One of my favorite movies was “The Day of The Jackal” based on the Frederick Forsyth novel of the same name. The original film was released in 1973. The “Jackal” was portrayed by a great actor by the name of Edward Fox. His character was as “sly as a fox,” meticulous in his preparations. There was a recent remake that starred Bruce Willis in the role that Edward Fox made his own, but I prefer the original since it stayed true to the Forsyth novel. I wonder if director Fred Zinnemann saw a connection between the fox and the jackal when he was casting for the lead role?
One of the many things the “Jackal” was good at was camouflage. You might remember the assassin was a master of disguise. It was one of the elements that was successfully employed in both versions of the film. In life, the fox is a master of camouflage, too. One moment, it can be in a clearing in a forest. It stands majestic surveying its surroundings with a cunning eye. The next moment, it can seemingly vanish, using the flora to aid in its ability to hide in plain sight. It is this ability to melt into its surroundings that can be unsettling to its prey.
In the book “Medicine Cards: The Discovery Of Power Through The Ways Of Animals” by Jamie Sams and David Carson, published in 1988 by Bear and Company, Santa Fe, New Mexico, were some interesting thoughts on this creature of the forest and what lessons we can learn from this beautiful animal. The authors tell us that the fox is like a chameleon, changing in order to adapt to winter conditions. The authors write, “Fox medicine involves adaptability, cunning, observation, integration, and swiftness of thought and action. These traits may also include quick decisiveness, and sure-footedness in the physical world.”
“The ‘medicine’ in this book is anything that improve’s one connection to the Great Mystery and to all of life. This medicine is also anything which brings personal power, strength, and understanding.”
If you feel an affinity to the fox, the authors go on to say, “…it is a sign that you are to become like the wind, which is unseen yet is able to weave into and through any location or situation. You would be wise to observe the acts of others rather than their words at this time. Use your cunning nature in a positive way…”
Edward Fox’s character in “The Day Of The Jackal” would approve. But I did make sure to quote that a cunning nature can be used for a positive end.
In the radio program tonight are many fables. The fox has one of the most luxurious tails. There is a fable about how he got such an elegant one that is not featured in tonight’s show. The lion was king of beasts, a tsar in his own right. He decided one day that all his subjects should have a tail. Messages were sent throughout his kingdom that all the animals should be at the palace on a certain day when the tails would be handed out. This is an excerpt from “Tale Of Many Tails” from the Time-Life series “The Enchanted World: The Book Of Beginnings” published in 1986. “In the Summer Palace, meanwhile, a line of beasts stretched from the foot of the throne, around the samovars and under the icons all the way to the gate. At the head of the line was the fox. It had arrived at the court first and begged to be allowed to choose first among the tails. The Lion Tsar nodded his assent, opening one of the many jeweled caskets that lay before him. The fox held up first one tail, then another. The crowd of animals gasped as they saw curly tails, bushy tails, bristly tails, silky tails, tails in gold and russet, cream, black, white and silver. The fox chose the finest one, a luxurious brush, but there were many magnificent tails left.”
In another fable, the fox wasn’t able to keep the tail for long, but being a cunning animal, he tried to persuade those of his kind to follow his fashion lead and have theirs removed.
It’s one thing to be like a fox, but you run the risk of encountering another who might be really sly. That’s when your cunning will be put to the test, so that you are not led astray.
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Don Jackson
