Totem Tuesday: Deer Medicine

Deer Medicine

by Felina Lune Kavi

“A wounded deer leaps the highest.” –Emily Dickinson

Keywords:  Pathfinder, Gentleness, Purity of Purpose, Humility, Sensitivity, Intuition, Grace, Determination, Sure-footedness, Alertness, Focus, Swift Action, Vigilance, Innocence, Inner Child, Regeneration, Cautiousness, Silence, Peace, Kindness, Listening, Gratitude, Giving, Sacrifice, Independence, Protection, Survival, Unconditional Love, Clairvoyance, Clairaudience

Though there are many types of deer, and the behavior of deer is much different depending on the gender, Deer medicine teaches the lessons of sacrificing for the greater good, sure-footedness along your path, the necessity of being alert and aware of danger or obstacles along your path, and taking swift action when a change is needed.  

Deer Medicine holds the energy of the Pathfinder Archetype.  In the Celtic tradition, Deer is connected to Elen (the Reindeer Goddess of Sacred Pathways) and Cernunnos (the Horned God of Fertility and Wild Animals).  Both are depicted with antlers (reindeer are the only female deer to grow antlers), representing the power of regeneration and renewal as well as fertility.  The antlers are also symbolic of antennae that connect to higher energies.  Deer is the original pathfinder of the ley lines on land, or the magical grid of pathways throughout the land that link sacred sites, and guide those with this totem along the straight-and-narrow paths that…while not always the easiest ways…illuminate the soul’s journey.

Those with this totem are very sensitive and intuitive, and often have latent clairvoyant and clairaudient abilities that Deer gently nudges them to cultivate…sending subtle signals and moments of heightened sensory awareness as lessons in honing their skills.  Though Deer have been hunted by man and other predators since ancient times, their energy links the hunter with the hunted.  Both the Celtic and Native American hunters prayed to Deer to give them a good hunt, and in return they promised to take no more than was essential for the survival of the tribe.  

The power of gratitude in the reciprocal cycle of giving and receiving is a large part of this medicine, and Deer teaches the balance between pride and humility with its power and grace.  Those with this totem learn to reflect this message with kindness and, often, self-sacrifice to those that cross their path. 

Deer are a uniparental species where the doe (also called a hind or cow) cares for the fawn (or calf), while the stag (also called the hart, buck or bull) is mainly present only during mating season.  In the first 20 minutes of a fawn’s life, it begins to take its first steps.  Its mother licks it clean until it is almost free of scent, so predators will not find it. For the first week of its life, the fawn lies hidden while the doe grazes for food.  Later, the fawn is strong enough to join her and the doe is tenderly protective of the fawn…using her heightened senses to be cautious of any changes along the path and keeping them from danger.  

Fawns stay with their mother for about a year.  The males leave and often form bachelor herds while females often return with their own fawns to form small herds.  Females with this totem are also very protective of their children and extra cautious about others where their child is concerned.  They teach their children early on about the dangers they may encounter away from the safety of home and often take on the role of the primary guide for their children throughout their early years.  Males with this totem have an independent streak and will learn, even from their mother’s over-protectiveness, to survive on their own and forge new paths for their future.  Even still, there is always a strong bond to the mother with those who have this totem as she was their first and ever-attentive teacher.

The Fawn represents innocence, purity of purpose, and a connection to the Inner Child. The Doe represents unconditional love, peace, subtlety, grace, and gentleness.  And the Stag represents power, fertility, and independence.  The whole of Deer Medicine, though, is about protection, determination, focus, vigilance, and swift action.  Gentleness and kindness in word, thought, and touch is integral to the proper use of this medicine.  People with this totem are great listeners and give sage advice about alternative paths to a goal when their loved ones feel stuck.  Their hearts are open to all, especially the wounded or endangered, and they feel very strongly that respect for all living creatures is important to living in a peaceful, balanced world. 

If Deer is one of your totems, these and many other lessons will be prevalent in your life.  Deer will encourage you to refine your mastery of this medicine.  If you see a deer, but it is not one of your totems, respect it as a messenger for that time.  You may need its medicine for what is happening then or what is coming up in the near future.  Deer may be awakening us to our soul path or teaching us the power of gratitude.  It may be that Deer is showing us how to gently nudge others in the right direction rather than pushing them to change.  Whatever the lesson Deer means to teach us, it always urges us to love and accept ourselves and others as we are and to let go of negative emotions.  Deer guides us in this way to leap into new adventures with a gentle and loving approach.