Shamanic Princess

Dance
The movements themselves in a dance are a form of communication, sometimes with the spirit world, sometimes with those who watch, and some are a form of storytelling. This is the impression I get from Tiara's dance, it was a kind of tribal dance that passed down a story to the people, and Tiara reenacted it. At least that looked to be one aspect. Could have also been a ritual.

Dance is also a form of rejoicing and expression of emotion or of the people or the culture. Music and dance are very emotionally charged things, and effect those involved or exposed to it. Some dances as I said worked between the people as a way to communicate with the spirits or Gods for help in a hunt or crops or such. Some dances also worked as a rite of passage, from one stage of life to the next, like death, marriage, woman or manhood. [Probably all that goes into Shamanic Princess in one form or another as well.]

Dance as ritual goes back to primitive times. The movements themselves are the rituals or symbols. The precise placement of feet in a dance, the gestures of the hands, the type of clothing one wears in the dance, all come together to say something specific to the people or deity/spirit being communicated with. It could also be a way to spiritually become that which is being danced in some instances. An example being, in cultures where it was believed a human could transform or take on the spirit of an animal, I believe in those cases, the "transformation" occured after the dance or in the ritual of it.

Eye
The eye was an important symbol of wisdom, as Odin gave up one of his own for it. It also stands for the spirit or light, and for mental vision. The "all-seeing eye."

Forest
It is a setting seen many times in fairy tales and stories from German speaking lands. It can be a symbol of the unconscious.

Guardian World
In Shamanic Princess, there are three known worlds or places: the Guardian World, the human world, and the world from which the partners are summoned. The idea of three worlds or having a world structured into three parts can also be seen in Teutonic mythology. Here can be seen the structure of the three worlds: Asgard (world of gods), Midgard (world of humans), and Niflheim (the underworld).

Palm/Hand
From Symbols in Teutonic Mythology: "The hand symbolizes loyalty, highlighting the importance of the bond of the oath." A palm with an eye in the center was a symbol of insight for both Tibetan bodhisattvas and Native Americans.

Poppy
The poppy frequently is a symbol of sleep. In series like the Kenshin OVA and Shamanic Princess, poppy petals and flowers are seen in flashbacks and dreamlike memories; this may go back to the relation of the poppy with sleep.

Shaman/Shamanism
Blacker in the Catalpa Bow gives one of the first points needed to be considered a shaman as: "a person who receives a supernatural gift from the spirit world. The gift is bestowed usually by a single spiritual being, who afterwards becomes his guardian and guide, sometimes even his spiritual wife" (24). To help in their tasks, assistant spirits are given to the shamans to act as guides or messengers. Shamans are considered to have mastery over both spirits and fire.

Sometimes a kami may speak in dreams, delivering an answer to a problem or question plaguing the shaman or sleeper. And also, in such cases, the dreamer may awake to find an object has been given to them (a dagger, gem, etc.).

In Shamanic Princess, Sarah comes to Tiara in her dreams after she is bound to the Throne of Yord (so situation is much like one given). The gem Tiara receives that is the clue to the answer she seeks, appears and is bestowed from her dream.

Stones
The ancient Celts believed rocks and stones could be abodes for spirits. Tiara's amulet made of stones is a connection to her ancestors and she wears it while in training under them.

Throne of Yord
From John Pollard: "In old Norse, 'yord' is in fact the phoenetic pronunciation of 'jord.' Jord is also the name of the god Thor's mother, one of Odin's wives, and a goddess often associated with the earth." The word jord means earth in Norwegian.