solve almost anything, but asking him to handle this might cause more trouble than it’s worth.

“Indeed, it would not be without amusement if the gods of this world were entirely ignored, whilst those of another realm were summoned instead.”

Hearing that from you, a deity from another realm, is a little weird...

“...Ah, I just remembered. There is another deity associated with safe childbirth: Amenominakanushi, a god of considerable influence. As one of the primordial deities present since the dawn of creation, this god carrieth an auspicious image for bringing forth new life. Perhaps invoking this deity might also be worth considering...”

Absolutely not!

Summoning a god of creation like that would be a disaster waiting to happen!

After talking it through, shrine visits for safe births are a no-go.

Summoning a deity would ruffle too many feathers, and the bellyband is already covered, so it’s nothing special.

The only promising idea was the Day of the Dog, but this world doesn’t have a clear calendar.

Without a calendar, I can’t even tell when that is.

Every plan is a bust.

What now? After spending all this time?

“If it’s come to this, maybe I should pray to a real dog... Oh, wait, we have Pochi, our very own dog!!!” 

“Nay, would not even the dog be troubled by such an endeavor?”

And Pochi on our farm isn’t technically a dog. He’s a Hypercaon, a wolf monster!

This safe birth plan is doomed!

“Hmm, perhaps thou mightst instead rely upon more worldly superstitions and omens?” Michizane suggests.