Cherokee Legend Of The Two Wolves
The Cherokee legend of the two wolves tells that a constant battle between two forces takes place within us. It is a conflict between our darker side (the black wolf) and a brighter and more noble area (the white wolf). This duality between good and evil, between happiness and pride, guilt and humility largely defines who we are.
Most of us will have heard of this legend on some occasion. Although there are those who question the veracity of this legend attributed to the Cherokee people, there are some references that refer to the oral tradition of small social groups of the southern Appalachians.
It is interesting to know that there is a slight argumentative variation and that it is this curve, this final nuance unknown to some, that makes this story so interesting and valuable, this unique lesson on personal growth that we will discover below.
Cherokee legend of the two wolves: beyond the conflict of internal forces
The Cherokees were one of the peoples that fall within the so-called “Five civilized tribes”. Always known for their cultural richness, their language and their traditions, they are undoubtedly one of the Native American peoples who have had the greatest impact on Western society. We have received many of their stories, their rituals and their mysticism, everything in interesting books like Cherokee Clans: An Informal History (The Clan Cherokee: An Informal History) Professor Panther-Yates.
Within all this immense legacy, the Cherokee legend of the two wolves has been widely disseminated on social networks. The story unfolds in the form of a wisdom lesson from an old man towards his grandson . The first explains to the second that within him, as in the hearts of all men, a terrible battle is unleashed every day between two wolves.
These two animals symbolize two opposing forces. One is evil, the old man says to his nephew. It is anger, it is envy, greed, arrogance and even sadness, the sense of inferiority and the ego. The other strength is goodness, happiness, love, hope, serenity, humility, compassion and of course peace.
When the young Cherokee asks his grandfather which wolf will win this battle, in most of the stories that have come down to us through the media, he responds with the following affirmation : what you want to feed will win . It must be said, however. that there is another version perhaps much more interesting.
And that’s where the old Cherokee warrior tells his nephew that in reality they both have to win, because this battle is not a game of strength, but of balance. We need to feed both wolves because we need both wolves, we need to be able to guide them both on the right path.
Feed both wolves
There are times in our life cycle when we have a clear sense of being on a roller coaster. They are all ups and downs, moments in which we enjoy immeasurable luck and moments in which, almost without knowing why, adversity, sadness, anger and despair embrace us.
Life can be sad or cheerful, benevolent or brutal, the human being weaves his complex stories of love and hate, of serenity and loss, being aware of the fact that, in fact, within himself, there are always two opposing forces who doesn’t know how to control them very well and who unleash fierce battles.
The Cherokee legend of the two wolves tells us that we shouldn’t feed one wolf and starve the other to death. The human being is the essence of yin and yang, of this duality where, far from discarding one of the two parts, eliminating it or setting it aside in a dark space, it is necessary to take it into consideration, visualize it and control it in order to live in balance.
The old warrior tells his nephew that if he decides to listen only to the white wolf, the black one will hide in every corner to follow him when he sees him weak or unprepared. The Cherokee legend of the two wolves emphasizes that we must not underestimate or despise this animal with a dark coat like the night, with a fiery gaze and shaggy fur.
Whether you like it or not, even the black wolf has many qualities: determination, tenacity, courage, strategic thinking… In him there are virtues that the white wolf lacks. Therefore, we must feed them both to get the best out of their nature, to enhance their best version, recognize their needs and train ourselves to live together in harmony.
