Mitama

Mitama (御霊, Lit. “Honorable Soul”) is one's spirit in its entirety, as comprised of the Ara-mitama and the Nigi-mitama.

Ara and Nigi
Main article: Elements

When speaking on matters of one's Mitama, discussions of Ara and Nigi are inevitable.

Ara-mitama
The Ara-mitama (荒御霊, 荒御魂, Lit. “Wild Soul”) is the rough and violent, changeable half of the Mitama. which encourages self-indulgence at the behest of others, violent outbursts and covetousness, which makes the spirit susceptible to Kegare. A Kami’s first appearance in the world is the Ara-mitama, which must be pacified with worship and rites in order for the Nigi-mitama to appear. Ara-mitama are likely to appear or be called upon during times of war or disasters.

Nigi-mitama
The Nigi-mitama (和魂, 和御霊, Lit. "Tranquil Soul") is the functional half of the Mitama.

Kegare
Kegare is not a form of moral judgement, but a reaction to the natural forces of Ara and Nigi. It is not a reflection of how good or bad a person is, it only accumulates naturally through anxiety, fear, rage, malevolent intent, and experiencing or taking part in malevolent or harmful action. In general, forces such as death, disease and birth are considered Kegare. Not because it is a sin, or inherently bad, but because it is a ‘corruption’ of what was once something else, or due to the intense harmful feelings such events can cause.

Kegare is cleansed ritually.

Kiyome
Kiyome is a state of purity where something is unaffected by natural forces, when something that is Kiyome comes into contact with Ara & Nigi, it immediately begins accumulating Kegare and is no longer pure. When a living being is born, they are Kiyome because they are yet unaware of the forces that drive the world, seeing its truth as it were. As they grow older, they begin to accumulate Kegare like any other being.

Purification only balances Ara and Nigi rather than ridding an entity of it entirely.

Tsumi
Tsumi is anything that would make a person impure, it is what one calls efforts that cause Kegare, or are caused by Kegare. Those whose Mitama are heavily entangled in Kegare can commit acts of Tsumi, actions that can harm themself or others.

Mitama-uchiki
Mitama-uchiki (御霊袿, Lit. "Sacred Spirit Layer") is a protective barrier invoked by a Miko or Onmyoji that wards the Mitama from Kegare.