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Coyote
Coyote is usually seen as a trickster and delights in all sorts of pranks, mischief and jokes. James Lewis, in his book The Dream Encyclopaedia, says that Trickster/Coyote is not by nature evil, even though the results of his activities are often unpleasant. These activities centre around bringing attention to our own often hidden stupidity or shams or lies. He is also the unexpected spontaneous ‘idiot’ aspect of life which for no reason at all emerges into our carefully arranged life to upset it. Trickster is a shape shifter and so has the possibility of transformation. The undeveloped, idiot, side of this symbol may have a type of clear-sightedness due to lacking the complications and contradictions of thinking and values. It also may be creative in a serendipitous sort of way. Because it doesn’t seriously hold onto a purpose or idea, this side of our nature may lead us to something new, a change of direction. In some dreams the fool is a figure who is sacrificed.
In general similar to dog or fox. It is sometimes used to represent the ‘trickster’ or tricky and unexpected unplanned for element of life, as is the fox.
The coyote is one of the few large animals that has increased its numbers in areas colonised by humans. The fox in the UK has done the same, suggesting their adaptability and survival instincts.
One writer describes coyote as, “The wily, tricky, sneaky, pesky, cheaty God of the Wild West. He’s the ubiquitous Trickster God and Cultural Hero of Native American mythology, the original Marx Brother..” And Encyclopedia Mythica online says, “Coyote is a ubiquitous being and can be categorized in many types. In creation myths, Coyote appears as the Creator himself; but he may at the same time be the messenger, the culture hero, the trickster, the fool. He has also the ability of the transformer: in some stories he is a handsome young man; in others he is an animal; yet others present him as just a power, a sacred one.” See: trickster under archetypes.
Useful questions are:
What sense do you arrive at of your dream coyote – is he/she sneaky, divine, wise or a messenger?
Whatever it is can you sum up what you get from coyote in the dream?
What do you experience if you imagine yourself and talk as your dream coyote? (For help doing this see Stand in Role under peer dream work.) What are the key words used in describing the interaction between yourself and coyote? See: key words for help with this.
Comments
I had a dream that I cam upon two coyote skins and that I put one of them on and was wearing it. A woman was there and warned me that to put that on was serious. I thought I really need this medicine to cross the border in disguise. I felt unsure of whether wearing this coyote skin was my truth.
Prior to this I was driving a van with a friend and came upon an injured hawk. I went on the roof of the van and the hawk came to me. I sang the hawk a song and I wanted to take it home, but I knew it was going to die.
I also remember that the song I sang to the hawk was a peyote song in huichol and spanish. I also wanted to keep it after it passed and use its tail feathers. (I have a hawk tail that I am fixing into a fan in my actual life). I remember one of the coyote skins looked small like for a baby or young child.
Naye – Hello traveller on the Old Path.
Remember that you are never travelling alone, and that maybe you can cross the border without disguise. You can stand up tall and shine from within you. Then you can make the journey.
The hawk is a gift of the ability to see things from a height that brings wisdom. And use the peyote magic well and only to gain insight. The hawk will live within you until it becomes a part of you – a living part of you.
Tony