Shintoism, an ancient religion of Japan, sees spiritual powers in everything in the natural world. The term “Shinto” means “the way of the gods.” Spirits called "kami" live in everthing natural and not man-made: Animals, plants, stones, mountains, rivers, people and the dead—our ancestors.

Shinto shrines and are usually in peaceful, natural settings. The Inner Hall of the shrine is only accessible to Shinto priests (both male and female) because kami are present. It is important to be clean when anyone enters the shrine out of respect for the kami. Therefore, Shinto followers rinse their mouths and wash their hands. They also and hang wooden tablets with prayers on them before entering the prayer hall. Then they summon the kami with a bell and offer rice or money. Finally, they bow twice, clap twice to welcome the kami, then bow again.

Shintoists have altars in their homes and at the job—often for the purpose of paying respects to their ancestors. They place rice and tea shelflike altar called a "godshelf." This is where people say prayers to and for ancestors, who have become kami by virtue of crossing over from life to death.

According to Shinto, a human spirit is believed to remain kami forever. They live in the “otherworld.” There are many different otherworlds but the most well known otherworld is ‘Takamano-hara’ (the otherworld of Heaven). All of the otherworlds, however, do not resemble the heaven and hell of Christianity. They are depicted as being not at all different from this world.
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There is a deep faith in Shintoism that the spirit of the dead can visit this world if people perform rituals to revere that spirit. Divine spirits visit this world when people show their reverence at festivals. These festivals ensure that kami and ancestral spirits will protect their descendants as long as the descendants continue to hold festivals and show their devotion.

“Deja vu” is a way of ascertaining the eternity of our Souls and the existence of our past lives. It is sometimes the only way people can be convinced that they have lived before. It is an undeniable feeling that surprises us because it cannot be planned.

We feel that we have been here before, seen this person, heard their voice, felt this feeling. It is distinctive and pronounced when we go through an episode of deja vu. This is because for one instant, we have witnessed “the crack in the cosmic egg” that gives us a glimpse into our eternity.

One of the reasons we don’t remember our past lives is that it is too confusing, as we navigate this current lifetime, to have images of other lives obtruding on our consciousness. We are meant to focus on the now in this lifetime and not be dazzled by who we were centuries ago. Yet it is still important to understand who we were in past lives. Knowing about them can explain many of our talents, predilections, choices, inclinations, loves, hates, and even illnesses and pains. But we are not meant to cross into that territory on a daily basis.
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Every once in a while, however, by whatever grace or confluence of energies beyond the scope of the human mind, we catch sight of another life. It is brief and stunning and a reminder that we have lived many times and will live again in the never-ending miracle of existence.

​Psychic abilities may be a byproduct of the opening of the third eye in the sense that this awakening helps us to be aware of subtle energy fields that were not apparent before. When we attune to these fields we can then see beyond space and time. We can see into the past and even into the future because they become one simultaneity—not a continuum. But just because you have experienced your third eye opening, it doesn’t mean that you will automatically be a true psychic.
Some true psychics have never heard of the third eye yet still have the gift of “second sight.” So we don’t need to depend on yogic practices to open the third eye. In my experience, psychic abilities are a gift, like a talent. We can hone it and keep it alive by such practices as kundalini yoga but it cannot be forced. Just as some have amazing musical talent and others have talents in different fields, psychic abilities present themselves to certain individuals.
It is particularly a mistake to undertake yogic practices to give ourselves powers to predict the future and to avoid all the problems of life. It’s a mistake because it won’t happen anyway. As I said, psychic abilities are a gift. We can enhance our sensitivity but we cannot smuggle our way into the inner sanctum that goes beyond the capacity of the human mind. We will not be able to get control over our lives and wrap them up in a neat bow just because we have opened our third eye.

You have hit upon an important point by linking organized religions with role playing. When we are children our parents and our culture teach us the roles we must play and the rules of those roles. If we stray from these rules we risk being outcasts, unloved, scorned, and not supported.

Rules and roles go together. When we play the role of a devout religious person, regardless of which religion it is, we will be admired, accepted, and ensure our survival. If we flagrantly oppose, ignore, or evade those roles, we might be put to death, publicly stoned, or even be considered insane.

If I had to choose which religions to role play, I would pick the ones that embrace the fun of life. The ones that include dancing and singing in their rituals. I would play the ones that view sexuality as something clean and wholesome. I want to play the ones that include forgiveness and inclusion instead of the punishment of an angry male god who is watching every move everyone makes on the planet, so he can torture them accordingly before after they die.

I would role play a religion that places women on equal footing with the male decision-makers in their organization. If we look at the major world religions, right away we see the gender imbalance when it comes to their hierarchical structures. I would not like to play any role where the wisdom of women is discounted or nullified.
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And I would not like to play a role in a religion that self-righteously kills others because they hate and fear a different belief system, roles, and rules.