The Two Wolves Battling Within

There’s this old Cherokee story passed down from generation to generation that talks about how in every person there’s this huge battle that happens within, a great battle between two wolves. Now these two wolves aren’t just your regular wolves, they’re these two very powerful wolves that represent everything inside of us. One wolf represents faith, love, joy, empathy, trust, confidence, basically everything that’s good in us humans. On the other hand, the second wolf represents pain, sorrow, hate, jealousy, anger and all those other bad things that humans feel and do that create discord for all. Now the battle between these two wolves is fierce, it creates moments of confusion in one’s heart and mind. A lot of people ask how do we finish this battle?

How do we choose who wins? Can we even decide for ourselves who wins this battle within us? This question is also a part of this story and so is the answer. According to legend, the wolf who wins, is the wolf you feed. For every situation or problem, you face you are given the opportunity to choose which path to choose, which answer to give, and every time you choose the right from wrong or the wrong from right you feed these wolves. Every life choice you make can either make one stronger or weaker. By feeding the wolf of your choice it gives it the ability to overpower the other which eventually settles which one wins, and whoever wins the battle gains control over you.

 

This story is a reminder to the world that for every choice we make in all and every situation we determine what happens to us and everyone around us, our choices not only impact us but also our loved ones. But it isn’t easy to remember this when we’re stuck in a bad situation. It is not easy to make the right decision whenever a problem that challenges our moral code comes up. When you are faced with a situation where the easier choice is usually the bad choice we end up unintentionally feeding the evil wolf. Sometimes we don’t realize until it’s too late, until we’ve already ended up hurting the people around us and most importantly ourselves, but it isn’t easy, having to be good all the time. There are times that we are selfish, intentionally or unintentionally, we end up choosing ourselves and what’s easier on our conscience. That’s why it’s so important to have reminders. It’s important to surround ourselves with people and things that can act as a reminder or maybe even a moral compass to show that we do have a choice. That in tough situations you are strong enough to overcome obstacles and come out of it a better person, albeit scratched and bruised and hurt but you know it will get better.

 

Native American’s from hundreds of years ago were surrounded by these reminders or moral compasses. On totems wolves were carved usually at the very top, they even wore items that were either made from wolf or inspired by wolves. Wolf fang necklaces, weaved items where wolves and their stories were featured, constant reminders. Being surrounded by this images and reminders strike a chord within oneself, it not only reminds you of the great battle within but it also gives you pride. Pride in the fact that even after all these years you are still able to carry on your ancestor’s traditions where animals, particularly wolves, have had such great impact on everyone across the country.

 

Isn’t it amazing how wolves play such a big part in the origins, beliefs and culture of Native Americans in general. There are even a lot of old tribal stories that say our souls are connected to these powerful creatures, that for every human being born into this world a wolf is also created to match it. That’s one of the many reasons why wolves are so important, because when someone hurts, hunts or kills a wolf, it’s basically like a brother or a sister has also been killed. Which is why it is so important to remind and surround ourselves with things that acts as a constant reminder how important wolves are and how badly they need to be protected.

Wolves represent so many things, because of their strength and power they have become immortalized in how we use them to represent us.

Wolves for hundreds of years now helped us create wonderful stories that help govern our lives and provide answers and ideas as to how life needs to be lived. Legends and stories that inspire us to be better people, legends and stories that give answers to situations that make us feel like it’s hopeless. Legends and stories that help build strength in character not only for children but also for everyone in the community.

Problems arise when these stories are forgotten, problems arise when we forget our roots and origins. When humans become so absorbed with what happens in the now that they forget there was a past and there is most definitely a future. Going back to one’s roots can be difficult, most of the time challenging. But we also have to remember that these are not new challenges, people who have come before us have faced this struggles and they were able to overcome it. Channeling the strength of the wolf and remembering everything that is good about these beautiful creatures can help you find the courage and strength to be as brave and powerful as the wolves and your ancestors were.

 

-Wolf Pack