Magical Deer Meeting

In my neighborhood, I have enjoyed the privilege to observe many wild animals ~ chipmunks, bunnies, birds and deer.  From time to time, I have encountered a herd of deer crossing the roads near my house or grazing by a small pond.  A few years ago, I was blessed to come upon a newborn fawn and her mother in my neighbor’s yard as I was bringing in their garbage cans.  I stood quite still, speaking softly as I watched the fawn nurse.  Both mother and fawn knew I was there, but continued on with the moment, watching me from afar.  The fawn stayed in my neighbor’s yard for a few weeks as she grew, hidden in the ivy that covered a part of their property.

Once last year, I walked out my front door to see a big buck standing majestically in the early morning in my neighbor’s yard.  He stood there looking at me for about 5 minutes before he turned to walk away, apparently done with our eye contact and my conversation.  I can still recall the moment as it felt so special to me.

But last night, I went into my backyard to check on the koi in our pond.  As it was such a beautiful night, I was staring at the sky when I saw a glimpse of movement.  A small deer had entered our backyard.  I stood still, whispering to BAngel on my phone so as not to startle the deer.  She (or he) wandered through the backyard, oblivious to my presence which I found interesting as I thought she would bolt when she saw me there.  Instead, she headed right towards me and stopped about 6 steps from me.  It was dusk, but I watched as she listened to my voice, cocking her head and raising her ears intently.  I was wishing that I had a small carrot in my hand or something to offer her.  We stayed that way for about 5 minutes although it seemed like an eternity and then she wandered to the side of the property to nibble on some leaves.  A few minutes later, she turned and sauntered back to where she had entered the yard, only to reemerge again and walk the same path near me.  I kept wondering if she would drink from our small pond, but she didn’t.  At one point she began walking towards the side yard where we have some tasty rose bushes, but then suddenly, it was as if she was startled by something, she turned and ran back to where she came.

What a gift to be so close to her, to have her walk right towards me and stop to simply be with me.  It was exciting and it made my heart sing to feel that connection with her.  I looked up deer spirit totem animal here in case you are interested in reading more about the significance of my encounter.

Have you ever had an encounter like this one with a deer or another wild animal?  Please share!

Shine On!

xo

Self-Love Lesson From A Buck

“Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender;
it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.”
– Stephen Covey

In the rush to live our lives, we sometimes force ourselves to go, go, go and we miss out on the lessons that we can learn when we are patient with ourselves and others.  It is in truly embracing all of our qualities, both good and bad, when we invest in ourselves to empower our lives and to improve ourselves.  Taking the time needed to hold our pain and to look within our whole selves to tenderly embrace what is here right now makes all the difference.  To embrace another person’s spirit even when we are not in agreement is to ignite self-awareness in ourselves.

It has been written that ‘time heals all wounds’ and that what we criticize in another person is what we ourselves criticize in ourselves.  To become forgiving of what we dislike in another is to forgive ourselves for the same.  We are whole.  Our soul selves encompass all traits that we recognize in another person and it is what we do with those traits is what matters.  We can choose to forgive them and ourselves for what we deem faults.  We can choose to recognize examples of kindness, patience and love or we can choose to concentrate on pain, suffering and wrongdoing.  It is our choice in how we view ourselves and the world around us.

But to be patient with ourselves, grows our souls, our minds and our hearts in a way like no other.  Sure, I am equally guilty of rushing myself to ‘get over’ painful situations and to drudge on with life trying to find the mercy of kindness without giving myself time to mourn what could be and what truly is in my life.  I’ve tried to ‘get over’ situations that were or were not within my control quickly so that I could feel better.  However, I am finding that to patiently experience what is here and now is the key I forgot I possessed; the key that I didn’t realize opened my heart, mind and soul to a deeper place of understanding and self-growth.

I love this quote and thought perhaps it was meant for others as well as me today.  I was blessed to greet the morning with a visitor with whom I locked eyes for quite awhile.  A six point buck stood majestically across the street from my house and we stood 20 feet apart gazing at each other while the world stood quietly in the morning light.  It was breath-taking for me to see his powerful build and to feel his eyes lock with mine in a few moments of pure energy.  He and I connected ~ it was as if we were meant to meet.  I watched him as he slowly turned and walked away, regally in his own time, across the yard and disappeared behind the trees.  It was a beautiful moment for me.  I looked up buck totem animal and found:

‘The buck is deeply aware of the seasons and adapts to all of them.  He will teach you to keep going through the storms of winter, filled with the joy of being who you are, until the green blades of grass again poke through the melting snow.  When the world seems cold, fill yourself with his sure knowledge that spring will always come again.    He will also teach you how to renew your energy and power, just as he regrows his antlers each season.  If you feel weakened by the challenges of life, breathe in his energy and feel the velvety antlers sprouting as your power returns in full.  Then lift up your chin and show the world who you are, the beautiful and majestic buck.’  here

So please, take time each and everyday to be like the buck as in time, your power returns in full ~ lift up your chin and show the world who you are, a powerful, beautiful and majestic soul who is loved.

Shine On!

xo

P.S.  My heartfelt gratitude to BAngel for the photo.