Faces of Death IX: Wolf Pack

Long before she was seen with a faithful hound, this Lady ran with wolves. They are not only her hunting companions, but clues to her wild nature. Diana is associated with the moon, hunting, wild animals oaks, and chastity.

She prefers women as her companions and lovers. Towards men she can be deadly. Diana favors turning the predator into the prey, and letting his companions destroy him. Hers is the female wild hunt, and she collects the souls ready to cross over. Her brother/lover consort is often Apollo in some tales or Lucifer. The Italian god of light, honey. She is the favored protectress of all Stregha. All women can call on her for defense.

Happy is the soul to befriend this wolf-headed god of death. He not only protects and escorts his children, but rules over them justly. He also is the keeper of all hidden gems and riches. To the Etruscans Celts, and Romans he was a father, and even died to save his people. But you can't keep a good god down and he now happily rules the underworld.

Oh, he is also the gaurdian of the dead. Which means perhaps that one day he will show up in wolf form and destroy grave vandals, yay! OK that's whishful thinking, but he does have a three-headed wolf or dog form as well.

This devouring wolf was the son of Loki. In the final battle he will consume Odin and death will win over the gods. As death his giant wolf maw reaches from the ground to the sky. He is the death not even the mighty gods can escape.

Germany apparently doesn't let goddesses just dilly dally. This fearsome wolf of death gobbled up the moon each night. This had to happen so the newborn sun could take over once again. As the moon seems to be born and die through her many faces this hunt may have taken a full length of new moon to full moon.

This doesn't make Hati evil. He simply must fullfill his sacred duty of keeping balance.

He slew his brother Glooskap, and so too can kill man. This is not evil, but symbolic of the way the night and darkness seems to slay the sun. Oh don't get so excited. Most "animals" in Native American legend are humans with animal names.

But wolf has a good side and helped create people and provide for them. Being the great ruler over all wolves he can send them to protect the innocent or devour the evil. Wolf himself can help souls cross over and protects the astral traveler.

This god of the hanged collected warrior souls. At his side were two wolves Geri (Greedy) and Freki (voracious). Also, he could and did lead the Valkyries into battle. His presence as death on the battle field could spread sheer terror in foes or inspire berserker frenzy in allies. His allies would then fight with the courage of wolves with no fear of death. But woe be to the evil souls. They literally froze in place, unable to move as Odhinn mowed them down. Now keep in mind his foes were nasty people who had it coming.

Oddin was hung himself upside down from the world tree and gave his all-seeing eye to gain knowledge.

Although he is from Africa, Oggun travels well. Strangely enough I heard about the wolf connection from an old friend. A person's ancestor had been saved during wartime and a strange seemingly African spirit was involved. To cap it off later these wolves run out of a forest and surround the man but do not harm him. He is told by the spirit wolves will always protect him. On later reflection it sounds a lot like Eshu feeding his brother Oggun. And he may also be a spirit who loves the family, but you know only Oggun rolls with apex predators.

No kidding. Having no hyaenas in the New World hasn't slowed Oggun down a bit. Here he favors wolves and I can tell you is certainly capable of appearing as a massive black wolf himself. Like any Alpha wolf he doesn't put up with dissension in the ranks, but he provides food and protection for those loyal to him.

Remember Ogu rules over all canines, including wild and tame. So it isn't much of a surprise that wolves are connected to him as well. Though I don't know of a single house in North America or Europe that has made the connection. Remember also that most spirits of Africa had an animal form long before a human one.

I will warn you that Oggun protection is not for the squeamish. He is the knife that gives sacrifice, he is war, he is violence involving weapons like guns or knives, he is in a sense death itself. But I assure you nothing gets past him.

This goddess covers almost all pantheons. She is of course the great she-wolf goddess who suckled Romulus and Remus. She is also the Native American White Wolf Woman. In Rome, ike all good mothers she was honored on her own day, the feast of the she wolf. Her feast combined sexual potency of both men and women, with naked men running through the streets lashing women with wolf hide strips. She allows humans to take her wolfen children for sacred purposes. But as for evil people, they will find this goddess is death herself. Like all wolves she is to be respected.

In America she is well known among Native Americans. Sometimes she is seen as an aspect of the Great Mother. She is more often seen as a wolf totem and will guide seekers to knowledge and wisdom. Many tribes talk of great white wolves or other lupine protectors. Som,etimes they defend a lost child or even a whole village. This all encompassing face shares many traits with, but is not a single goddess.

Why a she wolf? Well she has large litters, defends her cubs, and leads the pack. A she wolf may sometimes find herself without a pack, but with cubs, so she knows about balancing priorities. This goddess has potent fertility and wisdom. You can call on her using any path you choose. Trust She Wolf in all her forms to escort the dead to the afterlife.

In German legend he is the wolf of night or repulsion who chases and devours the sun, the slaying her. Yet his reign of darkness is short as thus sun always gives birth to a daughter who will arise fully grown in the dawn to start the pursuit of again. Here the death of the sun gives way to healing night and is always born anew. While night or death is ageless and ever hungry. Yes, hungry like the wolf.

Skoll is not evil. We need the sun to go away so the night and sleep may come. Who better to eat something as big as the sun than a wolf?

She is the She Wolf of Native American healing and wisdom. White Wolf Woman appears as a pure white wolf due to the purity of her nature, and her role as a teacher. Her lessons include good parenting, as in really spending time with the kids, enforcing rules, giving guidance, parenting.

She is the wolf who guards a person lost in the forest, for she is loving and compassionate. White Wolf Woman comes to mankind when we have veered over the edge. She seeks to brings us back into balance with nature, God, and ourselves.

Her jaws only seek to destroy that which is evil and killing mankind. White Wolf Woman also is connected to women and children regardless of race. She protects the elderly, and most likely sees souls home again.

She is not death herself, but ignoring her friendly warnings will bring out her much darker sister, what most would call a werewolf. Ignore both and death will surely consume you. Considering White Wolf Woman an early warning system for mankind.