The King of Stones from the Wildwood Tarot is our card this week. His element is Earth, direction North, season Winter. This card’s position on the Wheel of the Year is from Samhain (November 1) to Imbolc (February 2). Wolves are sort of the archetypal symbol of Nature and the natural world, to a point where I nearly can’t stand the sight of them as decorations on anything. I think I’ve talked about my weariness with wolf-loving half-wits who see themselves as in a special relationship to wolves. So I won’t go into it again.
The companion book tells of the wolf in Pictish art, and having been seen as the guardians of the dead, guiding them to the afterlife, or Otherworld. The wolf shows a deep connection to nature and the earth, strong in the most severe conditions and able to thrive. This card is telling us love of the land and nature is a cornerstone of our actions and motivations. Look to the ancient wisdom of those who have gone before, and enjoy feeling secure.
I think I will need to meditate on this card, journey with the wolf. For all my annoyance with the pop culture trying to turn wolves into BFFs, he sure keeps popping up on me. Fine. :::grumble-grumble::: I’ll go see what he has to say. He may just be telling me to remain practical, keep my feet on the ground and head out of the clouds. Attend to the here and now. Keep plugging away at my writing. I did get some new inspiration this week that I’m developing and feeling pretty good about.
So maybe the message for the week is to attend to things and people that need you. Not very sexy perhaps, but sometimes that’s life.
fillingspaces.wordpress.com 
Don’t tell me you’re referring to those pieces of literature called, Twilight, are you? Or, possibly something else entirely?
Don’t worry, DD, there are a lot of folks here that follow your blog that need you, so never feel you’re alone and your voice isn’t heard.
Have a great week!
Cheers! 🙂
LikeLike
Twilight??? errr no. Wolves have been over-embraced by the neo-Pagan crowd for at least the last 20 years, even my ex-husband (who was decidedly NOT pagan) was a wolf fanatic. No, I’m referring to people who think they have a special spiritual connection to wolves, and that should they ever encounter a wolf in the wild somehow think they would be instantly recognized as a brother and welcomed into the pack-types. Trust me, they are out there, in large numbers. And they annoy me.
LikeLike
Thank you. I learned something tonight. I know Native Americans have strong feelings about wolves, too. They seem to also be prevalent as names for team sports and wildlife art, so I guess you’re right about pop culture keeping their mystic alive…wolves not Indians.
LikeLike
Yes, the cheeseball wolf ‘art’ on everything from beer steins to belt buckles to black velvet paintings… ugh.
LikeLike
I think wolves are cool, but I don’t have a “special relationship” with one.
By the way, cool pic.
LikeLike
Thanks! Yes, I have great respect for wolves but they’re not playmates. They’re wild animals, they should be respected as such.
LikeLike
I agree 100% – l Iove the wolves enough to wish that stupid humans would just leave them in peace and go get a rescue dog – there’s a group in NJ that places the most beautiful homeless husky dogs; mostly purebreds originally purchased by idiots who think they’re gonna have a “special bond” with these exceptional creatures, and then get pissed when they start acting like husky dogs instead of 2-dimensional characters out of a Disney movie.
There’s a also rescue sanctuary in southern NJ that takes in wolf hybrids – again, unwanted pets, illegal in a number of states, originally bred or purchased by idiots who think they are too special to own just a regular dog. It’s not the ideal situation, but they do have the run of a big piece of property, and the proprietors really do seem to understand that these animals are not suited to be household pets, even if they aren’t suited to live in the wild, either. They exhibit some of the more laid-back ones at local fairs and stuff to solicit donations, and I always give them a few $$ to apologize for ogling them – http://www.howlingwoods.org/
But IMO the wolves that keep on circling your periphery, DD, seem to be kindred spirits in a different way – not some bullsh!t “follow me, Hairless SheWolf, for you are one of our own” but rather “just because some of us prefer to be left alone, doesn’t mean we are not descended from pack animals. Maybe we loners can figure out how to help one another.” Keep an eye and ear out, dear – maybe some creature, human or otherwise, is sensing both your need for solitude AND your value to the community. Just sayin’.
Then again, maybe it’s just because we are so damned anxious for another Glenn Duncan book!!!!
LikeLike
I love-love-LOVE what you wrote. You said it so much better than my feeble attempts to express my contempt for these arrogant idiots who, as you pointed out, end up dumping these animals when they find they don’t fit in with the family. Someone one remarked to me that the wolfdogs are a bad idea because what you end up with is an animal with all the instincts and drives of a wolf, with no fear of man. Wolves are very shy by nature, so maybe I have more in common with them than I wanted to admit. We’re ok on our own and wary of strangers.
Back to add: I love that site you linked to. I hope more people will research these animals before deciding they need one. The part about how intelligent they are, and learn commands easily but often choose to ignore them is something everyone who thinks about adopting one of these dogs really really needs to understand. People used to capture and train bears for circuses too, most people think that’s a bad idea now. I hate when people try to turn wild animals into playthings. (Looking at you, Michael Jackson, dead or not).
That’s funny, I just mentioned the Duncan book in a tweet to you 😀
LikeLike
When I talked to one of the Howling Woods volunteers at Rutgers Day, she confirmed exactly what you said – that they are fierce looking but shy by nature: people who get one expecting it to be a good watchdog are invariably disappointed b/c they are smart enough to be afraid of humans – their survival instinct sez to avoid strangers, not attack them. IMO it’s often a sign intelligence, in humans AND other animals, to learn the rules quickly but then to ignore them at will. That’s why, although I love dogs, I think cats are smarter: a cat sez “why the hell should I perform on demand? I’ve already trained you to feed me and clean my litter box.”
Speaking of good instincts, whaddaya think – I’m dying to make a donation and go visit the wolfdogs on their own turf, but in light of all we’ve discussed, do you think it’s safe? I mean these people and their website seem pretty legit, and I have to think that if anything catastrophic had ever happened there, it would have been all over the local news. Should I go? Fang will most definitely not go with me; dude knows his limits and favors cute little domesticated dogs. Kitty is as much of a wild thing as he cares to handle.
LikeLike
I’d say that’s entirely up to you, if you want to go visit them. I’m sure it’s safe, they’re not going to indiscriminately allow tons of people in, and if the animals seem not to be in a mood for visitors I’m sure you won’t get anywhere near them. They seem (from reading their site) to have a pretty good understanding of how to handle the dogs. And they aren’t a full-blooded wolf pack, after all, they are used to humans. Poor things, sounds like they don’t take well to being dumped by their ‘pack’/family. Tell the poor beasties I said hi if you go.
LikeLike
What a beautiful card. I remember a guy I knew who brought a dog back from Mexico that was really a wolf. I mean she had enough dog in her to disguise it…but make no mistake she was a wolf…the greatest companion by the way…you made me think of Kalea who’s been gone for many moons. Sticking close to people who matter…yes that rings true. Love your Monday tarot cards.
LikeLike
I know a lot of people like the wolfdogs as an exotic pet, but most people are not equipped to deal with their special needs (wolves are naturally shyer than domestic dogs, and more prone to chewing things up). Too many people aren’t equipped to deal with a regular dog.
LikeLike