Shrine Shinto understands the whole of life, including both humans and nature, as creative and life giving.6 A generative, immanent force (musubi; ki; kami-nature) harmoniously pervades the whole phenomenal world. This creative process is a continual, ongoing one, and is neither arbitrary nor deterministic. Unusual or "superior" manifestations of this generative, vital power, called kami, can be experienced as possessing an awesome presence and potency. All phenomena are candidates for this designation, e.g., the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, fields, seas, rain, wind, plants and animals, or great persons, heroes or leaders. However, to experience the kami presence of any one of these aspects of nature requires an aesthetically pure and cheerful heart/mind (kokoro), an emotional, mental and volitional condition that is not easily attained.