View Full Version : Wolves
bothyman
13-10-2004, 16:32
Just found this website
>> http://www.wolfsongalaska.org/disappearance_of_wolves.html
I find it interesting as the Last Wolf in Sutherland was killed only Five miles up the road can't remember the year.
I love wolves. I think that they should be reintroduced into scotland. Did you know that the wolves would live in the plantations, which would keep the red deer out of the plantations, which would reduce the need for deer fences, which is the primary cause of death of the cappercallie. So benefiting more than you might think. I hope im not telling you what you may know already.
Here here - that is one of my dreams too. Having seen wolves int he wild I would love to be able to afford to re-introduce them to Britian.
They are a fantastic creature, mans oldest ally and fear, and as such we should always honour them as kindred spirits.
I would love to be able to afford to re-introduce them to Britian.
thats something i wish for also!
Paganwolf
13-10-2004, 19:18
My fave animal the wolf (never :roll: ) ive adopted a european wolf, i aggree they should be introduced back into the uk as they are a native after all, and its lonley here being the only wolf :cry: :wink:
when you say adopted... dose it live with you? or are you supporting while it lives else where.
saw a guy with a fox on a lead walking down the road the otherday
bothyman
13-10-2004, 19:37
They could put them in the New Forest, more for them to live on in there.
Pigs, Ponies, Rabbits , more People so more dogs and cats to live on.
They would have a much more varied diet. :roll:
Just imagine the first bad Winter, "Mummy there's a hungry wolf looking through the window" ?? "Don't worry dear it won't harm you".
Oh dear, they are dangerous :yikes: Cull all the wolves,
End of wolf experiment.
We have enough with rutting slobbering stags, roaring all night you can have the wolves. :wave:
Paganwolf
13-10-2004, 19:51
when you say adopted... dose it live with you? or are you supporting while it lives else where.
saw a guy with a fox on a lead walking down the road the otherday
im the only wolf in my house :rolmao: no its still in its homeland ill dig the stuff out tonight and post it, game keeper has a wolf hybrid though, have you seen the film Dog soldiers? :shock:
Wolvea are really beatiful animals but they are also a big problem for some people. Wolves kill a lot of reindeers every year and so the people that own the reindeer hunt and kill the wolves. But for wolves to survive us human needs to be a lot less. We are are becoming more and more and we need more land to live on and the wolf and many other animals gets less and less land to live on and that is why there are so few left.
Was on a exhition this weekend about the big five wolf, lynx, wolverine, bear and man. It was really interesting because you got to learn what people that live around these animals think of them both the good and bad and gave me a lot to think about when I left it.
Tantalus
13-10-2004, 20:27
lol bothyman
perhaps westminster would be a good place to start the re-introduction program
ya know, no guns or pointy things there that could accidentally injure them
plenty of soft tubby gin soaked fodder for em too
oh dear i did it again, please excuse my off beat humour :tw:
seriously though , last time i met wolves in the wild was in israel, a truly awesome and very friendly experience
they wanted water, i gave em some and they left as soundlessly as they had arrived
maybe it was the heat, but there was no agression in them at all, and they were close enough to touch
are all the scare stories just that?...........scare stories
Tant
I agree Tant - about westminster too.
Seriously though, I saw my first wolf in canada and it sat not more than 10 feet from me, just watching me like a big dog. We sat watching each other for a good 10/15 minutes, unfortunately I was to worried about spooking it and spoiling the moment to reach for my camera.
Then a howl went up here and there around us and it loped off into the woods but later I saw the pack chasing down a moose - never saw the kill but it is a powerful image that will live with me forever.
Few things touch you deeply in this cold souless world but that encounter was very magical.
:Wow: Real impressive stuff
Squidders
13-10-2004, 20:55
I have never seen a wolf in the wild, nor have I had any desire to see one in a zoo. But some day I intend to. There is something about top predators that make them so majestic.
Also, when there are wolves, bears, lions, tigers or whatever, it is a good indication that the environment is healthy... if it can support the wildlife in the food chain all the way up to the top, it's a good thing. Unfortunately, we have mostly removed ourselves from the food chain as humans.
By the way, this (http://www.lightningstorm.co.uk/wolf.jpg) is my current desktop background if anyone wants it... it's a nice timber wolf. I like it staring back at me, it reminds me who's world it should really be.
They have allways been one of my faverite animals since i was a small child,ive no idea why but they allways have.They really are beautifull animals and i would allso love to see one in its enviroment some day.When i lived in Norway some years back some wolves set up home in a forest near the capital,very near,only a couple of miles from the city.The government had them culled sadly.
There is something about top predators that make them so majestic.
I agree totally. Im the same with birds of prey, just to see one soaring and know she could take most things in the sky, if she wanted to....
arctic hobo
13-10-2004, 21:24
I've seen a large pack in the Finnmarksvidda - then it was scary more than anything else. We pretended we hadn't seen them, and walked quickly away at an angle to their path... Well, not large but five or six - very frightening, as we'd lost the bolt for our rifle (long story!).
im told there are no reported cases of a healthy wolf attacking a man (or woman or child)
im told there are no reported cases of a healthy wolf attacking a man (or woman or child)
I have allso read this many times before.That there is no reliable account or proof of a healthy wolf ever attacking a human being.I have however read that they have been known to eat the dead.Dunno how true that is mind you.
not so sure i would mind being eatern by a wolf when i die.. its more enviromentaly friendly than cremation :o):
Squidders
13-10-2004, 21:43
I wonder how that would go down... excuse the pun... with the family?
Dear family, in the highly likely scenario of me popping my clogs, I wish to be left in the woods to be eaten by wolves... after which, you may scatter the poo :o):
TheViking
13-10-2004, 21:46
Dear family, in the highly likely scenario of me popping my clogs, I wish to be left in the woods to be eaten by wolves... after which, you may scatter the poo :o):
:rolmao: :rolmao:
Tantalus
13-10-2004, 21:52
well they are intelligent creatures
if most of your encounters with another animal involved shots fired at you and loss of one or more members of your party i think you would rapidly become quite retiring
the ones in israel were certainly smart enough to know, that to get water , first you had to find a human to turn the tap on for you
as for eating dead humans, well in the artic (or anywhere else i guess) a free meal is a free meal, nature has always been like that
they roam long didstances to hunt their quarry, usually feed and rest for a day cos boy do they pig out when they can
then move on, but the scare stories i still believe are mostly scare stories
i would rather meet a wolf in the woods than a boar, boars have bad eyesight which makes them very unpredictable and easily startled
at least with a wolf you know where you stand
i accept they too are curious of us and wish to know if we mean them harm which may explain a lot about Garys' experience
Tant
Squidders
13-10-2004, 21:56
I think Gary's experience may have been some kind of reverse tourism...
"Would one of you take a photo while I go and sit by this bushcraft bloke?"
Seriously though, Gary... you are a lucky lucky bloke and i'm dead jealous :wink:
Interesting thread.
It is very tempting to consider such reintroductions. Control of Deer numbers is oft quoted. I declare interest as a Deer stalker here.
There are similiar murmorings regards bears - my kindred animal ( I was bought a beautiful T shirt by my fiance, really nice brown bear on front. She kissed me, hugged me and said she thought of me as soon as she saw it in the shop. I'd been wearing it hours before I twigged she was spending more time looking at the back... you guessed it - a 'rear view' was printed :roll: )
Slightly more advanced project afoot regards beaver up here.
All interest me greatly and I do dream of such things.
However, I cannot help but trhink of the nature of all wild things. Given a choice between chasing down a wild Red Stag, some nice penned in sheep or a little girls tethered pony, I suspect the wolves may take the easier opportunities - with unfortunate conflict.
As always, seems to be not the animals at fault, but the pressure - intentional or otherwise - that people place upon them.
As a further aside, I had a long running e mail conversation with a very erudite young lady that was interested in the wolf scene and reintroductions etc. She was very intelligent and a pleasure to talk with. I wont give a name, but transpired she had her own.... er 'website' regards her other interests!!! :shock: No sexist implications implied. More power to her. You meet the most interesting people....
Slightly more advanced project afoot regards beaver up here.
tell us more, if you will, but start a new thread dont want to drag this one :offtopic: :biggthump
Tomtom
Put me on the spot or what :wink:
I'll have to do a bit of digging - it was in the paper or SGA magazine I think. Give me awhile to look it up and I will post under a new thread.
Oakleaf
Iv got a story about beaver aswell but i will add that to oakleafs thread.
arctic hobo
13-10-2004, 22:48
im told there are no reported cases of a healthy wolf attacking a man (or woman or child)
We didn't want to take the risk!
Squidders
13-10-2004, 23:54
Arctic hobo, i'm glad you lost your rifle bolt... in a nice way of course :wink:
Carcajou Garou
14-10-2004, 04:13
There has been one verified wolf killing a human incident that is know happened in southern Ontario, at a penned wolf preserve on a new staff member who had joined the unit shortly before the attack. She had entered the pen and was in the process of feeding the wolves when a trigger occured and the wolves attacked and killed her, the pack wa killed afterwards rightly so as it now had a human victims in its memory/pool and would not be safe to be in contact with humans afterwards whether in pen or in the wilds. Other than that no other wolf/human attack has been verified allthough many hybrid wolf/dog and coy/dogs (coyote/dog mix) attacks have been recorded and blamed on wolves. Where there are wolves there is a healthy deer population in north America as they kill off the feral dogs they encounter who kill many deer and any other wild life within their reach without eating them. Feral dogs here are a danger that only lately have been surpassed by the explosion of the bear population. Black bear encounters here in northern Ontario has increased to a dangerous level, In a typical summer in a med town 1500-2000+ encounter in a 3 months period. Wolves pose no threat to humans other than proximity exitment. I am of the bear clan, they are my brothers that is why I do not hunt my brothers and have to use a slingshot to chastise them when they mis-behave :roll:
just a thought
Wolverine as usual you show great wisedom.
Personally, I think I would like to be of the Bear clan too, for obvious reasons!! :wink:
Carcajou Garou
14-10-2004, 17:39
Saygo Gary!! My clan was passed on through my mother, is the bear, but my "spirit guides" are the wolf and the raven; my sister tells me that I have a lot of issues and need 2 "guides". Ravens accompany wolves as their look out per say so I add 2 more to the list of brothers that strenghten me. My son is wolf clan as is my wife. "Guides are like guardian angels they try to stear you on the right path but do not force you, you have the ultimate control and responsibility to do the right thing.
just a thought
RovingArcher
14-10-2004, 19:12
I am all for reintroduction of the wolf into all areas where they once thrived. However, as is happening in many areas where the wolf has been reintroduced, ranchers kill them for sport and say they were protecting their livestock. They do the same with the Bear. Then there's the dull hearted and witted hunters (if you can call them that) who shoot them for sport, even though they are protected. I'm am also for reintroducing the Grizzly into areas where they have been killed off. They kept man in check and gave man a great gift. Humility! Something man has forgotten in his quest to be all powerful.
Paganwolf
14-10-2004, 20:00
I am all for reintroduction of the wolf into all areas where they once thrived. However, as is happening in many areas where the wolf has been reintroduced, ranchers kill them for sport and say they were protecting their livestock. They do the same with the Bear. Then there's the dull hearted and witted hunters (if you can call them that) who shoot them for sport, even though they are protected. I'm am also for reintroducing the Grizzly into areas where they have been killed off. They kept man in check and gave man a great gift. Humility! Something man has forgotten in his quest to be all powerful.
:yikes: Blimmin ell!!!! we had better lie low eh Gary :yikes: :wink:
No JP I'm with the first nation guys on this one, Humility is a great gift and like so many things it is something we all need to remember - pride comes before a fall!
As for spirit guides, Wolverine how do you know who your guides are? I believe we all have spirit guides, but I have no idea who or what mine might be and would love to find out!
Squidders
15-10-2004, 20:05
My spirit guide needs a good kick-in for guiding me into the path of the car that kit me.
I would like to find mine out but only to run it through with something blunt and heavy!
how come everyone has a cool spirit guide? creatures with appeal and mystery, wolves, bears and large birds... is it possible to have a dung beetle spirit guide?
bothyman
15-10-2004, 20:27
You should try and read some books on Shamanism, Spirit guides and Shamanic journeying, interesting stuff especially if you spend time alone in the woods.
at the moment I am reading a book on Siberian Shamanism really good stuff.
Amazon stuff arrived today :super: so got a few bushcraft books to read inc, "The Good Life ", Bushcraft ( mors one) ,SAS survival Guide ( Gem One), and The Science and Art of Tracking ,they should keep me amused through the dark winter months.
:wave: :chill:
Yahoo stuff arrived today :super: so got a few bushcraft books to read inc, "The Good Life ", Bushcraft ( mors one) ,SaS survival handbook ( Gem One), and The Art and Science of Tracking ,they should keep me amused through the dark winter months.
:wave: :chill:
I bought all the above recently too (except SaS survival handbook - having read previously) plus the Tom Brown Field guide to nature observation and tracking and I think you should really enjoy them - all a crackin read. Just finishing off science and art now - I have no previous knowledge of tracking and it looked a little bit technical but I have thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt a great deal - now need some dirt time.
Related to this thread the Tom Brown texts have plenty to offer in terms of Wolf tracks, habit and Spirituality
Elliott
Carcajou Garou
15-10-2004, 23:55
Gary, my sister is a seer and she confirmed what I had started to notice from encounters in my life who my "spirit guides" were, my "guides" made themselves known to me and all who were around me, it was almost painfully evident, but I was deaf and dumb to them, she just laught it off that I could not see it. The "guides" make themselves known to you in many ways you just have to look and listen in a different way, notice an animal doing something that is not its usual nature eg. speaking to you, socializing with you, etc... this would be repeated several times in different settings even when you are awake or asleep (they don't have to be the most physicly powerful because power comes from within and all have their own gifts to bestow) after a while you feel a common bond with it and would hear as in a (sub concious) voice or act, what wisdom it is trying to tell you. Or sometimes you can listen to a gifted elder or seer and they can point you on the right path ((offer a small gift to the elder or seer) (we use tobacco)). I wish RA would explain it better to you, he is a better "voice" than I, he can explain things easier I don't have that much talent in transfering my inner thoughts to my outside voice. Next time an animal comes close to you listen and look maybe it is trying to speak to you.
Squidders, you didn't get killed did you? from all the damage done you still have your humor and guile :super: guide: 1, car: 0
Guides come in all styles as I have mentioned to Gary.
just a confused thought :roll:
RovingArcher
16-10-2004, 02:04
Gary, my sister is a seer and she confirmed what I had started to notice from encounters in my life who my "spirit guides" were, my "guides" made themselves known to me and all who were around me, it was almost painfully evident, but I was deaf and dumb to them, she just laught it off that I could not see it. The "guides" make themselves known to you in many ways you just have to look and listen in a different way, notice an animal doing something that is not its usual nature eg. speaking to you, socializing with you, etc... this would be repeated several times in different settings even when you are awake or asleep (they don't have to be the most physicly powerful because power comes from within and all have their own gifts to bestow) after a while you feel a common bond with it and would hear as in a (sub concious) voice or act, what wisdom it is trying to tell you. Or sometimes you can listen to a gifted elder or seer and they can point you on the right path ((offer a small gift to the elder or seer) (we use tobacco)). I wish RA would explain it better to you, he is a better "voice" than I, he can explain things easier I don't have that much talent in transfering my inner thoughts to my outside voice. Next time an animal comes close to you listen and look maybe it is trying to speak to you.
Squidders, you didn't get killed did you? from all the damage done you still have your humor and guile :super: guide: 1, car: 0
Guides come in all styles as I have mentioned to Gary.
just a confused thought :roll:
You don't need my words bro. You did just fine. If you all don't mind, I'll share some of my thoughts and experience with you.
A dream can tell you much. You can be awake, or asleep, or sometimes both when having a dream. In our dreams animals will come to us and speak, or they will come to your aid, or they will ask for your help. Anything out of the ordinary and you may be seeing, hearing or interacting with a spirit. Whether they will remain as your guide, I don't know. Also, sometimes it can be something as simple as how you feel inside when you see a certain animal and when the animal allows itself to be seen by you, what does it do? I have had many interactions with animals and some of them would be considered unbelievable if I were to share them with someone else.
Like Carcajou shared, I too, was and in many ways still am, numb to my guides. I learned just last year that the deer spirit is with me. How the deer is with me, I am still waiting to find out and how it happened completely surprised me and since it had occured, I have been reeling in great confusion about hunting deer. Not a good thing for a hunter to experience, but I know that for right now, my arrows will not cause harm to a deer, until it comes to me why things have happened the way that they have. I've dreamed of wolves and have a special feeling in me for them. The same with Bears. They have a special place in my heart. Whether they are my guides, only time and my willingness to see them will tell for sure.
I'd like to share an experience, yep, an almost unbelievable experience, but a true one to be sure. I believe that when an animal is helped, it will in turn help the helper. Pay back in this instance, is a blessing. Now whether that is a physical or spiritual manifestation is not for me to know. Since this experience, many of it's relatives have been visiting us here. Everyone see's them as pests, but I see them as something else. I do worry about my manx, mo. Last night he was sitting out front with three of them. I think he thinks they are buddies or something, but knowing that one full grown coon can tear a german shepard dog to pieces, I worry about him.
One night many years ago, I was visiting my beautiful mate at her work, which at the time, was as a night security/emt possition at the Monterey bay aquarium or more lovingly called, FISH PRISON. An alert went out as we sat talking with her boss that a raccoon had gotten into the building and was taking a dip with the bat rays. Everyone grabbed nets, poles, clubs, cages, etc. and went running for the bat ray pond. I mosied along behind becuse I didn't want to get in their way. When I arrived, the poor coon had climbed to the top of one of the large water pipes that lay against one of the walls and was growling and hissing while several persons were waving large weapon like objects towards it and yelling out orders or just jabbering in all the excitement. When I looked at the coon, it was looking right at me and stopped it's aggressive behavior. I felt it was asking for my help. It was obvious to everyone there that the coon had fixed on me and settled down some. At the same time someone spoke and said that they needed to call a professional to get the coon, as it was much too big and angry for them to handle and most of them left. I quietly asked my wife to open the door that was right next to us and hold it open from the outside. I looked at her boss and one other man and held up a hand, asking them to back off for a moment. I lowered my head, closed my eyes, held my palms towards the animal and my arms straight down to my sides. In my minds eye, I started seeing the animal climb down from the pipe and casually walk out the open door and disappear into the nights fog. I repeated the though several times and then felt my wife touch my hand with a warmth that was very pleasant. I opened my eyes and the raccoon was gone from the pipe and as I looked to my right, I barely was able to make him out as he disappeared into the nights fog. When I asked my wife what had happened, she said that almost right after I lowered my head, the raccoon responded by staring intently at me and she said it never took it's eyes off of me as it slid down the pipe and walked over to me. Then it sat up on it's hind legs and reached out with one of it's hand like paws and touched me on the boot, then walked out the door. Was it a dream? My wife remembers it and still talks about it while we are alone. She and her boss tried explaining it to the animal control officer and the other employees and they laughed, saying that isn't possible. Nobody can think an animal to do something. Was it a dream?
Please, don't think that I am blowing my own horn, trying to make myself look like I am special, because I am not. That is why I don't like to share some things, but truth is, a connection was made and in that connection, our CREATOR was and is present and brought me and that animal together. I believe that everyone can do it, so it's not special, but it is a spiritual connection and is, in my very limited understanding, the same connection or very similar, that would be experienced if the animal were your guide or a special friend on both the physical and spiritual plain.
Anyways, that is as close as I can come to explaining our special connection to the animals and their spirits and them to us and ours. Yep, it has to be a two way connection, so my belief says that when they are visiting and helping us, we are doing the same for them. We are learning from and helping each other. That is how it has always been and will be as long as our CREATOR and our brothers and sisters of the plant and animal peoples say it will be that way and as long as we, the humans, are willing to listen and see and learn and love.
Carcajou Garou
16-10-2004, 03:17
Saygo RA!!!! What a beautiful sharing you gave us, Nyah:Wen bro! Such sharings are powerful images in our understanding of the unlimited interaction with nature and our brother animals. I understand, that those who didn't experience this would find hard to accept, but it did happen :super: My wife was thrilled to hear that sharing, made her feel good.
Thruthful, honest you are, not boastful; I do not have an Eagle whistle to blow for you or it would be honouring you as I write, may Creator give you more of these experiences bro Nyah:Wen
just a thought
RovingArcher
16-10-2004, 04:15
Saygo bro, wa do, your honoring came to me long before I wrote those words. Hello to your beautiful mate and warm blessings for your family.
Hi guys (specifically RA and CC), what do you think of the the Raven, down here we have a lot, especially around Frogintor and Houndtor, in the U.K. they have always been termed as a bird of doom :shock:
RovingArcher
16-10-2004, 06:00
For many cultures, the Raven is a very special bird. On the other hand, I've talked to a few Indian people that believe the Owl brings death in the night.
A comical experience with Ravens in Idaho on the Corte d Alene (spelling) reservation, I watched a Raven play with a group of dogs. The Raven swooped down and dropped pine cones on the dogs and then would fly down the road a piece. When the dogs ran after the bird, the Raven would circle back and eat their food. It happened every morning. The dogs would dodge the makeshift bomb and chase after the low flying bird, barking their fool heads off and the Raven would fly back and eat some of their food. When the Raven didn't show up one morning, the dogs moped around and wouldn't eat.
Wolverine and RA - thank you both for sharing that with us. We in Britian are all to often removed form such spirituality but I think I am safe in saying that one of the things which draws many of us to bushcraft is knowingly or otherwise a wish to become more 'in tune' with such things.
Reading through you words I am now wondering if my Wolf encounter in Canada would be my spirit guide showing my the path to follow. It was after this encounter I became interested in Bushcraft at a much higher level, At the time I found it a magical experience and those that I have told of it will know it deeply moved me.
Even my dog likes like a arctic wolf!
Would you say this was my guide? If so how do I honour it and thanks it for guiding me? How do I contact it now?
Dave Farrant
16-10-2004, 16:50
Thank you Roving Archer,
That was the most uplifting post I have read in quite some time. Please keep them coming. Maybe you could start a thread or two along those lines as many people will miss the 41st post on a thread having lost interest a while back. Maybe I was right to persevere so as to benefit from the knowledge.
I was reading the thread as I saw a Wolf on Dartmoor many years ago when I was driving to a friend’s home. It was a moving experience. First I was scared by the size of the animal. Then I was amazed at how serene it was and indifferent to my presence (including the car). It was gone in a flash.
Anyhoo. Again I have to thank you for your contribution to the Thread.
:biggthump
A Wolf on Dartmoor,you must be very very old. :o): :biggthump
Carcajou Garou
16-10-2004, 17:15
Saygo Gary, It is very possible that the wolf could be your spirit guide as he did make a change in your life, from what I am reading in this thread there are no longer any wolves in Great Britain so you are limited in exposure to each other. May I suggest that you could seek out a nature preserve or zoo with wolves in it? and see the interaction. If this works then you may be on your way, or if you do bushcraft trips in Scandanavia there should certainly be occassions for interaction, be patient, if it is to come then it will, we have a word for it here "Indian Time", as far as a thank you, for myself I would burn tobacco in honour of the wolf, I also leave food offerings at ceremony and extra meat in my field dressing "pile" and ask Creator for a closer relationship with your guide and maybe "adopt" a wolf (ves) at the zoo offer a supliment food source (with the keepers OK), just talk to them..listen
Saygo leon-1, the raven is a trickster, a very clever being sometimes not as wise as he portays but a master of illusions. Be careful what you ask for as you may get it. I have seen ravens flip over in flight and present only talons and beak to an eagle or hawk or other ravens as they swooped down, as far as I know only they can do this manuver, same bird get head pecked by a covey of small swallows as he tried to raid their nest, they swoop and turn and chase and while this is going away the other ravens find easier pickings at the nest site. As RA showed ravens are very clever and problem solve, so follows their spirit. They associate with wolves a lot and clean up after the wolf kills, have heard them leading wolf packs to stranded animals in the forest waiting for the eventual demise and cycle of life.
just a thought
Many thanks Wolverine i will heed your words and seek then out - I will tell you what I find.
Dave Farrant
16-10-2004, 17:49
A Wolf on Dartmoor,you must be very very old. :o): :biggthump
No (not very very) just quite?
:rolleyes:
No (not very very) just quite?
:rolleyes: :joke: Never mind aye. :-)
Great posts Wolverine and RovingArcher, some of the best I've read on any forum, in fact I'm going to print them out :biggthump
Carcajou Garou
16-10-2004, 21:31
I am pleased that you have enjoyed the past thread but, for myself, please don't take me as the some savy being, I am still struggling hard on my journey and just relating my small piece of nature's wonders as I have heard and seen. Please experience nature and creation from your eyes and perspective, listen a bit more with an open mind to what is around you.
just a thought
RovingArcher
16-10-2004, 23:23
I agree 100% with Carcajou Garou. I struggle daily with my spiritual and physical journeys and find that Patience is a much needed virtue for such matters. That and an open mind and a willing heart.
What makes something special to me, may not be the same as what makes something special for anyone else. It is a very personal experience between two spirits and no two encounters are the same. Each encounter may bring direction to us, or a warning, or some sage advice. Or, the encounter may mean nothing at all when it occurs, but 10 years down the road, you will be involved in something in some way and that encounter will come to you in full detail and it will fit perfectly into what's happening at the time, offering advice, instruction, direction, etc., or, it could just be a :wave: and a big howdy as your and their paths cross.
Also, a bit of a warning. Examine each experience with full attention to where it will lead you. The Trickster is ever about and does prey on those that search for spirit in one form or another. Be patient and look at what you have seen from all sides before seeing it as truth in your life.
Been thinking hard about the spirit guide thing, and significant encounters with animals
Cows and hares are the animals that seem most significant to me - a couple of examples:
When on a research retreat in the Highlands when I worked at Aberdeen University, my early morning runs would be accompanied by a herd of cows who, after the first morning, looked for me to come round the corner, ran along with me to the boundary of their field, then waited for me to re-appear on my way back and run along with me to the other end of the field
In the hot summer of 1976 I was put in charge of re-filling the water trough in one of the fields on my friend's farm - the automatic filling mechanism had broken and I lived closer to it than they did. After a couple of mornings the cows realised that I was there to provide water, and they'd crowd round til I'd finished filling it and then come in and drink. Despite only being 10 I didn't feel worried about these huge creatures coming close - they were no threat to me, nor me to them. One day, one of the cows came right up to me and licked my cheek
I've had no close encounters with hares, and rarely seen them, yet they really feel significant to me and I treasure my memories of sightings
Paganwolf
21-10-2004, 08:52
Hares are a very very magical animal, said to be able to shapeshift, also said to be wiches in a shapeshifted form, how else can they dissapear like they do :?:
it would be a great honour to have a Hare as your totem, do a google on "animal totems Hare" lots to keep you going....
I'd forgotten these stories about hares - thanks for reminding me, and I'll get googling too :biggthump