W H Auden

Altogether elsewhere, vast
Herds of reindeer move across
Miles and miles of golden moss,
Silently and very fast.

Running reindeer

Santa, a modern human shaman...

Buried in the artificial cartoon image of Santa and his reindeer lie traces of ancient shamanic beliefs. The winter solstice was observed and celebrated long before Christmas became a holy day, always with colourful gifts to ward off the darkness of winter. Shamans, like our Santa, were said to travel through chimneys in their journeys to the other world. Santa, our modern human shaman, cares for the reindeer all year long, until he journeys with them into our hearts, a spirit guide to keep hope alive in us. (from "Following The Reindeer Spirit" by Linda Schierse Leonard).

The reindeer as spiritual messenger...

In the Arctic the shamanic peoples who live according to the rhythms of animals regard the reindeer as a spiritual messenger who travels between heaven and earth, transporting the shaman to the spirit world, where he gathers wisdom to bring back to help heal the community. The reindeer also carry the souls of the dead to the spirit world for rebirth, - from "Creation's Heartbeat, Following the Reindeer Spirit" by Linda  Schierse Leonard

Reindeer herder's song