The wolf is a very powerful spirit animal and is represented in pagan cultures around the world.
In this article, we examine the wolf as an animal and a spirit guide, conservation efforts, and share with you how pagans around the world view the wolf.
The Wolf Represents:
Awareness
Family
Freedom
Guardianship
Intelligence
Loyalty
Ritual
Social connections
Biological information on The Wolf
The wolf is the largest member of the canid family which includes coyotes, jackals, and the dog. They are all closely related and can interbreed producing hybrids.
The wolf is a pack animal and hunts as a group. They are social and cooperative.
Territory varies depending on where they live. For example, wolves in northern Minnesota have a territory between 25 - 150 square miles. In Alaska and Canada, they may range up to 700 miles.
Western European countries of Portugal, Spain, and Italy have small but protected populations with smaller ranges. Eastern Europe and Russia have larger populations with a greater range who often migrate into Scandinavia.
The wolf is a global species, although it has been eliminated in 80% of its traditional range.
Sometimes their size is exaggerated in folklore. The truth is they are the size of a large breed dog with males weighing between 70 - 110 pounds and 26 - 32 inches at the shoulder.
Wolves are often portrayed as aggressive and even vicious. In reality, they are wild animals that avoid humans. Confirmed wolf attacks on humans are rare.
Like bears, they do sometimes become habituated by the stupidity of humans who feed them and entice them closer. Sadly this ends in the extermination of the animal.
Fun Fact: The wolf howls to communicate. Depending on if an individual or a group is howling it sends a varying message. Howls may mean loneliness, seeking attention, territory, or confrontation.
We often think of the wolf as a North American animal however the grey wolf and its subspecies, covers a broad territory. Global range of Canis lupus according to IUCN
A deeper meaning of representations
The wolf is a symbol of the wild spirit. Get outside and experience nature.
Wolf society mirrors human society in many ways, yet we perversely often fear or demonize the wolf.
Like many of us pagans, the wolf is very ritualistic. Their society has defined rules just like ours. Their society is also based on hierarchy.
Wolves are extremely strong yet they rarely pick a serious fight. The wolf teaches us to be strong but not use our strength against others.
Wolves have excellent communication and teach us to listen carefully but also observe body language.
The wolf has an acute sense of hearing which reminds us to not only listen to others but ourselves. Pay attention to your inner thoughts. Get in touch with your psychic intuition.
As a guardian, the wolf will protect you as it teaches you. Lean into that.
As a guardian animal, the wolf may show up to you when you feel distrustful or threatened by someone. Examine your relationship with that person and pull away if necessary.
Wolves have great respect for their elders. The alpha male and female have earned their position and have many lessons to teach us.
Wolf pups peering out of their den in Jackson County in southwestern Oregon. Photo by United States Fish and Wildlife Service - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Wolf Around the World ( Cultural Symbolism)
Native American
Native American Cultures have long had a relationship with the wolf. There are many tribes with wolf clans including the Creek, Cherokee, Shawnee, Huron, and Tlingit.
Many Native tribes associate howling with communication with the Gods.
Wolves are often carved on totem poles of Northwest Coast tribes.
The Ojibwa tribe of the upper midwest view the wolves as sacred and see the tribe connected to the local wolf pack. Wolves were often described as family members and thus feel killing them is wrong.
In their origin story, the wolves guard the underworld. The wolf is also an important clan for the Ojibwa people.
This is similar to the Pawnee Nation which feels Sirius (the wolf star) disappears from the sky when the wolf is traveling between spirit worlds.
The Inuit have Amarok, which means wolf, who is a great hunter.
The Zuni often carve stone fetishes of the wolf that symbolize family values and are often given to newlyweds.
The Cree have a legend The Foundling Who Was Befriended by Wolves
First Wolf Dancer Totem Pole. Victoria Conference Centre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Photo by Michal Klajban
Norse
When it comes to Norse mythology we can surely say that everyone has heard of Fenrir the wolf, the one who will bring the end of the times during Ragnarok. Bound by the gods, he is destined to grow too large for his bonds and devour Odin, before growing even more devouring the world.
His two offspring, Geri and Freki, are companions of Odin and were of good omen, even though the mythology tells us they were supposed to devour the Sun and the Moon during Ragnarok.
In Norse culture, wolves were seen as both negative and positive. On one side, they can represent chaos like Fenrir, while on the other side they also represent bravery, loyalty, and protection like Geri and Freki.
Read our article on Norse Gods and Their Spirit Animals.
Wolves were also spirit animals of brave warriors. When you mention a berserker, everyone's minds turn to warriors wearing bearskins and being connected to the bear as their spirit animal.
The lesser-known, but also very powerful type of berserkers were the Ulfhednar, and their spirit animal was the wolf. They were also wearing wolf skins regularly, which, after ages, made them the origin of the mythical creatures, werewolves.
Hellenic and Roman
In the old Hellenic religion, wolves were associated with the Sun God, Apollo, and the Lykaion mountains. In the mentioned mountains there used to be a temple of Zeus where human sacrifice was performed, and those who received a portion of the sacrifice were changed to a wolf, called the Peisistratos, or the “wolf-feet”
Over the Adriatic sea, in Roman culture wolves were mainly associated with the God of war and agriculture, Mars. The most famous wolf is of course the Capitoline that nursed Romulus and Remus, sons of Mars and founders of Rome.
The Capitoline Wolf, sculpture of the mythical she-wolf feeding the twins Romulus and Remus, from the legend of the founding of Rome, Italy, 13th century AD. Photo by Jastrow.
In antiquity, the she-wolf was the most popular symbol associated with Rome by all the Romans and all the nations under their rule. Wolves were treated differently from other predators, Romans refrained from intentionally harming wolves.
Slavic
The ancient Slavic people considered the wolf a totem spirit animal. When Slavic people were still organized in tribes, they would build totem poles of their spirit animals and the deities related to them. Wolves were highly appreciated and considered sacred and were rarely killed, rather they were praised during ceremonies and festivals.
Wolf was one of the staple animal figures in folklore and mythology. Wolf meat was never eaten because it was sacred, but also of the fear that people would turn into werewolves if they do so.
Wolves in Serbian Pagan Culture
The wolf survived the ages and was included in later Serbian traditions and ceremonies. The best example is in lullabies for children where the wolf is referred to as an old ancestor that protects the children from evil and diseases.
Different kinds of charms would be used as a defense against Rodnovery demons, made from claws, teeth, or the jaws of wolves. Wearing wolf fur was considered an effective way to fight away the demonic forces.
The wolf cult in the religious lives of the ancient Slavs is still alive in some modern Serbian traditions. In the winter there is a holiday called Mratinci dedicated to the wolf, and also the wolf's patron, Saint Sava, a Christian saint who adopted the characteristics of Dazbog, the Rodnovery patron of wolves.
Judeo/Christian
The Bible paints the wolf in a negative light as the writers often did with prey animals. This most likely stems from the pastoral farmers who were afraid for their domestic animals.
Wolves were even compared to the devil. John 10:12 is one example.
This led to and was compounded with such tales as Little Red Riding Hood and Aesops Fables.
Wolf in Norway. Photo by Federico Di Dio
Wolf Totem Animal
In Serbian Rodnovery mythology, the wolf was the main spirit animal and all the Serbian tribes were linked to it. They used its totem and it was a symbol of fearlessness.
Wolf in the Serbian language is “Vuk” and you can still find a lot of male newborns given that name. In the past, if a woman lost several children, the next newborn male would be named Vuk because it was believed that the child would be protected by the spirit animal.
Wildlife conservation of The Wolf
Wolf conservation is a very big topic so we will focus on Ame’s home state of Wisconsin and Marko’s country of Serbia.
The past two years have been fraught with anxiety over wolf conservation in the USA. The wolf had been a protected animal since 1978 under the Endangered Species Act. They were later delisted in January 2021 under the Trump presidency.
In Wisconsin, there are currently an estimated 1050 wolves. An estimated 5000 Wolves roomed Wisconsin prior to European settlement.
When wolves were removed from the endangered species list in 2021 sport hunting for them in Wisconsin radically increased. Sadly in the spring of 2021 over 210 wolves were killed in only three days. That was over 100 animals more than was “allowed”.
The Native American population within the state was furious because the Wisconsin DNR had not respected the wishes of the Ojibwa. The Ojibwa had decided not to use their tribal rights to a quota share because the wolf is a sacred animal.
Fortunately, in February 2022 a federal judge ordered them to be relisted as an endangered species.
Serbia
In Serbia, the wolf is the national animal yet receives no national protection. An estimated 500 wolves live in Serbia. There are two distinct groups.
The Carpathian group, crossing back and forth over the Carpathian mountains into Romania. The Northern Province of Vojvodina does provide some protections as does the country of Romania.
There is also a population of wolves in the Dinaric-Balkan region. These wolves are commonly considered game species meaning they can be killed via shooting, trapping, or poisoning.
There are some great non-profits that seek to educate people about wolves. The Wolf Conservation Center has webcams and lots of information.
Marko’s Personal Encounter With a Wolf in Serbia
I live in a small town with beautiful nature and mountains where people can hike. Our wolf population is, sadly, zero, as it was hunted until totally disappearing. During winter months, when the extreme colds hit, on really rare occasions, wolves from the Carpathian mountains would wander here also.
As a Rodnovery pagan, I love to spend time in the forest, connecting with all its might and getting my energy from it. On one of the hikes I often take, whilst walking paths that people rarely take, I encountered a lone wolf.
At first glance, it only looked like a large dog someone took out for a walk, but when I came closer to it I got overwhelmed with fear. Our eyes met, and the feeling was so empowering.
The wolf immediately turned and ran away, proving to me that they aren’t that dangerous until provoked, but are so majestic and powerful.
Dreams
When a wolf comes to you in a dream, it may be a reminder to set personal boundaries. If you are feeling over the edge and indulging in alcohol or drugs this may be a message to check yourself and come back to the center.
Likewise, a wolf in a dream may be encouraging you to find balance and trust your instincts.
A dream about wolf cubs in distress may be a sign that an animal needs your help. Look into ways you can volunteer or financially assist a wildlife rehabilitator or humane society.
You may need to get outside more, enjoy nature by taking a long hike.
Careers
Wolves want their pack to thrive so good careers include social workers, psychologists, and teachers.
The wolf is also protective and is well represented by a military career, police officer, or fireman/woman.
Wolves are social and work well on teams but they need a team that inspires and builds them up.
Take Away
Wolves are fascinating animals worthy of our respect.
Co-Authors
Ame Vanorio and Marko Rajkovic. Learn more about us on our Who We Are page.
The Ancient Celtic people believed strongly that spirits and divine beings inhabited the natural world. They felt a divine connection with those beings. The Celts perceived the presence of the supernatural world interwoven with the material world.