It’s okay to change
In a recent session we followed the client’s desire to walk up to the top of the hill to sit. From this beautiful perspective we could listen to the trees singing with the gentle breeze beside us, see two sandhill cranes fly over the barn, feel the sun on our backs, and observe the horses fifty feet away in their natural state, grazing.
We began to play, connecting with the horses from this distance, knowing that energy has no bounds. Through a guided open eyes meditation I invited her to choose a horse to connect with. As we opened to receive the horse’s medicine, we observed what we felt in our bodies, any thoughts that passed through, any images that came in, opening to our intuition as we connected and observed the horse.
Meanwhile I did this for myself, and I chose the elder in our herd, Trusty Utah. I was blown away by the physical sensation and feeling of heart opening that came over me in this connection from a distance. And then what landed within, “It’s okay to change.” It brought tears to my eyes, this deep knowing that he offered, this beautiful freedom, truth, and wisdom.
It really struck me, because I hadn’t realized I’d even been resisting change! On the surface we know life is full of changes; minute to minute, it’s what creation is. “Change is the only constant” we are told. And while knowing this intellectually is one thing, how much am I resisting change in my day to day life subconsciously?
In sitting with this experience, I’ve noticed how much of our conditioning is around not changing. Staying the course, pursuing the goal, resisting aging, staying true to your word, never giving up. And yet, what if softening into letting ourselves change moment to moment is actually letting ourselves be present, true to our nature, and free?
The horses honor themselves and what is true for them moment to moment. They are clear about when they don’t want to share hay, or when they don’t want to share personal space, and when they do. They allow themselves to change moment to moment, with zero judgment, fully at liberty to express their own truth in each moment. And they do this in the context of a herd, a group of horses living together for safety with complex social relationships and dynamics.
The simplicity of this wisdom from Trusty Utah continues to amaze me, for it’s moment to moment, letting everything that is true be what it is. Without resistance. The feelings, thoughts, emotions, sensations – they are always changing, and the less I resist, entangle in them, the less tension I feel. The more harmony arises as the inner battle eases.
I can observe it all passing through, all playing out, with this softer, larger perspective. And the more present I am to what is moment to moment, as an observer, then the less I am entangled in old patterns. I can notice and be curious about where my heart is calling me, possibly to change in surprising and unexpected ways, as we all move into the unknown future.
On this note, I do want to share that while much of our programming is concluding this month with the change in weather (although we are here if anyone is eager to experience being with the horses outdoors in the cold!), I’m also letting Inner Freedom shift and change as the herd and I explore and respond to where we’re feeling drawn. We have recently updated our website with shifted and new offerings. A few notes:
- Herd Healings: we will be offering these through the winter months! There is more information below.
- Circling Center Horses and Tarot Group Experience: For anyone Tarot and horse curious, High Low Tarot and Inner Freedom are now offering custom group experiences. Available for up to 8 people, this can be offered as a half-day event (2 hours) up to a full day event (with lunch included). The structure varies; we can offer 1:1 tarot readings, and/or a group workshop empowering each participant to create their own relationship to Tarot. If you want to schedule something for next year reach out!
Finally, a tremendous heartfelt thank you to everyone who came to Inner Freedom this year for one of our retreats, visits, or sessions. We so appreciate you sharing your presence, curiosity and wisdom. We continue to be amazed at what horse medicine offers each of us in unique and magical ways and look forward to seeing what unfolds as we grow. Thank you for being a part of it with us.
With love,
Elizabeth and the herd