[caption id="attachment_873" align="alignleft" width="340"] The wolf marks the onset of winter, guiding people to stand firm in the face of adversity.[/caption] In Romanian legends, fairy tales, and folk beliefs, the wolf is a profoundly ambivalent creature. It appears sometimes as an adversary, other times as a
[caption id="attachment_713" align="alignleft" width="340"] The keeper of secrets and mysteries, the raven is believed to be a messenger of the gods and a guide into the unknown. Photo: Flickr.[/caption] In myths and folktales, crows and ravens are seldom identified by species. Rather, dark-feathered birds are often
[caption id="attachment_453" align="alignleft" width="340"] Foxes are often seen as witty tricksters, clever enough to outsmart both friend and foe. Photo: Flickr.[/caption] Once upon a time, a crocodile begged a Brahman to carry him to Benares so he might live in the sacred waters of the Ganges.
The way we see an animal is often influenced by what our culture has taught us it means. That is why, in many cultures, a single glimpse of an owl can summon centuries of old beliefs, superstitions, and stories passed down through generations. Owls have
[caption id="attachment_432" align="alignleft" width="340"] The Snake-Witch or Snake-Charmer is a picture stone that dates to 400-600 AD found in Sweden, which depicts a figure holding a snake in each hand alongside a triskelion consisting of a boar, eagle, and a wolf. Foto: Flickr.[/caption] The relationship between
