Wolves survive because they embody a fierceness that frightens their enemies and a passion that sustains their loved ones. According to Vuk Karadžić–the father of the study of Serbian folklore–in this Slavic tradition, a woman who had lost several babies in succession would name her newborn son Vuk (translated: wolf), because it was believed that the witches, who “ate” the babies, were afraid to attack the wolves. (more…)

Legends surrounding Saint Francis of Assisi show him befriending a wolf. (more…)

According to the Pawnee creation myth, the wolf was the first creature to experience death. The Wolf Star, enraged at not having been invited to attend a council on how the Earth should be made, sent a wolf to steal the whirlwind bag of The Storm that Comes out of the West, which contained the first humans. Upon being freed from the bag, the humans killed the wolf, thus bringing death into the world. (more…)

Some stories say it is a disease. Others say it is a curse. The affliction of lycanthropy is what we imagine as the horrible fate of those humans unlucky enough to become part wolf, and werewolves are one of our favorite monsters.

This new 5 x 7 inch painting is for sale in my shop.

We use animals in our folklore as symbols of our personalities, spirits and struggles. On November 1st I launched a new, year-long project where I will focus intently on one animal each month, exploring the symbolism of that creature and the role it plays in the stories we tell.

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