How about behaving like a wolf today? Yes, I said wolf. Wolves are perhaps the most misunderstood of all animals. Often portrayed as vicious predators, they are truly wise and wondrous creatures.
As seen in the 2007 documentary, Living With Wolves, researchers Jim and Jamie Dutcher studied the Sawtooth Pack in an enclosed nature reserve for six years, and made many amazing discoveries. (www.livingwithwolves.org) Their findings revealed a completely different perspective on the creatures often associated with scary movies and full moons.
Here are a few of their “surprising” revelations. Wolves are affectionate, compassionate and loyal to their pack. Although there is an alpha male and female who lead the group, all adults have a role in raising the young. The resources of the pack are shared. Wolves care for the sick and wounded, and grieve deeply when a member is killed.
What I found most interesting in the documentary was the relationship of the omega male to the other animals. He appeared to be the least of the pack. He was not permitted to eat until after everyone else, he was frequently picked on, and generally seemed to get the “short end of the stick”. But when it came time to move the pack to another sanctuary, it was the alpha male who guided the fearful omega out of his cage. He would not be left behind.
When we look at the omega from the perspective of what he taught the other wolves, he clearly wasn’t the least important. This male allowed himself to be the ”last” in order for the rest of the wolves to learn survival skills. Without this training, they would not be able to protect themselves from outside predators. In actuality, the omega may be the most spiritually advanced of the wolf pack.
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