An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.” It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil (our shadow and dysfunctional self) – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good (creative self) – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?”
You might have heard the story ends like this: The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Since this old version, I have finally found the following extended version and it has made my heart sing. The old version’s ending did not cut it for me, something was missing, and it did not feel right, only feed one is, how unfair is that?? After my traumatic childhood, divide and conquer, punishment and reward, with narcissistic parents, my dark self (the shadow self) was not happy, that was me being left out again. I believe that there are two sides to everything, especially internally, it’s called Yin & Yang, balance and harmony. God, Creator of all things, Divine Beloved, does not control everything as a human, he/she gives us that choice.
As a Soul here on earth, ‘having an earthly experience’ as a human, learning lessons as we grow or not grow, it’s our choice. When you understand and have the instructions of how it works, it is so much easier to navigate this course we call life. The end result is to learn, evolve, grow, explore, expand, love and be loved, to share and contribute our gifts to the world the best way we can, to be the best version of ourselves that we have ever known and to make our inner child very proud of us! To live our true nature and purpose!
To me the black wolf is the Unconscious addictions to staying in Fears, of being in dysfunctional relationships to self and others, of being stuck in the trauma reactions cycles and so many more limited ways of being. The more that we are able to do the ’Inner’ work of clearing and replacing the old fears, definitions, beliefs and memories, the more we can increase the energy and strength for our Light wolf within us. That way we can be more in peace, balance and harmony within ourselves and make the best decisions for the greatest good of not only ourselves but that of the universe. Because we are living our true nature and purpose and others are as well.
This is the extended version in the Cherokee world and the story ends this way:
The old Cherokee simply replied, “If you feed them right, they both win.” and the story goes on:
“You see, if I only choose to feed the white wolf, the black one will be hiding around every corner waiting for me to become distracted or weak and jump to get the attention he craves. He will always be angry and always fighting the white wolf. But if I acknowledge him, he is happy, and the white wolf is happy, and we all win. The black wolf has many qualities – tenacity, courage, fearlessness, strong-willed and great strategic thinking – that I have need of at times and that the white wolf lacks. But the white wolf has compassion, caring, strength and the ability to recognize what is in the best interest of all.
“You see, son, the white wolf needs the black wolf at his side. To feed only one would starve the other and they will become uncontrollable. To feed and care for both means they will serve you well and do nothing that is not a part of something greater, something good, something of life. Feed them both and there will be a less internal struggle for your attention. And when there is no battle inside, you can listen to the voices of deeper knowing that will guide you in choosing what is right in every circumstance. Peace, my son, is the Cherokee mission in life. A man or a woman who has peace inside has everything. A man or a woman who is pulled apart by the war inside him or her has nothing.
“How you choose to interact with the opposing forces within you will determine your life. Starve one or the other OR guide them both.” Learn to become the Master of your own destiny, when your know-how.
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