Well. I have to admit I groaned a little when this card came up in my draw for the week. Why, you ask? Because I’m fed up with every pseudo newage (rhymes with sewage) shaman adopting the wolf as their totem animal, as if it elevates them to some super spiritual rockstar level, because they’re so special they have a unique connection to the wolf, which they see as the most noble, the most ‘human’ of the animal kingdom. Wolves are wild animals, not domesticated dogs, and they will not turn into a pet because you think you’re so special. They don’t care about you.
Be that as it may, I pulled the Wolf, from the Druid Animal Oracle
Oddly, this is apropos to the season. The Wolf, or Faol in Scottish Gaelic, is pictured here near the source of the river Findhorn in Scotland. The last wolf in Britain was killed there in 1743 (according to the book). I had no idea there were no wolves left there. We’re coming up in the pagan/Wiccan/Druid year to Imbolc/Brigid, February 2, shown here by the snowdrop, a symbol of it. The card is associated with the Wolf Moon (natch), the final two weeks of winter, and the first weeks of spring. Ok, that’s a ways off yet, so maybe this card is a ‘heads-up’.
The Wolf indicates inner strength, learning, a need to cross boundaries, take some risks and get out of your comfort zone. It reminds me of the Hermit from traditional Tarot, a time to do some soul-searching and inner work, spend some time alone.
From the companion book:
Just as Merlin found companionship in a wolf, so can we, if Faol becomes our ally, find closeness and spiritual companionship with this most faithful of animal guides. Above all, Faol will teach us, through our experience, to trust ourselves and not to fear or reject those parts of us that we do not yet understand or know.
Spiffy. Despite all my protestations, somehow I need to make peace with the wolf as a totem and guide.
Well, embrace your inner wolfiness, I guess. Just don’t blame me for the fleas.
D.D. SYRDAL 
I hear you re: all those phoney creeps in wolves’ clothing, but I have always heard that they are very smart, fiercely protective mothers, and kinda suspicious of strangers. Maybe you have a little wolf in you after all, DD – that’s why you love the Duncan books so much 😉
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Ha! I hadn’t even thought of that. Did have a discussion on Twitter today re: wolves and people try to make pets of them, and cross them with domestic dogs (very bad idea), then saw an article Marget tweeted about wolves in a park in Oslo… they’re surrounding me.
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see that’s you, exactly! There’s never been a man born who could make a pet out of you, but on your own you’re admirably self-reliant,. Go with it, I say.
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Hrm. Could go a long way to explaining why I’m single 😉
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p.s. what does the Animal Oracle have to say re: the Otter?
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Otters signal time to play, let go and go with the flow. Kind of “don’t worry, be happy.”
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Get out of one’s comfort zone jumped through the screen. I loathe change so this card scares me. As far as the wolf goes, I always feel sorry for them I think because you’re right, they resemble dogs. I love when you pull cards.
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Scares me, too, believe it or not. I tend to be a creature of habit more often than not (motorcycle suicide skills notwithstanding).
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Was late in reading because I had a job yesterday.
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Yay! I’m glad to hear it 🙂
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sounds like a great card to have come up in the draw. agree though that wolf as personal symbol is rather cliché.
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Boy and how! According to Chinese astrology, I’m a metal rat, which is a good thing 🙂 How come nobody ever has a rat as their personal guide? Not cute enough and don’t come when called, I guess.
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