The Choices we make in day to day life
The way of Self discipline on the Pagan Path

A STORY OF TWO WOLVES

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 - 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 - 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?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

{ Author Unknown }

This wonderful story is an excellent example of how we make choices in life,
which part of the self do we choose to foster ?

On the Pagan paths, one is expected to create for themselves
and the world at large the way of peace,
love and compassion

It stands to reason we cannot do this if we are focused
solely on ourselves, which is what the first wolf is. The way of concentrating
all your thoughts on you, what you want,
what your problems are, etc.

Every time we give in to self pity, pain, greed and the stoking of our own Egos,
we feed the wolf of misery, and he grows stronger each time we do.
Like wise if we foster strength, giving and humility,
this part of us grows stronger with time

Now the first one is easy to feed, all you have to do is get up some mornings...!
Ever wake up in a bad mood? And it just seems to set the tone for the whole day, the next thing you know.. you had a fight with the mate, yelled at the kids,
cuss and gripe about this and that, burned supper,
and generally feel like curd to boot,which also tees us off...
Sound familiar.. ?

It's easy to do this isn't it ? Goddess knows the world hands us enough
on any average tuesday, to T off the good humor man

BUT

Is this sensible..? NO... what is needed here is self discipline

The way of stopping our own hand from feeding the angry wolf inside us,
who will tear the meat from our hands,
given any opportunity

The compassionate one, is gentle,not demanding,
and him we must learn to know.

The fight to live and survive in the world is inbred into us,
and it tells us to do just that,
fight.. for every inch of the way

I don't know about you,but sounds like
a very tiring way to live

It was said once that life is " Nasty, brutish and short"
Well, lived the way of the bad wolf I don't doubt
the speaker was right

Now does this mean we are supposed to just roll over
and let life run over us anytime it likes..?

NO

It means, even when we must stand up for our rights,
to do so with compassion and understanding,
the other guy may not be trying to make our lives miserable,
there are many reasons for what we consider misfortune are not malicious,
they are just things that are

So how to learn to be self disciplined enough
to feed the wolf of love and grace..?

One: Love, really love yourself,others, even the ones that tick you off,
even they need love, easy.....? No, a lot of em we would much rather give
a kick in the teeth, but this would hurt you more

Two: Pay attention, self monitoring, when you feel the evil wolf stirring up
inside you, stop, think. Do you really want to feel that way..?
Do you really want to be angry and sad..? Of course not, but if you don't stop yourself from letting the bad one up and out to take over your actions,
you will feel just that way

You are in control of how you react to things,
don't be a slave to the bad wolfs prompting, he does not have
your best interest at heart

Three: Feed the good wolf, often, make him fat and strong..
you do this by doing the acts of love, compassion, giving.,
until it becomes habit to do so. Stop and think when you
are wronged, did the other guy really mean that.....?
Or are they just having a bad hair day...? :)
practice makes perfect so its said

So practice the ways of love and grace in all that you do,
this does not come easily,I wont lie to you.
We are used to fighting, to rage, but we are the ones
who pay most for such actions as we damage ourselves
as much or more than any we rage against

Four: Delay, if you just have to scream, shout and break things..
delay it, make yourself wait for it, then have at it, when its just you.
I used to keep a box of old dishes at my back door, when I had it with the world,
I would go out back with the box and merrily break plates and bowls etc..
till I felt better,then go back and deal with whatever it was,
it works....

This beat the heck outa what I used to do, which was break heads,
windows and kick down doors. I was not a good person to cross in my youth.. :)
So I know all about letting the raging wolf have free reign,
major depressions, the works

Five: See, practice the art of opening your eyes, see the situation
in its entity,its reality. Too often what we rail against is not really there.
Did the mate really say something hurtful....? or just didn't think about how
that was gonna sound before they said it ? Weigh all of it before you
make judgment on it, look at the circumstance that's making you rage
and see if perhaps it needs to be this way

For someone besides you, we tend to look at things in life
from our own advantage, we must learn to consider the needs of others ..
even in things that effect us directly..

And lastly

Be good to yourself, of all the compassion and love you can share,
try a little tenderness with you, forgive the times you lost it and give up guilt,
feel you ARE worthy,as you are,
no matter what you did yesterday,
or how bad you feel it got

I don't care if yesterday you where the terror
of the neighborhood, this does not mean
you have to stay that way !

Today is a new day and you are still breathing,
so it means you have a chance to make changes,
so show compassion for you,let go of the pain, let go the guilt,
and let yourself be the person you want to be, free of past.
As you can do nothing to change what was,only what will be,
which wolf do you want walking beside you on that journey..?

The Choice is yours

Blessings and may all your travels be merry
and in good company

Esta