WOLF

Totem Wolf Meanings and Symbolism

To understand totem wolf symbols, one must first understand the heart of the Wolf. This takes time because the wolf has had to endure many false stereotypes, misconceptions and misunderstandings.

Not at all the picture of ferocity or terror, the wolf is a creature with a high sense of loyalty and strength. Another misconception is that of the “lone wolf.” To the contrary, the wolf is actually a social creature, friendly, and gregarious with its counterparts.

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Celtic Wolf Sign Animal Totem Meanings

The wolf is an incredible communicator. By using touch, body movements, eye contact as well as many complex vocal expressions – the wolf makes his point understood. Those with totem wolf symbols are of the same inclination – they are expressive both vocally and physically. Those who have the wolf as their totem animal are naturally eloquent in speech, and also have knack for creative writing.

A quick-list of totem wolf symbolic attributes include…

Totem Wolf Meanings

• Loyalty
• Cunning
• Intuition
• Intelligence
• Independence
• Compassionate
• Communication

 

“All things share the same breath –
the beast, the tree, the man.
The air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.”
~Chief Seattle 

Totem wolf symbols belong to those who truly understand the depth of passion that belong to this noble creature. The wolf is a representative of deep faith, and profound understanding.

Further, the wolf possess a high intellect, and have been observed using strategies about hunting, habitat and migration.

“The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.”
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

In history, the totem Wolf symbol appears with the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. Legend has it that the two founding brothers were raised and suckled by a she-wolf. Her name was Lupa, and immortal she-goddess of the Romans. She not only nurtured the brothers who would launch Rome, she also is said to have trained other Roman heros so they would be cunning and fearless in battle. This goddess is a great reminder of the wolf’s ability to both nurture and be tough. It’s also a symbolic nod to giving all the knowledge and resources we can to those who need it in order for them to succeed in the world.

In Norse mythology, the Wolf is a symbol for victory when ridden by Odin. Their names were Freki and Geri. Much like Huginn and Muninn, Odin’s oracular ravens, Freki and Geri also offered Odin otherworldly wisdom. They did this in by traveling far ahead of Odin then returned to report news on the ground. This allowed Odin know the best hunting grounds, as well as the status of the people. Odin’s wolves would also join him on the battlefield, and were one among many supernatural creatures who aided the Valkyries in transporting fallen warriors to Valhalla.

As a Celtic symbol, the Wolf was a source of lunar power. This means it has knowledge that is not clearly seen by most other creatures. Celtic lore states that the wolf loved having this advantage of uncommon knowing and uncanny intuition. So much so, it is said the wolf would hunt down the sun and gobble it up so that the moon’s power would come forth. This, in legend, made the wolf consummate hunters. With these remarkable senses, the wolf was seen as a guardian and ally to the Celts. Indeed, the Celts became friendly with them, and relied on them for both protection of threat (the wolf being able to sense danger) and aid in hunting.

In Asia, the wolf guards the doors that allow entrance to heavenly, celestial realms. The wolf is also said to be among the ancestry of Genghis Khan. This legend grew to the point where all ancient Mongols believed they were descended from wolves. In Japan, the wolf is considered very lucky. Offerings of rice are placed in kamidana (small shrines devoted to the spirit of nature, including animals). These offerings were intended to appease the wolf, and incourage them to hunt down pests that distrubed Japanese crops.

When this gracious creature appears to us, and serves as a totem in our lives, the wolf beckons us to ask these questions:

Potential Questions Your Wolf Totem May Ask You

• • Are you thinking about a different form of education?

• • Are you being a true friend, and are your friends being true to you?

• • Are you communicating yourself clearly to others?

• • Are you being loyal to yourself?

• • Are you incorporating strategies and planning to achieve your goals?
  • Are you spending enough quality time with yourself, friends and family?

 

These messages are modern-day applications to what the wolf may be trying to tell you. Education is mentioned because the wolf is extremely clever at getting what it wants. Whether you gain your education on the job, conventionally back in school, or even voluntarily reading books – the wolf will guide you towards the good stuff you need to know. This guidance comes from a strong motivation to hunt down resources for survival. Learning from any kind of education – including our mistakes – is a great leg-up to our own survival as humans.

Those connected with the wolf take three things very seriously: 1) Work, 2) Play and 3)Protecting what they love from harm.

The wolf totem also asks us to incorporate play as a means of learning. Sure, wolves have spectacular communication skills, but often, the opt to show rather than speak. And they often show in frolic and fun. This is especially true with their offspring. Perhaps you have a young one in your life that is getting rebellious or taking a path that you feel might not be the best. Consider ways to apply fun and humor into this young person’s life. As you do, be clever about tying in a moral, or helpful advice to this person. To be true, wolves know how to make a point, whether verbally or in play…so the wolf will help you in this matter.

That said, the wolf gets its message out loud and clear with tough love. A nip, a bite, a growl from the wolf – and it gives one pause. Wolves are not violent by nature. But if threatened, they can conjure hair -raising fear within their foes. When I say ‘threatened’ I’m talking about a wolf defending territory, and that covers a lot of things. In our modern-day lives, the wolf often lopes through to help us protect what is dear to us. Defending territory can mean standing up for our beliefs. It can mean protecting our livelihood. It certainly applies to guarding the ones we love against threat. So which would the wolf have us do? Employ fun for problem solving? Or bear teeth and growl to chase away threat? That, my wolf totem people, is for you to hash out with the wolf. You’ve already got half your answer, because the wolf has shown itself to you. That’s powerful. It says you already have established a wolf connection. The next half to figuring out what the wolf is telling you is to go into its energy. Go into the wolf dream. What do I mean by that?

There is an old Haudenosaunee (Northeastern Native American tribe) song that is sung when communication needs to be made with anything (animal, human, alive or otherwise). The Dream Song. The song explains that everything on this planet is living its own dream. From a blade of grass to grizzly bears, each is experiencing everything in their own separate perception, which is very much like a dream state. The only ones who are free from this singular view are Medicine people of the tribe, because they came move in other dimensions. Animals move out of their dream into expanded view when they help mankind, and/or when they pass from this world into the spirit world where they work together to help the earth (and all its inhabitants) grow and become better.

“One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken.”
~Leo Tolstoy 

But I digress…I got lost in the Haudenosaunee dream song. My point is this: If you want advice from your wolf visitor, then get into the wolf dream. How? Sing your own dream song. Get into your own dream state. Then move your dream-mind into the forests where the wolf dreams its dream. You will find it, because the wolf has already made efforts to find you. Once your dreams have connected, respectfully ask for help. Wolf is remarkably intelligent, so don’t dumb it down. Ask for solutions that will help you and help your clan (whether it be work, family or even the global community).

Sound like a bunch of hogwash? If you do, then I’m pretty sure dream-weaving with wolf won’t work for you. Regardless, I’d recommend suspending doubt and giving it a try. I’ve practiced this technique with astounding success. From raccoons to rocks, dream-weaving has been consistently revealing (and revolutionary). Remind me to tell you about the time I went into the octopus’ dream. *Gripping!* Whether you were just curious about totem wolf symbols and meanings, or you really wanted to learn from a wolf connection you’ve had…I hope this article has been helpful on your journey.

May all your wolf experiences be howling with wisdom.

Wolf Spirit Animal Meaning

Ancient cultures and indigenous people believed that animals and humans shared the same spiritual essence between each other.  They also believed that these animals are attracted to us and present themselves to us in specific moments of our lives to reveal messages.

The Wolf Totem symbolizes:

• Strong connection with your instincts or intuition.
• High intelligence.
• Loyalty and communication.
• Deep desire for freedom.

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History of the Wolf Spirit Animal

The Wolf has appeared conspicuously throughout history.  In modern culture, we associate wolves with negative qualities such as the darkness that mythical Werewolves (the story of Lycaon the King and Zeus) represent.  In Aesop’s fables for instance, they are portrayed as being evil and dangerous, such as in the story of “The boy who cried Wolf” and “The Wolf in sheep clothing“.  The Brothers Grimm story of “Little Red Riding Hood” also portrays the Wolf as ferocious and intimidating.

Luckily, wolves haven’t always been seen in such a negative light.  In fact, wolves and humans once lived together according to some historians. They also share many parallel human traits.

Native American Indians perhaps had the greatest symbolism for wolves.  They modelled themselves after the Wolf in hunting methods, cooperation and efficiency, valuing them as proud hunters, loyal friends and intelligent teachers.  They also thought of the Wolf as a spiritual pathfinder, which symbolized intelligence and leadership.

Rome has one of the best known Wolf-founding legends.  As the legend goes, Romulus and Remus the two founding brothers of Rome, were raised and suckled by a she-wolf.

In Egyptian mythology, the Wolf Wepwawet (also rendered Upuaut, Wep-wawet, Wepawet, and Ophois) was originally a war deity, his name meaning; the opener of the ways.  It’s interesting to note here that the Native American Indians, a completely different race and culture of people, believed that wolves had a special connection to our paths in life as well.

The Mongolians on the other hand, believed they were descendants of wolves.  The legend goes that in Northern China a small Turkic village was raided by Chinese soldiers, but one small baby was left behind.  An old she-wolf named Asena found the baby and nursed him.  She then gave birth to half-wolf half-human cubs, from which the Turkic people were born.

In Asia, the wolf is the guardian of the entrance to heavenly, celestial realms.  The Wolf is also said to be among the ancestry of Genghis Khan.

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Intelligence and Instincts

A Wolf possesses a high intelligence and strong instincts, and these have been observed in their hunting strategies, habitat creation, and migration habits.

When a Wolf presents itself as your spirit animal, it could be an expression of your sharp intelligence and strong instincts.  When the Wolf appears, either physically, through meditation or through a dream, it’s often a way of telling you that you’re either using your intelligence and instincts well to solve a challenging life situation, or that you’re not using them at all.

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The Wolf represents the pathfinder.  He is a guide that helps you to discover when you are being misguided, or led correctly, when using your instincts.

Having a Wolf as a power animal serves to emphasize your levels of trust or mistrust in your instincts and intuition.  Totem animals, as a whole, make you aware and introspective of your current emotional state, and wolves can serve as omens or guides to show you that which is making you emotionally unbalanced.

When the Wolf shows up in your life, look closely and listen carefully to what your intuition or instincts are telling you.

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Loyalty, Connection and Communication

There’s a misconception that all wolves are ‘lone wolves’.  In fact, this is far from the truth. The Wolf is a power animal with a high sense of loyalty and communication.  These animals are actually very social, family-oriented and good at communicating with each other.

With the use of body movement, touch, eye contact and vocal sounds, they engage with other wolves constantly.  If your totem is a Wolf, you’re most likely good at expressing yourself verbally and physically.  Often it’s the case that people with the Wolf spirit animal are naturally eloquent in speech, or are good at creative writing.

The Wolf’s sense of loyalty can be seen in a variety of ways.  They are one of the few animals to hold only monogamous relationships.  Most wolves mate for life and will not take another partner if their own dies.  Pack members also hold deep emotional bonds, greeting each other enthusiastically after they have been separated for long periods of time.

The presence of a Wolf spirit animal can also serve as reminder of a lack of loyalty or trust in your life.  Often wolves manifest themselves to people who have become strongly apprehensive of bonding with others and have grown immense mistrust of those around them.  A Wolf totem animal can represent a perceived threat or feeling, for instance: that you are being threatened by someone or something in your life.

As a Wolf’s main trait is its sharp instinct, a Wolf spirit animal could be trying to tell you that you’re misguided in your trust for someone, or it may be warning you to listen more often to your instincts or intuition and to be loyal to yourself.

Perceiving the Wolf Animal Spirit is your unconscious’ way of letting you know that it might be feeling vulnerable; that you might have revealed too much to someone about yourself, and now your sense of freedom feels bounded by the predatory mistrust of that person. It may also signify that the people you’re trying to connect with at the moment are making you feel afraid.

Mistrust doesn’t always have to do with other people.  Sometimes our mistrust and lack of loyalty is towards ourselves.  For example, maybe you’re not listening to your ‘communicative’ traits of verbal or written expression, or perhaps you’re not behaving in a loyal self-loving way with yourself.

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Wolf Spirit Animal Freedom

Wolves are wild animals, they are beautiful creatures of mystery that cannot be domesticated.  If a Wolf appears to you in a certain period of your life when you’re in doubt of the changes that are happening, it can be reassuring you that the path you’re taking is the right one, and that you’re being loyal to your instincts.

Equally, if the Wolf presents itself in a moment in life where you feel stuck, it might be reminding you that you’re a free wild creature, that you can deviate from whatever path you are currently on and become a ‘lone Wolf’ if necessary in order to pursue your dreams.

Meanings will be revealed to you as you deepen your personal connection with the Wolf.

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The Wolf and Dream Interpretation

Native American Indians knew that dreaming of a Wolf symbolized beauty, solitude, mystery, self-confidence and pride.  If a Wolf appears in your dreams, it may signify that you’re approaching life with a composed, adaptable attitude, and that it’s okay to be a loner by choice.

Negatively, it might be warning you against hostility, domination or aggression from others. The Wolf might want to serve as a guide in a situation in your life where you feel vulnerable and weak.

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Some dream psychoanalysts interpret wolves in nightmares as conveyors of a perceived threat such as strong sexual energy occurring in your life (in you or someone close to you) or different types of addictive craving behaviours that you might be struggling with.  The story of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ was originally an allegoric metaphor for the loss of virginity (red hood) taken away by the predatory ‘Big Bad Wolf’ (men).

In positive dreams, psychoanalysts interpret the Wolf as a guiding symbol for trusting your instincts (again, sexual instincts and addictive ‘cravings’ play a role here) and expressing them in a more balanced way.