Ep. 177: The Wolf | Familiar Magick

<p>There are few creatures that live so completely between the worlds of <strong>fact and folklore</strong> as the wolf.</p><p>They&#39;ve been feared as monsters lurking beyond the edge of the woods, revered as guardians and guides, transformed into werewolves, woven into fairy tales, and called upon as symbols of instinct, loyalty, protection, freedom—and the wildness within us that refuses to be tamed.</p><p>And naturally, the wolf has left its tracks throughout Alice Hoffman&#39;s <em>Practical Magic</em> series.</p><p>This week, we&#39;re following those tracks through all four books, with special attention to <strong>Faith Owens and her beloved familiar, Keeper</strong>, whose story gives new meaning to one of the most beautiful ideas in <em>Magic Lessons</em>: <strong>Love is a wolf.</strong></p><p>Then we&#39;re stepping beyond the garden gate to meet the real animal beneath the mythology. We&#39;re exploring wolf behavior and family dynamics, the truth behind the infamous &quot;alpha wolf,&quot; wolves vs. dogs, howling and communication, and the complicated relationship between wolves and humans.</p><p>From there, we&#39;re heading deep into the woods for wolves in <strong>mythology, fairy tales, witchcraft and folklore</strong>—from ancient wolf gods and legendary shapeshifters to <em>Little Red Riding Hood</em>, werewolves and lycanthropy, <em>The Company of Wolves</em>, and the Wild Woman archetype of <em>Women Who Run with the Wolves</em>.</p><p>Finally, we&#39;ll explore wolves as magical and psychological symbols: <strong>intuition, protection, belonging, dreams, shadow work, transformation, and reclaiming the untamed self.</strong></p><p>Because after centuries of being told to stay on the path and beware of what waits in the woods...</p><p>perhaps it&#39;s time we asked whether the wolf was ever really the monster.</p><p><strong>Keep your lantern lit, Witches. We&#39;re following the howl. 🐺🌙</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>SOCIALS:</strong></p><p>⁠<a href="https://linktr.ee/magnoliastreetpodcast?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZAxRF8ueC5c5lF-mEjsOR9iw4zQ4btTCF_Zp7fO9IzlCJ6JwiLeyrU15c_aem_VVSpaqw4qCTfogLE7lEehA">⁠Link Tree⁠⁠</a></p><p>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.patreon.com/user?u=79770904">⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.instagram.com/magnoliastreetpodcast/">⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</p><p>Sources</p><p><br></p><p><strong>DISCLAIMER:</strong></p><p>The Magnolia Street Podcast intends to dis