Venison

If you search for information on the deer as a totem animal, you will find possibly as many interpretations as there are actual deer in the forest. Some claim that the deer represents innocence, while others say it symbolizes perception. Still others will opine that the deer as a totem animal symbolizes familial relationships.

Deer are graceful animal, nimble and agile as they travel through the forests (and sometimes stray into people’s yards) in search of food. Fawns are especially sweet with their dappled coats meant to mimic the sun-speckled undergrowth. They seem like very docile creatures, but adults can be rather aggressive, especially when protecting territory or young. Growing up in the Mountain State taught me a few lessons about these ‘forest children’, as my uncle calls them.

The deer that we North Americans know is not the same one that is sacred to the Celts, but both species can bestow their gifts upon us. If you’re a die-hard fan of Bambi, you may not wish to read any further. Where I come from, the week of Thanksgiving is also the first week of deer hunting season. Many counties close schools for the entire week because they know many people will be getting up before dawn to vest themselves in camouflage gear and blaze orange caps and vests in order to traipsing through the forest in search of deer.

Deer is a valuable food source for many people. In fact, some food banks set up programs to allow people to donate extra meat in order to feed those without. It can be prepared in a variety of ways, including jerky, which keeps forever. It’s a low-fat, high-protein food source. Some hunters say they are “thinning the numbers” so the animals do not starve in the winter. That’s fine, as long as the meat is used. It is a terrible insult to the spirit of the animal to hunt it only for its antlers or head.

If we look at all of the different totem information given for the deer, I think we can safely come up with some associations for this animal. Most sources mention a deer’s ability to detect subtle movements and noises. Deer may help us strengthen awareness of our surroundings, as well as psychic awareness. Another source claims that people who have a deer totem may have clairvoyant abilities, so to me it makes sense that having some representation of this animal (a knife with an antler handle, a small piece of skin that was taken with respect, etc.) may help you with meditations or strengthening your subconscious.

Some practitioners of magic believe that one’s psychic abilities are dulled by the consumption of animal flesh. Again, this is a personal belief and it is your personal decision. I believe it is entirely possible to strengthen one’s subconscious mind and eat meat if you wish. If deer is your totem animal, you may abstain from eating the flesh of the animal as well. Again, it is entirely up to you.

You may have other ideas and associations for this animal, or for any of the foods that have been and will be discussed here. If you do, please share them with me. I would love to hear your opinions. Also, let me know if you feel I've left out anything important!


Here are mine:

DeerPlanet: Mercury
Element: Air
Energies: the conscious and unconscious mind, divination, strength (of the unconscious mind as well)

And now I present to you another Two Fat Ladies recipe: Venison Medallions with Bramble (Blackberry) Jelly

• 2-3 Medallions of venison per person
• Unsmoked streaky bacon; cut
• Seasoned flour
• Bramble jelly or blackberry

• Sugar
• Meat stock
• Sour cream
• Salt
• Black pepper; Freshly Ground

Fry enough bacon very gently to extract enough fat to fry the medallions. Remove the bacon. Put enough well-seasoned flour into a plastic bag and toss the venison in it: remove and lay on some greaseproof paper. Heat the bacon fat and fry the meat on a medium heat for 5-7 minutes, turning frequently. Put them in a warmed dish with a teaspoon of jelly on each medallion and keep warm while you make the sauce. If you are using blackberries instead of jelly, cook them lightly in a little red wine and sugar to taste. Spoon over the medallions as for the jelly. Depending on how much you are cooking, add enough of the stock to the pan. Boil briskly, stirring all the juices together. When it starts to look syrupy, mix in enough sour cream to make a rich sauce. Adjust the seasoning. Pour over the venison.
Serve with buttered noodles and a green vegetable.