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Canis Lupus
Much maligned
throughout history, the wolf is a shy creature which would prefer to have
little to do with humans. Certainly it is not the vicious marauder of
faery tales and fables. Perhaps people fear the Wolf because of the way
he calls to them. His howl in the night raises the hackles of our souls
and calls us awake and wondering. Perhaps what we fear is not the wolf,
but the wildness in ourselves.
Like humans, wolves live in a communal structure. The pack has a strict
hierarchy, with the alpha male and female leading the pack. The beta wolves
do not breed, but instead care for the pups of the alpha male and female.
At the bottom of the hierarchy is the Omega wolf, the scapegoat, who is
bullied, and who often goes without when food is scarce.
Wolves hunt in a cooperative technique that served as a model for many
"primitive" tribes who watched them. Pack members take turns chasing the
prey, in a "tag team" manner so that they can exhaust their prey long
before themselves.
As with most animals who live in social groups, wolves have evolved a
variety of ways to communicate. The communicate through an evocative mix
of body postures, facial expression and tail stances as well as through
vocal means -- yelps, whines, growls. And they howl. And incredible hair-raising,
spirit wakening sound. The howl is used to help locate members, establish
territorial boundaries, strengthen group unity, and dare I suggest --
worship the Moon.
With the exception of Alaska and Canada, where wolves are abundant, and
Montana, where wolves are only considered "threatened", wolves are an
endangered species throughout North America.
Wolf Energy
In
Native American traditions, Wolf is said to be "teacher" medicine. Humans
have followed Wolf for millennia, studying Wolf's ways of the hunt, learning
from their social structure. Wolf is allied with Sirus, the Dog Star,
and it is said in many cultures, that our ancestors and teachers came
from there. This is agreed upon by Australian Aborigines, and the Dogon
tribe of Africa, as well as certain Native American tribes. Wolf has much
to teach us, if only we will listen.
Wolf is allied to the moon and lunar energies, teaching us to respect
our emotions and unconscious urges. Respect for the wildness of our animal
natures, and willingness to face the dark within ourselves is an imperative
for Wolf people. Trust in the unspoiled nature of your Child/Wolf self.
Because the Moon rules psychic perception, Wolf people should work on
learning to trust their intuition and psychic urges, to listen for the
still small voice within.
The communal nature of Wolf's culture and hunting helps us to learn to
cooperate to achieve a goal. Wolf people make good "team players" and
are fiercely loyal to those they consider part of their pack. They often
have strong leadership qualities, however they must often learn to balance
their tendency for "social dominancing." As a predator, Wolf culls the
sick and weak of the herd. Wolves are often quick to scent when a situation
is "sick," and will work to change it. It is important that they learn
to lead the situation gently, and without tearing others apart, or the
pack may turn on them.
Wolf's capacity for communication suggests that Wolf people should learn
to utilize the strength of their voice and to be aware of their body language.
When dealing with Wolf people, listening for the nuances of vocal tone
and watching their motions will help in gaining an understanding of them.
Wolves often make excellent bards and storytellers.
Ritual is very important to Wolf. Both the little rituals of day-to-day
conduct, and the bigger rituals of lunar howling. Whatever their spiritual
beliefs, Wolf people will feel more in tune when they honor and re-link
(the actual meaning of the word "religion") with the life force.
Connecting
with Wolf
To bring
Wolf energy into your life, try some of these exercises:
Water (Emotional):
Write poetry
or draw pictures of wolves
Hang pictures of wolves around your house or work area.
Wear wolf jewelry. See our Wolf
Rings
Go for walks in the woods. Lift your head and howl at the Moon. (Note:
If you live in a wolf-populated area, howling should be done rarely, as
by listening to humans howl, wolves learn to sound like humans, and forget
the correct wolf-way to do it.)
Air (Mental):
Read books
about wolves. (See our Bookstore)
Utilize your voice. Work at mellowing your vocal tone, and take note of
the way that your tones affect the way people hear you. You may even want
to take vocal lessons.
Tell stories
Fire (Dynamic):
Teach someone
something you have learned.
Learn something from someone.
Play tag.
Sniff out a situation you don't like, and DO something about it.
Participate and cooperate with others.
Earth (Physical):
Eat venison,
one of Wolf's favorite foods.
Wear moonstone, and other lunar stones. (For more info on Moonstone, see
our page on the Magickal Properties of Gemstones).
Let your hair grow.
Spirit
Make up a
simple daily (or nightly) ritual that makes you feel closer to your spiritual
self. Use any motions, noises, words and props that you feel comfortable
with.
Join in group ritual with others. This can be as simple as a sing-along,
or as complex as high church rite or magickal ritual. Go with whatever
feels right for you.
©
Lionrhod and Martrildonno Designs, Inc. 1997-2001
Not to be used without express permission.
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