Sly as a Fox

With its fiery coat and beautiful amber eyes, the fox is not only one of the most enchanting creatures in the world but also one of the most alluring and bewitching ones, especially if we’re talking about folklore.

It’s actually pretty incredible how much the fox appears in tales, legends, and myths around the globe. Its reputation of being an intelligent, cunning, and mysterious trickster seems to be the most popular one; however, encountering a fox does not necessarily imply that you have bad luck coming your way. Not at all. In fact, you may even discover throughout this article that sometimes it’s the exact contrary.

Foxes are stunning animals that belong to the family of Canidae. They are quite petite and have various traits that make them instantly recognisable, but the most captivating features are certainly their fur and their voluminous tails—silky, soft to the touch, in a rusty red colour with a cute white tip.

There are various types of foxes, but only 12 of them belong to the genus ‘vulpes’ or ‘true foxes’, and some of the best known are the Red Fox (the largest species and the one most people are familiar with), the Arctic Fox (with its snow-white fur), the Grey Fox (with its grizzled grey mane and black tip), and the Fennec Fox (extremely small with large ears). These adorable and mischievous creatures inhabit all the continents except Antarctica, making us understand better why they are so well-known and why there are so many folktales surrounding them. But why are they described as sly?

The word sly carries a negative connotation and means being cunning, deceitful, dishonest, and clever at the same time—all things that are often attributed to foxes. But how so? That is because foxes are highly adaptable, opportunistic animals. They hunt alone, are brilliant when it comes to escaping from danger, and are incredibly adept at obtaining food. And you’ll soon discover that they are not much different in folklore. Whether they take the form of a fox or appear under another disguise, these creatures frequently take on the role of tricksters, literally outfoxing their enemies and opponents. However, there’s so much more to this playful animal than simply being ‘crafty’.

The fox, in fact, has long been a powerful symbol in both folklore and spirituality, gaining (curiously enough) almost the exact same standing in most cultures. It’s a mighty spiritual guide that not only reminds you to listen to your intuition and embrace your more mischievous side but also to remain calm during challenges, adapt to change, and slip into the shadows, exactly where a fox feels most comfortable. And that, dead reader, is precisely why there’s a duality to foxes, a duality that, in my opinion, perfectly mirrors ours.

In Native American traditions, the fox is regarded in a similar way, although it differs from one tribe to another. Most of them associate this animal with the Coyote. However, for example, in the Hopi tribe, the fox is seen in a more positive way and is correlated with medicine and healing. In the Miwok tribe mythology, the Fox and Coyote created the world together, while for others, like the Blackfoot tribe, the Fox and Coyote stole the fire and gave it to humans, establishing the fox’s swindler nature and its connection to flames.

In Celtic folklore, this marvellous creature was held in high regard and embodied the spirit of the woods. The Celts profoundly respected nature and every living creature, believing that they all possessed a spiritual essence. Something I also deeply believe. For them the fox was not just an animal; it was a bridge and a guide between the mortal and spiritual realms, connecting the two worlds. However, like I already wrote, in most mythologies the fox has a dual nature, even in the Celtic one. They also saw it as a symbol of transformation and rebirth, the cycle of life, and the changing of seasons due to its ability to shed and grow a new fiery coat each year.

In Norse folklore, foxes are associated with Loki, the enigmatic trickster god of mischief, deception, and chaos. Loki is said to be a shapeshifter, who often assumes different forms and often manifests as a fox. So, dear reader, you better watch out.

However, he’s not the only one.

In Japanese culture, we have the Kitsune, which is not only the term for ‘fox’ in the Japanese language but also the word for the mischievous and legendary yōkai (spiritual being) shaped like a fox and characterised by a beautiful, long tail. It’s a major figure in Japan and is often depicted in traditional tales, art, literature, and shrines. Even the Kitsune has a dual nature, being both deceitful—bringing misfortune, pain, and death, and tricking humans—and protective—bringing messages of Inari (the god of agriculture, prosperity, and fertility). One of the most interesting things about the Kitsune is also their tail, or should I say tails? Because, if you didn’t already know, Kitsune are born with only one, but every 100 years they can grow another one to a maximum of nine.

But it doesn’t end here, because pretty similar depictions exist in Chinese, Korean, Finnish, Greek, and many more cultures. In Mediaeval Times, for example, in Christianity, foxes were frequently used to symbolise demonic forces, and in some legends, the devil appeared in the shape of one, so… I guess the fox is truly popular all around the world.

Although its reputation can vary, we can definitely say that this creature has long been and still is such an important and beloved animal and figure in every culture, both in light and in shadow, reminding us not only to trust ourselves but also to sometimes lay low in the dark and to, every now and then, just let ourselves be free.

Now, we could talk about hundreds of tales and stories. We could talk about all the different meanings of dreaming of a fox. Or even all the different meanings about the colour of its fur. However, the thing I would really love to talk about is just the significance of encountering one in real life. Not in the spiritual sense, but just the value of crossing paths with a fox, because, believe it or not, although it inhabits almost all the continents, seeing one in nature is not that easy. It can be a rare experience, and I would have to agree, for, although my region is predominantly rural, I have never seen one. Whether it’s considered a good or bad omen, however, I guess it depends on your view on the matter, your background, and your culture. It could be just a fox, or, who knows, perhaps it’s a god under a different disguise. All we need to keep in mind is that humans can be pretty deceitful, but foxes?

Oh, foxes do it so much better.

Up, A Fox by Johann Siegwald Dahl (1868)

Sources:

Spiritual Meaning, Folklore & Fox as a Spirit Animal

Fox Symbolism Across Cultures: From Trickster to Guide

Vulpes, Vixen and… Vulpix? Foxes in folklore and popular culture

What Makes Foxes So Fantastic?

Fox Spiritual Meaning: Intelligence, Adaptability, And Intuition