Becoming The Stag: Surrender

How to become The Stag and surrendering to being the hunted.

When I think of the Stag, I think of power, nobility and strength. I think of the antlers and being the Alpha. So, when I think of the Stag it is hard to imagine surrendering.  The idea was hard to grasp at first. How do I embody the potency of such an animal and still surrender?
Again I find myself having to stop my linear thinking. I had to stop believing I understood where I would find the answers, or already know what I would find. I had to stop believing I already knew the answer to the question I was asking.
So I begin by listing the qualities The Stag brings.

Totem- Deer by Oka (2010)
http://okawolf312.deviantart.com/gallery/

• Masculine Power
• Strength
• Nobility
• Pride
• Leadership
• Alertness
• Gracefulness
• Cunning
• Responsibility (to/for the Herd)

The more I thought about it, the longer the list got. I even found other qualities listed that I hadn't known, like regeneration, psychic accessibility, love and many more. How do I include the things like having to know where the best and most plentiful food and water sources are. Having to know where the best parts of the forest are to be, so as to not risk the self or any of the herd to the hunters. All the hunters...

That was when it hit me.
There is no how to the becoming part of the hunt. It just is. The Stag is one of the Hunted. This is what is, and I do not have to do anything for this to be true. I just had to recognize what is.
So instead I have to ask myself, how do I become one of the Hunted. How do I surrender to that?
Be The Stag.
Embody him.  Accept all the gifts he has to offer. Open the senses. Accept the strength and masculine power as my own. Accept the gracefulness and stand with pride. Feel the nobility in his presence and accept the responsibility of leadership.
When I can do that, When I accept all he has to offer, when I surrender to him fully, then I will, without having to do anything, be surrendering to the hunt.

This totem is new to me, and I must respect the learning I have to do surrounding it. I think I am off to a good start.
I found myself very eager to more fully examine my connection to him and bring him more directly, more consciously forward. As I brought it forward I was afraid that the sensations were incomplete. That I was only focusing on the masculine potency, the virility. But, somehow, I am certain I was not. I am quite open to the psychic energies and a gentleness that he brings, even in my (metaphorically) turgid state. His power and wisdom are available to me, but there is no way I could accept the breadth and depth all at once. I must remain patient with myself in this, and know I can do this.

And something else important. Something else that I had started to question. Why would I want to surrender to the hunt? If I surrender, doesn't that mean death? How sensible is that? I had trouble with the idea that I would work to integrate a new totem, only to sacrifice it by surrendering to the hunt.
That wouldn't make sense.
There must be another answer..
Surrendering to the hunt does not mean surrendering to the Hunter. It means accepting that I am hunted, and that attuning his gifts, and opening ALL my senses will allow me to be an active participant in the hunt. If I am actively accepting of this, I can join in the Hunt, be the Hunted, and live.

That's pretty potent.

Seidr: The Norns & My Path

Seidr is magic from the old traditions of the Norse. As I am just beginning to learn about this tradition I won't try to boil it down here. I encourage you to look it up and find some way to experience it yourself.
I have only attended two High Seat ceremonies. The first in June (2013) the second in August. The first was dedicated to Freya. The second to the Norns. While my experience in June was good, I was more of an observer, and was feeling out the way energy moved in this tradition and space.  And I did return, so it can be assumed they left we with a good impression.
I had decided to ask a question myself as time approached the ceremony. I had an idea what my question was, but not how to ask it, but once the ceremony began the words became clear to me. What I received has already impacted me, and it has only been a few days.

Question:

I seek a Path, to finding forgiveness for myself instead of the destructive forces I use to push things away.

Answers:

(Left) It’s first and foremost necessary that you know you can do this. You must know this.

(Center) You are working with ancient material. Be patient with yourself. This path also seeks you. It’s calling to you. It’s hunting you. Let yourself be the prized stag who claims love for yourself, for the mercy of forgiveness. Let grace nourish you.

(Center) Too long the hunter.

(Right) Be open to the moon, and not just the sun.

(Center) Seeking, Seeking, Seeking, Wild, Wild.

(Center) Let yourself be found. I see so many turns, so many eyes staring back that have looked everywhere. Perhaps you think you know what the path looks like, but you’ve never been on it.

(Left) Surrender and trust.

(Right) All paths have shadow.  All paths have struggle.  All paths have light. The moon, as well as the sun.

(Center)You are their torch. The only one who can burn for you, is you. Let this be a joyful thing.

(Center) Do not fear the unfamiliar. You embrace your ancient path because it is familiar.

(Center) You will make an altar. You will lay yourself upon it. You will invite her down. You will let her forgive you. The sacred moon. Silver. Amber. Burn copal. Clean.

(Center) Let yourself be hunted. Honor the hunt. Surrender.

(Left) It is a daily practice. Every morning. Align, Forgive. Align, Forgive.

(Center) It is a lifetime.

(Right) You are not alone. But you must act on your own at times.

(Center) Share with those you trust. To practice. They will have compassion, will understand. They will be willing for the work, but not the old ways. No one learns to dance in a day. You will stumble.

(Left) Align, Forgive.

(Right) The moon.

(Center) I see cobwebs. I see spider. How to weave. Become a fly.

(Left) You must know you can do this.

(Center) We can hear you. Hear us.

Orientation is based on the oracle's position relative to each other not me.

A lot of information there, and there are many ways to interpret the words, but as I was there, I can recall the tones and punctuation, which adds to it. This is an experience you have to be open to, and be willing to listen to. And I know I was ready to hear them.  The very next day I started to feel more certain, and I knew I would be able to do this.
During the healing work event I went to the next day,  a monthly Systemic Constellations workgroup from Healing Earth, I laid out my intent to connect more to the Stag, and learn how to surrender to the hunt. One of the things I love about constellations, especially with Healing Earth is I feel very confident in the facilitator and that makes it easier for me to both trust the sanctity of the circle and be open to allowing the work to happen through me. I asked, and I trusted, so I received.

Settling into to the work happened so quickly. I slipped into the role of Divine Masculinity with such ease. I had not realized that this was what was happening at first, but the potency of my position could not be doubted. I felt the virility and strength, the erect forcefulness of what I was almost immediately. There was more, though this is where I settled in as the work began. First in a trial (I call it a trial, the feeling out of energy really didn't have a name), and then as a certain and sure force for the seeker.
While I knew the purpose I served the seeker without question, and was able to stand in that for a long time, the clarity allowed me time to also feel what was in the role for me. After the event I was able to talk about the more personal aspects of the role for me with the facilitator, which helped me open myself more to the dreams and revelations that would follow the next day (see what came from those).

I love when the work shows itself so clearly. It doesn't make the work easier, but it does allow me more confidence stepping into it.

The Beginning From The Middle

Hello Sunshine (2013)

Recently I have had some very poignant and influential revelations, experiences and opportunities for growth. Recently includes the past couple of years, since I had met a very special frog, and soon thereafter met my strongest guide, Merak.

This journey book will include some backdated information. The reason I am going to do that is because some of my revelations are about past events, and how they have influenced my life, and continue to do so. And then my entries will come as the revelations, struggles and successes come, which seem to be more and more often of late, and I think that is a blessing.

Emerging (2012)

This journey book is about me. Who am I? I am an American white man. While I have no blood connection, that I know of, to pre-Columbian native Americans, my family has been here for five generations at the least and therefor I consider this my native land. I am a baptized Catholic who left the church believing the clergy and the church has failed me, my community, and the world. I have found some relief in the beliefs of ancient cultures, both related to the peoples of my heritage, and the peoples of the land I call home.

This journey book is about my seeking, from any of the ancient wisdoms to help guide me to be a better man, a better human, and a better friend to myself, my communities, and my world.

You are welcome to read my about my journey, and I welcome conversation. I have many things to learn, and polite discussion can do no worse than show me things I may not have seen without the eyes of another. So I hope to welcome you into my life, and I hope some of my journey may spark something in yours...

Be well,
~Dave