We are pleased to share an article entitled “The Call of the Wild Wolf ~ Coaching as a path to restoring wholeness in ourselves and the Earth“ written by Ina Gjikondi.
This is the story of two wolves. The first roams the forests of the non-human ecosystem, shaping the balance of its environment as it moves through the wild. The second resides within the human ecosystem, embodying our instincts, vitality and deep connection to life.
Both wolves are essential to the health of their respective worlds – one as a keystone species that governs the land’s natural rhythms, and the other as a representation of the untamed nature within us, guiding our ability to thrive, adapt and live in harmony.
These two wolves are not isolated. They are deeply interconnected, each necessary in their uniqueness and interdependence. The wolf in the wild sustains the Earth’s balance, creating conditions for ecosystems to flourish, while the wolf within us sustains our inner vitality, fostering creativity and resilience. Together, they demonstrate the profound interdependence between the natural world and human life, reminding us that the health of one depends on the well-being of the other.
This interdependence can be seen in the Wolf Restoration Project in Yellowstone National Park. After the eradication of wolves in 1926, the ecosystem suffered cascading imbalances. Elk populations soared, overgrazing vegetation and destabilizing riverbanks. The landscape lost its vibrancy, and species dependent on plants and waterways disappeared.
By the 1970s, Rachel Carson’s seminal work Silent Spring had sparked a growing awareness of the importance of ecological balance. This shift in understanding led to significant environmental milestones, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the enactment of the Endangered Species Act in 1973.
When wolves were then reintroduced in 1995, their presence reshaped the ecosystem. Elk behavior shifted, vegetation recovered, and new habitats flourished, allowing rivers to stabilize and biodiversity to return. Beyond ecology, the restoration of wolves revitalized the local economy, generating $35 million annually in tourism revenue. The wolves didn’t impose balance – they restored it by fulfilling their natural role.
RETURNING TO THE WISDOM OF THE WILD
The Yellowstone story parallels humanity’s disconnection from the Earth, which has destabilized our planet. Climate change is not only an environmental issue; it reflects our fractured relationship with the natural systems that sustain us. Similarly, when we suppress or sever our connection to the wild within – our instincts, vitality and sense of interconnection – we lose balance. This disconnection manifests as burnout, anxiety, or a persistent sense of unease. Rewilding, much like reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone, is essential for restoring balance to both our inner lives and the Earth.
The importance of reconnecting with the wild is beautifully captured in Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Women Who Run with the Wolves. Estés compares the archetype of the wild woman to the wolf: instinctual, intuitive, and deeply attuned to the rhythms of the Earth. She argues that modern life has tamed us, severing our connection to primal instincts and cutting us off from the vitality that sustains creativity, resilience and belonging.
Just as Yellowstone suffered without wolves, our inner lives become barren when we disconnect from the wild. Reclaiming this untamed vitality restores vibrancy and aligns us with the natural cycles of life. Estés reminds us that the wild is not something outside of us; it is an innate force, ready to restore balance and spark renewal if we allow it.
This invitation to reclaim wildness echoes the philosophy of Hildegard of Bingen, the 12th-century mystic who described viriditas, or greenness, as the vital force connecting all living things to the Earth. For Hildegard, the wild was not chaotic but a state of vibrant harmony, where life flows freely. She spoke of viriditas as the moisture of life – a flourishing, flexible quality essential to thriving ecosystems and human well-being. In contrast, dryness symbolized stagnation, rigidity, and disconnection from life’s rhythms.
Hildegard’s wisdom warns us that when we lose touch with this life-giving essence – whether in ourselves or in the natural world – life becomes brittle and struggles to grow. Reconnecting with the wild restores this vital greenness, much like the wolf’s return restores balance to ecosystems.
This journey of returning to the wild is vividly mirrored in the story of Elphaba, the green witch in the play and film Wicked. Her mission to restore the animals of Oz, who have been silenced and caged, reflects our own need to reconnect with the untamed parts of ourselves. Without their instincts, these animals lose their essence – their ability to live fully. Elphaba recognizes that their survival depends on reclaiming their wild nature.
In one of her most profound moments, Elphaba declares, “I will come to my instincts,” embracing the vitality and truth of her wild self. Her defiance becomes a reclamation of her freedom and authenticity. Watching her defy gravity, it becomes clear that her journey is about breaking free from constraints – both internal and external – much like Hildegard’s viriditas, symbolizing the life force that propels us toward wholeness.
Hildegard’s viriditas, Estés’ wild woman and Elphaba’s green defiance, all converge on the same truth: the wild is essential to life. It is not something to fear or suppress but to embrace as the source of vitality and balance. The wolf, both in nature and within us, is a guide on this journey, reminding us that the health of our ecosystems – internal and external – depends on the untamed, interconnected rhythms of the wild.
COACHING AS A CATALYST FOR REWILDING & WHOLENESS
Rewilding ourselves, like rewilding the land, is part of the solution. It doesn’t require monumental shifts; it begins as simply as placing our feet on the Earth and reconnecting with the rhythms of the natural world. On a deeper level, rewilding involves reclaiming our instincts, senses, and the wild within us.
This process cultivates an ecological consciousness — a way of seeing ourselves as part of the web of life – essential for addressing climate change at its roots. As with any transformation, rewilding requires tending, intentionality, and space to unfold. Sir John Whitmore described
coaching as “a midwife for a new era,” creating the conditions for meaningful change and renewal. In this way, coaching can offer a path to return to our wild nature, helping us rediscover our instincts, balance, and wholeness while fostering a deeper connection to the world around us.
As a coach educator, I often emphasize that the work we do in coaching operates on two levels. First, there is coaching with a lowercase “c,” addressing immediate concerns like navigating difficult conversations or managing leadership challenges.
Then, there is coaching with a capital “C,” which focuses on deeper transformation – restoring balance, reconnecting with a sense of self, and fostering growth. Both levels are interconnected, weaving together to create a dynamic and holistic approach to personal and collective wholeness.
Coaching is more than a tool for solving problems – it is a transformative journey of learning and rediscovery. It activates new ways of thinking, knowing and being, providing the space to realign with the rhythms of nature and our deeper selves. Coaching creates the conditions for reintroducing the wild within us, acting as a process of restoration much like the return of wolves to Yellowstone. It offers a space to reconnect with untamed parts of ourselves and rediscover balance, vitality, and interconnection.
Through reflective inquiry, coaching helps individuals explore both the visible structures of their lives and the invisible agreements that shape them. In this way, coaching fosters ecological consciousness – a way of seeing ourselves as part of the web of life – and guides us toward wholeness.
Reflective questions can guide both the coach and the clients in their journey of rewilding:
- What does “wild” feel like in your body, in your life? How do you experience it, or how have you lost touch with it?
- How do you relate to the energy of wild versus domesticated life? What parts of yourself do you feel have been tamed?
- What would it mean for you to return to your instincts? What might you discover if you listened more closely to them?
- How can reconnecting with the Earth, like Hildegard’s viriditas, help you reclaim your wildness?
- What wild knowledge do you feel has been silenced within you? How can you begin to give voice to it?
PRACTICES FOR REWILDING THE WOLF WITHIN
Rewilding requires intentional practices that deepen our connection to both the Earth and ourselves, offering coaches the opportunity to enrich their own growth while inviting their clients to embark on this transformative journey.
■ Awakening the Senses: Nature immersions, mindful observation, breathwork, and creative endeavors that reconnect us to the present moment.
■ Listening to Instincts: Exploring bodily wisdom and intuition, fostering trust in multiple ways of knowing.
■ Inviting the Non-Human as a Teacher: Nature teaches us ease, adaptability and flow, offering profound lessons in personal growth.
The wolf is not just an archetype – it is a living presence that restores balance to ecosystems. Its story serves as a profound mirror for our own need to reconnect with the wild, both within and around us. Like the wolf in Yellowstone, which reshaped its environment simply by fulfilling its natural role, we too can restore balance by reclaiming our instincts, rediscovering vitality, and deepening our relationship with the Earth.
The wild is not lost. Like the wolf, it is waiting to return. Will you answer the call?
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