Feeding the Right Wolves

Magic happens when we can dance between the extremes rather than live in them.

Some First Nations wisdom traditions see our work as the struggle between two wolves: a dark wolf, and a light wolf. The dark one is associated with all the stuff you can imagine: pride, ego, hubris, fear, negativity, worry, anxiety, pain, greed, and so on. The light one is associated with grace, love, generosity, patience, and other virtues. The questions become: who is my dark wolf and how do I feed it? What would my life look like if I starve my dark wolf and feed my light wolf better?

For me, I think my dark wolf is in the extremes with which I engage important parts of my life: money, relationships, work, you name it. When my dark wolf is on the prowl, I am either totally indulgent or totally avoidant. I am either completely consumed or entirely dissociated. If I don't feed either of these extremes, I can usually find a balance, almost dance-like quality to my living.

My light wolf is one of calm, rest, fellowship, and ritual -- without those things becoming a kind of bypass around really living. When I feed my light wolf, I still have to be present and "in" while not overcommitted or aloof. To do this well, I have to make whatever it is less about tasks and accomplishments and more about rituals and process.

Expanding on this notion of feeding the light wolf, let's dive deeper into how it reshapes our approach to living. You see, the light wolf isn't just about calm, rest, fellowship, and ritual – it's a compass guiding us through the art of truly living without losing touch with reality.

Imagine you're sipping a warm cup of tea on a chilly evening, wrapped in a cozy blanket, sharing stories with friends around a bonfire. This is the essence of the light wolf's domain – moments of genuine connection, serenity, and cherished rituals. But it's not a shortcut to life; it's the very heart of it.

Feeding the light wolf doesn't mean checking out from the world or becoming an aloof bystander. It's quite the opposite, actually. To do it justice, we need to be present, fully engaged in the experience, and "in the moment." It's like dancing to your favorite song without missing a beat or savoring a delicious meal without rushing through it.

Here's the secret sauce: it's about shifting our focus from tasks and accomplishments to the beauty of rituals and the richness of the process. Instead of merely aiming to cross off items on our to-do list, we immerse ourselves in the journey itself. It's about savoring the steps, relishing the details, and finding joy in the doing, not just the done.

Just like a controlled burn revitalizes a landscape, this blend of embracing the light wolf's wisdom transforms our daily existence. It's a dance where balance isn't a tightrope but a harmonious rhythm. Belonging isn't a distant dream but a reality, woven into our interactions with others. And authenticity isn't an elusive goal but a radiant flame within us.

In this dance of balance, belonging, and blazing authenticity, life becomes an artwork, and we are the artists. We craft our days not as tasks to complete but as masterpieces to unfold, each stroke of the brush revealing the vibrant tapestry of our existence. With the light wolf as our guide, we embark on a journey that's not about reaching the destination but embracing the beauty of the path itself.