The Wolf Connection: What Wolves Can Teach Us about Being Human

by Teo Alfero

Overview

Discover the transformative lessons from one of humanity’s oldest teachers—the wolf—with this enthralling, accessible, and “beautiful book” (Helen Hunt, Academy Award–winning actress) that “is rich with meaning, emotion, and spirit. A must read” (Douglas W. Smith, PhD, leader of the Wolf Restoration Project at Yellowstone National Park) to help us restore our connection with nature, our communities, and our deepest selves.

Myths from cultures around the world show that wolves have enthralled humankind for millennia. In The Wolf Connection, Teo Alfero, shamanic practitioner and wolf conservancy founder, shows how interacting with wolves and wolfdogs can benefit people from all walks of life. By restoring our ancestral bond with these resourceful beings, we can reclaim the best of what it means to be human.

The Wolf Connection offers twelve Wolf Principles to awaken our intuition, live more authentically, and heal from trauma. The principles draw on knowledge that Teo and the Wolf Connection sanctuary team have gleaned firsthand through their Wolf Therapy® education and empowerment program, as well as the findings of wolf biologists and the wisdom of First Nation elders. Stories from myriad sources including Wolf Heart Ranch provide a compelling understanding of the lessons wolves have to offer us.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798986601700
Publisher:	Atria/Enliven Books
Publication date:	10/11/2022
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.38(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Teo Alfero is the founder of the Wolf Connection sanctuary and creator of Wolf Therapy®, a singular program that empowers individuals dealing with psychological and emotional pain, addiction, and trauma using the human-wolf bond. Teo is a transformational teacher and shamanic practitioner whose work is strongly influenced by that of Carlos Castaneda. He is a TEDx speaker, one of the 100 Making A Difference, and a member of the Association of Transformational Leaders. He has been featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and other major media. Born in Argentina, he now lives with his wife and daughter and the Wolf Connection pack in California. To learn more, visit WolfConnection.org.

Read an Excerpt

The Wolf Connection

Neo approaching visitors during a program at Wolf Heart Ranch. Photo by Chris Perry's Wildside Galleries.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

From Wolf Connection to Wolf Therapy 4

Why Wolves and Wolfdogs? 8

One Step Beyond Fear: Miko and Nina 9

The Nine Realms of the Wolf 14

Realm One: The Wolf Heart Awakens 19

Tala, The Messenger Wolf 22

Wolf Connection: Beginnings 27

A Wolf's Gift: Renee, Maya, and Me 28

From Cradle to Den 33

The End of the Beginning 48

Realm Two: The Ambassador Wolf 51

Chosen: Logan and Andrea 53

Principles from the Pack 58

Am I Okay? Rocky, Zimba, and Jack 59

Setting the Intention 62

Healing Trauma: Willow and the War Hero 64

Taking Care of the Pack: Wolf 21 67

Prison Diversion: Miko and Tom 69

The Reluctant Leader: Kenai, Ayasha, Susan, and Matt 72

Realm Three: The Ancestral Wolf 79

Ancestral Memory 82

Ancient Humans Lived Alongside Wolves 85

The Social Wolf 89

Observing Wolf Behavior 91

How Hypersocial Wolves Became Dogs 95

Constant Adaptation-Color, Immunity, and Wolf-Coyote Mixes 101

Life Redirection: Kyra and Michael 103

Realm Four: The Wild Wolf 107

What Is a Wolf? 116

Nothing Can Stop a Wolf 118

A Wolf for Every North American Ecotype 120

The Circumpolar Wolves 121

The Role of Wolves in Nature 123

Alpha, Beta, and Omega … Mom, Dad, and the Kids 126

Collaboration over Competition 130

Aggression … Sometimes Ritualized, Sometimes Real 132

Territorialism 137

Sharing Risk and Reward 138

Sticking Together 139

Consciousness in Wolves 141

Family First: Triangle and His Sister, Wolf 571 142

Realm Five: The Human Wolf 149

Territory 153

Pack 160

Self 166

Feel like a Wolf 167

Realm Six: The Cosmic Wolf 175

The Wolf Dream 177

Further Conversations with Wolf 187

What's Next? 191

Realm Seven: The Mythological Wolf 199

A Westerner's View 203

Wolves of Creation 205

The Wolf People 206

The Kwakwaka'wakw 206

The Dene People 206

The Quileute 207

The Pawnee People 208

Wolf-Human Transformation Stories 209

Peoples from the Eastern Region 209

Peoples from Southeastern North America 211

Winnebago Peoples 213

Huichol Peoples 213

Peoples of Siberia, Northern Russia, and Finland 214

Tuvan … Turkic-Mongol 215

Wolf Peoples of China 217

Tibetan Wolf Stories 219

Peoples of Scandinavia 219

Medieval Europe 221

Realm Eight: The Ritualistic Wolf 225

Ritual Forms and Enhanced Bonds 232

Animals and Ritual 235

The Ancient Wolf Rituals 237

The Power of Dreaming 240

Realm Nine: Your Own Wolf Practices 249

Elucidating the Twelve Wolf Principles 252

Epilogue: Stories for My Daughter 283

Acknowledgments 287

Notes 293

Editorial Reviews

With heart and soul, Teo Alfero digs deep into the psyche of the wolf, its biology, ecology, and behavior, then shines what he has learned back on humans. He suggests a way forward for both species, a connection of sorts, that will help people come to grips with their inner selves, troubled or not, and in the end his message helps both humans and the wolves. Using the teachings of Carlos Castaneda as inspiration, this book is rich with meaning, emotion and spirit—wolf spirit, not just human. A must read.

Douglas W. Smith

In the hills of California a team of people, led by Teo Alfero, are healing human beings and the world, one wolf at a time. Wolf Connection is the story of how at-risk wolves and at-risk human beings are healed by coming together to serve each other and the ancient connection between them. Like being with these wolves, reading this book nourishes and reminds us that we support and are supported by this ancient partnership . . . beautiful book.

Helen Hunt