A good friend of mine explained to me the other day how fox and badger have replaced wolf and bear as animal spirits of leadership, will and purpose. Wolf and bear were hunted to extinction in Britain by the patriarchal upper classes, now badger and fox are suffering the same. This is a spiritual oppression of the masses and it is being played out in nature.

For me, the bear and badger, both creatures of the earth represent the soul, the deep depths of the Earth below us, our place in the world and our purpose. They embody what we are here for. They are both comforting and fierce, wild and secure. Leadership requires us to know where we need to go, our purpose.

The wolf and fox represent will, the drive to do and to create. On their own they are chaotic, causing mischief and destruction but with guidance…