I can't remember whether I've mentioned this or not but I have a strong attachment and sensitivity to deer. I can't think of a time when this didn't exist for me - deer and squirrels both but deer moreso. The reason I'm bringing this up today is that I'm in search for suggestions.
In my dreams the deer represents my soul and I've always been hypersensitive to my exposures to deer. Not in an allergic reaction sort of a way but in a "quickening" type experience.
My husband works outside 98% of the time and is usually the first one on the job. Yesterday as he was walking through the woods he came across an antler stuck in a tree. It seems that this side/half of a stag's rack was lost in rut to the tree and the tree has since released it to my husband. It had been there for awhile because it is now completely cleaned and bleached.
Seeing a deer that's been killed on the side of the road causes a feeling like a hole punched through the center of my chest. I do not allow any display items of dead animals (heads, pelts, antlers, etc.) into my house, nor do I go into homes or businesses that display them, as I consider it to be disrespectful to the animal and takes a degree of dignity and honour from the majestic life that was lost. Because of this, he did not bring it into the house until talking to me because he knows better. However, this is different. An antler lost in rut is actually full of potential just based on the fact that it was lost during rut (mating season). Good mojo, if you will. It's a perfect example of fertility and seems a waste not to come up with something to do with it as well as a place to put them in our home.
If the antler had been lost in death I would not even contemplate using them or allowing them in my house but under these circumstances they seem like a perfect addition to our space. However, I do not want them to be here in some mundane purpose and don't really want to turn them into something in direct opposition to what they represent to me. In other words, no knife handles or anything like that.
If anyone has any ideas I'd appreciate the feedback. Thank you in advance.
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3 comments:
I think that, depending on how many prongs it has, you could make it into a sort of dream catcher. Take the antler and create a circle with it and some unique looking twigs and bind them together with like...hemp string or something. Then you can take bits of thread or anything really and make a weave pattern to create your dream catcher center. Use wood or glass beads and feathers that you find to finish it off, hanging and conecting your weave pattern. I dont really know if that makes sence but what I see in my mind looks really cool!
You dont have to make anything with it right away, but use bits and pieces of things that define you to create almost a spiritual piece of yourself. You should also check out shamanism and totem animals because the deer may be yours seeing as how you hold such a connection with them. If you learn more about them in terms of the actual animal and in terms of how they are seen in the spiritual realm then you will learn more about yourself as well.
Just a thought! Stay creative :)
just 1/2 of a rack?...hmm, can't think of anything..a complete one, maybe find a dish that would fit in the center and make a candle holder.
Well I've now got the antlers at home and am contemplating a set of runes made from them. I'm not quite sure how I'll manage that because I don't actually have a good band saw but I'll see what I can do.
If they'd been larger (more than the 2.75 points that are on them I might have tried a dreamcatcher or candle holder (because I bet that'd cast a beautiful light) but there isn't much sculptural effect to them.
Thanks for the suggestions!
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