Winter iconography…
Winter reaches its full height of symbolism in the iconic creatures which occupy its landscape. Their increased visibility, resilience to the forbidding conditions, and characteristic temperaments and traits grant them almost supernatural powers. Their spirits embody the winter season and impart meaning through metaphors that can summon or amplify qualities we would like to take on during the winter or throughout all the seasons of the year. I hope you’ll find inspiration from these winter creatures.
Wolf…
The northern hunter, bright and athletic. She runs tirelessly over the snow-covered lands scenting her prey, signaling to the pack. Her skill and competence give her the edge over animals many times her size, and she is not alone. Wolves hunt together. Like humans, they work as individuals and they thrive as a collective. They are bold, dangerous, and beautiful. My favorite writer tales of wolves come from Jack London. If you’ve never read The Call of the Wild or White Fang January is the prefect time for some wolfish adventures.
Bison…
I wrote a bit about bison in my post Vigor, but truly Jonna Jinton tells their story best in her video Be Like the Bison. This animal, with its massive thick-furred body, commands endurance and patience. Though bison are the largest North American land mammal they are nevertheless quick and agile. Undaunted by the winter, bison carry the snow on their faces and their backs, shoveling their spade-like heads into the snow drifts to seek food and survive the storms heedless of how snow accumulates on top of them. The bison are unstoppable.
Fox…
Famously clever (or perhaps deceitful), the fox steels and forages and spirits away leaving nothing but prints in the snow. They are curious and playful and rarely seen, but there are signs when a fox has been present. Aside from tracks they bark a haunting call that would give me goosebumps in the middle of the night. Foxes offer shamanic qualities with their barely there presence and shapeshifting from summer red to winter white.
Hare…
Like the fox, the artic hare also changes from brown in the summer to completely snow white during the winter months. Of course you already know what qualities hares have: hares have speed. They may not have brains, but their stealthy white fur coat and long footed racing speed are enough to save them from most predators. In the winter the lesson of the hare is to stay on your toes.
Owl…
The snowy owl has become legend in the popular animal character, Hedwig, from the Harry Potter series. Beyond contemporary culture, owls have long occupied a position of significance for humans generally representing wisdom or a watchful countenance. What passes for wisdom might be attributable to the owl’s bird of prey posture which waits and waits and waits conserving energy until a target is achieved and finally all energy is released with great precision in pursuit and, hopefully, attainment of that target. Rather than wise, perhaps it is that the owl is silent and discerning.
Bear…
Whether salmon fishing browns or frolicking polars, bears are a winter creature staple. The are the quintessential animal that hibernates through the winter, and also the icon of the northern polar regions. Even pandas sitting stoically in gently falling snow come to mind when thinking of bears in winter. Bears bring to mind slumber, dens, a kind of tumbly playfulness, and mothers with cubs. They embrace the dark of the winter and turn in for a good long sleep. Bears remind us to rest.
Moose…
The mantra of the moose: it’s good to be big. Though they have predators and certainly can be killed, moose strut around their neck of the woods or even through Alaskan towns if and when they so desire. If their large bodies weren’t impressive enough, the males grow a spectacular pair of antlers spanning well to the sides of their bodies. Size is a definite advantage, but it demands sustenance. Moose have the ability to modify their diet to eat what is effectively the woody parts of trees in the winter to keep them fed until more appetizing fare becomes available again. Sun, rain, sleet, or snow the message of the moose stays the same, go big or go home.
Lynx…
Truly a sight to behold if ever you’re lucky enough to spot one. The lynx, like most cats, conveys a hermit-like solitary existence. It’s an existence of self-sufficiency – an ability to rest and recuperate as needed, hunt as needed, eat as needed, play as needed. In the lynx you’ll find the rogue, the maverick, the jack-of-all-trades. The lynx says there’s always a way.
Weasels…
I have a special fondness for weasels and stoats. Partly it’s their cute little noses, I love em! But mostly it’s because they were featured characters in the Red Wall series which I enjoyed reading as a child. So I just had to include them here. Also known as ermines, some weasels, like artic foxes and hares, turn from brown to white in the winter. They are sophisticated predators, but what really stands out about them is their adorable energy. Weasel’s takeaway is to bound, bound in the abundance of whatever’s in front of you.
Caribou…
What is winter without reindeer? Caribou are a herd animal that, similarly to bison, use their snouts to dig into the winter snow to eat, in their case, reindeer moss – a lichen that sustains them during the freeze. The Sami people of the European artic regions herd reindeer in winter climates that appear completely inhospitable (though delightfully wintery). Whether with our without human herders, caribou live in migratory herds. A key trick to their winter thriving is to always keep moving.
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