asymmetry

one antlered deer. photo by Dan

Symmetry has a natural beauty to it that no eye needs to be trained to find pleasing. The repeating pattern of the mirroring of the lead deer by the rear deer shows this, as do the brown colours of the deer repeating the colours of the winter bush and the splash of primary blue providing contrast.

Yet asymmetry catches your eye unexpectedly and has a pleasantness, too. While many things in the world and outside it repeat circuitous patterns of balance, sometimes something interrupts that order. What are at times seen as imperfections are actually beautiful. A broken antler can be art, too. On a physical level, can you imagine the strength this deer needs to simply hold its head upright and straight? Would not this imperfection cause one's neck to be stronger? Antlers are heavy, you know.

I know why I keep returning to Deer for reflection: just look at the broad surface of Deer's ears! They are maps of sensitivity. The gentle curve of Deer's ears seem perfectly made for listening, to grab any slight sound that happens to whistle by. Listen.