Another Loner Totem
1. The Maned Wolf - Elegant, gentle, innovative; the maned wolf, or kalak, is a spirit of independence. Aloof and secretive, sometimes avoidant but steadfast and loyal once trust has been gained. A maned wolf totem can teach us to follow our own path and not give in to the pressures to conform. Maned world people tend to be unique, individualistic, sensitive, shy, and are often misunderstood.
2.Maned Wolf - Exceptional Insight
Unique and exceptional insights, laterally approaching problems, an ability to gain insight into any situation with the application of visualisation/meditation, overcoming obstacles that previously hindered you, knowing how to look after yourself, knowing your body better than others, the power of mantras and song, working with ancestors, secret-keeping, hiding what you consider vulnerable, natural energy shielding, an ability with the curative powers of fruits, vegetables and herbs.
Favorite Food of Maned Wolf - Solanum lycocarpum = Wolf Apples, Fruita de Lobo, Lobeira - Currently, there are no proven medicinal uses for the wolf apple, but the plant is used in the local folk medicine for diabetes and is the object of pharmaceutical research. It is believed that the apples protect the maned wolf from infection by the giant kidney worm, which is usually fatal for the animal.
Maned Wolf's Biggest Enemy - Dioctophyme Renale: commonly referred to as the "giant kidney worm" is a parasitic roundworm whose mature form is found in the kidneys of mammals. D. renale is distributed worldwide, but is less common in Africa and Oceania. It affects fish eating mammals, particularly mink and dogs. Human infestation is rare, but results in destruction of the kidneys. Upon diagnosis through tissue sampling, the only treatment is surgical excision.
The coincidences in how this new totem fits are eerily accurate to my "self".
I am studying more about this species, which is the last surviving of a genus of canid that has no other descendants on this planet. What I mean by that is that they are not really a wolf at all and are not related to any dog species alive on the planet right now. They are the literal last of their species. They are their own branch of the tree of life - connected to nothing else that hasn't already been completely lost to humanity and the world.
From Wikipedia: The maned wolf bears minor similarities to the red fox, though it should be noted that it belongs to a completely different genus. The adult animal stands 67 to 107 cm (26 to 42 in) tall at the shoulder, averages 125 cm (49 in) in head-and-body length and weighs 20 to 34.09 kg (44.1 to 75.2 lb).
The maned wolf is the tallest of the wild canids. The long legs are probably an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its native habitat. The tail measures 28 to 45 cm (11 to 18 in) in length.
Fur of the maned wolf may be reddish brown to golden orange on the sides with long, black legs and a distinctive black mane. The coat is further marked with a whitish tuft at the tip of the tail and a white "bib" beneath the throat. The mane is erectile, and is typically used to enlarge the wolf's profile when threatened or when displaying aggression.
The maned wolf is also known for its distinctive odor, which has earned it the nickname "skunk wolf."
Time to connect deeper and find out what this totem may offer in a journey to our community - and to myself.
~TigressSky~