Wolverine the shaman?

The link gives my a 404 - not found error message. Could you check it? Perhaps it is the formatting, resulting in the dots in the middle.

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It is not how fast you go
it is when you get there.

Try this link.

I agree that myth has to evolve to stay relevant. Our understanding of things spiritual relies on the interaction of tradition and experience - a symbiotic relationship - each informs the other.

When a literalist discovers that the moon is a lump of rock, his world is shattered. However, if we understand the nature of metaphor, we understand that the moon/goddess metaphor breaks down (as all metaphors do) if taken too far. (Actually, I think the concept of 'metaphor', as we understand it today, doesn't quite capture the depth of symbolic relationships, but that's another debate).

P.S. I think your 'unbreakable bones' metaphor breaks down all too quickly - unless unbreakable means flexible, rather than ossified. ;)

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I don't believe in belief!

Perceval

I agree with Perceval. You are trying to imply that Wolverine is fluid. This is represented I think in three ways:

*His regenerative powers. The ability of his body to adapt to the harshness of the environment.

*His adamantium skeleton. Adamantium must be kept hot to remain liquid. This was very well presented in the second X-Men movie. I think you should mention that.

*His forgotten identity. Wolverine follows Don Juan's advise to 'erase one's personal history' to the letter. In the end, that reclaiming of the past becomes his quest and journey to illumination, which echoes in more archetypical stories—the search for the Grail, etc.

There should also be a mention of the shaman's use of his animal spirit as a guide and source of power.

I think your article is pretty good. And maybe with a few minor adjustments or addendums it would really kick ass :)

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It's not the depth of the rabbit hole that bugs me...
It's all the rabbit SH*T you stumble over on your way down!!!

Red Pill Junkie