Fox

According to proverbs and folk tales, the fox is considered particularly cunning and elusive. As an archetypal image, it usually carries a positive meaning; at the same time, it is characterized by its dual nature – semper peccator, semper justus; always a sinner, always righteous.

Guide 

In alchemy and other contexts, the fox is a guide. It is intelligent and knows how to find its way through the wilderness. In both Western and Eastern traditions, the fox can lead the protagonist to their goal, the Water of Life, or another treasure hard to find.

Helpful Animal  

In fairy tales, foxes are commonly portrayed as a “helpful animal” that knows in advance what will happen and can reveal this to the hero or assist him in another way. If the hero has a helpful animal, he will always succeed, according to von Franz.

Fire and Magic

The fox’s red color associates it with fire. People spoke of witch-foxes; wherever they went, sudden fires would break out. It is also linked to lightning and was sometimes called “nature’s light” (lumen naturae), the sacred spark in the darkness of matter, the intelligence of all things; an attribute also ascribed to the lynx.

In many cultures, the fox is generally associated with witches – witches often assume fox form – and is attributed with a number of negative qualities such as witchcraft, unreliability, and crafty intent. There are many traditional stories about how foxes outsmart hunters, often with the aid of supernatural powers.

The Other  

On the other hand, the fox is also attributed with positive qualities and is associated with Dionysus. In Christian allegorical contexts, it is seen as a symbol of loyalty and, because it uses ears rather than eyes (i.e., intuition) to understand, can reveal sacred mysteries. Thus, the fox is connected to the invisible, the other.

Nature Spirit  

More than most animals, the fox is a nature spirit, and as a guide, it is closely related to Mercurius for the alchemist. He was also called “nature’s light.” 

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