What is the wolf as a power animal

The wolf inhabits the collective unconscious. He is present in fairy tale stories, where he appears as evil, in tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs and also in legends, such as that of the werewolf.

It is an animal that has great importance in some cultures, such as the myth of the creation of Rome, in which a she-wolf adopts the twins Romulus and Remus, who become the founders of the city.

There are many symbolisms surrounding the image of the wolf, and sometimes they may have ambiguous connotations, both for good and evil. Hades, the Greek god of the underworld, wore a cape made of wolf skin; Anubis, god of the dead in ancient Egypt, is portrayed with the head of a jackal, a kind of wolf. In addition, in various cultures, this animal is linked to sorcerers and witches.

For the shamanic people, the wolf transmits the teaching of love and healthy relationships. Who has the wolf as a power animal will give more importance to friends and family, being loyal and intuitive with those around him. In this article, we will explain the various symbolisms for the wolf as a power animal. Check it out!

The meaning of the wolf as a power animal

The wolf is one of the most powerful symbols among the animal archetypes. It represents intelligence, strength, loyalty and sociability. We will see below what are the meanings of this animal psychologically and spiritually, and its positive and negative aspects. Check it out!

The spiritual meaning of the wolf

The wolf is an animal full of symbologies and, spiritually speaking, its main meanings are related to its natural abilities - they are extremely resilient and can adapt to hostile environments, are agile when hunting and have an immense sense of community and protection.

They have a hierarchy within the pack and are loyal to the group, having strategies to protect the elders of the pack and also the sick. In addition, they act as faithful companions and have only one partner for life. However, they can also be playful.

In various beliefs, the wolf has a strong representation of the power of nature and aspects such as intuitive power and survival to change. In the northern sky, Sirius, the brightest star is recognized in Shamanism by the star of the wolf. He is portrayed as a trail-finding teacher and seen as a guide to the spiritual path.

The psychological meaning of the wolf

For psychology, animals symbolize behavioral profiles, and the wolf is linked to organization and method. Who has the behavioral profile of the wolf values everything in its proper place and done in the right way, is very controlling and centered, and is known for seriousness and professionalism.

The person who is related to the wolf is very conservative, punctual and observant. In the field of relationships, he can be read as cold, as he has a very rational mind. But he is very determined and loyal and will do everything with an extreme level of quality.

The meaning of the wolf for Shamanism

Shamanism seeks inner strength and self-knowledge through the archetypes of nature. For its adepts, each person possesses a totem, which is the representative of that person in the natural world, sometimes understood as their ancestral animal.

For this belief, the wolf signifies the link between the physical and spiritual worlds. It is related to protection, to the ability to nurture and to transmit strength. For this reason, it is considered a Guardian and Protector. As a spiritual guide, the wolf encourages one to overcome fears with determination and determination.

It is also considered the Master of the Soul, as it activates intuition, wisdom, trust, generosity and detachment.

Positive aspects of the wolf as a power animal

Despite being classified as a solitary animal, the wolf is the opposite - a communal animal. It often puts the welfare of the pack above its own and has a single partner for life. Those with this totem or power animal are loyal to their family and place a high value on communication and healthy relationships.

The wolf is protective and, despite being sweet and playful while in the company of his own, when threatened he becomes a beast, being lethal to those who threaten his pack. He is the Guardian totem and represents the spiritual path of love.

Negative aspects of the wolf as a power animal

Just like everything in nature, all aspects have light and shadow. The wolf, despite all its qualities and skills, also has its dark side.

The negative characteristics of this power animal or totem are related to its savagery. It can be rude, harsh and impulsive when threatened. It has a gigantic force within itself, which can be difficult to control, causing people to shy away.

The individual who possesses this power animal needs to develop patience, tenderness and emotional balance.

The wolf as guardian

For Shamanism, the process of spiritual growth goes through the Medicine Wheel, which is the representation of the Universe and is separated into four - the four elements of nature and the four directions and energies.

Each one of these has its representatives, the guardian animals, the colors, the directions and the crystals. Now we will see which are the guardians and how they manifest themselves in the Medicine Wheel. Check it out!

The guardians of the sacred directions

Those who decide to walk the Medicine Wheel in search of their spiritual elevation and balance with the Earth must traverse the four directions and learn the secrets of each guardian. The South is considered the gateway, symbolizing physical life and the moment of birth.

It is guarded by the wolf and represents the earth element, the spring season, the emotional body and the color red. The South manifests the faith necessary for joy, shelters our inner child, the strength to pass through obstacles. The West is the portal of courage, transformation and the life-death-life cycle. It is the abode of dreams and silence.

It is guarded by the bear and represents the element of water, the autumn season, the physical body and the color black. This direction is a symbol of medicine and healing, and symbolizes preparation for hibernation - that is, introspection and self-knowledge.

The North is the portal of knowledge and ancestral wisdom. It is the point of relationship with the divine and spiritual development. It is guarded by the buffalo and represents the air element, the winter season, the mental body and the color white. It also awakens the connection with the Creator, the balance with the Earth, the path of change and the ends and beginnings.

The East is the portal of harvest, abundance and creativity. It is the last portal and through it one reaches new levels of understanding, perception and imagination. It is guarded by the eagle and represents the fire element, the spiritual body, the summer season and the color red. This direction leads to enlightenment and true knowledge.

The wolf as guardian of the southern direction

The wolf in the southern placement teaches survival and brings confidence and growth. It is the direction of the family relationship, which, as in the animal, is quite developed. It promotes the encounter of the inner child, purity, innocence, play and joy. It is where a person seeks the strength to face life's obstacles.

In the South, the wolf directs to the meeting of energies of purification, surrender, protection, change and adaptation. In addition, it shows the way to the truth of life, which we forget when we reach adulthood.

Symbology and meanings of the wolf as a power animal

The symbologies and the understanding of the wolf as a power animal and totem come from the shamanist belief. This belief sees in the animals the energies and archetypes for self-knowledge, and the attainment of spirituality in balance with nature.

Next, we'll see what the differences are between totem and power animal and how wolf symbolism applies to the pursuit of spirituality!

The wolf animal spirit

If you are connecting with the wolf animal in any way, whether it's seeing a lot of its representation in your walk, in dreams, and even in thoughts, it could be that your spirit is searching for peace, social stability, acceptance, and balance.

Despite its qualities of living in community, the wolf is still a wild being. If he is trying to connect with you, it is to communicate that adaptation is needed for the moment in which you are living and indicates changes that will be important in your life.

Wolf as totem animal

The totem is, for shamanic people, a sign of the psyche and behavior of each person. Each person has a totem that is revealed in the course of his life and this can indicate which is the ancestral animal of that person.

Those who have the wolf as a totem animal are instinctive and tend to be very attached to family and make firm bonds with ease. They are very wise and always act with diplomacy and intelligence. In addition, they have an agile mind and decide according to rationality.

They are honest and seek true and deep personal connections, with surrender and unconditional love. Spiritually speaking, they may find it easy to connect with the energies of the Creator and know the true meaning of devotion and balance with nature.

Wolf as power animal

The power animal, unlike the totem, can accompany the person for a period of time, depending on what it has to teach. It can be chosen for its abilities and help to develop specific aspects in the life of the one who is allied with it. Therefore, a person can possess several power animals.

In this role, the wolf helps to develop the spirit of family togetherness, coming to the aid of those who have been unable to develop trust, affinity, and love in the family. For those who have come from abusive homes, this animal helps to change the pattern of suffering and trauma acquired in childhood into qualities that will make them a loving adult.

Working the energies of the wolf can help develop compassion, true and selfless love, forgiveness, intimacy, generosity and several other qualities inherent in it.

The wolf as power animal in different cultures

There are, in several cultures, the symbolism around animals and nature. Not only in shamanism the wolf adopts specific representations. Therefore, let's understand how cultures around the world understand the energies that this animal transmits!

What the wolf represents

The wolf has a symbolism of light and shadows and, like everything in nature, these points are balanced. However, for some cultures, he is seen as an evil being - an example is his figure in fairy tales.

Still, for religions connected to nature, its positive aspects override its negative ones and we see its representation generally being based on protection, unity, loyalty and intuition.

Native American symbolism of the wolf

For the Native Americans, the wolf is a noble animal. It chooses, among its prey, the weakest or sickest, avoiding attacking the healthy ones - an attitude seen as merciful by the natives. In addition, once domesticated, these animals became faithful companions for hunting and protection.

Wolves teach unity and are the teachers of the spiritual path of passion. They are representatives of unconditional love and community life. They also act loyally by owning only one mate for life, and put the welfare of the pack ahead of their own.

Christian symbolism of the wolf

For Christianity, the wolf is not so beneficial. In the Bible, some passages mention this animal as a symbol of ferocity, destruction and cruelty. Every time the wolf is mentioned, it is done in an evil sense.

By hunting sheep - sacred animals and related to the followers of Jesus - wolves are seen as diabolical beings, related to evil. Moreover, it is from Christianity that comes the phrase "wolf in sheep's clothing", which refers to people who disguise a good nature, but who, in fact, are perverse and dishonest.

Celtic symbolism of the wolf

Within Celtic mythology, the wolf has a vast symbology, connected mainly to the Moon's energy, due to its habit of howling on full moon nights.

It is related to some gods, such as Sucellus, god of agriculture, forests and alcoholic drinks. This god, originally, would have been a wolf, but is also portrayed in some records wearing only the skin of this animal. Some legends report that the archetypical Irish king Cormac mac Aoirt was created by a she-wolf, just like the Roman legend.

In addition, the wolf is related to feminine strength and intuition, being the form adopted by the goddess Morrighan to fight Cuchúlainn. The goddess Henwen gives Wales a wolf cub as a representation of the unity of the people, demonstrating the symbolism of protection, honor, intuition, unity and courage that the wolf adopted in this culture.

Symbolism of the wolf in Japanese culture

In ancient Japanese culture, the wolf was a venerated animal. Because it inhabited the mountainous regions, considered sacred to the Japanese, they were seen as equally mystical and sometimes enshrined as the very spirit of the mountains.

They were the sacred guardians who watched over the forests and their inhabitants. Seen as noble animals, protectors of men, benign and just, they were a "girigatai" - someone with a great sense of duty.

Many are the Japanese legends that tell of the nobility of the wolf, such as the "okuri-okami", which tells that when someone crosses a forest, the wolf accompanies him all the way, protecting him and only leaving him when he reaches the city. There are also legends that mention people who obtained longevity from wolf milk.

When a wolf was sighted, a peasant would quote the following prayer: "Lord Wolf (oinu tono), please protect us and stop the raids of the deer and wild boar.

Symbolism of the wolf in Ancient Egypt

The god of the underworld for the Egyptians, Anubis, was portrayed with a human body and the head of a jackal, a kind of golden wolf. He was the protector of the pyramids and god of the dead, who guided and led souls to the underworld.

When a person died, Anubis would weigh his heart against the Feather of Truth. If the heart weighed the same as the feather, the soul was guided to paradise. If it weighed more than the feather, the goddess Ammut would eat the organ and the soul would disappear forever.

It is believed that the association of Anubis with the image of the jackal was due to the fact that these animals roamed through the cemeteries. The black wolf's head symbolizes the fertile soil of the Nile and had this color because of the shade of the embalmed bodies.

Other meanings of the wolf as a power animal

Many are the analogies to which the wolf is included in various cultures, religions and philosophies. When this animal is the totem or is chosen as a power animal, it can have many aspects for personal and spiritual evolution.

But there are still readings of the wolf in astrology and the symbolism that it carries when present in dreams. Below we will explain these relationships and also what this animal carries when it is present in a tattoo.

The wolf in astrology and zodiac signs

The wolf is the 12th animal in shamanic astrology, corresponding to the sign of Pisces in Western astrology and linked to the dog sign in Chinese astrology.

Because of its element and characteristics, it is considered the spirit animal of the sign of Taurus, because of its determination and for conducting life on its own terms. Both have their senses on the surface and love in a deep and protective way.

Dreams with wolves

When wolves appear in dreams, they convey survival, mystery, self-confidence, pride and solidarity. If in your dream you heard a wolf howling, it means the request for help from someone in your life.

This animal indicates the ability to deal with unexpected moments, always with balance and wisdom. But it may also signal a reaction of anger or fear in some situation in your life.

Wolf Tattoo

For those looking for a strong symbolism for a tattoo, the wolf can be a good option. It symbolizes the importance of family, honor, justice and strength. It can also relate to spirituality, intelligence and wisdom.

For those who have the wolf as a totem or power animal, tattooing its sign on their skin can be an option to connect with it.

What are the characteristics of those who possess the wolf as a power animal?

The wolf has countless symbolisms around the world and, for the most part, relates to its hunting abilities and its life in a pack. Because it is an animal that lives in a community, one of the greatest characteristics of the wolf archetype is its relationship of protection and surrender in the family.

When it is the totem or a power animal, it transmits loyalty, unconditional love, balance, intuition, spirituality and wisdom. To choose or be chosen by it is a gift for personal relationships, which become deep and true.

Wolves are animals seen as noble, for even when they hunt they choose sick animals as their prey, avoiding attacking the young and healthy. For the Native Americans, the wolf symbolizes the Guardian of the southern hemisphere and its energies, and is the guide on the spiritual path of love.

Besides everything, when domesticated, they become the hunting companions and protectors of ancient civilizations. This friendship extends until today with dogs, which are their descendants and considered man's best friend.

In this way, hearing the call of the wolf is a sign to find your spiritual path based on love, concrete relationships and ancestral wisdom in balance with nature.