The following is a response to a woman who wanted to know the symbolic meaning of a white deer as she had recently seen one on a nature walk.
Dear Deer Seer:
All creatures are noble, and have profound messages to share with us. However, those animals that are white can be some of our most powerful teachers.
The Native Americans believed the occurance of a white animal was a huge sign of prophecy – a sign from the great spirit that a major shift in their world was to come.
Usually, white animals were seen during soul-quests, or vision-quests. However, if one was seen during the normal course of day, this would cause a tremendous ripple among the tribe. A great meeting would be called, the elders would be consulted, and great care would be taken to communicate with the animal spirits to determine the meaning of the message.
Not much has changed over time, as you yourself recognize the special power of the white deer that comes to you – and wish to know more about it.
When white occurs in the animal realm it is a message of:
- higher thoughts
- higher ideals
- purity of soul
- cleansing of spirit
- attaining higher knowledge
Compound these attributes with the those that the Female deer represents:
- Benevolence
- Kindness
- Creativity
- Spirituality
- Renewal
- Connectedness
The Male deer holds the same representations, but also includes attributes of:
- Longevity
- Virility
- Abundance
- Endurance
The deer was/is a symbol to the Native Americans representative of the great spirit – a sign of the sun as its antlers spread like the sun’s rays. The Native Americans also recognized the shedding and regrowth of the antlers and deemed this a symbol of regeneration, cycle, and growth.
Above all, we can recognize the sensitivity of the deer - alert, keen, and always aware – we can translate these qualities to of being spiritually aware – and this is why the deer is seen primarily as a spiritual symbol.
The fact that you were able to see this very powerful sign – the white deer – is a message that you are on a path of growth and expansion that will lead you in a direction beyond your wildest dreams. The message of the white deer is one of “get ready.”
I encourage you contemplate this visitation, meditate upon it, and humbly ask the white deer to communicate its symbolic meaning with you as it pertains to your own persepctive.
Our animal friends are just as willing to communicate with us as we are with them. All it takes is a open heart – and a willingness to be still enough to listen.
More on symbolic meanings of the deer can be found here.
Post script: Photo is from Velo Steve at Flickr.com
I was having my own solstice ceremony along with a group of Toltec friends and In the middle of the ceremony was a white egret that appeared out my back window at a little pool. It was either a white egret or a white heron, both of whom seem to prefer the southern latitudes and I am in Indiana. It was odd in that a Blue heron seemed to mirror its movements like black and white, and a big storm with hail passed as it was present. How would Native people view this and why? What messsage would the heron have for me?
I moved to the desert September 1st.
I was cleaning out the old neglected flower bed.
When I looked back where I’d just cleaned I saw what I thought was a huge earthworm.
But then I realized it was a small snake.
And what made it strange was that it was white with a little bit of red on its head.
No one here knows what it was.
I am leaving here after only two months but I often wonder what that snake meant.
Any why am I moving again?
Today I saw a Javelina and a Scorpion.
Both moved me to tears.
So much change.
I was driving along an wooded road and come upon 2 white deer, and I even got out and walked up to them within 15 or 20 feet and toke picture , It was if they were waiting for me. what des this meana
Please let me know what this means. I was driving along and came across two white deer and they let me get out of my car and walk up to them within 15 or 20 feet and I even toke a picture . they were beautiful. a month latter I found out I had cancer. But came through it and have had it a second time and still can through it. It’s been over 5 years since my last cancer. and I seem to be doing Ok. I really think seeing the deer meant something for me.please write back and tell me what you think
THANKS, I SAW A WHITE DEER FOR THE FIRST TIME EARLY IN THE AM AND NOW I CAN’T SLEEP. I WAS TROUBLE BUT SINCE I SEEN THE WHITE DEER, PEACE HAS COME OVER ME……..
I work at a women’s resource centre, a shelter for women and children, in a small Northern Ontario Canada, community. Our centre has been open for 24 years with most of the original staff in place (pretty much unheard of in this social work field.) Our backyard has a 8′ wooden fence enclosing it. You might imagine our surprise yesterday, when we saw a female deer resting in the snow IN our backyard! First time in 24 years. Most of us are of First Nation descent, and we are trying to interpret the meaning of this wonderful gift, (she got out ok.) ANY info you may be able to guide us with would be GREATLY appreciated. Megweetch.
@Chari, indeed – that all of you are still together for such a long time (yes, I’m familiar with the propensity for turn-around in your field) – this is a powerful testimony to a) your devotion to a common good and b) the strong connection each of you share with eachother. You already know this, but I think it’s relevant in context with the deer.
I love that you encountered a doe, as a buck would have changed the entire interpretive flavor. The doe graces our energetic presence with an elegance that’s palpable. You could feel that grace when you saw her in the backyard, no? The doe is an ambassador for gentleness, forgiveness and spiritual awareness.
I love the setting of your experience…the cleansing beauty of the snow, the amazing phenomenon of the doe having to leap “insurmountable odds” (the 8′ fence). The scene speaks to me of honoring the divinity within the soul of humankind and animal-kind alike. She speaks of raising above the challenges of the banal world, and surpassing limitations.
The symbolism of your experience tells me there is something very special going on in your community….there is a call for spiritually minded leaders. These are non-traditional leaders. The doe calls to the nurturing, gentle-natured core of those who would lead in a passive (unsuspecting) manner.
At least, these are my own impressions.
I know for certain the nature of the doe would not go to such great lengths if she did not have a specific (and highly spiritual) purpose to convey. She’s a vastly spiritual totem, and her message will be profound for those of your staff who will receive it.
I’ve written more thoughts about the symbolic meaning of the deer here: http://www.whats-your-sign.com/animal-symbolism-deer.html .
I hope these observations offer a broader opening for insight.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Namaste,
A.
A white buck with little velvet horns stands 15 ft from me, he looks into my eyes, clearly he was calm, regal, beautiful and he alowed me to take many photos. I feel blessed to have seen him so up close. Benevolence and kindness represent this animal. Blessings, Abenaki friends…