Why the Hart?

My name is Raya, and I am like the hart. My soul yearns for God like the hart yearns for the streams of running water.

When you glance across my little apostolate over here, does part of you ever wonder, “Well, I guess the “hart” imagery is nice, and the deer jumping in your logo is cute, but… why the hart, Raya?”

If you really want to know the short answer:

Sicut Cervus is my favourite polyphonic piece by Palestrina, and it was stuck in my head as I set up my YouTube channel. So, I almost named my channel Sicut Cervus, but it wasn’t available. Also, I thought maybe Latin would confuse people… I can barely pronounce it myself!

The lengthy answer is: the symbol of the hart in Psalm 42 caught my attention, and something about it resonated with my soul.

Harts don’t sing… but (in the psalm at least!) they seek. When you yearn for something, it follows that you’re actively seeking it. I imagine the hart leaping through the forest, this way and that, searching for where to take a long and much desired drink. And with my own voice, lifted up in melody “this way and that”, I am trying to seek after God. He must be out there somewhere… somewhere in the mystery of life and light and music and creativity and all things that take our breath away in wonder. He must be somewhere in that – in every thing that is truly good, truly true and truly beautiful.

Too airy fairy? I’d love to take a quick, grounding journey with you to see where the “hart” symbol comes up in scripture. Are you ready?

First: my raison-d’etre:

Psalm 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

To say you yearn for God is quite a statement. Some translations even call it “panting”. What does it even mean? Like the hart panting for the founts of water... Have you ever gone on a hike on a scorching summer’s day and become thirsty – so parched, you’d do anything for a drink? It’s easy to imagine thirsting for water on a hot day, but what does it mean to thirst for God? And not just to thirst for consolation or comfort on the “hot day” of life’s tribulations, but for Who He is?

…More on that in a future post. I have lots of thoughts.

The hart as a reference to being nimble and elegant and suited to “high places”… Like the heights of Gregorian chant neumes! (is that too much of a stretch..?):

Psalm 18:33 He makes my feet like hart’s feet, and sets me up on high.

The hart in reference to a lover:

Song of Songs 2:9: My beloved is like… a young hart. Behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

And again, a lover (and beloved), of one suited to mountains or the heights (of holiness? 😊)

Song of Songs 2:17: Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

Again, the idea of being “like a hart” is a good thing – especially if it involves a transformation of “feet” (which I take to mean “ability”… maybe.):

Hab 3:19: The LORD God is my strength, he shall make my feet as the feet of harts: and he which giveth the victory, shall bring me to my high places, singing upon my psalms.

And this last one (for now) I took especial interest in because it was the reading for one of the Advent ember days, and it made me reflect on my own journey of life:

Isaiah 35:6: Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

I really recognise myself in that: in some of those dark days before I started Like the Hart, and before the avenue of singing and creativity became my solace… I was like a “lame man”, a sick person who didn’t have half the capacity to walk, let alone sing. And then, Jesus comes to my rescue, “making all things new” (Rev 21:5) cries “‘Ephphatha’, that is ‘be opened.’” (Mark 7:34) - and I suddenly find the strength and energy to lift up my voice in humble song, and “the tongue of the dumb sings” - which turns into this beautiful mission.

Laudate Dominum…

The similarity is not lost on me, of the word “hart” and “heart” – which is often what people think I’ve said when I tell them in person about my YouTube channel. I have to say “no, not the bodily organ – the animal! The deer!” – but to be fair, when else do you use the word “hart” in casual conversation? As the hart yearns, so does my heart yearn.

 …That's all I've got for now. I hope I’ve added a bit of substance to the meaning behind my project name. But what do you think? I’d love to hear if you have any reflections on this symbol, or if you have any scriptural symbols that relate to your soul, too.

As ever, you remain in my prayers – have a blessed weekend.