DEER
--PEACE, GENTLENESS AND COMPASSION--

      Native Americans have lore of Deer, which sounds strikingly like the task attributed by Christians to Jesus:
---------------- Deer was summoned by the Great Spirit to the Sacred Mountain. As Deer approached, a demon blocked the path. This demon had decided to block the path to Great Spirit, so lesser creatures would think Great Spirit did not care to be bothered, giving the demon a sense of power and control over lesser creatures. Deer approached the demon without fear and asked to be allowed to pass to see the Great Spirit. Demon was confused, as Deer should have fainted from fear at the sight of the demon. Yet, the gentleness in Deer's eyes and the love in Deer's heart melted the heart of the demon, until the demon melted away to nothing. Now the path to the Great Spirit is clear, and Great Spirit may be approached by all creatures, without fear of demon's blocking their way.
----------------       Deer reminds us to seek peace in heart and action, and to reach out with this gentleness to touch the hearts and minds of other beings. Deer would have us use this peace and gentleness to dispel the demons which frighten us and tempt us to abandon the journey to Sacred Mountain.
      Deer reminds us to quit trying to force people to change their ways - simply love them the way they are. Deer reminds us to find our own way to Sacred Mountain with the guidance of the Great Spirit, and to stop trying to drag others kicking and screaming into their own future.

Avoid fighting your demons with negative energies.

Finding something to love in others makes fearing them much more difficult.

Finding something to love in others allows peace and compassion to come through.
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DOG
--LOYALTY, SERVICE AND PROTECTION--

      Dogs were and are kept by members of all Southwest and Plains Indian tribes, as well as by almost every other culture of the world. Dog is loyal, protective, territorial and familial. Dog warns of danger, guide in tight spaces, track food, warm a cold night. Dog guards the home, hell's gates, secrets, treasures and children. Dog is the loving gentleness of best friends.
      If Dog comes into your life, you are reminded to examine your attitude towards serving others. There is almost nothing which can break a Dog's loyalty. Despite hardships, and even abusive treatment, Dog will be there for you, as if He understands that you are not perfect and will have your bad moments, yet accepts them and is there only to serve you and be your friend. Can you say the same of yourself? It is possible to break Dog's spirit, but the loyalty does not break until the spirit is gone. Even when bred into fierceness, the fierceness was the trait the owner wanted, and Dog took that trait into its genetic memory to please its owner. How are you doing with peer pressure?
      Dog asks you to evaluate your goals, loyalties and friendships. Is the present company you keep loyal and supportive, or are your goals compromised for peer approval? Are you convincing yourself that you don't deserve loyalty from others? Have you done anything to earn such disloyalty? Are any of your actions disloyal or demeaning to others? How much fear of disapproval is there in your thinking? Do you put others down to lift yourself up?
      Dog may be telling you it is time to break away from the pack with which you are running, and to find a pack more suitable to loyalties, friendship and service to others.
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DOLPHIN
--BREATH AND MANNA--

      Dolphin reminds us we have to come up for a breath once in awhile. Dolphin tells us that this may also be the best time to release any penned up emotions we may have. Full, deep breathing from the bottom of the lungs and diaphragm.
      Dolphin also tells us that, through controlled breathing, we have the ability to link with any other life form, creature or the Great Spirit Himself.
      The Manna of the Old Testament was the food of life; whereas other groups believe it is the life force itself. Manna exists in everything, down to the smallest atom, up to the Great Spirit Himself. Dolphin reminds us of this presence, and teaches us to tap into this source of infinite power to reinvigorate ourselves to the very base of our being. Once the body has been nourished completely the spirit can relax and move into other states of consciousness. Some refer to these other states as the Dreamtime. Knowingness suddenly opens to us when we are not so tied up in maintaining the physical and locked to the mundane.
      Legend has it that Dolphin learned breathing, then passed into the Dreamtime, where He learned many thing. On His return, He was disappointed, until He was told by Whale that He could return to Dreamtime any time by practicing the breathing. Once Dolphin learned to move easily He was tasked by the occupants of Dreamtime to carry news of the progress of man back to the Dreamtime, since they wanted to track man's progress at being one with the Great Spirit.
      Dolphin may be bring you a message from Dreamtime or even the Great Spirit Himself.
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DRAGON
--WISE MAGIC KEPT SEQUESTERED--

      Dragonfly was once Dragon. Some legends claim Dragon is stuck in Dragonfly, having been tricked by Coyote into changing shapes to prove His power of magic.
      Dragon is very wise. The smart money says that He was wise enough to change into that form to avoid detection and being pestered by Coyote. When Dragon needs His larger form, He shifts back for the time required by the task, then shifts back to the Dragonfly form and peacefully goes about his business.
      Dragon avoids shifting when humans are around. He does not want the message to get back to Coyote, and to have Coyote coming back to try again to trick Him. Dragon just doesn't want to be bothered. So Dragon tends to restrict his visits to humans to times when humans are dreaming. Those who need to know Dragon still exists will, and the rest will think it's just a dream.
      Dragon may visit to remind you "Silence is golden." And you know Dragon protects His gold! One of Dragon's wisest lessons is "everything in its season". Knowing when to keep your mouth shut and go along with someone who thinks he/she is "getting one over on you" can be a very strong lesson in wisdom.
      It is difficult to select the winner in this game of wits Dragon and Coyote waged, but it seems the one who spends his time around water may have gotten the better end of the deal than the one banished to the dry, desert ranges. Dragon still travels between this world and the Void, and understands the Magic of the void.
      Dragon may also warn you that someone is trying to take your power.
      Lastly, Dragon's visit may be to tell you that you are being awakened to great things to come.
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DRAGONFLY
--ILLUSION--

      Dragonfly reminds us of the fog placed over our eyes when we took on the physical body - the illusion that this is reality. Dragonfly reminds us not to get so deep into our own illusions and personal magic, that we forget the path we are on.
      Dragonfly foretells change. Dragonfly also connects us to the Elementals - the spirits of plants, and of the elements air, earth, fire, and water - the nature spirits.
      Dragonfly reminds us of the need for nourishment - for ourselves and for all things living for which we have assumed responsibility - pets, plants, children, etc. On another level, Dragonfly reminds us of the process by which we take in, digest and assimilate thoughts and emotions. Do these processes need to be changed?
      Are you misleading yourself into thinking you must prove your powers to anyone? Have you been feeling you must change yourself because someone thinks you should? Buying into someone else's picture of what you should be is giving away your power. Dragonfly hovers into you space to tell you to "Knock off that crap!"
      Dragonfly would have you go within yourself to the level beyond the illusions, where you will see that you are the one who is creating them!
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DUCK
--SEASONAL CHANGE--

      Duck visits to notify you when seasonal, cyclical changes are coming your way. Mother Earth has her seasons. Duck understands these seasons, and does not get angry that they take place. Duck simply accepts the changes and is trying to tell you that you should, too.
      Duck may come to warn you of the impending flood of your land, since you live on a former riverbed. Duck may warn you of the coming flash forest fire.
      Duck is not warning you of disasters, She is reminding you that Mother Earth has cycles, and if you choose to ignore them, Mother Earth can demonstrate one hell of a case of PMS!
      There is no disaster in Mother Earth's cycles. Drought is dryness, a chance for the soil to relax from the activities of supporting plant life. Snowstorms are Mother Earth's way of storing fresh water. Floods are Mother Earth's way of washing away the salts that are leaching up through the soil. Forest fires are Mother Earth's way of recycling nitrates back into the soil, and causing Ponderosa Pine cones to crack open, releasing seeds to start the new growth.
      Duck is just letting you know that the season is changing, and, if you haven't been paying attention, you might want to take action to "move to higher ground".
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