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.

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.

A Good Dose of Turtle Medicine

By medicine, I'm obviously referring to the symbolic qualities of the turtle and what these fascinating creatures can teach us. Turns out turtles have been showing up quite a bit lately in my life. The other week on my walk around the lake, I spied 2 large turtles foraging around in the mud. I stood and watched them for a long time, although I wasn't close enough to identify them. A day or so later, I spotted a box turtle on a path very close to my home. And over the weekend, I spotted another box turtle not far from the main road.

Then I thought, "maybe the turtles are talking to me!" Because I recalled that the theme for the upcoming Fall session of the Cherokee Full Circle workshop is--turtle medicine! I'm still planning to attend, and the entire workshop is based around the symbolism of turtles in the Cherokee tradition.

Funny how these things come together. So I've been reading up on turtle symbolism and taking notes. If you'd like to know more, just google "turtle totem" and you can read for days. But here's what stood out to me.

• Because of their longevity and slow mannerisms, turtles can teach us new perspectives on time and our relationship to it. It may be time to slow down and and go with the flow of life rather than against it.
  
• The turtle's shell has lots of symbolism. It may indicate we should withdraw to nurture our ideas until they're ready for expression. Or it may signal that we need to set up boundaries for personal protection from situations or persons.
  
• Turtles often symbolize the Earth itself, and some traditions even once believed the Earth sat on top of a turtle's shell. It can be a call to ground yourself more closely to the Earth, to the basics, to nature, and to tune into the Earth's energies rather than your own to better navigate life.
• Since turtles can live on land or in the water, they are often seen as a symbolic bridge between this world and the Faerie realm (not exactly sure how that works--but it sounds fun!).
  

So be alert and aware, and see what nature is trying to tell you out there!

A Good Dose of Turtle Medicine

By medicine, I'm obviously referring to the symbolic qualities of the turtle and what these fascinating creatures can teach us. Turns out turtles have been showing up quite a bit lately in my life. The other week on my walk around the lake, I spied 2 large turtles foraging around in the mud. I stood and watched them for a long time, although I wasn't close enough to identify them. A day or so later, I spotted a box turtle on a path very close to my home. And over the weekend, I spotted another box turtle not far from the main road.

Then I thought, "maybe the turtles are talking to me!" Because I recalled that the theme for the upcoming Fall session of the Cherokee Full Circle workshop is--turtle medicine! I'm still planning to attend, and the entire workshop is based around the symbolism of turtles in the Cherokee tradition.

Funny how these things come together. So I've been reading up on turtle symbolism and taking notes. If you'd like to know more, just google "turtle totem" and you can read for days. But here's what stood out to me.

• Because of their longevity and slow mannerisms, turtles can teach us new perspectives on time and our relationship to it. It may be time to slow down and and go with the flow of life rather than against it.
  
• The turtle's shell has lots of symbolism. It may indicate we should withdraw to nurture our ideas until they're ready for expression. Or it may signal that we need to set up boundaries for personal protection from situations or persons.
  
• Turtles often symbolize the Earth itself, and some traditions even once believed the Earth sat on top of a turtle's shell. It can be a call to ground yourself more closely to the Earth, to the basics, to nature, and to tune into the Earth's energies rather than your own to better navigate life.
• Since turtles can live on land or in the water, they are often seen as a symbolic bridge between this world and the Faerie realm (not exactly sure how that works--but it sounds fun!).
  

So be alert and aware, and see what nature is trying to tell you out there!

Why Did the Raccoon and the Turtle Cross the Road?

The world isn't all doom and gloom--thank the goddess! Over the weekend, I was headed to my workshop when I saw 2 cars pulled over to opposite sides of the street, their flashers blinking. At first I thought the drivers were talking and I began to bitch. But as I got closer, I could see why they had stopped. There were 2 baby raccoons right in the middle of the road, huddled together! These drivers had stopped to warn others to slow down. I didn't see a mother raccoon but I'm assuming the babies were trying to cross the road and may have been spooked by the cars. I couldn't stay and watch, but thanks to those 2 drivers, the babies may have made their way to safety.

And then this morning on the way to work, I saw a man holding something and standing on the sidewalk. He was watching traffic on a busy road and trying to find a way to cross with whatever he was carrying. As I drove past, I could see it was a large turtle! I'm assuming he was trying to cross and release it where it would be less likely to get smashed.

I can't help but be reminded of Christ's words. In Matthew 25:40, he was talking about prisoners and those in need, but I think it also applies here, to those creatures we often overlook or consider pests: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Why Did the Raccoon and the Turtle Cross the Road?

The world isn't all doom and gloom--thank the goddess! Over the weekend, I was headed to my workshop when I saw 2 cars pulled over to opposite sides of the street, their flashers blinking. At first I thought the drivers were talking and I began to bitch. But as I got closer, I could see why they had stopped. There were 2 baby raccoons right in the middle of the road, huddled together! These drivers had stopped to warn others to slow down. I didn't see a mother raccoon but I'm assuming the babies were trying to cross the road and may have been spooked by the cars. I couldn't stay and watch, but thanks to those 2 drivers, the babies may have made their way to safety.

And then this morning on the way to work, I saw a man holding something and standing on the sidewalk. He was watching traffic on a busy road and trying to find a way to cross with whatever he was carrying. As I drove past, I could see it was a large turtle! I'm assuming he was trying to cross and release it where it would be less likely to get smashed.

I can't help but be reminded of Christ's words. In Matthew 25:40, he was talking about prisoners and those in need, but I think it also applies here, to those creatures we often overlook or consider pests: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."