Welcome to Gaia! ::

Replicated and modified from my original post in the occult research society:

My religion is Neo-Shintoist, our deities are the Kami. These are beings who exist on a coexistent plane to ours and pervade all things in the universe. Patron/Matron Kami grant you their blessings and enhance your body and mind, sometimes though they will exact a toll upon you, mentally or physically. It is best to attempt a summon when you are most relaxed and alone.

Summoning a Kami has dangers depending on the Kami you aim to summon and your will power. The dangers of Kami summoning and acquiring a patron or matron vary greatly and always take in to mind the threats present before attempting a summon.

1) Clear the room of all distractions
2) Start meditating while breathing in through your nostrils and out your mouth
3) Empty your mind of day to day worries and stresses
4) Focus on a mental image linked to the Kami you wish to call upon
5) Keep focusing until the image starts to change outside of your own will
6) The image should change completely now to something outside of basic human understanding
7) The Kami is now present
8. Greet it with great praise and compliments
9) It should acknowledge you after some length of time
10) Once acknowledged mentally bow to the Kami
11) Make your request to the Kami to be your Patron/Matron or to grant you it's favor.
12) Should you ask for Patronship/Matronship be aware that some Kami will exact a cost upon you which radically varies by the Kami you summoned.
13) If the Kami grants you it's favor or Patronship/Matronship thank it greatly
14) The Kami should revert to the image
15) The image should leave your mind
16) You should awaken from your meditation

Neo-Shintoism as in yes, I'm putting a more modern spin on it. Mostly involving prayers, since I don't live near any traditional shrines...

My last patron&matron (unisex Kami) is the Kami of Death...

To focus on a specific kami has a variety of parameters for what kind of kami you are looking for, pretty much you just focus on the general concept/icon of the kami, and slowly refine your focus onto more specific parts of the kami that you seek (age, protections, followers, knowledge, etc.)

My first kami that I held as a patron/matron was a kami of the earth, it resided in an old tree outside my house.

now, something i have noticed is that in traditional Shinto, the Spirits are divided into Kami (gods) and Oni (demons) based off of the purity of their hearts. and things that are considered impure are such concepts as dirtyness, coldness, darkness and death. and so, i take it that you consider the Spirits of such things to still be Kami, worthy of worship and so on? it is actually similar to what the Ogres do, worshipping the Oni as Kami.

i find it ironic that in Shinto this happens, even after they acknowledge that Death and Life are overall the same thing (not unlike in Witchcraft). but i suppose that they recognize the need for the Oni as much as they do the Kami, and respect them if fear them. over all it does remind me that all faith's are the same, and that people have always worshipped light and life and warmth. xd

that sounds much more like the more Animistic Shamanic form of Shinto that was around before the westernization of Japan in the 50s. definately along the lines that i prefer to follow as well (i am very much a Shamanic-minded fellow, an "old soul" as i have been called alot).