Wolves

[erilaz]

I thought there was another thread on wolves somewhere on this forum, but I couldn't find it, so feel free to redirect me if I'm wrong.

Wolves have been a fascinating symbol to me even before I got involved in a 'heathen" system, but now that I am exploring Slavic myths, I am even more intrigued to- maybe one would say- a level beyond symbolism.

I am interested in other members' perspectives/experiences with wolves, whether as symbol or entity or both. Any thoughts?

[deviadah]

Wolves are without a doubt my favourite animal (apart from Whales), and that is why I get extra mad when I see stuff like this:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h18/deviadah/wolf.jpg

Also WOLF backwards is FLOW, and that is always an extra aspect to consider!

:cool:

[frater luciferi]

i love wolves..they are a very strong spirit guide and totem..i adopted the wolf as my totem as a kid..a very noble creature and a great archetype to follow.

[Talkingfox]

Wolves are just part of the way of life up here. I hear 2 different packs sounding off on a semi regular basis. The recordings of wolf song do it absolutely no justice.

As of late there have been packs coming into town both in Fairbanks and Anchorage and munching on peoples dogs. Low snow years make it tough for them to hunt big game. Of course many people (especially those not from here) have their knickers in a twist. Longtime Alaskans just sort of take it in stride, scary as it can be at times. I don't think a person has bit wolf bitten here since 2006 or so.

I thought this (http://video.aol.com/video-detail/wolf-attack/1662449435) was interesting though....

[Talkingfox]

Wolves have been a fascinating symbol to me even before I got involved in a 'heathen" system, but now that I am exploring Slavic myths, I am even more intrigued to- maybe one would say- a level beyond symbolism.




I'm curious as to the Slavic vs. Nordic take on wolves. Differences? Similarities?
Care to elaborate? :)

[erilaz]

I'm curious as to the Slavic vs. Nordic take on wolves. Differences? Similarities?
Care to elaborate? :)

There seems less to go on historically than one finds with the Nordic/Germanic system of pre-Christian belief. Instead of a nice account like Germania, from the Roman Tacitus, we just get a couple of statements from the Greek Herodotus about what might be early Slavic peoples.


The Greek historian Herodotus refers to a “Neuri” tribe in Book 4 of his “Histories.” It seems still open for debate whether or not this tribe refers to ancestors of those now known as “slavs,” but if the Neuri are Slavic ancestors, it would explain the presence of werewolf legends in Eastern Europe. Herodotus writes:


“These men it would seem are wizards; for it is said of them by the Scythians and by the Hellenes who are settled in the Scythian land that once in every year each of the Neuroi becomes a wolf for a few days and then returns again to his original form. For my part I do not believe them when they say this, but they say it nevertheless, and swear it moreover.”


So really it’s not like contemporary lycanthropy stories, where someone becomes a helpless victim of transformation into a wolf. Rather, Herodotus discusses the intentional, shamanic practice of shape-shifting.
Then there are folk tales like the ones here:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/sfs/index.htm

The Croatians have a short “She-Wolf” tale which is actually about transformation from a wolf to a human. Then there is the famous “Red Riding Hood,” here proclaimed Lusatian, about a dangerous trickster wolf.


So unlike Nordic myths, there doesn’t seem to be an historical source directly linking the wolf with a deity, although I guess you could stretch things a bit and say that wolves in these folk tales are the remnants of nature spirits. If the Neuri are the ancestors of Eastern Europe, however, we can say that the wolf was a source of the greatest power for them.



I’ve read other claims related to wolves and shape-shifting in one of the websites listed in the Slavic paganism resource thread, but haven’t found historical or semi-historical sources that can validate those claims. Additionally, I have no direct oral resource, since all my Slavic in-laws and friends have lost connection with the ways of the Old World in just a few generations. So this is all the knowledge I have so far of wolves in Slavic traditions.

[Naomi]

That's very interesting about the Scythians Erilaz, I had no idea the belief was so widespread.

They still believe this in fact about some of the Navajos and elsewhere, possibly in Montana with some of the tribes, that some people turn into wolves.

I grew up with wolves so I feel very comfortable around them, they are possibly the best friends dogs simply are not. As we know dogs have become far mutated from their original purposes and only breeds like the german shepherd or the malamute still retain their wolf-like natures.

I like german shepherds the best for dog quality if they are not from the inbred American stock, and there's nothing better than a german shepherd timber wolf mix. They retaina calm not present in the more nervous 100% wolves and are more likely to listen to their human trainers. Shepherds seem to me to be more aggressive and suspicious than mix wolves, this may be because wolves are much more intelligent and self assured, and the meeting of the two old lines is very good for the gene pool. Wolves are very affectionate and demonstrative in their love, nippingyour chin and licking you everywhere, and their energy is very high.

I knew a wolf, 100% she was rescued from a den after her pack had been shot by hunters. She would run off the trail and pick up trash that had been thrown into the bushes and lay it on the pathway as if to say "Leave your crap out of the forest and on the manmade grounds, humans". She was shot by neighbors after she escaped her pen. She was not aggressive though.

I also took part in the big wolf protests in Canada before the hunting of the endangered species was outlawed through a non-profit organization owned by a famous animal trainer who did the Toyota wolf commercials back inthe 90's. It wasn't too long after his wolves were shot by neighbors that he got out of wolves altogether.

I don't like Canada at all because of this I prefer the United States as far as endangered species laws are concerned. I also think....nevermind...

[Dragon]

I grew up with wolves so I feel very comfortable around them...

Mom worked with/raised wolves; and just being in the wild..

Love 'em. So direct and yet so subtle. And their sense of humor...you just have to be aware of who they are/whom you are to avoid getting into trouble....


or getting eaten.

:rofl:

Kidding aside...I find them to be shy to the point of being seductive, and strong...animal strong..comforting strong...wolf strong.

~D~

[Naomi]

hmm. I think that's dragon humor...

[Talkingfox]

I've been noticing that the wolves are more vocal when the Aurora are active.

So are peoples dogs, unfortunately. There's nothing that spoils the effect of wolfsong quite as much as a yappy Pug. :laugh:

[Radiant Star]

There's nothing that spoils the effect of wolfsong quite as much as a yappy Pug. :laugh:

Lol. Try my neighbours. Actually don't.

[frater luciferi]

Can't you see what you have wrought here?
Bloody battles will be fought here
YouTube - The Sword - Winter's Wolves

May the mountains rise against you
May the orests block your path
May your axes chip and shatter
And know it is my wrath
I would mount your head on bloody spears
Outside your palace gates
And watch as crows peck out your eyes
And your cities are laid to waste

Can't you see what you have wrought here?
A curse on you and all your kin
Bloody battles will be fought here
Await your doom at empire's end
May the rivers rush to drown you
May the earth swallow your hosts
May the winter's wolves surround you
And rip the live from your throat