Role: ~The Teacher~

Medicine: Shapeshifting

Scientific name: 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 fables and foke lore. 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.

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.

Other animal totems include:
Ant - prosperity, earth power, unity
Antelope - grace, swiftness, nibleness
Badger - strength, protection
Bat - adaptability, longevity, guidance, transition
Bear - healing, divinity, invulnerability
Beaver - stability, resourcefulness, practicality, steadfastness
Bee - selflessness, self-sufficiency, organization
Birds (in general) - soul, divinity, liberation, creativity, rebirth
Boar - chivalry, strength, fearlessness, confidence
Bull - maculine energy, renewal, fertility, growth
Butterfly - transformation, joy, lightness, rebirth
Caribou - cycle of life, rebirth, abundance
Cat - independence, magick, abundance
Condor - awareness, development, guidance, control, wisdom
Cougar - exploration, balance
Cow - fertility, purity, divinity
Coyote - transformation, creation, cunning, good fortune
Crab - endurance, protection, decisiveness
Crocodile _ opporturnity, risk, fertility, life
Crow - renewal, transformation, magick, abundance
Deer - instinctual energy, independence, regeneration
Dog - devotion, protection
Dolphin - life feminine energy, sexuality
Donkey - practicality, conscience, sensibility
Dove - sexuality, peace, divine inspiration
Dragon - wisdom, patience, protection, immortality
Duck - emotional stability, balance, humor
Eagle - power, creation, illumination, exploration
Elephant - strength, prosperity, fertility, wisdom
Falcon - independence, solitude, higher awareness
Fish - feminine energy, fertility, abundance
Fox - cunning, sexuality, creativity
Frog - feminine energy, creation, fecundity
Gargoyle - patience, observance, cycle of life wisdom
Gazelle - persistence, communal strength
Giraffe - friendship, easy-going nature
Goat - caprice, mischief, sexuality, fertility
Goose - heritage, inspiration, guidance, stability
Gorilla - control, discipline, confidence, kindness
Grasshopper - happiness, good fortune, longevity
Gryphon - wisdom, agility, flexibility, persistence
Hawk - healing, vision, rebirth, spirituality
Heron - life, feminine energy, renewal
Horse - friendship, wisdom, strength
Insect (any) - power, spirituality, renewal
Jaguar - wholeness, divinity, rebirth
Kingfisher - peace, abundance, love
Leopard - stealth, strength, purity
Lion - courage, strength, healing, protection, life energy
Lizard - regeneration, enriched dreamlife, balance, partnership
Lynx - patience, cunning, intuition
Monkey - agility, courage, spirit
Mouse - trust, self-examination, persistence, devotion
Owl - sexual energy, darkness, liberation
Panther - magick, darkness, death
Parrot - love, prophesy, verbosity, meditation
Peacock - vision, wisdom, beauty, guardianship
Phoenix - rebirth, strength, protection, vitality
Polar Bear - power, wisdom, peace
Puman - power, desire, healing
Rabbit - power, abundance, heroism, seasons, cycle of life, fertility
Ram - sacrifice, growth, devine life
Rat - courage, mystery, cunning, frivolity and fun
Raven - creation, magick, illumination
Rooster - enthusiasm, prophecy, masculine power
Scarab - regeneration
Sea Horse - strength, guidance, transformation, feminine energy
Sheep - elegance, creativity, strength
Spider - protection, aid, wisdom
Snake - transformation, healing, sexuality, rebirth
Swan - transformation, loss of innocence, beauty
Tiger - primal power, creation, perception
Turtle - wisdom, protection, longevity, stability
Unicorn - innocence, beauty, grace, trust
Whale - balance, spiritual development, responsibiltiy
Wolf - creation, healing, purification
Zebra - wisdom, strength, blending, individuality