THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

In the Ainu world a few human houses are in a valley by a little river.  The doorways all face east.  In the center of each house is the firepit.  The sunshine streams through the eastern door each morning to touch the fire, and they say the sun goddess is visiting her sister the fire goddess in the firepit.  One should not walk through sunbeams that shine on the fire – that would be breaking their contact.

Snyder/Wild, 1990