My final 'major unlucky year' has begun, so I went to ward off bad luck

Last year was my final 'pre-unlucky year' of my life, and quite a few things happened.
Honestly, it was at a level where I would have preferred to be spared.
Following that, this year is my 'major unlucky year'. (As expected)

I remember that during my major unlucky year in my 40s, trouble also occurred during the 'pre-unlucky year'.
So, I went to get a warding-off prayer early last year as well.
However, that was just at my usual shrine, and I didn't do anything special.

At this point, there is no point in saying whether that warding-off prayer was effective or not, so I will just assume that if I hadn't done it, I would have been involved in some truly major trouble. Haha

And now, this year.
When this season arrives, you start seeing commercials for warding-off prayers on TV.
Places like the XX Warding-Off Daishi seem to be famous.
I remember going there when I was in my 40s.
So, I seriously thought about where I should go to have my final 'major unlucky year' warded off, and I decided on Okunitama Shrine in Fuchu City, looking for a place where I could also pray for my wife's recovery from illness.

Leaving the history of the shrine for you to check above, I spent one day of this three-day weekend on the warding-off prayer.
I had previously thought it was a large and magnificent shrine when I passed by it, but I never imagined I would end up going there amidst such incredible crowds due to the season. (I brought this on myself)

I was made to wait outside the main hall for over an hour before being accepted for the warding-off prayer, and I was in a situation where I might have caught a cold before the prayer even started... but it happened to be a warm day, so I was safe.
That said, it took nearly three times the estimated time, but I successfully finished my 'major unlucky year' warding-off prayer and my wife's 'recovery from illness' prayer.

The paper bag I was handed on the way home contained sacred sake, a sable cookie shaped like an ema (votive tablet), rice, and an amulet, and I was impressed by what a great business this is.
By the way, with a customer unit price of over 5,000 yen, they do this about 15 times a day for 80 people at a time (prayers).
So... that's 6 million yen per day!! (Let's forget that. Haha)

It's a strange thing, but after having the warding-off prayer done, I felt refreshed for no particular reason... and I laughed a little at my simple self.

I won't ask for anything more, so I just prayed that each member of my family would stay healthy and spend our days brightly. (Is this asking for too much?)