October 16, 1997 was a full moon. It was dusk and I was on my way to a Full Moon Gathering. While driving my 2 week new voyager, I noticed on my left a beautiful figure emerging from the forest lined road. He stood looking at me and all worlds stopped. Nothing but that moment with Stag existed. I admired his presents...then...suddenly, I was back in my car driving at 50 miles an hour and he decided to step. Yes, he gave himself to me as a gift. I was in shock. Stopped the vehicle and ran tward him. He was laying on the side of the road panting. I thought, oh, he is just stunned...but, no. I was standing, weeping...I'm sorry, please forgive me, I'm so sorry! Then, he gave me his last breath. Suddenly I realized cars were stopping offering to help. The police came and now his body was for me to honor. I rushed back to the house and called the people where I was to gather for the full moon. They came to help me bring him home. Stag became Full Moon that night. My drum sang for him a mourning song while walking the medicine wheel.
Stag was moving from the west to the east when I met his gaize. So, I burried his head in the center of the wheel facing the direction in which he was moving. His legs where placed in Earth Mother in the four directions of East, South, West and North. Remembering how the ancients would honor the buffalo by using all the body parts they could, I thought to do the same. His hide became a drum and rattle. His leg bones became a blade, healing wand, and rattle. I used his skull in ceremony for four years. His meat was honored. His jaw bones became a dream catcher. After 4 years had passed, I gifted all his medicine tools away in the hopes that he would continue the journey helping others.
Time went by and one of my give-a-ways was a shoulder roast. After the person used the meat, they saved the shoulder bone for me. I was shaken. Didn't I finish the work in a good way with stag? Now what was I to do with this bone that was split? But wait, it is the same shoulder I struck years before with my car. The wound was what needed to be worked by this bone. I couldn't do anything for well over a year with it. Finally, after moving to NM. I took the shoulder bone and painted Corn Mother on it. Where the bone is split, is where she is wounded. This teaches me about the original wound of woman.
When I moved back to NH, friends that had received the healing wand and bone blade gifted them back to me. After awhile, I began to work with them again and change their appearence. They are now often used in Full Moon Rituals. It is an honor to walk with Stag still.
Many Blessings,
Matooka MoonBear
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