Medicine Deer of Compassion

Title: "Medicine Deer of Compassion"  -  "Mushkiki Waawaashkeshi Zhawenim"

This was painting #2 that was requested by my late cousin JR P Corbiere during his battle with Cancer.

In the fiery embrace of the setting sun, a stylized deer stands silhouetted against the horizon, its form adorned with geometric patterns in the four sacred colors: red, white, yellow, and black. This is Mushkiki Waawaashkeshi Zhawenim, the Medicine Deer of Compassion, a vision requested by a beloved cousin during his courageous battle with cancer.

Facing, the West, the deer pauses, casting a gentle gaze back upon its life's journey before continuing through the Western Doorway to the spirit world. Upon its chest shines a star, anang, bearing a small heart within, and at the heart's center, a single dot. This star represents the beloved souls who have passed on, now shining down upon us from the heavens, their eternal love forever held within our hearts.

Rendered in acrylics this painting embodies reverence, connection to the spirit world, and the raw beauty of nature. The four sacred colors symbolize the interconnectedness of all life and the balance within the universe. The setting sun represents the transition from earthly existence to the realm of the spirits, a journey undertaken with courage and grace. It is a time to honor those who have passed on, to remember their love and teachings, and to find solace in the knowledge that their spirits live on within us. The bold lines and shapes evoke a sense of power and tranquility, reflecting the enduring strength of the human spirit.