The Cherokee legend of the two wolves or our inner forces

The Cherokee legend of the two wolves tells that within us there is a continuous battle between two forces.. It is a conflict between our darkest side (the black wolf) with that brighter and nobler side (the white wolf). That duality between good and evil, between joy and pride, guilt and humility defines a large part of who we are.

Most of us have come across this story at some point. While 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 it is precisely that twist, that final nuance unknown to some, what makes this story more valuable, to this unique lesson in personal growth that we will discover below.

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 greatest 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 lesson in wisdom from an old man to his grandson. The first explains to him that inside him, like in the hearts of all men, a terrible battle breaks out every day between two wolves.

These 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 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 the majority of stories that have reached us through the media, the response is 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’s the one where the old Cherokee warrior tells his grandson that in reality they 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 along the right path…

Reflections on the legend of the two wolves

The Two Wolves helps us reflect on the decisions we make, the feelings and emotions we cultivate. In our hands is the decision to feed one or the other wolf and to seek a balance between both. This story invites us to reflect on these topics:

The duality of good and evil: Throughout our existence we will find ourselves in the middle of a constant internal struggle between good and evil. However, it is in our hands to enhance one or the other, or balance them appropriately. We are free to choose what to do with the wolves. Emotions and values: one of the most interesting aspects of the story is how the old man uses metaphor to talk about emotions and values. Animals act by instinct, perhaps that is why he chose this simile with wolves. However, animals, like emotions and values, must be fed.Listen to your own voice: Sometimes we do things without thinking because we don’t stop to listen to our inner self, that voice that howls like a wolf in the heights of our heart. We do not stop for a second to visualize those wolves fighting inside us.

Remember that you can always choose which emotions and values ​​to feed. You can enhance joy, solidarity, kindness, or enhance resentment, anger or envy.

Don’t feed just one wolf: you must keep them both in mind

There are times in our life cycle when we have the clear feeling of being on a roller coaster. Everything is ups and downs, moments in which We enjoy immeasurable joy and moments when, almost without knowing why, adversity embraces us.sadness, anger and despair.

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

Thus, something that the Cherokee legend of the two wolves explains to us is that it is not about feeding one 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 tells his grandson that If you choose to attend only to the white wolf, the black one will hide in every corner to stalk you when it sees you weak or off guard.. What’s more, the Cherokee legend of the two wolves tells us that we should not despise this animal with fur as dark as night, fiery eyes and bristly back.

Because believe it or not, The black wolf also has many qualities: determination, tenacity, courage, strategic thinking… In him there are virtues that the white wolf lacks. It would then be about feeding them both to bring out the best in 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 points out that an intelligent distribution of forces and food between the two wolves is a very important factor for our quality of life.

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