Thoughts on Deer

One of the things that I love to do most is take long walks through the woods.  Lately I keep coming across one of my favorite animals, the deer.  This picture is of my most recent encounter with a lovely doe and her three fawns.  I believe that when you keep having repeating experiences, the Universe is trying to tell you something, so I thought I would research and share more about the symbology of the deer.  For me personally, they represent a gentleness of spirit.  If you are given the gift of the opportunity to lock eyes, there is an innocence and peacefulness there that can bring an immediate sense of calm.  I love the way that they carry themselves and their natural elegance and poise. They are the epitome of grace, love and beauty.  Mother deer stay with their fawns and nurse them often, imparting a message which relates to nurturing ourselves and others.  Deer have very acute senses and will know that you are coming long before you get there.  As soon as they hear you, they can freeze and become so silent that they almost seem to blend away into the background before your very eyes.  Maybe this is one of the reasons why they are sometimes associated with the magical realm of fairies.  In fact, the deer is mentioned in the mythology of many cultures and linked with a variety of divine beings such as the Greek Goddess Artemis and the Celtic God Cernunnos. In folklore, the white stag is particularly significant as the heralder of new quests and adventures.  When any animal repeatedly shows up for you, I think it is helpful to study them and their behaviors and attempt to interpret the messages that they might be trying to share.  I see it as an opportunity to learn and apply these things to my own life.  Currently, I feel that the deer is encouraging me to be more gentle and kind to myself, as well as others.  Some new adventures might be coming my way and it could be a good time to observe and be more still so that I don't miss them.  I may also benefit from spending more time with my family and listening more, while speaking less.  While this is what the deer means to me at this time in my life, each person’s experience and interaction with animals is varied and personal.  What does the deer mean to you?