Review In Animal Wisdom, Sioux-descendant Jessica Dawn Palmer explores the legends, rituals, symbolism and magical powers associated with over 70 of our most familiar, loved and revered animals, such as the wolf, owl, otter and raven. She describes their traits and characteristics, their habitat, the myth, folklore and mystical traditions that surround them, and the medicine and healing power – including much from Native American tradition – associated with them. Animal Wisdom reminds us of the importance of human-animal affinity, of seeing animals as mentors who have a unique gift of wisdom for us. This absorbing book is sure to heighten your sense of wonder and enchantment at the natural world. ‘By noticing the animals that appear in my life or my dreams and understanding their meaning, helped by Animal Wisdom, my life has gained an extra dimension of help and guidance.’ Sarah 396pp, 159mm x 215mm, softback, 2001
Extract
The Deer - Medicine and Power
Direction: East Element: Wind Traits: Swiftness, cunning, grace, beauty Associations: Sexuality (Europe male, American female), duality and duplicity, storyteller, keeper of wisdom, divinity, purity, prudence, royalty, soul
At first it would appear difficult to rectify the two divergent philosophies regarding deer. It becomes easy through the process of simplification. Thus, deer represents sexuality, both male and female. Deer is a pretty creature, while the buck prancing about in full rut is the very image of maleness, the battles for supremacy symptomatic of testosterone run amok.
The fact that deer can epitomize both male and female sexuality is suggestive of duality, which tends to confirm Native American beliefs about the animal. In truth, the same trait for which deer was admired in Europe made it less popular in America, and that was its ability to dupe the hunter, to leave false and misleading trails for the dogs, and this seems more indicative of the society than the animal. The deer's ability to deceive could be applauded in England because deer were the special reserve of the king, who did not require a successful hunt in order to eat. Therefore, he would view with admiration the same behaviour which the Native American saw with consternation. For the aboriginal American, when a deer disappeared with a false sign, he and his family would often go hungry.
Therefore, both cultures acknowledged deer's duplicity, only their reaction to it differed. This was governed by necessity, for in Europe it was a laudable trait for a prince to fool his enemy. This ability was not totally disregarded by the Native American, who adorned his bow and arrow with deer fur to attain not only deer wiles, but deer's sight in hunt and battle. Deer make rapid changes of course during the chase in order to confuse the hunter. Similarly, it can vanish into dense undergrowth.
All people's observed the deer's ability to seduce. Arthur is enticed to the well; his knights lured to disaster. The deer-storyteller of the south-western Native American tribes can either educate or deceive with its tales. Royalty must be duplicitous, under the guise of diplomacy. It would appear the reaction to artifice depended a lot upon personal opinion.
For the plains Lakota and the woodland Dakota, who placed a high value on female fidelity, deer was suspect. The southwestern tribes were more matriarchal in social structure. Deer was linked with the feminine. However this, in and of itself, was not negative. Their ideas on fidelity were more lenient, so the trickery of deer became the provenance of words. Pueblo peoples merged the northwestern image of deer's wisdom, also a provenance of words, and the duplicity ascribed to deer by the Plains' peoples.
Deer's medicine or power is, as always, an outgrowth of its characteristics. The deer not only sees well, it hears well. The deer is ever alert to danger. It is swift and is able to endure thirst for long periods. So it was called upon by Native American peoples to help during the four-day vision quest, where the brave must do without food and water.
All this is to say that there is no reason why deer cannot encompass the attributes credited to it. It is seduction, for who isn't entranced when they spy a wild deer on the edge of a forest or a field? The tiny roe deer inspires as much awe as any of its larger counterparts.
Seduction suggests sexuality. The female sexuality of deer further implies maternity, love, nourishment and sustenance. The male sexuality in the form of the buck represents aggression, mastery, authority, protection - all things that were considered a part of nobility. The concept of purity and love is in keeping with fawn who, weak and helpless, must be protected by its elders and betters. So, fawn brings out the best in people, the divine.
The interpretation of deer medicine can, therefore, be a much more personal thing than, for example, magpie medicine. It is dependent not only on the gender, but the age of the animal involved. The Native American name 'Little Deer Comes Dancing' or 'Prancing Fawn' is indicative of one deer, while the name 'Black Deer' (found in the 1880 Red Cloud Conservation Census) reveals another facet of both the animal's and the individual's personality. Black, being the colour of mystery, suggests that the latter had a connection with the wisdom of deer, while the former implies joy and playfulness.
The doe is maternity, sexuality, coming of age for a woman. It is the time of renewal and the beginning of new life. As a mother, deer protects her fawn to the best of her ability. Since she has no great bulk and often no horns, she does this through cunning and guile, hiding her child and avoiding it during daylight hours, and taking convoluted paths home in order to baffle any potential predators. Deer as mother is also nurturing. She provides nourishment and sustenance for her young.
However, the male deer is probably most celebrated for his ability to protect his harem. He bellows to mark his domain and his authority over the does. He fights to defend them and will exhaust himself during the rut, even to the point of starvation and death. Many top-ranking males never make it to the next season. His masculinity is also his undoing.
Finally, fawn is innocence, altruistic and unquestioning love, gentleness of spirit - many of the same attributes to hind in Christian religion: purity of spirit, hence soul, and to a certain extent naivety. It can also be associated with playfulness and joy.
The deer can be invoked for all these reasons. In a time of trouble the hart will give strength and endurance, and help those who ask for its help whether the best response is to fight or to run. The hind grants defensive cunning. Both doe and buck impart speed and agility, and their magic can be called upon to help the supplicant disappear in a cloud of dust or fade into the background. Likewise, deer has the wit to decide which reaction is the most appropriate. Ever-vigilant and watchful, deer medicine can help keep the individual alert and out of harm's way. Its ability to vanish in the underbrush can be used to confound one's enemies.
Like the buffalo, deer gave its life to feed the people. It can indicate the coming of prosperity and plenty. Conversely, it may indicate some sort of sacrifice is required in order to resolve a problem.
As woman's medicine, it symbolizes coming into one's own power. The beginning of a woman's menses is a sign of fertility and a time of rebirth that contains within it the promise of new life from which all true wealth arises. Therefore, it is logical to assume deer should be invoked during any ceremonies specific to women.
Deer was often used in love medicine. It gave the power to bewitch. Sometimes, ground-up antlers were placed in love potions or medicine bundles. The deer rattle magically endowed, or confirmed, a young girl's ability to bear children. Thus, one can assume that its energies maybe used in another way, to repel sterility or release one from infertility. Which animal is petitioned - doe, stag or fawn - would probably depend a great deal on the individual performing the invocation.
Generally, though, deer medicine allows one to move with deliberation, great awareness and speed. It encourages gentleness and peace. Deer enhances one's ability to change directions quickly without losing one's centre. It deepens awareness of the present moment. Deer allows one to see with great clarity what is going on around and within oneself, which can be used for cultivating surrender, humility and trust in gentle ways. If deer has appeared in someone's life, it may be time to review one's attitudes.
The preferred modern interpretation is the European one, although some of the other traits are still observed. Therefore, deer is also known for its nervous, lively nature and it has become associated with attentiveness.
One must not dismiss or discount the storyteller or the trickster, however. The deer person has the medicine of the bard. This individual can captivate and enchant both with his/her wondrous words and beautiful physique. Others hold high expectations of the deer and are often disillusioned when they discover the deer individual suffers from nervousness and high temper. The same words and wisdom that can entice and educate can also be used to dupe and defraud. Few people are forging enough to recognize this as a defense - words to hide behind. Deer can blend into the environment if they desire. Deer people have especially sensitive hearing and do not like loud noises. They are intuitive and often sense the feelings of others.
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