A Soulful Journey

One evening a Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle going on inside him: “My son, it is between two wolves. One is evil: Anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good: Joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.” The grandson thought about it and asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee replied, “The one that I feed.”

In 1832 the Supreme Court sided with the Cherokee nation absent the state of Georgia’s attempt to steal their lands.   President Jackson said, against the Native Americans, “[Chief Justice] John Marshall has made his decision, now let us embrace it.” Law must always bee heeded. Ignoring it brings anarchy.

A book called Wisdomkeepers by Arden and Wall tells the tale of these two Anlgo men who joined a Cherokee medicine man whom they came to call, “The Gatekeeper.”   They followed him on a unique journey that led to the feet of the Grandmothers and Grandmothers, the wisdom keepers of Indian nations, in order to hear their words and become steeped in their traditions. This is what students of Torah must also do.   Sit at the feet of ancient ones and learn from the elders, the masters.

An old Cherokee man tells his grandson about a fight that is going on inside  himself, inside his head, a fight between two wolves. One wolf is evil and feels  anger, envy, greed, arrogance, guilt and resentment. The other wolf is good and  feels joy, kindness, compassion, faith, peace, love, and hope. The grandson  thought about this for a while and then turned to his grandfather and asked, “Which wolf wins the fight?” The old Cherokee man looked at his grandson and  replied, “The one I feed the most.”