In ancient Japanese tradition, when a treasured household item reaches the end of usefulness, it is given the proper funerary send off that it deserves.
This unusual ritual harks back to two ancient philosophies. The Shinto Animist philosophy that all things alive or otherwise have a soul. And the Nichiren Buddhist philosophy that when a person attains enlightenment then all of the objects in their possession do as well.
A Proper Goodbye For Needles and Pins: The Hari-kuyo Ritual
Each year on February 8th, seamstresses in Japan lay to rest their overworked implements in a proper burial. The needles and pins are placed into a block of tofu and the priest recites a sutra. Once this ceremony is completed the needles are buried either on land or at sea. A final show of thanks for their years of service.
Content Catnip 
Sure! Mostly musical instruments but possibly other things like clothes with holes that are often in danger of being thrown out (by Muky!)
LikeLike
It can be difficult to throw out these old things if you like them …I have some jeans like that.
LikeLike
For me….the sacred objects would be some of my books and my pounamu
LikeLike
I’ve heard of the content of the first philosophy you mentioned but I never knew its name. Shinto Animist philosophy is very much similar to what we have associated with Advaita Philosophy or the philosophy of Non Duality in Hinduism. It believes that everything in this universe is one (A=non and Dvaita=dual) and because everything is one everything has conscious. I’m really excited to know about the other one, Nichiren Buddhist philosophy. It’s something new I’ve heard and thought about. I mean that sounds really nice that once you are enlightened everything around is enlightened. I think it depends on our ability to devote our complete consciousness and awareness to a thing. Eckhart Tolle said that you’re the universe becoming aware of itself. I feel it relates to it too ❤️😊
LikeLike