Coyote, Pagan Symbol: Trickster

Native Americans Believe He Is the Keeper of Magick and Uses Folly

Aug 6, 2007

Coyote is shapeshifter, illuminator and uses pranks to teach and help people learn by their foolish mistakes and to laugh at themselves.

The number of coyotes is increasing because they are adaptable. They, once, were unheard of in Eastern major metropolitan areas. Humans have encroached upon their natural habitat, so the canines have increased their range. They are found in all of North America and into Central America.

These canines have a varied diet that includes reptiles, small mammals, carrion, fish, fruit and garbage and they can adapt to almost any type food found in their environment. Part of the reason for their success is humans’ killing off their major predator, the wolf.

Coyotes are highly intelligent and they learn quickly. These predators can fool other animals. They look at the sky to see if ravens or other scavengers are circling over a carcass, then go to eat the feast. A coyote will jump around manically near a flock of birds, distract them, while a partner creeps up and snatches a few for dinner.

These animals have their own language by posture and voice. Howling denotes their presence. Barking is protective of a kill or their den. Huffing is calling out to the pups. Yelping is criticizing or celebrating. When the animal is aggressive, the tail is extended and bushy.

Coyotes may live in small packs with three to ten fellow canines. Most of the packs contain an alpha female and male, the most recent pups and, perhaps, a few of the previous year’s ones. Like wolves, there is a hierarchy. The alphas are dominant. Some coyotes may live in pairs or alone. If wolves share the habitat, these wily animals tend to live in large packs for protection.

Coyote Native American Symbol

Coyote according to many tribes is the great trickster. He is often fooled and astonished by the outcome of his own pranks. He survives this, then goes onto not learning by his mistakes and makes bigger ones. He denotes both folly and wisdom and the balance of the two. Wisdom is hidden in the foolery. He may have lost the skirmish, but remains unbeaten. Coyote is keeper of magic, teacher and creator. The cycle of power is year around.

People see their weaknesses in his foolish acts. He helps them to become aware of their silliness and learn from it. Coyote teaches by folly. The message is to see through the actions of self sabotage, laugh at oneself and learn.

Coyote is cunning, a shapeshifter, opportunity, stealth, white and dark magick, creativity, illumination, experience and new life. He stole fire for the humans, but he can also create floods. Trickster of Native American tales often gets duped, but he always rebounds and, at some point, even teaches himself lessons he learns from.