Well yes, yet she seems to be awakening in a growing number of peoples lives, including mine, as ancestral antlered goddess of the wilds. The Islands of Britain are her homelands, where she was 'Elen of the Hosts', but she is touching people in other parts of the world in these times.
After being drawn to make a be-antlered doll some months back, inspired by the gentle, sense-a-tive, medicine of Deer, I was then fascinated to come across a picture of an ancient bronze Romano Gallic figure of a seated woman with antlers, from France. I'd heard tales of fella's with horns before ;), but this was something! 'Elen of the Ways' was the title beneath. I had a name to begin tracking a gut feeling. She is somewhat elusive, like her totem or the leylines she is also named by. Elen of the Leys.
Elen of the Ways is a world crosser. In a tale written in the collection of lore the Mabinogion, she sends a visionary dream out to a potential love Macsen, to see if he can translate it and come find her. A testing, an Aisling. To possibly earn his place at her Sovereign side, and the lands, as guardian.
Deer occur in most countries of the world, but Reindeer are the only deer in which the females bear antlers. Those that still live with them, such as the Sami people, follow them in migration, rather than 'herding' them like cattle. The Reindeer are led by Grandmothers, or matriachs along their pathways.
There are images painted in caves of Reindeer from some 45 000 years ago, whilst 'domesticating' them is estimated to have occured some 3000 years ago, although some sources say 7000.
There was a time when Reindeer were indeed crossing the landscape of Europe in parts that now, due to climate shifts are either underwater, or populated by different species. For example in Scotland Roe deer and Red deer colonised some 10 000 years ago, it seems all layers doesn't it? Deer were introduced to Australia in the 19th century, six such species, Fallow, Red, Sambar, Rusa, Hog and Chital now inhabit our shores.
Trance journeying in sacred space is part of my creative process. Recently, I have connected with an antlered spirit being who introduced herself as a Scottish heritage witch, Morag. Also a maker of dolls, amongst other skills. She came from a time when craft supplies were rather more down and dirty than what you get in Spotlight these days. Linens, flax, nettle fibres, roots, sticks, bone, hide, sinew, leather, wool, hag stones, herbs and plants. She has encouraged me using these types of materials and inspired the creation of the pictured doll. A muse, or guide, who affirmed previous suggestions to begin exploring needle felting. A making where unspun wool is repeatedly stabbed with a barbed needle, until it matts together and sculpting begins....
Resources and References:
'Elen of the Ways: Following the Deer Trods, the Ancient Shamanism of Britain' and 'Following the Deer Trods, a Practical Guide to Working With Elen of the Ways' by Elen Sentier.
'Elen of the Ways' an article by Caroline Wise
http://www.andrewcollins.com/page/articles/elen_1.htm
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