In hanging out with the herd lately, I’ve been reflecting on relationship. Showing up with the horses each day, just like any relationship, means exploring how to open our hearts with another.
The horses offer such a clear space to reflect and experience: how can I not take things personally? Can I stay present to what is, beyond the story I have about each one of them and myself, and forgive? Forgive myself when I react from fear, especially fear from old conditioning that they are disrespecting me by not “obeying” my requests? Fear that I’m not in control? Or even the fear that may arise when a horse walks away from me and the voice in my head says something to the effect of…I’m not good enough? Can I forgive them for being themselves when it creates tension within me as they stay true to their hearts, and I learn to open mine?
In a recent workshop I participated in a meditation circle on relationships. Quite unprompted, I found myself forgiving a surprising person in my history; someone an old story has held me hostage to as a victim, wrapped up in a tense me vs. them narrative. With the spontaneous opening and forgiveness I felt a deep release of tightly held knots in my body that I hadn’t consciously been aware of. It was profound; the shift in integrating this into my daily experience has been inspiring. Which has only deepened my curiosity about the power of forgiveness, and how horses can support us in bringing harmony to our relationships.
Horses are herd animals. They find safety and harmony together. They move together, and the members are rarely separated by much distance. In a shifting dance of roles some horses alert the herd to possible predators as sentinels, others lead when there is a need to flee, others support by gathering horses to follow a direction. We may observe tension and “conflict” as the horses assess who is in each role, yet it’s for the safety of all herd members. Even as herd animals, horses are uniquely themselves and self-honoring. They are quick to show boundaries with each other. I love observing the herd, seeing how each member claims space, holds their ground, and energetically communicates with others about their own boundaries. Yet, they are each inseparable from the herd. Free to be themselves, together.
Like horses, we find safety together. We can’t live without each other and we depend upon our communities. Studies have even shown we live longer when we’re connected and feel a sense of belonging in community. Yet, we are individuals. We each have our own values, personality, beliefs, and experiences. In honoring ourselves we also claim space, hold our ground, and communicate about boundaries. However, with so much strife, fighting, war and suffering worldwide today, I wonder, what does it mean to be a member of our human community? How do we live together, with so many differences? What wisdom might horses be able to offer us about how to live in harmony with others; free to be ourselves, together?
This is a topic that is very dear to me, as I love exploring how horses can support us in opening to a feeling of interconnectedness and oneness. They continue to be healers for me in playing with an ongoing yet nonlinear dissolving between inside /outside, me /you, right /wrong. In their openhearteness, they can support us to open our hearts. The qigong training I’m doing is founded upon this energetic oneness, and connecting with a unified consciousness healing field. I’m excited to share this with clients, and continue to explore how the horses’ consciousness field supports us.
August 3 – 4 Inner Freedom is hosting Moving from Me to We: Herd Wisdom. I’m collaborating on this retreat with my friend Natalie Benway-Correll, a licensed clinical mind/body psychotherapist who has a a beautiful relationship with horses. We will explore the unlimited potential of being, opening to freedom in the presence of the horses. We’ll participate in a flora circle, grounding in the here/now, exploration of boundaries, herd observation, and qigong meditation. Join us to share in the experience of belonging to both ourselves and the oneness of creation. There is a $100 discount for signing up by June 15th.
Or, come for a Herd Observation with Children or a Herd Meditation one day this summer!
We still have spots available in Circling Center, our unique collaboration with High Low Tarot featuring Tarot and Presence with Horses. The First weekend, June 15 – 16, is entitled “Grounding in What Is” and the second weekend, September 14 – 15, is entitled “Boundaries and Connections.” Or if you’re around in two weeks, sign up to join me in participating in Kerri Lake’s event Courage to Feel here at Inner Freedom!
We look forward to sharing in presence with you soon.
With love,
Elizabeth and the herd
Moving from Me to We: Herd Wisdom
