What Wolf do you Feed?

The Wolf You Feed

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

In the heart of this Cherokee teaching lies a truth often overlooked in the modern narrative of self-improvement and personal growth.

Common wisdom tells us to embrace the light within us and vanquish the dark, but the story of the two wolves suggests a more complex internal ecosystem.

The notion that we should starve our inner darkness – our fears, our angers, our jealousies – in favor of only positive emotions might actually lead us away from true balance and self-understanding.

The darker aspects of our character, represented by the 'evil' wolf, are often seen as elements to be suppressed. Yet, these traits are as much a part of our inner world as their benevolent counterparts. Ignoring or denying the darker emotions can lead to a lack of self-awareness and an inability to manage these feelings in a healthy way.

What if, instead of trying to eliminate these aspects, we sought to understand them?

The Past Life “Wolf”

When we examine the darker facets of our psyche, we may find they have roots in unresolved past experiences or traumas, which could even stretch back into past lives. This concept, explored through past life regression therapy, posits that our souls carry forward lessons and experiences from lifetime to lifetime. The shadows that follow us – the anger, the envy, the sorrow – could be remnants of unresolved conflicts or challenges from a past self's experience. Who was this individual that harbored such darkness? What trials did they endure, and how have these experiences imprinted on the soul that you carry now?

Understanding this can offer a profound shift in perspective. Instead of seeing these traits as merely negative, we can view them as signposts, guiding us to the lessons we're meant to learn in this life. They become opportunities to engage with our deeper selves, to resolve unfinished business, and to evolve beyond our historical limitations.

Integration, then, becomes key. It's not just about feeding the good wolf and letting the bad one starve. It's about acknowledging that both wolves have a place at the table. Through practices such as meditation, reflective writing, or therapeutic work, we can dialogue with these aspects of ourselves.

We can ask the darker wolf what it needs, why it's here, and what it's trying to teach us. In doing so, we don't just feed the wolves; we nourish our entire being.

The process of integration is like weaving together the disparate strands of our inner world into a coherent whole. It allows us to see the value in all our experiences and emotions. By understanding the 'why' behind our darker aspects, we can begin to heal them. We learn to release what no longer serves us and to transform our inner conflicts into sources of strength and wisdom.

But how exactly do we integrate and resolve these feelings? It starts with acceptance. Acceptance doesn't mean resignation; it means recognizing that these feelings are part of our human experience. With patience and courage, the answers that emerge can illuminate the path to resolution.

From this place of acceptance, we can start to ask the right questions. What is the purpose of this anger? What is the root of this jealousy? What is this sorrow trying to tell me?

In past life exploration, we can uncover narratives that resonate with our current challenges, revealing patterns that have woven through our soul's tapestry for centuries.

By understanding these patterns, we can begin to work through them, to resolve the karmic cycles that have held sway over our spiritual journey.

The key is to approach this exploration with an open heart and a willingness to confront what we find with compassion and resolve.

As we feed both wolves, engaging with the full spectrum of our inner lives, we may discover that victory doesn't lie in dominance but in harmony. The wolves are not adversaries; they are two halves of a whole, teaching us that every aspect of our being has its place and purpose. It is in this union of light and shadow that we find the true essence of growth and self-discovery.

Integration begins with understanding. Learn to understand and communicate with all aspects, light and shadow.

“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”

Carl Jung