The ancient tale of the Wondrous Deer is known around the globe in many versions. The essential story is that a hunted deer leads his hunters to a new land. The deer is an ancient mythological animal which holds the sun and the moon on its horns, indicating that he is the one who leads the chosen ones out of darkness and into light, to life from death, from ancient land to new land.
In the Hungarian version of this myth, Hunor and Magor – the twin sons of Menrot (or Nimrod) and Eneh (meaning doe) – are led to a new home with their company by the Wondrous Deer. Importantly, the twins chase and hunt the deer together and reap the benefits of the hunt together.
After deciding to work on this theme, 9 difficult months passed. As many times as I started over and over designing it, it just didn’t go ahead: but I couldn’t let go of the idea. I was chasing and following day after day, but I couldn’t grab it. This was a time when I was seeking my path. I was searching for my place in the world as a woman, as a mother. I was looking for the ideal state, where I would be not only a mother but also a useful, working member of society, and, most importantly, a woman, with her strengths and weaknesses. I was looking for myself and looking for the place BelleLelle wraps should have both in me and in the world.
One day I realised something. The balance I wanted to express with this wrap is not a static but very dynamic state. The search for balance, for the perfect state – for the Wondrous Deer – this is what keeps the world moving forward. Once I let go of the idea of a motionless state, the deers started “talking.” One said something, the other replied. I learned from them. There doesn’t have to be a winner between my roles, one doesn’t have to overcome another. Sometimes my mother-role is stronger, sometimes the creative, working role.
Like a long-awaited child, the wrap was finished, ready to be shown to the world. The most important thing is not reaching the goal, but the path we take and who we became as we reach for it. For we are the hunter and we are the Wondrous Deer too…
