Finding Your Howl by Jonathon Flaum tells the story of a red fox who had been taken into captivity for protection and later placed back into the wild. The wolf’s name was Mumon and he decided to search the forests for his howl, so that he could lead his pack and to help them survive. During his search Mumon finds a deer and chases it. The deer talks to Mumon asking him how he knows he is able to take down something so much bigger than himself. Mumon answers he just knows. Mumon lunges at the deer, killing it and starts to eat it. Mumon feels remorse for the deer, wishing he didn’t have to kill. Mumon starts talking to a raven who tells him that he must not feel shame for being what he is. The raven explains that he can hear the howl, but Mumon can not because he is holding back. Mumon started running at full speed and feel his old self stripping away. Eventually Mumon runs into a farmer who shoots and kills him. Mumon then sees people dances and drumming around a fire. Mumon realizes that the beat of the drum is coming from his own heart. Mumon walks into the fire and howls. He realizes that the tribesmen are actually his own pack and they let out with a howl of their own.
This story explains that if we decide to find our freedom-howl-then there is a lot we must give up and change to do so. We must separate ourselves from the world we know and from our friends. We must do things that we never thought we could or would ever have to do. We may mistake this process for death, just like when Mumon was killed by the hunter, but it is actually our souls finding freedom and discovering the animal inside. This is not a quick process. You can not just wish for freedom and find it instantly. You must do things you thought you would never have to do in order to discover what you want.
No comments:
Post a Comment