Posted in Tarot, writing

Embrace Your Inner Wolfiness

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.

WolfOddly, 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.