An encounter with a "deer at the edge of the forest"

People often tell me that they have trouble remembering their dreams.  In response, I frequently offer them a quote from Jungian analyst Marion Woodman: "A dream is like a deer at the edge of the forest: If it’s welcomed, it will come out. If you feed it, it will develop a relationship with you. But if you don’t care about it, it will disappear."  In fact, I probably repeat that quote in random conversations a few times every month.

So, I took notice when I recently saw a real-life "deer at the edge of the forest" (see image below).  I was playing golf at Kiawah Island over Memorial Day weekend.    I did not notice the deer until I was right upon him or her.  Amazingly, the deer did not flinch and continued grazing as my golf cart whizzed by along the cart path.   As a practitioner of "dream yoga" (life is a dream), I take animal reflections quite seriously as messages, especially when there is synchronicity involved (in this case, the synchronicity of representing a phrase that I commonly use).  This deer's message for me?  I think it is something like this: "I do represent dreams.  I'm not running from you because you have cultivated a relationship with me.   Not only am I a deer at the edge of a forest, but I'm also a deer at the edge of a fairway.  I'm easily accessible to you.  Just keep your eyes open as you drive along your path."