"Wolf . . . Teacher, Pathfinder, Moon dog of my soul. Howling, Singing, Teaching how to know." (Medicine Cards, p96) "It is in the sharing of great truths that the consciousness of humanity will attain new heights." (Medicine Cards, p98) Maybe it is Wolf, our inner teacher, that prompts us to gaze star-ward on a full-moon night. The site of this glowing orb in full bloom captivates us if we are initiated and an urge from deep within coaxes us to let our heads fall back and our cares fall away, and to begin to howl fully of the sadness and joy in our hearts, freeing us from narrow domestic walls, finding freedom in surrendering to our primal emotions. | We are now in week 39 of our year-long journey from heartbreak to celebration and I'm finally completing my blog from week 33, Wolf. It is hard to fit the inner journey into a linear schedule. At times I am able to process and write and post weekly and somehow, usually sooner rather than later, a few wks go by that quickly become a month and I wonder, where does the time go? Have I been lost in chairos? What do I need to do to remain present in chronos? Self study seems to involve time travel and the horizontal universe - our day to day lives - falls away as the emotional wounds from so long ago are revealed and break upon my being in waves that seem to threaten my life at times. I am learning that I am safe, that these emotions will not kill me. The pain that was so great that I longed for death can be released - through words, through asana, through dance, through music, through movement. Maybe all I ever needed to do was Howl at the moon on a hot summer's night. As the end of summer approaches in mid-August and the coolness of the fresh autumn air begins to make short appearances, Wolf joins us on our journey from heartbreak to celebration, reminding us of the endless cycles of life. As the seasons pass, our animal guides continue to reveal the inner path that moves us away from heartbreak toward celebration. |
Wolf is a teacher - fierce yet loving. It is the Howl of Wolf that awakens the power deep within that lays dormant when we tend to what we 'should do,' when we take action according to others' expectations and our own faulty perceptions.
It is the loving fierceness of Wolf that opens the door to the life of our dreams. Wolf has strong ties to family as well as a strong urge for independence and individuality. Ultimately, Wolf uses her sense of individuality and her personal truth to teach the pack new ways of being. Wolves are not confined. They do not concern themselves with narrow domestic walls. They honor their roots with instinctual commitment while bringing new life to the clan - to all clans. That is why they are considered great teachers by so many native peoples.
Gazing at the Dog Star - home of the Wolf clan ancestors in some native traditions - we, too, may begin to wonder if there may be a gateway to knowledge, to our ancestors, to our future at a distant place in the cosmos or deep within. Time is only relevant in the world of matter and while each of us has physical attributes, many religious traditions and nearly all mystics believe that this form we take is only temporary, is not the whole story. 'Life is an illusion' at certain levels. It is Wolf that calls upon the watery world of the subconscious and the soft shadows of the moon where our dreams live - our greatest desires and our worst fears. Wolf leads us to the discovery of the greatest teacher of all - the one that resides in each of us.
My connection to nature has been my greatest teacher and walking with Wolf teaches me to blaze my own path and share the fruits of my adventures for the good of the clan. During my inner journey it is nature that has sustained my hope and alleviated my fear - Nature and all her creatures are by my side supporting me. So much wisdom waiting to be tapped. So many valuable lessons waiting to be learned.
As the lush green that surrounds us at the end of summer begins to transform into the vibrant colors of autumn, the dull brown and barren landscape of winter becomes a distant memory. Once we are surrounded by the rebirth that was hidden during the depths of winter - "[w]hen the winds calm and snow blankets the Earth, there is a dynamic stillness that lingers in the air, disturbed only by the soft crunching of fresh snow under your boots. When you stand still, the silence sings to your soul and you feel the power of rebirth patiently waiting for the arrival of spring" (Week 2 Blog, Mouse 'scrutiny') - this lifeless memory, our heartbreak, becomes a distant memory as the seasons of our life provide the weathering we need to heal our weary souls and wandering hearts.
On our year-long journey from heartbreak to celebration there are times that we are certain of the beauty that surrounds us in the natural world and the joy that resides at our core. There are also times that cause us to question the beauty of our world and the ability to find lasting peace, consistent contentment untainted by temporal desires and fears. Learning to Howl during these times can help us become the teachers we are called to be.
When the wild in our hearts calls us outside on a full moon night, it is our ancestors that are calling to us. It is your God who is talking to you through the marvelous creation that surrounds us every day. This universal pull that can be so subtle at times and compulsive during some phases of our life, is that teacher deep within - the Wolf - tapping into our instincts, instructing us to go forth and Howl.
Live your bliss. Discover your own path. Surrender to the power that is greater than us all. Give up being an ugly duckling. Rest on the wings of Grace. Wolf is the teacher that can lead us there if we are willing to start from where we are with a humble heart and open mind, if we are willing to Howl.
"Baying at the moon may be an indication of Wolf's desire to connect with new ideas which are just below the surface of consciousness. Wolf medicine empowers the teacher within [each of] us to come forth and aid [each other, aid all] the children of Earth, in understanding the Great Mystery and life."
It is time to Howl - to release all the primal fears and sorrows and to bear witness to the undisturbed joy and peace in the depths of our being. " Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears . . . " (Aerosmith, Dream On)
"I am you and you are me." (The Mike + Ruthy Band, Cigarette)
Namaste.