animal medicine

It was an ordinary day in ordinary time at an ordinary place. The sun was so bright it glistened across the ridge line, piercing the mellow clouds that drifted along. The first day of summer vacation for my kids as my younger daughter danced through the day, filling time with horses, ice cream and her beloved bike. Oh to have the freedom to pedal the days away. On such a jaunt, she came across one of life's rare memories. As she cycled westerly, she spotted something precious in the rain well aside our summer pasture. In her unhurried journey, she spotted a baby deer, nestled in the shelter of the roadside ditch. Bursting through the door, she struggled to share the frantic news; "over in the thingy, next to our road, a little deer....it's still alive, but it can't move...." earnest concern in her eyes. "How far? - let's go see.." A short walk from our door yard toward the afternoon sun revealed a beautiful work of God. A days old baby boy deer, head up, ears alert and eyes bright. His back appeared to be broken. His momma was long gone, saving herself and leaving her precious, perfect babe behind. So many thoughts collide in a time like this. All of my EMS training, animal welfare, who do I call, how to resolve this with peace and dignity for all. I explained to my daughter, "his back is broken,,, there is no saving him. If he can't be a deer and live a deer's life of joy, then we must end his suffering..." She has grown up on this farm; she has seen birth and death through all of her life. She didn't argue, she stood guard while a passing bicycler called 911. They'd send a game warden to get him. Meanwhile, I was recalling the recent passage I found about Deer as an animal guide in Native American animal medicine when my biker buddy had crossed paths with a deer a little while back. As I sat near this little fellow, admiring God's perfection in his creation, my thoughts drifted to that passage. Deer ~ gentleness ,,, the shaman value. When a deer comes into your path it is an "embrace from afar"... if the deer is leaving your path, it is the message that gentleness is the way to solve a present conflict. "Deer teaches us to use the power of gentleness to touch the hearts and minds of wounded beings who are trying to keep us from our sacred paths... Like the dappling of the fawn's coat, both the light and the dark may be loved to create gentleness and safety for those who are seeking peace. If Deer comes to you, you are being asked to find the gentleness of spirit that heals all wounds... apply gentleness to your present situation and become warm and caring...this is your tool for solving a present dilemma. When Deer is in the contrary (away from your path), it is a message to lean into your fears, love your fears as fear cannot exist in the same place that love and gentleness abide ." Strong and ancient wisdom in animal medicine. After 20 minutes, a state trooper came to dispatch the suffering babe. I saw, briefly, a flinch in his eye before he humanely ended the misery. This little fellow, baby boy deer, came to my farm by accident. Literally so; but the brief time I sat with him, hearing him bleat for his momma, taught me the power of gentle in love and life. His desire to survive, to be understood and know a safe place. The animal medicine came to me at the end of a day that was fraught with mother-daughter conflict, and struggles over duty and commitment. He was here so briefly, brave when I touched his broken back, beautiful when he looked back at me. Here for a moment in my lifetime; an excellent teacher in that moment. Fly high and away baby deer. I believe I understand, I'll try to honor your message and your memory...
thank you for this peek experience. ~ peace ~ ell