He stands alone always watchful, ever vigilant
His stature brings us courage and pride
He guards that which is most precious to us
The pathway to our souls

We watch his beauty in awe
His presence lends flight to our dreams and fears
When we look into our secret wishes
He is what we long to see

He brings comfort and unease
We trust in his strength and light
Yet we fear, for he knows that which is in our hearts
We yearn to be near that which is wild and free

He is the guardian of the wood, master of all who bide within
He will welcome you to his domain, provided you pay his price
The task is always hard, but never cruel
Tis' but a small price to pay for the reward you will reap

Most would do anything for the love of a Wolf.

~~Jayde Panthyr©1998

On it's journey to extinction a wolf pauses 
and looks back on those that are helping with 
that journey. There is no malice in the wolf's eyes, rather there is a hint of tragic understanding, an instinctive intelligence that knows that all speciesincluding mankind will disappear from its environment when that environmentis altered by a stronger force. The world will be a poorer place if the wolf passes in history. 

A tribe who lived along the Nass River had a special place near the head of the river where they could find an abundance of salmon and wild berries. This helped to make their village a wealthy and respected one and it prospered for many generations.

As time went on, some of the younger people began to forget the old traditions. They would show disrespect for their fellow creatures by killing small animals and leaving their carcasses to the crows and eagles. Once, when the salmon season was at its height, young men from the Wolf Clan caught several fish, cut slits in their backs, and put in pieces of burning pitch pine. When they were placed back in the river they frantically swam about like living torches.

The young men thought this was fun and exciting and did not think about the cruelty and wastefulness they were showing. The elders, knowing this would anger the Chief in the Sky, protested and tried to talk sense into them but to no avail. The young people took no notice.

When the salmon season came to a close the tribe began preparing for the winter ceremonies. As they worked they heard a strange noise in the distance as if a giant medicine drum was being beaten. The older folks thought that the thoughtlessness shown by the young men in mistreating the salmon was bringing trouble on the tribe. The young ones merely scoffed.

During the next few weeks the beating grew louder and louder and even the young warriors became frightened. The elders said it would be their fault if the tribe perished. Eventually a thunderous noise was heard, the mountains exploded, and fire poured forth until the very rivers were aflame. The people fled in panic and as the fire worked its way down the river the forest also became an inferno. Only a few survived.

The shamans said that the spirit world was angry because of the torture of the salmon. The powers of nature insist on a proper regard for all their creatures. That is a principle we should all embrace.

Feared and hated by men the world over, the mighty wolf has been plagued by all forms of evil stories, myths and legends. Hunted, trapped and killed to the point of extinction, many of these majestic animals are gone forever -- their breeds and blood lines never to be seen again. 

In spite of the many horror stories of wolves hunting, tracking and killing humans, no such event has ever been confirmed. Their eerie and lonely howl, which can make the blood run cold, is merely their form of communication. Each howl, with its tone, depth, length and frequency carries a different message to the pack, or to the partner who is out of sight. They're merely "talking". 

If you carry wolf medicine, here are some characteristics that sound familiar to you: 

You are fiercely loyal -- to friends, family, ideals and principles. There is no compromise for you. 

You are very territorial. You protect all that is yours and your family's at any expense. You are fearless in your protection, but not reckless. You plan your strategy carefully, and wait for the opportune moment for most powerful effect. 

You have a strong family structure. There is no doubt who the elders, patriarchs and parents are, or about their roles in the family structure. Disobedience, selfishness and unruly behavior is not tolerated as there are strong boundaries for the young. They are taught well and carefully so that they may assume leadership roles in their own family structures. 

You have an unrelenting sense of adventure. You love to explore new things, to stretch out for new horizons. You have a thirst for knowledge and for learning new things. You are eager to share these things, which makes you a natural teacher. Your adventures may take you away from home and family, but it is important that you have this base of security to return to. 

You have an unrelenting need to be alone. You are so busy being the protector, the provider, the teacher, and the trailblazer, that it's very easy for you to become exhausted and burned out. In order to re-charge your spirit, and keep your balance, it is critical that you have time to be alone with your thoughts and your own sense of self. This is one side of your nature that must not be overlooked. Even if you lock yourself in the bathroom for 15 minutes a day, the time alone must be honored if you are to have value to those you care for. 

Wolf is power. Wolf is honor. Wolf is integrity. Brother Wolf; Sister Wolf -- I honor you