Be at peace with your inner wolf…

In 2017 and 2018 I worked with National Geographic Adventures as a NatGeo Adventure Guide leading horse trekking expeditions in Mongolia. I cannot wait to return to Mongolia, and in fact, we have some exciting plans in process of leading Wellbeing Explorers trips there in the near future.

When I was visiting with nomadic friends and neighbours I would ask them stories of the wolf. Coming from Ireland we don’t have many big predators, so this relationship is endlessly fascinating to me. What I learnt shook me to my soul in marvel and awe…

Mongolia is a fascinating culture with around half of the population still living nomadically in commune with the natural environment. It is one of the greatest horse cultures in the world and has an intimate relationship with the powerful spiritual aspects of the land and wind. The wind is always there to take away your sorrows in Mongolia. As is the vodka which flows generously and the song by the fire. The Mongols I have met release their emotions through song, they sing hard with their full bodies and full power of the voice.

One of the most fascinating books on the relationship with the wolf and the Mongolians is “Wolf Totem” by Jiang Rong, where a young man raises a wolf cub in Inner Mongolia. If you are interested in exploring this relationship it is worth reading.

Mongolia’s totem is the wolf… 

The relationship is a complicated symbiosis.

Without the wolf, the grassland and the people will die. They are integral to the ecosystem and the natural laws of the steppe.

However, the wolf can be very cruel and kill the best animals in your herd. To control the population the nomads will steal wolf cubs. They chase the mother-wolf away, and children crawl into the den to grab the pups.

On occasion, the nomads will keep a cub to raise. They must be very careful as the wolf-cub’s nature is to be wild. With patience, care and repeated efforts, the wolf joins the nomad pack. However, the nomads must always be conscious of the power of the wolf who can take control at any time. Consistent focused attention and awareness ensures the relationship flourishes.⁠
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For me, this beautiful yet tumultuous relationship is a metaphor for the battle between our thinking brain and our emotional brain.

We are constantly being unconsciously hijacked by our emotions. Why do you think it is so hard to not eat that cake, or quit smoking...Your thinking brain knows what is good for you, but your emotional brain is giving off signals that stop the logic (from habits, beliefs, past experiences etc). If these two processes are fighting; the emotional brain will win every time. However, you can learn to regulate your emotions and become more emotionally intelligent. Build a relationship between your emotional mind and your thinking mind, through compassionately communicating with yourself; listen to the thoughts in your head, feel the reactions in your body. Be at peace with your inner wolf.⁠

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 Self-reflection questions:

• How can I converse, accept and commune with my inner wolf?

• Do you view your emotions any differently now?

• What would it look like to be at peace with my inner wolf (emotions)?

• What ways is my emotional world running the show?

• How will you integrate this way of thinking into your emotion regulation?

I hope you have revelled in this beautiful metaphor. I know I do. The wolf is such a powerful archetype to explore.

You are a Wellbeing Explorer.

Yours in exploration and with love,

Emma