More Shamanism at Vancouver Olympics

I haven't had time to watch much of the Vancouver Olympics, however, I see that shamanic or pagan images keep popping up. Wonder what that's all about?

Canada's Jon Montgomery (above) just won gold in the skeleton event. If you look at his helmet, it sports a stylized turtle image, in the manner of Canada's native peoples. Montgomery started wearing the helmet (pictured) after a shaman told him that his spirit animal was a turtle! Seems a few people poked fun at Jon--a racer, for wearing an image usually associated with slowness--but now he gets the last laugh. And turtle medicine is actually quite powerful. I became more familiar with it last year.

There was more shamanism evident in the Opening Ceremony: Canada's first peoples dancing and drumming, a spirit bear, mystical trees and salmon, a shaman walking north with his magickal staff, and more. Sia at Full Circle gives a good review of it here.

I don't know how deeply or seriously people are taking all this--but it can only be a good thing. Just the fact that more people are recognizing the importance of native ways, of animal wisdom, of the spirit of a particular place--I believe all of this sticks with us and affects us in ways that will one day amaze and humble us. It's spirit's way of getting our attention and leading us in the way we should go. I had this very experience this morning on my walk, and I'll post about that next.