Spiritual community leader Spirit Wolf dies

CEDAR RAPIDS — A pillar of Cedar Rapids’ spiritual community, Spirit Wolf, died Feb. 27 in her home in Ely. She was 71.

Wolf was well known in the metaphysical and paranormal realm as a medium, teacher, spiritualist minister and paranormal investigator. She owned a metaphysical shop, Whispering Winds in Cedar Rapids, which was renamed Spirit’s Journey. There, Wolf taught workshops and raised money for local causes. Spirit’s Journey closed in 2009, but Wolf continued work as a medium from her home.

She said she was a clairvoyant medium, meaning she was able to gain information through extrasensory perception. She aided family members in healing, guided lost souls through paranormal work and helped those left behind by aiding law enforcement in missing person cases.

Wolf’s soul sister, Jeralynn Trujillo, said she was sharp-witted, no-nonsense and humble.

“She didn’t want people to treat her like she was above anybody else. She really believed that there was enough room in the community for everybody to do what she was doing,” Trujillo said.

Her legacy lives on through her students and proteges. She helped others start metaphysical shops in the area, and teaching the craft was a large part of her life.

“She was able to communicate and teach others in a way that made sense and would help others just elevate faster,” said friend Jennifer Bishop.

Wolf was born Lucinda “Cindy” McGuire on Jan. 19, 1951, in Bloomington, Ill. She renamed herself later to reflect her Cherokee heritage. She considered “Cindy McGuire” a different life.

Wolf’s parents, Herman McGuire and Betty (Hayes) McGuire, brother Mike McGuire, first husband Brian Palo and daughter Shannon Ruiz preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Michael Duffy, brother Terry McGuire, sisters Barbara McGuire and Carol Wright, stepdaughter Kelsey Morrissey, grandchildren Cheyenne Ruiz and Brenden Ruiz and five great-grandchildren. Cedar Memorial Funeral Home handled arrangements.

“After she passed, so many people referred to her as my second mother or second grandmother or soul sister,” Bishop said. “There were so many people who considered her family because of her loving, accepting way.”

A celebration of life will be held at Wolf’s home in Ely at a later date. For those wishing to attend, contact Jeralynn Trujillo via Facebook. The celebration will include an outside ritual.

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