With dwindling deer populations throughout the U.S., we should make every effort to protect deer and their habitats. We can also take a moment to reflect on the deer's natural beauty, and the spiritual meaning that many assign to chance encounters with deer.

Mule deer were ubiquitous in my garden when I lived in a rural area, and seeing deer on my daily walks was always a delightful experience.

If you live in a town where deer run free through front yards, or you're hiking in a national park and witness a family of deer nestled in nature, you can always come back to this guide to remember just how lucky you are and smile at the great fortune and happiness that awaits you following your meeting with deer.

Read on for a look into the various spiritual meanings of deer.

The bold, large antlers atop deer are revered by many cultures, and as the spirit animal-guided brand Fauna notes, this has led to many regions throughout the world — and their mythology — to view deer as noble and majestic.

For instance, in Celtic symbolism, deer symbolize power and strength; and in some Native American cultures, deer are often seen as spiritual life guides, per Fauna.

For the deer who mercifully make it through hunting season and reemerge in the spring, their presence symbolizes such notions as rebirth, resurrection, and a return of fine weather, per Fauna.

The website also notes that every year, deer shed their antlers — indeed, if you see a deer with or without antlers, you can feel safe knowing that a spiritual guide has emerged through the darkness of the seasons to greet you.

It's time to tap into your emotional intelligence if you keep dreaming about deer or seeing them in real life, according to mindbodygreen as deer have much wisdom to impart to wayward souls.

"Ultimately, deer represent gentleness and heart intelligence. So deer may present themselves to you if you've been hurt and your heart needs tending," states mindbodygreen.

According to Spirithoods, humans with deer as their spirit animals may embody the qualities of a male deer, aka a stag, which is typically seen as powerful and dominant; others who identify with the deer may relate more to the female deer, a doe, which is usually viewed as demure and kindhearted.

In my opinion, there can be no greater qualities to embody than sensitivity and gentleness. As the Spirit Animal blog relays, deer represent these qualities as well as a sense of innocence and purity.

Whether you're going through a difficult time in life or wishing to turn back time or recapture the innocence you thought abandoned you, it might be worthwhile embracing the symbolism and spirituality of deer to invoke a deeply meaningful sense of purity.