The Cherokee Legend Of The Two Wolves Or Our Inner Forces

The Cherokee legend of the two wolves tells that a continuous battle between two forces takes place within us. It is a conflict between our darkest side (the black wolf) with that more luminous and noble zone (the white wolf). That duality between good and evil, between joy and pride, guilt and humility defines much of who we are.

Most of us have come across this story at one time or another. Although it is true that there is some doubt about the veracity of this legend related to the Cherokee people, it should be said that there are certain references included in the oral tradition in small social groups of the southern Appalachians.

Now, it is interesting to know that there is a slight plot variation and that it is precisely that twist, that final nuance unknown to some, that makes this story more valuable, this unique lesson on personal growth that we will discover next.

The Cherokee Legend of the Two Wolves: Beyond the Conflict of Internal Forces

The Cherokee were one of the peoples that were grouped into the so-called “Five Civilized Tribes. ” Always known for their cultural richness, their language and their traditions, they are undoubtedly one of the native references that has had the most impact on Western society. Many of their stories, their ritual practices or their mysticism have come down to us, all collected in books as interesting as Cherokee clans by Professor Panther-Yates.

Thus, and among all that immense legacy, one of the samples that has transcended the most among the world of social networks has been, of course, the Cherokee legend of the two wolves. The story is articulated as a wisdom lesson from an old man to his grandson. The first explains that inside him, as in the hearts of all men, a terrible battle rages between two wolves every day.

Those two animals symbolize two opposing forces.  One is evil, the old man tells his grandson. It is anger, it is envy, greed, arrogance and even sadness, the feeling of inferiority and the ego. The other force is goodness, it is joy, love, hope, serenity, humility, compassion and of course peace.

When the young Cherokee asks his grandfather which wolf is going to win that battle, in most of the stories that have come to us through the media, he answers with the following statement: the one you choose to feed will win.  Well, it must be said that there is another version perhaps much more interesting.

It is that where the old Cherokee warrior tells his grandson that in reality both must win, because that battle is not a game of forces, but a game of balance.  We must feed the two wolves because they both need each other, we must be able to guide them both on the right path …

Don’t feed just one wolf – keep both of them in mind

There are times in our life cycle when we have the distinct sensation of being on a roller coaster. Everything is up and down, moments in which we enjoy immeasurable happiness and moments in which, almost without knowing why, adversity, sadness, anger and despair embrace us.

Life can be happy or sad, benevolent or brutal, human beings weave their complex stories of love and hate, of serenity and loss, being aware that, indeed, there are always two opposing forces within us that we know very well how to control. and who wage fierce battles.

Thus, something that the Cherokee legend of the two wolves explains is that it is not about feeding a single wolf and starving the other. The human being is the very essence of ying and yang, of that duality where far from discarding a part, eliminating it or cornering it in a dark space, it must be taken into account, made visible and controlled to live in balance.

The old warrior indicates to his grandson that if he chooses to attend only to the white wolf, the black one will hide in every corner to stalk him when he sees him weak or off guard. Moreover, the Cherokee legend of the two wolves tells us that we should not look down on this animal with dark fur as the night, with its fiery gaze and a bristling back.

Because we believe it or not, the black wolf also has many qualities: determination, tenacity, courage, strategic thinking… There are virtues in him that the white wolf lacks. It would therefore be about feeding them both to get the best of their nature, to enhance their best version, identify their needs and train ourselves to live together in harmony.

As we can see, the Cherokee legend of the two wolves provides us with a valuable learning lesson about balance and emotional management. This teaching indicates that an intelligent distribution of forces, of food between the two wolves, is a very important factor for our quality of life.