Deer
Composition
and World Literature E603A
September
29, 2011
Dear My Dearest Deer
As
the old story goes, at the beginning of time animals made relentless attempts
to see their Almighty God. A monster guarded the entrance and brashly cast away
any creature that dared try to enter GodÕs realm. The animals fought,
manipulated and deceived one another as the entire kingdom erupted into chaos.
In the midst of the turmoil, the deer ran to the monster. As they surveyed one
another, the deer enraptured the monster with its loving, tender and sincere
disposition. The monster finally granted the creature permission to pass
through the gates and the deer was the first from his kingdom to witness their
Almighty God.
My
spirit animal has been a part of my soul since the day I was born; yet, until a
few weeks ago, the creature patiently waited for me. A deer crossed my path
during a run—the most intimate time of my day. Our eyes locked in a
moment of unsurpassed harmony and we stood in complete balance. We operated on
the same level of awareness, with our focus directed solely on one another. Together,
we launched our reconnection. No longer lost, my totem animal chose me from
that fateful day on December 10 and I discovered it again nearly nineteen years
later. In that paramount moment, the deer showed me Òthe true majesty of life,Ó
and continues to do so daily.[1]
It
was no coincidence that we reconnected during the most cherished part of my
day. I am a runner. Each time I run, I release every tension and stress that
burdens me. As a result, I undergo a catharsis that allows me to connect
internally and externally with my mind and body. My thoughts are clearer, my
body stronger and my conviction happier as I face my daily ups and downs. I
approach strangers more frequently and handle challenges with a more positive
mindset. As a natural pessimist and emotive individual, this daily, poignant
purge is crucial for my outlook. Consequently, a deerÕs presence during this
activity reinforces our bond as we connect on a candid, unequivocal level.
During these times of physical exhaustion and oftentimes pain, the animal
constantly reminds me to remain grounded and motivated. Running bridges us
through our identical passion to strengthen ourselves. Realizing the deer was
my spirit animal in the middle of a run spoke volumes, and I finally understood
where the love for this exercise spawned. The exercise increases my value for
resolution and ambition, catalyzing my desire to set goals, reach them, and
maximize my capabilities. Running models the way I tackle each stage of my
life, especially in regards to education and rare opportunities. As a student,
I always try to cement a plan and set lofty goals. Perseverance and diligence,
the characteristics that amount to a rewarding workout, similarly fulfill these
other areas of my life.
Often
the deer runs out of terror, mirroring my retreat from pain. Although we do not
know whether the deer in the image runs for pleasure or from a predator, the
harmonious balance between its mind and body stimulates its Òpowers of
extrasensory perception.Ó[2] I revel in its
flightÕs intensity and aptitude for sensing danger. Deer have the uncanny
ability to anticipate an unexpected presence and react to a threat. Ergo, we
both retreat from risks until we feel comfortable, secure and at peace again.
Rarely do we ever investigate the unknown. Instead, we take flight in the
presence of change or uncertainty, as shown in the video of the deerÕs retreat
and ultrasensitive hearing in response to the hunterÕs video camera noise.[3]
I exhibit these insecurities in many areas of my life—self-image,
personality, writing, decision-making, and relationships. The fickleness that
often aids in a deerÕs doom similarly assists in mine. Hesitation plagues us
when faced with a hard choice. Occasionally, we throw caution to the wind and
hope for the best; together we prosper and together we stumble, ungracefully
and often injured.
Another
intrinsic characteristic we share is our ability to provide for ourselves. I
have been known to embrace a fierce independence that dominates much of my
personality. In general, I attempt to define myself by my determination and
steadfast focus in all facets of my life. During school, I often struggled to
balance my social life with academics. People thought I was slightly weird or intense
because I rarely lost focus in class and made each minute of the day
productive. However, this mentality forged values of self-awareness, efficiency
and the ability to survive and surpass expectations.
We
are companions on this journey. As a young woman, I relentlessly seek the
comfort of others and most fervently honor the relationships I share. In
addition to running, my most serene moments include times of helping the people
around me while harmonizing with my environment. Similarly, the deer seeks to
better the lives of those around it. The creatureÕs resourcefulness reflects
its connection with nature as it cares and provides for its youth and members
of the herd. As a nanny, my role requires steadfast attention to the needs of
small children and an unfaltering patience. This practice fosters my desire to
uphold the role of a caretaker. Being a nanny is not simply a job; it serves as
an outlet for these maternal aspirations.
While the deer and I share many of the same characteristics and seem to have
generally similar dispositions, our differences are even greater. I am not
always peaceful, nor graceful. I take on a Bambi-like version of a
deer—stumbling my way through life and always having a significant amount
to grow. Though not transparent, I willingly put forth my qualities and values
for others to see. I lack sensitivity and I speak before evaluating my speechÕs
effect on other people. Weaknesses such as finding the calmness of a situation
and sympathizing with others further differentiate my attitude from a deerÕs.
As an introvert, I find conversation with strangers exhausting. I often lack
the tenderness to understand all sides of a situation and empathize with
viewpoints I do not agree with. My spirit animal can guide me into a new realm
of thinking as it teaches me a certain calmness and sensitivity that I can
learn to direct towards others.
The
spirit animals we relate to Òhelp us to find our confidence with people and
guide us home to ourselves.Ó[4] I struggle to
gain peace after afflicting situations. I can now look to my spirit animal to
direct my response because Òcalm and centeredness come when the deer is invitedÓ
into my life.[5] Peace rather than distress encompasses my being as
I emerge from conflict as a composed individual. I often feel as if I am
missing something—one key part to my own puzzle that has yet to be found.
My spirit animal does not offer the piece, but instead leads me towards the
tenets that I can practice in order to find my own path. Its presence gives me
poise and grace, leading me towards the confidence I lack and teaching me not
to stress the things in life I cannot control. About a year ago, my grandmother
passed away from cancer. I wish I had discovered my spirit animal years earlier
so it could have helped me during this tragedy. The Coldplay song ÔFix YouÕ
illustrates this desire. The song and I questioned the same idea—ÒCould
it be worse?Ó[6] My spirit guide could have
been the Òlight [that] will guide you homeÓ and alleviated some of my anguish.[7]
Now, I take comfort in knowing the creature can bolster my reactions to
sensitive situations. With practice, I can finally accept that pain,
brokenness, confusion, and discontent are simply a part of lifeÕs blessings.
The deerÕs success as a species stems primarily from their adaptability. They
prosper in a wide range of environments and, as a result, Òare native to almost
every continent.Ó[8] Change is a significant
weakness of mine; I struggle and do not respond positively to it. The entire
Òanimal world has much to teachÓ me, but the deer is my professor.[9]
It imparts upon me to take things at face value. The power animal can show me
how adjusting correlates with strengthening, broadening and, learning oneÕs
self. Instead, I can accept the challenges I encounter and move on in order to
be successful.
In
order to transcend my limitations, I realized that you must not use disadvantages
as excuses. The deerÕs ability to thrive over widespread geographical
territories also exposes their ability to function under high environmental
pressure, stress, and competition. A deer has the fortitude and strength it
takes to succeed within a chiefly competitive habitat. While this idea scares
me, it drives me to breach my limits and step out of my comfort zone. I am not
fighting for survival as the deer does, but I must fight for what I want and
who I want to be. We are companions in our voyage for prosperity and existence.
The thrill of life keeps us moving; our instincts and spontaneity make us
contenders in this fast-moving world. Here we demonstrate our endurance,
whether through running and academics, this quality teaches me to measure
myself based on my own accomplishments and drives me towards finding my greater
purpose.
Creativity accompanies the ability to respond to change. I hope to look
to my spirit animal when I lack imaginative passion. Just as it always finds
its source of food, it can teach me to look to new places and think outside of
my normal frame of mind to achieve my greatest success. When I stray from the
peaceful path, the deer can help me stay poised and rational as I approach
difficult times. I will look to the deer when I cannot let go of something that
hurts me. In doing so, I hope to receive a sense of freedom and revival through
the two processes: forgiveness and releasing the past. The deer will erase the
doubt and uncertainty that flood my conscious and help me relinquish all of my
harbored anger.
The deer serves as my mirror in life. It shows me the importance of
companionship and authenticity in my actions and emotions. It teaches me to
work for the greater good rather than immediate responses. The spirit animal
shows me that Òreality has many different layers, and things are not
necessarily what they appear to be, what meets the eye is just the surface of
what is, and our journey as human beings involves an eventual unveiling of the
teachings that are hidden all around us.Ó[10]
The teachings will never be obvious. We must first grasp our animalÕs qualities
and values in order to find the meanings of their teachings. We must slowly
peel back our perception of our limits and eventually break what we believe to
be the realm of possibility. It is our own journey to find our purpose; nature
only provides the channel to which we can seek it. If we can grasp what nature
has to offer us, teach us, and demonstrate for us, we can move towards a
greater internal and external harmony. Yet we must open our eyes, hearts and
minds. We must be willing.
Word
Count (without quotations): 1,820
Word
Count (with quotations): 1,919
file:///Volumes/DISK_IMG/Website/P1/project%201.htm
Illustrations
List:
1. The deer runs with distinct
grace and beauty.[11]
2. A doe exemplifies her
inherent ability to nurture and care for her young.[12]
3, We are clumsy and make
mistakes. The most important part is realizing we have room to grow.[13]
3. This is the image in my
mirror.
1.
Ted Andrews, "Animal Speak," in Composition and World Literature
(Austin,
Texas: Jerome Bump, 2011), 112.
3. Stephanie Iris Weiss, Spirit Animals (San
Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2009), 36.
4.
The Circadian Rhythm, "Deer sense of hear," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K_UAwRD0Lw
7.
Chris LŸttichau, Animal Spirit Guides: Discover
your power animal and the shamanic path (New York: CICO Books, 2009), 17.
8.
Weiss, Spirit Animals, 36.
9.
GalakFyarr, "Coldplay-Fix You," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY9b6jgbNyc
10.
Ibid.
11. George Whitehead, Deer of the World, (New
York: The Viking Press, 1972), 1.
12.
LŸttichau, Animal Spirit Guides, 112.
13. Ibid, 8.
2.
Jamie Unwin, Deer Running, JPG, http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/oxford/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8133000/8133541.stm
5.
Jim Richardson, White Tailed Deer, JPG, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/white-tailed-deer
6.
Bambi Thumper Ice, JPG, http://www.animatedheroes.com/bambi.html