In early pastoral societies, especially Judeo-Christian...
the wolf is ferocious, cunning, greedy, cruel
and evil.
Stories of the big bad wolf and
stories of witches turning into wolves...
along with those of men turning into werewolves
symbolized fears of demonic possession.
The Christian symbolism of parishoners as sheep
made the wolf a symbol of the devil and heresy.
However, elsewhere this symbolism is reversed
and the wolf stands for courage,
victory, intelligence through experience
and the emblem of warriors.
The wolf is also considered to be fiercely
maternal in some societies.
In Mexico and certain parts of Native America
the wolf is a dancer symbol
and is a guide of spirits in the afterlife.
