Welcome 2014! The Year of The Deer Spirit Animal - Symbol of Gentleness and Heart Energy

The Wisdom of Unconditional Love

On the 15th, I completed another year around the sun and turned 33 years old. On Saturday, I spent the day biking through the mountains of Santa Cruz with my partner. He spent the night planning out a special place and route for us to ride and bought us each a bike in the morning. The last time I rode a bike I was at burning man, and before that, I was in Amsterdam. Both times it was with my partner...my love. The bike ride he chose was a combination of trails summing up to 30 miles through Wilder Ranch State Park. He had never been there, but did some research and said it was going to be amazing. I had imagined a leisurely ride through a park. Instead it was extremely challenging with lots of twists & turns and narrow pathways in the forest. I was so surprised on how difficult it was. The first 2 1/2 miles was intense! It was the first time in a long time that fear for my safety and well being came over me. On the other hand, my partner looked so comfortable and confident scaling the mountain. He lead the way - music blastin' from our little Audiobomb and completely worry free of whatever may lie ahead. He would occasionally look back to check on me and yell out words of encouragement. The thing he said that stood out the most was to look at the experience as if it were a vision quest. And with that...I did. I started meditating on unconditional love and what it means to me. I looked at how unconditional love has been such a guiding force in my life and how I've spent most of my life working to embody it. The ride got much more interesting after I stopped being so focused on getting it over with and instead, started enjoying the journey. When we got to the end of the twisty part of the trail (called Dairy Trail), the ride was a lot more manageable. It was still uphill, but we were out of the forest and able to feel the warmth and serenity of the sun. When we got to the top of the trail, my partner and I stopped to have lunch overlooking a magnificent view of the mountains and forest we just conquered. We talked and laughed. Took pictures and gave each other lots of loving kisses and hugs. Then he said some thing like " You have to appreciate what we just did. You can't just have this view without working for it". As I looked around, I realized that this was yet another experience I'm so blessed to have shared with the love of my life. That's when everything clicked. The mountain and the trails were like a metaphor for life's journey. And my partner represented the gift and blessing of having someone special to witness the marvels of life with. As I mentioned earlier, I have spent most of my life learning about unconditional love and how I am able to express and manifest that in my being. Giving love is my passion. Its what makes me feel fulfilled & complete. What I didn't expect to find during that ride was that I had found someone who found me worthy of giving unconditional love to. My man really truly loves me...all of me. He's told me that before countless times, but I don't think I really believed him. We've gone through so much together, good and bad. When we have issues in our relationship, I'm the one who is always quick to bail. He is always solid and unwavering in his love for me. I never could quite understand how confident and sure he was of us and our path together. But now I do. This ride revealed so much. It showed me that I needed to really open my eyes, my heart and arms to unconditional love and receive it. It showed me that unconditional love is a natural cycle of giving and receiving. It showed me that even with my imperfections & insecurities, I AM WORTHY OF LOVE AND BEING LOVED!! Aside from my partner, I felt the love from all my relations - my children, my mother & uncle, my new extended familia, my AP fam, real peeps whom i've been fortunate enough to share time & space with, and my circle of strong, loyal beautiful mamas who are down to ride this rollercoaster called life with me. This is my breakthrough and my gratitude. It took 33 years to get here, but I am so happy to be here so I can spend the next 33 years or so being present and always ready for love and the abundance that comes with it! After lunch, the rest of the ride was pretty much smooth downhill sailing. The freedom I felt from that moment is something I will never forget. We took turns leading the way, stopped to observe the wildlife that crossed our path (saw 2 deers, some rabbits, & foxes!), and even stopped to do a photo shoot at the garden at the end of the trail. The rest of the night followed the same type of flow...but i'll spare the details :) P.S. When I was in labor, I had a vision of 2 deers, a baby and mama. On the day my son was born I received my power animal and a deeper understanding of unconditional love's role in my life. Earlier this year while I was in Fiji, I discovered my totem animals through my medicine cards, and again, deer revealed itself to me as one of my guides. For those who want to learn more of deer's significance, I included some info below. One. *** Deer, Power Animal, Symbol of Gentleness, Unconditional Love and Kindness By Ina Woolcott Deer's medicine includes gentleness in word, thought and touch. The ability to listen, grace and appreciation for the beauty of balance. Understanding of what's necessary for survival, power of gratitude and giving, ability to sacrifice for the higher good, connection to the woodland goddess, alternative paths to a goal In the Celtic tradition, there are two aspects of deer - female and male. The Hind (the red female deer), called Eilid in the Gaelic language, symbolises femininity, subtlety and gracefulness. The Hind is believed to call to us from the Faery realm, tempting us to release the material trappings of so-called 'civilization', to go deep into the forest of magic, to explore our own magical and spiritual nature. The topic gentleness is part of this tradition. Many stories tell of Hinds changing into women, often goddesses, to protect does from being hunted. The lesson to be gleaned here is that when we explore magic and spirituality, it must be with good intention, to harm no living being, but to enter the realm of the wild things in the spirit of love and communion. The Stag, Damh in the Gaelic tongue, is also linked to the sacredness of the magical forest. The Damh represents independence, purification, and pride. It is known as the King of the Forest, the protector of its creatures. For time immemorial people have sought to identify with the stag by ceremonially wearing antlered headdresses and imitating the deer's leaping grace. Both Celtic and Native American hunters prayed to the deer to give them a good hunt, and in return promised to take no more than was essential for the survival of the tribe. This helps remind us that our spirit of gentleness and unconditional love should extend to all species, not only our own. Maybe the most effective way to summarize the lessons of these beliefs, is to say that only when we move through life in the spirit of love for all beings can we melt the barriers that separate us from others, from other life forms, and from the beautiful mystery which is our own magical and spiritual gift. By observing the ways in which deer behave, it is possible to see what amazing qualities - or powers - they possess. From the deer we can learn that the gift of gentleness and caring can help us overcome and put aside many testing situations. Only love, both for ourselves and for others, helps us understand the true meaning of wholeness. If a deer crosses your path, this may show you that you are a very compassionate, gentle and loving person. If you don't have these qualities, then consider if you have a problem that needs addressing. Are you facing a challenge in your life, whether with a fellow human being or a delicate situation? If you are feeling negative emotions such as anger, try letting go. Think about whether a gentler and more loving approach can sort the issue out. It may be necessary to speak the truth, this is best done with kindness and from the heart, this will generally give a better result. Deer teaches us how powerful it is to be of gentle demeanour, to exert keen observation and sensitivity. Deer's are in tune with nature and all it comprises. They are sacred carriers of peace and show those with this power animal how to open their hearts and love unconditionally. Frequently twins or even triplets are born in the spring. Females and males reside in separate groups until the mating season. White-tailed deer are rather sociable, and family members forage food together along with other family groups, which gives the appearance of a large herd. Fawns are born a colour that protects them, camouflaging them from a predator’s sight. In the first few days of their life they hardly move, until their energy field is strong and grounded. They then stand up and begin to follow their mother around. A magical sight to behold is fawns coming out of forests, following their tenderly protective mothers. Even when grazing, the mothers are constantly watchful, fully aware and alert of what is going on all around them. They travel through forest and field with deliberateness and clarity, mindful of the fragile creature they nurture and protect. There is a powerful lesson to be learned here by us. Though we are born with an inborn ability to be unconditionally loving, often we are born to parents whose life experiences have taught them to become hard, and to lose that ability to experience and give unconditional love. Watching the deer and her babies is a reminder to honour and respect the child-like innocence within your self and go about your life with gentleness and an open heart. You should also stand strong on your path, in your beliefs, and not allow yourself to get distracted by outside influences. Deer has entered your life to help you walk the path of love with full consciousness and awareness, to know that love sometimes requires caring and protection, not only in how we love others, but also in how we love ourselves. A deer's senses are very acute and they see extremely well in low light, giving them the ability to understand the deeper symbolic meanings of things. They can hear a twig snap a very long way off. People with this power animal are often described as being swift and alert. They are intuitive, often seeming to possess well developed, even extrasensory perceptions. Sometimes their thoughts seem to race ahead, and they appear not to be listening, to be somewhere else. Anyone with power animal has latent clairvoyant and clairaudient abilities. They can see between the shadows, detect subtle movements and hear that which is not being uttered. Ask the deer to help you develop these true gifts. The set of antlers grown by the male deer are antennae that connect it to higher energies. If you come across a deer in the wild, try to count the number of points on their antlers. This number is associated with numerology and can carry great significance for those with this power animal. Deer teaches us to be gentle, to touch the hearts and minds of wounded beings who are in our lives. Don't push people to change, rather gently nudge them in right direction, with the love that comes from deer. Love and accept people as they are. The balance of true power lays in love and compassion. When a Deer totem enters your world, a new innocence and freshness in about to be awakened. New adventures are just around the corner and there will be an opportunity to express the gentle love that will open new doors for you.

Artist Bio (extended)

Artist Bio (extended): love/speak (intentionally uncapitalized), also known as Joana Cruz, is a woman who freely speaks with her heart in her hand. Inspired by the concept of love and its variety in form, love/speak writes to capture the purity and rawness of love as it manifests in that moment. For love/speak, this is where truth exists and what guides the soul through the journey of life. Its breaks barriers and boundaries. It builds bridges of communication and understanding. It has a powerful ability to heal, empower and inspire. Learning about love and documenting her personal observations and experiences of love with honesty, depth and flair has been love/speak’s passion all her life. From poetry, to essays, love letters to random philosophical musings – the subject of love and it relation to human interactions never gets old (or dull!), Writing about love is her way of actively living love. This process not only allows her to explore her creativity, but helps her move through life always aiming to elevate the vibration of humanity. Creative expression through her writing is love/speak’s homage to life and the interconnectedness of all things. Each piece she creates act as reminders of love’s existence, significance, and the importance of the appreciation for it.

Meditation (Fiji State of Mind)

Returning back home, I don't feel quite at peace
I feel like I am in a box
Limited by my surroundings
to feel the fullest potentials
of the Earths's love

I am feeling uneasy
My mind is racing and
I feel the pulsations of my body
moving at light speed
I miss waking up and greeting the sun as it rises
I miss the wind's cool breeze on my face
I miss the sound of the ocean as it crashes on to the surf
I miss feeling the mana in the ground as I walk

I have been changed by the pure magic that still exists
My soul has opened up to receive the bounty of Creator
And in return, I reflect all that I am
back to giving unconditionally, selflessly, freely

But being back at home, I feel my senses closing up
The energy that exists is fast and furious
and my soul is sensitive to it
Reacting in ways that digress from higher self

I write to remind myself that everything is ok
That the changes are meant to give me more strength
to do my work, to share more love
Here at home and beyond

I cannot forget what I've learned from the islands
That everything I need to exist and thrive
on the outside is within
That home is always in the heart

I cannot forget that moving my body
and connecting with it daily
sends endless endorphins dancing
happily throughout my inner universe

I cannot forget that a simple smile
sends so much love and positivity
and that there is so much to gain
by having random conversation with strangers

I cannot forget that we are all one
and come from the same source
And that even in this state of uneasiness
The potential to to do the greatest good exist