Path of the White Wolf: An Introduction to the Shaman's Way

by Robin Tekwelus Youngblood, Sandy D'Entremont

Overview

Wolf Medicine is that of the teacher, the pathfinder, and the mentor. Through teachings and practices held sacred by indigenous cultures for thousands of years, Path of the White Wolf takes the reader on a nine-month Shamanic Journey of renewal and rebirth around the Seven Sacred Directions of the Universal Medicine Wheel.In today's modern world, many of us are yearning for connection and satisfaction in work, relationships, and spirituality. In Path of the White Wolf, co-authors Robin Tekwelus Youngblood and Sandy D'Entremont combine traditional native teachings with contemporary shamanic practices to guide readers through a journey to spiritual understanding. Using simple rituals, meditations, and a series of thought-provoking exercises, Path of the White Wolf teaches the reader how to develop their own individual connection to the world around them and a renewed sense of purpose and meaning in their daily lives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780978795405
Publisher:	Phoenix Publications
Publication date:	04/28/2007
Pages:	215
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Robin Tekwelus Youngblood is of Native American descent, with ties to several tribes. By combining her unique heritage with the study of indigenous cultures all over the world, Robin has devoted her life to shamanic healing and practice. She is a popular public speaker, facilitator of spiritual growth workshops, and the author of many feature articles and columns.

Sandy D'Entremont is a life-long student of earth-based spiritual practices. Her shamanic work focuses on supporting women's circles and ceremonies, including performing and presenting at conferences, seminars and retreats. Sandy is also a published technical writer with over 20 years of professional experience. She is currently working on a novel.

Read an Excerpt

And so you find yourself stepping onto the Path of the White Wolf to depart on a life-changing journey. Where you go on this journey will be as diverse and powerful and beautiful as the Great Mystery itself. We will not try to predict what you will discover or the new understandings you will gain. Instead, we invite you to place your foot on a path many others have taken, a path of personal exploration and transformation. This path will manifest in ways that are uniquely yours, fashioned and shaped by your own perspectives and challenges, led and protected by your personal spirit guides and totems.

Everyone knows each journey begins with a single step. We begin this journey with the story of a traveler who, like many others, finds himself lost in his own homeland. He meets a White Wolf, which, as you will see, turns out to be the first of many.

Our grandfathers tell of a time hundreds of years ago-or perhaps just yesterday-when there lived a few two-leggeds who understood the languages of All Our Relations. From those times, comes a story of a man named Hears Much, who lived much like any other man-except that he was extraordinarily gifted with the art of language and understanding.

Hears Much was a hunter who lived in a village with his people. His Medicine was the ability to listen deeply to all Earth's children. When Blue Jay spoke to Deer to announce where Cougar took his morning walk, Hears Much spread a word of warning throughout the village. And when Mouse spoke to Trout about her busy quest to save seeds for winter, Hears Much reminded his people to store food. Hears Much not only understood the animals but also learned the language of wind and cloud, so that he knewwhen storm or sun approached. He stilled his mind to hear the words of the Stone People to find the valley where arrowhead flint lay. He listened to the song of the waters to know when drought might visit the land.

Although Hears Much loved his people, he preferred the company of wild things and spent much time away, his long stride taking him across mountain and valley. But always he returned home.

One day in his travels Hears Much became lost-which was very strange because he was an exceptional tracker. Trotting alone across a small river valley, he came upon a White Wolf sitting by the path. White Wolf spoke to the man and said, "How would you like to smoke the sacred Pipe with me?"

Hears Much thanked White Wolf and said, "Of course. I am honored that you would ask me to join you!"

The two sat together in the grass of a nearby meadow and smoked the sacred Pipe. When they finished, White Wolf said to him, "Because you have smoked my Pipe, you are my friend and my brother. My family will not harm you. I will take you to meet my people. They will be glad to know that you have smoked my Pipe and will speak to you."

Hears Much accompanied White Wolf across the valley and up the ridge. After awhile they met many Wolves. The Chief, a large White Wolf named Red Paws, called the other Wolves into Council. "Let us sit and hear what our brothers have to say," he said.

White Wolf stood and addressed the Council. He said, "This man is my brother. He smoked my Pipe and has agreed to visit and learn from us. Let us teach him our traditions."

The Wolf Council rolled in the dust and shook themselves, howling and growling. They showed their teeth and blinked their yellow eyes. Hears Much was fearful for a moment, but his White Wolf friend stayed close by his side.

Red Paws snapped his jaws at the Council, making his decision. "And so we shall," he agreed.

The Wolves guided Hears Much through the forest and down by the river, showing him tribes of Medicine Plants. Red Paws said, "We show you this root, and if any two-legged is bitten by a snake give him this medicine. He will get well and drift not into the spirit world. The other Medicine Plants are useful for many two-legged pains and sicknesses." The Wolf Council gathered around Hears Much and explained the use of all the Medicine Plants-each member freely sharing his wisdom.

Next a Gray Wolf with blue eyes stood up and rolled on the ground. As he shook the dust from his fur, the other Wolves grew silent, showing great respect for this elderly brother. He handed Hears Much a deer-hoof rattle, explaining, "When a member of your two-legged family is sick, slipping into sleep too often, shake these Spirit-callers and the sick one will be returned to you and made well." The Wolf Council yipped with agreement, rolling on the ground to scratch their backs.

Suddenly a Wolf black as a shadow approached Hears Much. "Wolf Brother," said Black Wolf, handing Hears Much a piece of bone etched with a Wolf skull. "Hold this bone to your forehead if an enemy attempts to harm you. The power of night lives in the bone and will hide you so that you can overcome any ill intent your enemies throw at you." The Wolf Council howled in harmony, pointing their noses to the rising moon.

When the Wolf singers were silent, Hears Much spoke. He held his hand to his heart, showing his deep respect and appreciation for all the Council had shared. "I thank you, Wolf brothers. You are my teachers. I am glad I followed the White Wolf to your Council Lodge. Your words and wisdom fill my heart, and with your permission I will bring these teachings home to my people. But alas, I do not know the way back." The Wolf Council growled with understanding, closing their eyes to sleep.

The next day White Wolf guided Hears Much back to his homeland. Stopping just out of sight of the main village path, White Wolf said, "Take this bird-bone whistle. When you get close to your village, blow it. The Wolf Council will hear it and know you have been reunited with your people." Hears Much did as he was told, blowing the whistle as he entered the village. In the distance he heard the Wolf Council howling their acknowledgment and friendship.

Hears Much rested in his home, enjoying the sounds and smells of his village and the laughter of his two-legged friends. He did not know how to tell his family that he had become lost-of all things!-and met a White Wolf. But after several days he heard of a child who was ill, so he went to her. With the new healing powers he learned from the Wolf Council, he was able to cure the girl, bringing her back to her family and into harmony. And so began the journey of the first healer, a servant of the people, a seeker and a listener, a traveler finding the path home.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Finding the Path Home
Chapter 2: Starting in the East
Chapter 3: Dancing in the South
Chapter 4:Cleansing in the West
Chapter 5: Standing in the North
Chapter 6: Traversing Above
Chapter 7: Grounding Below
Chapter 8: Spiraling to the Center
Chapter 9: Taking Pause
Appendix: Resources