There are many reasons why I could say the wolf is important to me, especially with me being an animal lover. But the main reason, is that the wolf is my totem. In the picture to the right you see the symbol of the bird, which is overlapped with the wolf. The bird is a common symbol in Native mythology and is often associated with the totem pole. The raven (which is the bird in question) is also a very mystical symbol in itself.

Totem, totem, totem. I've said it enough times in the last paragraph to make some people wonder what a totem actually is. A totem is defined as a natural thing, such as animal or plant, with which someone is said to be 'in tune' with. To be in tune with this natural object, one usually has the instincts or feels a kinship with the object. To me, that is the wolf. I have also been told by a Native Elder that the wolf is my guardian spirit.

There are many things that goes along with having an animal as a totem. As said, this means you are in tune with the wolf. This means that often, the person who has a wolf totem shares characteristics and social habits with the wolf. This is exactly how it is for me. I have researched the wolf as a totem, and here are some interesting tidbits of information I've found.

There are two types of wolf behaviors, and with this, comes two types of totem. That of the pack wolf, and that of the loner. There is a large difference between the two. I will explore these details here.

The pack wolves live in a communal structure with a very strict heirarchy. There is a dominant pair, called the Alpha pair that leads the pack. These are the only wolves that breed within the pack. The others would not even think of it, but instead help with the raising of the pups produced by the alpha pairing. On the bottom of the hierarcy is the Omega wolf. This wolf is often bullied and is the one that must go without food when it is scarce. The Omega wolf is usually a loner that has just joined the pack.

Though the alpha male is the leader of the pack, that does not mean that it is a complete autocratic system. The alpha male often seeks wisdom from those in its pack, but this does not mean it is a democracy either. It is a delicate balance of the two. Having a wolf totem, this means that you must establish this harmony in your life to achieve the spiritual and true freedom.

Wolves of the pack are strong in the sense of community and are extremely loyal to those within the pack. Even moreso are the alpha pairing, as their loyalty, sense of community, and strength are what keeps the wolfpack alive. The wolf totem gives this to the human. They are loyal and their friendships are strong and they can survive the battles of time.

Communication is an important topic with wolves. Their language has a variety of sounds such as yips, yelps, whines, howls, growls, and barks. It is also one of posture, facial expression, and tail positions. Their howl is one of the most important. It carries over large distances and can be used to help locate pack members, establish the boundaries of its territory, as well as strengthen group unity. This sound often gives the haunting, chilling feeling to those humans listening. Those with the wolf totem find this soothing, and may even have the urge to howl back. Howling back, however, can be dangerous as the wolves will adapt to sound like the humans, and forget their own howls. Those with wolf totems are usually very expressive. This involves using your hands and posture to make yourself clearly understood. Though it takes time, this skill can be sharpened and this use of gestures can be more effective than those without the wolf totem.

Wolves do not like to fight unless it is totally necessary. Often, the wolves will go out of their way to avoid fighting. Disagreements rarely end in fighting. Many times a look or low growl in warning is all that is needed to avoid conflict. In this way, those with wolf totem are also prone to avoid these confrontations, preferring peace to war. These people also do not feel the need to show their strength or abilities to those around them. Their confidence is enough.

When it comes to hunting, the pack wolves have a complex hunting system, though it seems very simple. The pack members simply take turns chasing down their prey, so that their prey becomes weak and tired long before the wolves. This is very important as wolves do not have a long endurance when travelling at its higher speeds of 24-28 miles/hour. Even though the wolves are great predators, they do limit their prey to the sick, young, or ill. After catching their prey, they eat all parts of their prey, not leaving anything behind except the bones. Those that have the wolf totems also do not like waste. If they take something, they will use as much of it as they possibly can. If they are unsure of the use of something, they most likely will try to find out.

Wolves have very strong senses of smell and hearing. This sense of smell helps the wolf greatly with hunting, or territorial duties. The wolf also has a thick coat which helps protect the wolf from both weather as well as its predators. This does not mean that those with the wolf totem has a strong sense of smell and hearing and are hairy. It is a more metaphorical ability to listen to intuition and inner thoughts. Often, these intuitions are valid and correct. The fur of the wolf, or hair on the human, is associated with psychic abilities. This goes with the sense of intuition. By listening to ones inner thoughts and feelings, those of the wolf totem can sharpen their ability to listen to their spirit and be able to deal with the struggles that may come their way.

The loner wolf is one that lives outside of a pack. They do not have any territory, nor do they have other wolves to help them hunt. They must forage for what they can find, which usually includes small animals, or the carcases left by other hunting animals. If found in the territory belonging to a pack of wolves, this wolf would usually be fought and often is killed as a result. Other times, if it manages to survive the fights, they will join the pack as the Omega wolf.

A wolf can be a loner for a couple different reasons. It could be born to another lone wolf or it could be chased off by their pack. This is usually done if they disobey the commands of the Alpha pairing, or they have some kind of deformity. Whether it is something as obvious as twisted legs that make it unable to keep up with the pack, or a difference of colouring. This wolf must learn to survive on its own.

As to which type is my totem, I leave that to those who know me to figure out. :)