Wow, I love this so much Stephanie and can really relate to what you are saying about asking permission and listening with the intention of respect and reverence, for the messages coming through. I am particularly interested in what the Griffin talon means as I have had an encounter with a Griffin in the woods behind my yard. I know it's a mythological being, nonetheless it exists in a kind of dream realm that is very real to me. I can't wait to hear and see how your connection with the deer unfolds and I adore your art!
Thank you, Lana! I almost cut the Griffin talon part of the dream, but left it precisely in hopes that someone might have some insight! I think the Griffin is connected to the Grain Goddess Demeter, but other than that, it seems more like an invitation to recognize the presence of such a being in my own woods. If you feel comfortable sharing your experience with the Griffin, I would be the most truly love to hear it!
What a beautiful introduction to your writing and your art. I have been living in a small lake community all year where the deer (and their fawns) frequent my neighbours front yards and the main road travelling through the cabins. A few times, while out walking, I've had the pleasure of standing a few feet away from a doe and have felt a sense of awe by that brief moment of witnessing.
I love the way the outter world is in constant conversation with our inner world. How the doe has showed up with such force in your waking life while you search for her in your dreams as you bring your next painting to life. I look forward to seeing what comes to life when "the way is open."
Thank you, Ash! The story will definitely unfold in interesting ways, I think. I'm taking an animal communication course from Sharon Loy, (her blog on her website is just beautiful), and we talked about the doe just this morning. She suggested that the raspberries were payment, and that the doe has things to tell me. So, the adventure deepens! Here's Sharon's website, if you are interested: https://sharonloy.com/stories/
Oh, Stephanie, I LOVED this. And your art is so gorgeous!! I've read that deer represent finding your path, or at least that's what my sister told me once, and I remember coming home one night after a particularly difficult creative week, thinking, "why do I even write? why do I keep making things?" And there was a deer--a buck--with beautiful horns standing right in front of me on the lawn as I pulled up to my house. He didn't move, just stood there--silent, glorious. Then slowly he walked away. I haven't seen a deer on that lawn before or since. My sister said, "You're on your path," like it was the most obvious thing in the world.I love your project, Dreaming Animals. Yes, yes, yes.
Thank you, Rebecca! How lovely that we both read pieces that we LOVED today, by each other! I think we are on the right path! I love that a buck showed up for you like that--Joy Harjo said once that sometimes the animals [in her case it was an owl] are doing spirit work, and sometimes they are just being animals. I think we always know the difference.
Oh, that's so funny--I didn't even see that nemesis-spirit animal juxtaposition, but it's true. Sometimes things (or deer) need to smack me in the face (or eat all my raspberry plants) for me to pay attention! Thanks for commenting, Sarah!
This is so beautiful, and so rich in meaning and necessity. Those last two sentences struck me deep in the soul: "Perhaps the White Deer has been waiting twenty-six years for me to offer my devotion. Perhaps she is waiting for all of us, in our creative wilderness, where we all, deep in the core of our being, belong." Thank you for your words, your dreams, and your art.
Kelly, I am so grateful for your comment. Thank you so much. Sometimes with writing there's all these ideas and memories and images getting woven together, but in those last two sentences I had the visceral feeling of dropping into my heart, and picking up the most important thread of all. So glad you felt that too.
Wow, I love this so much Stephanie and can really relate to what you are saying about asking permission and listening with the intention of respect and reverence, for the messages coming through. I am particularly interested in what the Griffin talon means as I have had an encounter with a Griffin in the woods behind my yard. I know it's a mythological being, nonetheless it exists in a kind of dream realm that is very real to me. I can't wait to hear and see how your connection with the deer unfolds and I adore your art!
Thank you, Lana! I almost cut the Griffin talon part of the dream, but left it precisely in hopes that someone might have some insight! I think the Griffin is connected to the Grain Goddess Demeter, but other than that, it seems more like an invitation to recognize the presence of such a being in my own woods. If you feel comfortable sharing your experience with the Griffin, I would be the most truly love to hear it!
Stephanie,
What a beautiful introduction to your writing and your art. I have been living in a small lake community all year where the deer (and their fawns) frequent my neighbours front yards and the main road travelling through the cabins. A few times, while out walking, I've had the pleasure of standing a few feet away from a doe and have felt a sense of awe by that brief moment of witnessing.
I love the way the outter world is in constant conversation with our inner world. How the doe has showed up with such force in your waking life while you search for her in your dreams as you bring your next painting to life. I look forward to seeing what comes to life when "the way is open."
Thank you, Ash! The story will definitely unfold in interesting ways, I think. I'm taking an animal communication course from Sharon Loy, (her blog on her website is just beautiful), and we talked about the doe just this morning. She suggested that the raspberries were payment, and that the doe has things to tell me. So, the adventure deepens! Here's Sharon's website, if you are interested: https://sharonloy.com/stories/
Oh, Stephanie, I LOVED this. And your art is so gorgeous!! I've read that deer represent finding your path, or at least that's what my sister told me once, and I remember coming home one night after a particularly difficult creative week, thinking, "why do I even write? why do I keep making things?" And there was a deer--a buck--with beautiful horns standing right in front of me on the lawn as I pulled up to my house. He didn't move, just stood there--silent, glorious. Then slowly he walked away. I haven't seen a deer on that lawn before or since. My sister said, "You're on your path," like it was the most obvious thing in the world.I love your project, Dreaming Animals. Yes, yes, yes.
Thank you, Rebecca! How lovely that we both read pieces that we LOVED today, by each other! I think we are on the right path! I love that a buck showed up for you like that--Joy Harjo said once that sometimes the animals [in her case it was an owl] are doing spirit work, and sometimes they are just being animals. I think we always know the difference.
100%! And I am a big Joy Harjo fan, too.
Thankyou for sharing this! I found both your artwork and your writing to be so thoughtful (and I love the description of the ear 👂🏻 shot 🤣).
I appreciate your deep connection to the living earth, and the way the white deer is somehow both your spirit animal and your nemesis. 💖
And - the colours in the latest white deer pic are sublime!
So - thankyou again ☺️
Oh, that's so funny--I didn't even see that nemesis-spirit animal juxtaposition, but it's true. Sometimes things (or deer) need to smack me in the face (or eat all my raspberry plants) for me to pay attention! Thanks for commenting, Sarah!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story of your relationship with the inner and outer wilds. Such a meaningful expression of the deep work.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it—I feel like the adventure is just going deeper and deeper.
This is so beautiful, and so rich in meaning and necessity. Those last two sentences struck me deep in the soul: "Perhaps the White Deer has been waiting twenty-six years for me to offer my devotion. Perhaps she is waiting for all of us, in our creative wilderness, where we all, deep in the core of our being, belong." Thank you for your words, your dreams, and your art.
Kelly, I am so grateful for your comment. Thank you so much. Sometimes with writing there's all these ideas and memories and images getting woven together, but in those last two sentences I had the visceral feeling of dropping into my heart, and picking up the most important thread of all. So glad you felt that too.
Creative wilderness. Those words are still glowing in my brain.