Healing Hearts with Horses

Do you Need to Forgive the Moment?

2011-12-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

On a recent afternoon, three of my herd were out for a neighborhood ride, my husband and a friend astride Seren and Frolic, while I urged Charm forward on the road. A variety of topics flitted through the conversation until anger and forgiveness took a turn.

In that moment, all three horses stopped and left piles of manure on the road. All three- exactly at once.

"Wow, that was an unusual coincidence," I noted to my friends.

Knowing that hidden among innocent equine behavior is often a message, I asked, “What was I just saying?”

My friend repeated, “You just said- you don’t have much to forgive.”

Ah, yes, I had just said that...and for a moment, I wondered about the deeper meaning of the horse’s pooping in unison. And then the conversation took another direction and I have to admit, I didn’t think much about it again.

That is, until a few days later when atop Charm, walking down the street, alone this time, she came to the same spot in the road, and yes, you guessed it, pooped again.

This I noticed, so I quieted my mind to tune in to her.

“As emphasis,” she said, “to remind you.”

“Remind me of what,” I queried?

“Of forgiveness!,” she clarified.

“But I don’t feel I have much to forgive,” I repeated to her my thought from the other day.

“Well, you could start by forgiving yourself. You are awfully hard on yourself, you know,” she suggested.

“Indeed, you are right on that account,” I agreed.

“And then you could try forgiving this moment for not being perfect,” she offered.

Huh?, that was an unusual thing to say, I thought. But as I pondered for a moment, I did indeed become aware of the things I had been noticing which were less than “ideal.” A cloudy sky, a chilly breeze, a walk which I wished were a trot.

So I did as she suggested, breathing into my heart and offering a little forgiveness for this moment, in all of it’s imperfection.

And in the next breathe, I found that the moment became more perfect. My heart softened, opened, becoming more warm, more grateful to be aware of that very moment in all it’s beauty.

And the deep wisdom of Charm’s simple statement pierced through me. Yes- indeed! Why not practice forgiving the moment for not being perfect, for in doing so, it becomes more perfect instantly, aligning us with Grace and Ease.

I thanked Charm for opening my eyes to the value of forgiving even that which seems not to need forgiving, for in that moment, we open to the Truth surrounding us: That all is Perfect!

Join in the Magical Full Moon Healing with Horses!

2011-08-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

Under the light of the August full moon, emboldened by the sparkling Perseid Meteor shower, join with the Herd on a sacred journey to embody your Magnificence!

Aug 13th 2011, Littleton, CO, 6-9 pm,
$20 includes dinner
A part of the Heart of Horse Festival!

Long, long ago, Horses agreed to uplift humanity, to remind you of Who You Really Are. Their deepest desire is to spark in you an ancient remembrance of your Unity with all that is.

The time has come to remember this Truth and horses wish to be your guide forward to the next stage of consciousness- the Divine Human!

And yet, there is fear…fear of failure. So many times before we have failed to reach our hoped for destination- where body & soul combine into one beautiful essence on the earthly plane.

And so we hold back from our Greatness…for fear of what would happen if we, once more, try to shine our Light fully.

Yet, NOW is the time to dissolve this fear that holds us back from reaching our true potential as Souls living in Human bodies. Now is the time to release what no longer serves so we may reach toward our destiny as Divine Humans!

And riding the energies of our dear friend, Horse, united together under the moon-filled sky, to the sacred sounds of drumming and hoofbeats, we shall go on a mystical journey to reclaim our Wholeness.

- You’ll discover which aspect of the Divine Masculine- your pure power to create- wishes to return to you.

- You’ll be embraced by a portion of your inner Divine Feminine who wants to join with you to manifest your heart’s desires.

- And you’ll connect with a facet of your Divine Child who eagerly wishes to power your creations with awe, wonder, and imagination.

Once returned from your journey of self discovery, you’ll embark on a voyage to embody your new gifts in the comfort of community.

By integrating your new energies into your body, through group ritual, movement, and sound, you’ll anchor your gifts into your own essence, leaving with a richly felt empowerment to more fully create your heart’s desires.

For when you live fearlessly from your heart, you touch everyone in your path, inspiring them to make bold, heart-ful choices. And that is how we will make our way to the Divine Human, one heart-filled choice at a time.

Let horse be your companion on this most sacred passage, lifting you into your greatness, where your Light can be a beacon for all of humanity to find it’s way Home!

Join the Magic! Spaces limited.
Grab your ticket now at http://www.heartofhorse.com/.

Aug 13th 2011, Littleton, CO, 6-9 pm, $20 includes dinner

Your Full Moon Journey is facilitated by:

Jennifer Oikle, Ph.D., Relatinship Psychologist, Reiki Master, and Equine-Inspired Healer
Jackie Ashley, MA, Somatic Psychotherapist, Creative Arts Therapist, and Equine Psychotherapist

With Special Guests

Jen Tomas of Silver Owl Healing Arts,
James Galusha of Holographic Love Ministries, and
Rebecca Hilton, Celtic songstress and yoga instructor

Ready to be touched by the Heart of Horse?
Join in the Festival- Sat or Sun Aug 13 or 14,
right before the full moon event.

Tickets & Info: HeartofHorse.com

Do Horses Hold Your Energy Code?

2011-07-05T18:52:00.000-07:00

Accessing Your Essence with Co-Creative Help from Horse

In preparation for our upcoming playshop: Uncovering Your Essence- A Co-Creative Painting Party with Horse, my gorgeous goddess Charm and I had our own painting party this weekend.

As usual for our time spent in the company of Horse, the gifts bestowed were many, powerful, and often unexpected.

To begin our journey into mindful co-creation, I started by tuning into the energy systems (charkas) of myself and my horse partner with a simple question:

What symbol or energy wants to be expressed in this area now?

When standing in Sacred Space with horse, with a still mind and open heart, our inner vision often becomes startlingly clear, offering to us the perfect image to heal our energy blockages and strengthen our systems.

In this unique creativity experience, the image that arose was painted upon the living Canvas of Horse. Through the focus required to paint the symbol, your intention remains strong- inviting the energy to manifest clearly. And interestingly, I discovered that by breathing life into the energy of the symbol for me, Charm was helping to ground and hold the new energy so that I could anchor it into my own body more easily.

Chakra after chakra I went, discovering the perfect symbols to support me in anchoring my own Essence into my body at this time.

The most unexpected symbol came for the heart chakra-
while one always expects a heart image, what came was different- initially.

As I closed my eyes, one hand upon my heart, the other upon Charm’s, I tuned into a green dollar sign, filled with the emotion of generosity, along with the knowing that as abundance flows, we can become more generous with our service of others because we are unimpeded by lack.

As I started to paint the top S of the dollar sign, I quickly recognized that the top part was the same as the first half of a heart. I giggled with the realization that my symbol was about to become a dollar sign joined with a heart. And instead of the slashes through the dollar sign, there were lightening bolts, symbolizing the power inherent when we are grounded in heartful, love-filled prosperity and abundance. A lovely ah-ha for me!

“How clever,” I thought, as I thanked Charm for helping me see before my very eyes and feel this new insight on a deep level. I knew in that moment that this special symbol would be an important one for me to use in subsequent meditations.

Another surprise was the discovery that the symbols energetically flowed into each other, building upon the last in unique and powerful ways, that would quickly become a dance that Charm and I could do together- bringing us closer to our combined perfection.

In fact, that was just what we did! Once the living canvas of my Essence, inspired with Charm’s help, was complete- together we activated the energy with combined movement in the round pen. Seeing the images flowing by, embodied by the power of Horse,
activated the energies in my own body and awareness on a whole new level.

Completing the energetic masterpiece by sitting atop my steed, I allowed Charm to help me invite these new energies into every cell and every level of my being, breathing in my own essence, made more powerful now, with the help of Horse!

******

See what new energies & symbols Horse wants you to help you embody! July 9th

If you’d like to uncover your Essence with the co-creative help of Horse, join us for our next Wisdom Horse Playshop, July 9th, 10:30-1, only $25! At the Happily Ever After Healing Horse Ranch, NE Parker, CO.

Spaces limited. Grab your spot here: Wisdom Horse Meetup
http://www.meetup.com/Healing-Circles-at-the-Ranch/events/17486594/

What are You Focused On?: The Unexpected Gift of an Accident

2010-11-07T16:42:00.000-08:00

For months now, the horses have been trying to get me to focus.

It started with a shamanic journey vision where I felt the pure power of focused intent when I sat astride a gorgeous white horse. Galloping together, I sensed the powers of manifestation that become available when our thoughts & feelings combine and stay focused on a heart-felt vision.

I was inspired by the uplifting vision, yet still, I ignored it. There were parts of myself that simply weren't ready to stand fully in my power...so I continued on, with a blurry vision, distracting myself in ingenious ways.

Till the other week, when I hopped on our 2 year-old Jaren, with the intent of simply having Greg walk us to the arena. For the first time ever, I asked him to walk us alongside of Frolic. The four of us made our way down the little slope to the arena, not terribly focused.

In a flash, Jaren tripped and fell all the way down in front. Bareback and unprepared, I slid up onto the middle of his neck. For a moment, his head was so close to the ground that I could have just stepped off his neck, no worse for the wear.

But I didn't react quickly enough.

Trying to decide the best course of action, I didn't act at all. That is, until Greg's screaming broke the fog, "Get off! Get off! Get off!!!"

So I bailed, at just the moment when Jaren flung his neck up trying to get on his feet. I flew a few feet to the side, landing on my hip, sliding to a stop in the gravel.

The physical effect? Massive road rash accompanied by the worst bruise I've ever had. OUCH!

Stunned, I walked off the pain and nausea in small circles as the 2 horses stood staring at me with concern in their eyes.

Not my best moment. For a few days, as I cringed with pain every time I moved, I was tempted to chalk it up to being an accident, Jaren being 2 years old and all.

But given that Frolic herself had tripped and fallen to her knees with me a few months previously (luckily I didn't come off then), I knew better than to tune out.

Instead, through meditative journeying, I tuned in to the soul level to discover the meaning of this "accident."

What I discovered was my next lesson on the effect of Focus.

Yup, the trip had indeed happened due to a lapse in focus- on all of our parts.

Distracted, it was easy for Jaren, whose uncoordinated youth combined with a bumpy slope to create disaster. And we, the humans, had not supported him by creating the environment to help him focus.

My guides thought that this incident could be a "sharp reminder" of the physical effects of a lack of focus. Sharp for sure!, I laughed. It was skin penetrating!

With the pain and discolored bruise, my guides hoped to help awaken me from my self-enforced fog of unfocused-ness.

Sometimes, some of us need more than a gentle prod, when we've ignored the earlier, more subtle suggestions.

But still, given that this was the second time a horse went down with me, I wondered if there was something deeper, so I pressed for more.

What I saw was a past life I shared with Jaren. It was a long time ago, a Mongolian lifetime and we were riding at the end of a caravan traveling up a snowy mountain, in the dark. In this vision, Jaren showed me that he was so tired. We both were.

And, in a sleepy moment of unfocused attention, Jaren's foot slipped off the path- with disastrous effects. We both fell over the side of the mountain, falling, end over end, to our freezing deaths.

Then Jaren brought my attention to our hips- a place we both have chronic pain. He showed me that the rotating fall down the mountain created misalignment and pain in that lifetime. That pain pattern- which was currently manifested in his right hind and was also the same hip I bruised, was still somehow related to a lack of focus in this life.

I got the sense that the fall in this lifetime, in addition to highlighting the need for increased focus, was also meant to bring forward a past life pattern, one with current life symptoms, which needed healing- for us both.

What an unexpected gift!

So, I stood with Jaren and tuned into the healing space. I allowed what wanted to happen to unfold, a mix of tending to his body with energy and tuning into mine, with healing hand positions and stretching. I was asked to hold the intention of "unraveling" on many occasions. Then I sat upon him and walked, allowing the shifts in our systems to be anchored together.

As we walked in circles, I became aware of a figure 8 pattern of energy that wanted to connect our hearts. It was drawn, coming up from his heart, diagonal through mine, up over my head, crossing diagonally down through mine and into his again- repeatedly. I allowed this connection to settle in deeply, breathing in the bliss.

This is an energetic connection you can use with your horse too- anytime you want to become united, heart to heart.

Afterward, Jaren appeared more sound in the hind end on the lunge then he has for quite some time. And the pain in my body felt eased, creating a more natural straightness.

Of course, I was left in awe of the amazing opportunities that underlie what seemed to be an "accident." A grand reminder to us all that there are so many gifts waiting to be claimed when we take a moment to go deeper into whatever life presents, even when it's painful!

Readers: What unexpected gift or lesson did you find within an "accident"? How have horses helped you discover the power of focus? Please share!

Ready to put the Power of Focus to work in your life? Stay tuned for a brand new offering: Manifesting Your Heart's Desires, brought to you by a Wizard Horse! Coming soon!

Chosen by a Horse: Healing the Inner Child

2010-10-15T11:06:00.000-07:00

Sometimes profound healing is awaiting, nestled into a common moment.

One of those moments was about to occur….

As I walked into the arena to take my turn experimenting with the energetic boundaries of horse, I had no idea that Little Jenn had tagged along.

Little Jenn is the name I’ve given my inner child, that part of each of us that holds both the brilliant innocence of Being as well as our early Sacred Wounds.

I thought I was simply entering the arena to try out what I had learned about Energetic Boundaries from Sharon Bringleson, Advanced Epona Instructor and facilitator of the weekend workshop I was attending at Mustang Hollow, in Nunn, Colorado.

I had low expectations for how the horse would respond to me, having watched the horse in the arena, Aria, a gorgeous black with 4 white socks and a blaze, mostly ignore the previous participant, as she continued to scavenge the remainder of the season’s dry weeds at the perimeter of the fence.

We had simple instructions to play with Energetic Boundaries, the concept that all of us- horses and humans- have bubbles of energy that surround us and extend a variety of distances, based on the individual and the circumstance.

Sharon had explained that when someone enters our bubble, we display an automatic, nonvoluntary sign- a blink of an eye, a tail swish, a head raise. Horses have several layers to their bubble, one typically at 40 feet, another at 20, and several closer to the body- all assisting them as prey creatures to stay safe in a predatory world, conveying the information they need to keep protected.

Our job was to simply approach the horse and when we felt we had crossed an energetic boundary- either by sensing it in our bodies, or noticing a sign from the horse- to pause, rock back, and take a big deep breathe. We were not to proceed closer to the horse until we felt we had permission.

Such an exercise, in contrast to how we normally directly approach our horse without asking for permission, can offer a deep sense of respectful partnership to a horse. It’s a clear sign that we are giving him a choice in the matter: Is it ok to play today?

After I strode into the arena, I took a big breathe and settled into my body, staying in tune with my inner sensations. I felt a little nervous, “Who knows how she will react to me.” And became aware that there was a part of me that wanted her to like me and was all together uncertain that she would.

As I crossed into Aria’s 40 foot boundary, she gave me the subtlest of signals, only rolling an eye up and toward me, never pausing from her fastidious weed nibbling. If I wasn’t paying close attention, I would have missed it.

In that moment, I rocked back, and breathed out. Her response? She immediately took a few steps toward me, and continued grazing.

“Hmm,” I thought, “that was nice. It worked. I offered her respect and she came toward me.”

After a moment, I began walking slowly toward her again, carefully tuned into the next sign that I had hit one of her boundaries. At about 20 feet, there it was again: the slightest roll of her eye toward mine.

I instantly paused, stepped back, and released a sigh. Once more, she returned my gesture by walking towards me a few steps before returning to her weed obsession.

I noticed that I was slightly surprised that it was working exactly as it should. And I was pleased by our growing sense of mutual respect.

One more time, I began the dance of tuning into her boundaries and this time it worked exactly as before, only now, she strode right up to me, close enough for me to brush her side with my hand as she passed by to investigate what was left to be nibbled behind me.

I had to admit that I was amazed that such a subtle dance of respect had worked so easily and smoothly: by offering my respect for her, she offered her acceptance of me. From there a real partnership could be built.

I left the arena pleased, a part of me relieved that the horse had responded to me in the hoped-for way.

Next, Aria left our company and another horse was brought into the arena, a taller, handsome black horse with a white star named Soleil.

Soleil was new to the Epona work. Previously labeled “dangerous” and slated for the killers, the owner of Mustang Hollow, Robin Davis, had rescued him and begun the process of leading the horse back to himself.

He had since not shown any aggression towards humans. Yet, due to the previous rude and abusive treatment, he was still not quite convinced that he had a choice when it came to a human approaching him, so he often didn’t respond at all when a human entered his 40 foot or 20 foot boundary.

I went in second to play with this magnificent steed, and as I entered the arena I was acutely aware of my limiting belief: “The first time was a fluke.”

I didn’t dare to hope it would work the same way as it did with Aria. Clearly, I didn’t expect “success.”

I tuned into that vulnerability as Little Jenn snuck in, those were her beliefs, not being sure of her worth.

But Soleil had a different belief in mind.

This time, the process unfolded magically, even more powerfully than the first.

It took only two turns of him reacting, my pausing and breathing, for him to walk straight to me!
It was like my heart had magnetically connected to his and drew him to me from over 20 feet away!

As he entered my energetic boundary, close to my heart, I let out a wild spontaneous giggle right from my soul, and blushed. That sound of pure delight came directly from Little Jenn, who in that moment felt intimately “SEEN.”

Soleil smelled my hands, curious about me. Then he settled in to stand next to me, seemingly content to just be in my presence.

As I breathed in the comfortable connection, all of those moments of childhood invisibility melted. Gone was the sense that there was no one to notice me, no one to care about my needs.

As the fears and doubts dissolved, in their place was the knowing that I was worthy. Worthy to be chosen by a horse.

Little Jenn sighed, and giggled once more at the pure joy of the moment. At the fulfillment of being CHOSEN.

And I, once more was elated at the magical transformational powers of horse. Of their ability to coax forward our deepest wounds, uncover with clarity the inaccuracy of our earliest misguided conclusions, and restore our spirits to their rightful wholeness.

All within a simple, singular moment of connection, heart to heart, providing just what the soul needs for self-righting, correcting the course, leading us back to ourselves.

Thank you Aria and Soleil for bringing me back to the very essence of my Magnificent Self.

Readers: How has horse helped heal your inner child? Please share!

Learn more about programs at Robin Davis' Mustang Hollow and Epona Advanced Instructor Sharon Bringleson. Or discover our healing with horses programs at Happily Ever After Ranch- where the healing heart of horse awaits you!

Seren’s Message: Do you have an Embracing Heart?

2010-09-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

You never know what the Healing Herd has in store for you.

The other day a friend and I were hanging with the herd, quietly tuning into what needed to shift within ourselves.

My friend noticed that Seren really wanted her to understand something about the dog we've been dog-sitting, Max, over yonder engaged in his favorite outdoor activity- eating horse manure.

Over and over, Seren would nudge her and point to Max. My friend had been focused on her heart space, but wasn’t sure exactly what Seren meant to say.

So I tuned in, and here was Seren’s message for her.

“Be more like Max. His future is uncertain. He doesn’t know if he’s staying here or leaving. Yet, he has opened his heart. He loves fully. He doesn’t hold back. He stays in the moment, embracing this family with his whole heart-no matter what may come.”

Then Seren nudged my chest, “You too! You need to practice this too.”

“And while you are at it,” Seren continued, with a bit of earnest irony to her tone, “Tell the rest of humanity to work on this too. Boy, they need it!”

“But how?,” my friend wondered, it’s not so easy in the real world.

Seren had a ready reply, “Start with your herd. First thing in the morning, be with them, and open your heart among them. Get the loving flow between all of you. Soak it in. From that space, start your day.”

Then Seren shot me “The Look.”

I felt a little admonished, knowing that she has previously encouraged me to begin my days this way, but I had yet to take her up on her advice.

Hey, I’m seriously not a morning person!

But her point was taken: Sage wisdom from the matron of the Healing Herd….

That happiness is to be found in every moment, with an open heart, embracing the possibilities that come from savoring what is in front of you, not needing it to be any different, yet offering our compassionate love no matter what the circumstances.

Yup, letting the love flow. Filling the space with love.

It’s why we are here.

To transform every experience with the uplifting energy of unconditional love.

Don’t have a herd or can’t be with them in the morning? Not a problem!

Simply close your eyes and ask you horse(s) or the Spirit Horse Herd to join you, and the essence of the Heart of Horse will help fill you with love. All you need is a clear intention.

How has horse helped you step into unconditional love? Please share!

An Equinox Opportunity: Healing with the Pegasus Energy

2010-09-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

Recently, we went to go look at a horse for Greg. Before we met him, I decided to tune into his energy to learn more about him. Using Shamanic Journeying, I went into a meditative space to meet him on a soul level.

I wasn’t really prepared for what I was about to discover.

Upon entering the Land of Horse, I was greeted by one of my new guides, Promise, the baby Pegasus, I’ve written about recently.

Promise took me through the field, to a beautiful garden glen.
There I was introduced to a glorious horse, the Spirit of the horse we were to meet.

He was a beautiful, glowing golden color, with the wide wings of a Pegasus. Not only that, but he was surrounded by baby Pegasus’. In fact, he was in charge of a Pegasus nursery!

Who knew those existed!

I tuned into the knowing that he was responsible for overseeing the Pegasus energy entering the earth plane. “Wow! What a responsibility,” I thought.

Then he asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. Of course I took him up on the offer.

Lately I had been wondering a lot about the difference between Pegasus energy, which we are surrounded by at the ranch, and Unicorn energy.

My gorgeous Pegasus guide was about to answer that question, as we rode into a secluded nook of the enchanted forest whose crowing jewel was a spectacular Rainbow Waterfall and Pool.

As my guide invited me to slip off of his back and into the pool, he explained, “Pegasus’ embody this beautiful rainbow energy.”

As I entered the pool, I could feel the tingly sensations of it’s healing energy.

He showed me that it was a powerful healing tool. He spoke, “Since it contains the full spectrum of colors & vibrations of energy, it has the ability to heal and balance all conditions.”

“You should spend some time every day in this pool,” he suggested.

“And please bring people here,” he requested, making reference to the healing meditations that I create.

Indeed! I promised that I would before we departed back to this Consciousness.

After this amazing journey, I was pretty sure this was a horse destined to join our healing herd. But after meeting him in person, we decided it was not meant to be.

However, what we learned about the Pegasus energy is the perfect accompaniment to the Autumn Equinox energies which are currently upon us!

This time between the 2010 Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice in December is an especially powerful time for transforming old patterns and stuck energies. We are all being asked to release everything that no longer serves us as we journey to the possibilities of higher consciousness.

The Pegasus Rainbow Energy is here to help anyone who wishes to call upon it’s healing powers. Ask a Pegasus to be your guide to the Rainbow Waterfall and intend for your own healing for the highest good. Spend a few moments a day in the rainbow energy from now till December, and allow all that is no longer YOU to dissolve!

Now is the time to step into your Magnificent Self, with Pegasus as your guide!

A guided healing meditation with Pegasus and the Rainbow energy will be available as a download soon! Stay tuned.

What did you discover on your own journey with Pegasus to the Rainbow Waterfall? Please share!

What’s Standing Between You and Unity with Your Horse?

2010-09-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there is something standing between you and the unity you crave with your horse. Oftentimes you aren’t even aware of it!

That’s what was happening with me and Charm lately. A near accident on Frolic had brought up my old nerves. And now, a previously vanquished fear was rearing it’s ugly head, especially with Charm- my Power horse.

Charm does that- highlights where I have given up my power.

So when it came time to try out my new “Unity with Horse” healing meditation, I decided to do it with Charm.

As Charm stood sentinel over my head, it took only a few minutes into the healing journey, before I got in touch with the deep sadness that was hiding beneath the fear.

Almost instantly, I could feel the depth of the sadness, bringing tears to my eyes, sobs tightening my chest.

In a moment, it was clear that in response to fear, I had previously shut down my heart. And now as I peered deep inside, I could sense that part of my heart still remained imprisoned- the bars clearly keeping me from fully connecting with Charm.

As the healing journey guided me to ask for Charm’s input on how to shift this block, Charm sent me a picture of the Little Jenn (what I call my inner child), running toward me with a giant Daisy. The image captured the essence of Innocence and Purity- that heart space that children automatically connect from.

I breathed in the essence of pure innocence- that place from which unconditional love most readily springs, as I anchored that energy into my heart.

Then I tuned into my horse, to see where she may be mirroring the same energy, carrying it for me, as our most beloved animal companions often do.

I saw that her heart was partially shut down too, waiting for mine to reopen so we could stand united in love, together.

And with that recognition, a giant rainbow came spiraling out from her heart, connecting us both in the gorgeous energy of heart connection. I stood next to her, my arm draped over her whither, and allowed it to soak into my heart.

Mmmm, yummy.

Then the healing journey continued, asking me to tune into where this same block was showing up in other areas of my life. I immediately saw my husband Greg and knew that I had partially shut down with him as well- there were pieces of my heart that were being held back.

And it was time to offer them to him fully.

As I saw that vision, I allowed the rainbow energy of love, innocence, and purity to stream through all of us (he was there with us, reading the meditation out loud for me), connecting us all in unconditional love.

United, I knew the fear was never needed, not really. And that all I ever needed to be connected to those I loved, whether horse or human, was to show up with my heart in my hand, ready to offer myself fully, unconditionally.

Yum.

How have you released obstacles between you and your horse? Please share!

Ready to dissolve the blocks between you and unity with your horse? This Healing Journey will be ready as a downloadable audio meditation soon!

When I used the journey the next day to facilitate a healing circle, several people who came with their own horses were able to make profound shifts of transformation, both for themselves and their steeds!

Creating Harmony in the Herd

2010-09-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

Lately there has been discontent in the herd.

The signs were loud and clear with lots of really ugly bite marks and bruising kicks.

Not the kind of normal warning nips, but flat out, “I’m pissed off” gouges being gifted, especially on our two youngest herd members, Frolic & Jaren.

It went on for a few weeks and the horse’s hides were starting to look battle worn.

I figured it was time to tune into the real reason, so when my new friend and colleague, animal communicator Karen Cantrell called, I asked her to check in.

“They are all fighting to be seen as equal and worthy.” Karen explained.

“They all want to be equal contributing members to the healing done at the ranch,” she continued.

And further, she informed me that the outer strife was a mirror for my inner strife.

“Each of them needs to feel confident in their own unique abilities to help, without being compared to anyone else. They need to feel valued and appreciated for what they have to offer. And they need to stand in their worth and shine their Truth, without fear- just like you.”

Of course, all of that starts on the inside- owning your power, offering your gifts, and continuing on, no matter what others have to say about it. Ok- I'm still practicing that one!

So, out I headed to the herd with my husband, to have a heart to hearts chat.

I stood next to Frolic, who was recovering from an especially nasty kick to the hock, that was still swollen. And Jaren hung his head right over my husband’s shoulder, eager to listen. Seren and Charm stood a little bit away.

Out loud, I told them how much we loved them all, that each of them had such unique gifts and that we appreciated all of their talents equally. I let them know there was no need to fight among themselves, because I saw each of them for who they really were and I valued them as individuals for everything they brought to us and the ranch’s work. I asked them to cease the battle- reminding them that harmony was important for us all to thrive.

There were sighs, yawns, licking & chewing all around, as we connected with each of them as individuals, heart to heart.

I had hoped my message was heard loud and clear.

It was.

The next day all four horses stood in the shade of the shed for the very first time ever!

Usually Charm hogs it all and lets the others bake in the mid-day heat. Sometimes she lets in number 2, Seren. But almost always Frolic and Jaren are left out.

But not that day- they all made room: four horses in harmony, enjoying the cooling refreshment of the shade.

My heart sung.

The Gift: Speak to your herd from the heart and they will understand you!

What heart truth have you shared with your horse or herd and how did it shift things? Please share!

Thanks to Karen for helping to facilitate this herd healing! Need some help tuning into your own animal's truth? Check out Karen's website. She's a gifted intuitive & healer.

Join us for Embodying Your Brilliance!: A PlayDay with Horses

2010-08-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

Join in the fun at the Holistic Horse Care Cooperative’s Fall Meet & Greet!

Play games with horses, enjoy a yummy potluck, and network with other horse lovers. Then enjoy an Interactive Adventure designed to help you Embody Your Brilliance, including an
equine-guided healing journey and yoga with horses!

Bring your horse or enjoy one of ours.
Come for all or part of the day.

Sunday Sept 12, 11 am – 3:30 pm
Happily Ever After Ranch, NE Parker, CO
Free for HHC Members, only $10 for non-members.

RSVP Required by Thursday Sept 9: Email drjenn@unitywithhorse.com

About Your Guest Presenters

Jennifer Oikle, Ph.D.

A Clinical Psychologist, Equine-Assisted Coach, and founder of the Happily Ever After Holistic Healing Horse Ranch, Jenn’s passion is helping people dissolve their blocks to success so they can reclaim their magnificence. She also aids horse-lovers in taking their bond with horse to the next level, so they can create success from the
barn to the boardroom to the bedroom.

Visit: unitywithhorse.com

Kerry Borcherding, MA

A Gestalt Equine Psychotherapist, Transpersonal Counselor, Wilderness Therapist, and yoga instructor, Kerry has spent her life in the company of horses and has personally experienced the healing power inherent in them. Because of this, she is passionate and committed to bringing horses and humans into relationship.

Visit: kerryborcherding.com

Schedule

11:00 Arrive (Several temporary 16 X16 foot pipe stalls available if needed. Email for info.)

11:30-12:30 Games with Horse (on Horseback if you bring your horse or on foot with our horses). Let your inner child out to play with your best buddy horse!

1:00-2:00 Potluck - bring a yummy dish or snack to share.

2:15-3:30 Interactive Adventure: Embodying Your Brilliance - an experiential activity including Equine-Guided Healing and Yoga with Horses. (Use your horse or enjoy one of ours). Discover the Gift that Horse is offering to you at this point in your life, clear obstacles to reclaiming that gift, and embody the new energies through guided exercises, movement, and yoga with the Horses.

Grab and friend and experience the magic of playing with horses!

For More info: http://www.holistic-herd.com/, http://www.happilyeverafterranch.com/,
http://www.kerryborcherding.com/

Where's Your Promise?

2010-08-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

As most of you know- we are surrounded by animals here at the ranch: 4 horses, 5 cats, and 2 dogs, each a healer in their own right.

But what you might not know is that we are also blessed with the presence of a menagerie of a different sort!

A Mystical Menagerie of animal guides, sometimes known as spirit guides or totem animals. Revered throughout the world in shamanic traditions, animal guides reside in the spirit realm offering you the knowledge, strength, guidance, and healing you need to move forward.

We often have one or more with us since birth, and acquire the guidance of others for specific periods of time during our journey through life, particularly when new skills, qualities, or energies are needed.

I’ve been honored to learn not only from my earth bound animal friends, but from many magical animal companions, such as black panther, golden eagle, red tail hawk, lion, and others.

But I’m always surprised when a new animal spirit makes it’s presence known- usually through mediation, or as it’s known in the shamanic tradition, journeying- when our logical mind takes a break and allows in deeper images and guidance.

Recently, during a laid back meditation, I was pleased to make the acquaintance of a baby Pegasus whom I had not seen before. Adorable and playful, I wasn’t quite sure why he had arrived. Although I could tell what energy he was carrying, I couldn’t quite make out his name and wasn’t sure of his purpose.

But it wouldn’t be long before I had the answers to all of those questions and more!

About a week later, I entered a meditation to get some guidance for our upcoming healing circle about Transcending Your Sacred Wound. Since these circles incorporate our Healing Herd, I always travel in my imagination to the Land of Horses to receive their guidance.

Once there, I was greeted by none other than my little baby Pegasus once more! This time, he proudly and very clearly stated that his name was Promise. And that he wanted to lead the next healing circle because he was carrying the energy that was needed.

In fact, it was the gorgeous pure energy of Innocence that we all carry as Children before any wounding takes place. He embodied the Hope that comes with the Pure Potential that is seeded in each of our hearts. But more than hope really, he stands for the Limitless Possibilities that are within our grasp when we know our Worth and embody our True Selves.

I had to agree with him- Promise was the perfect name and he was the ideal guide for our Circle, since we’d be working with our Inner Child to reclaim all that he embodied.

Do your inner child a favor, sit for a moment and feel the essence of the word Promise.

Not what one could promise and then not follow through on. Not the broken promises that can be evoked by this word.

No, let’s those associations go.

Instead call up the pure, simple essence of Promise: that of Limitless Potential.

Breathe that in for a moment.

Feels nice, huh?

Where did your pure Promise go?
Why did you hide it?
What did you give up so you could be safe?
And most importantly, do you want it back?

I hope so, because it’s your birthright and it’s high time you reclaimed it!

And besides, Promise is waiting to lead you back to yourself!

So join us for our next Full Moon Equi-Healing Circle, where Promise will help you rediscover your original promise by aiding you in Transcending your Sacred Wound.

Sunday, Aug 22, 4:30 pm.
More Info: Transcending Your Sacred Wound

Can’t make the August circle, but want your own Promise back?

Not to worry, we’ll soon have a Guided Healing Meditation from Promise that you can use any time, any where to shed your False Self and embody your True Self once more- all full of innocent radiance and endless possibility!

Or come out to the September Circle, where you can meet your very own Equine Spirit Guide and begin your own enlightenment adventure! That Guided Healing Meditation audio will be available after September too.

Join us in standing in your own Promise so you can give your gifts to the world! It is time and the Healing Herd waits to assist!

Is Your Perspective Uplifting?

2010-07-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

It’s been slow on the riding front this summer. Early in the season Charm got a respiratory cold, then she fell in the pasture and couldn’t move her neck!

Today was the first day I put a saddle back on her so we can start getting back in shape together.

Because we are basically starting over and she’s still in recovery for her neck injury, I made sure to tell her that we would only do as much as she felt comfortable with.

Today I would follow her lead.

And off we went.

Except we kept stopping.

Stopping and standing. And refusing to move. Which isn’t like her.

I realized that every time we stopped we were facing the house from a different part of the fields next door.

Whenever I notice an interesting pattern of behavior, I assume the horse is trying to tell me something.

So instead of insisting she move off, I got quiet and listened.

After 3 or 4 stops admiring our house from different angles afar, this was what I heard:

“These are all different perspectives. Yet they all hold
the truth.

Depending on which one you focus on, you see something different.

Your job is to focus on the perspective that creates the
most upliftment, at any give time.”

Pretty profound.

Then she continued,

“It’s a bit too easy to focus on the angle that gives you
dis-pleasure.

But then THAT will be your reality.

What you focus on, upliftment or frustration, creates your reality. It’s your choice.”

Indeed, she was right.

Especially lately, it’s been super easy to slide into what I see in front of me that is not to my liking- which slides me further into un-ease.

I appreciated her reminder that in each moment, we can choose a new perspective- the one that lifts us up, and guides us to where we’d rather be rather than where we’ve become stuck.

A little while later we arrived in the dip of a hill. Stopping once more, I could only see the top half of the house.

Charm continued,

“That too could be your truth for the moment. It is a perspective.

But if you choose to focus on that, you’d miss the larger truth that there is indeed a whole house waiting for you!”

What a powerful message of freedom! You choose!

What larger perspective of positive possibility have you been missing?
Have you been choosing the angle that uplifts or constrains?

Indeed, what reality will you create today?

Readers: What perspective has your horse reminded you of lately? Please share!

Did YOU Reclaim your Soul Purpose with Power, Passion, & Playfulness!?

2010-05-27T09:49:00.000-07:00

A huge shout of of THANKS to everyone who came out for our inaugural Full Moon Equi-Healing Circle last week!

And more thanks to Gavin Hughes for his powerful Shamanic drumming, and our assistant organizer Jen Tomas for her healing energies!

It was truly an honor and a blessing to preside over the activities of this magical evening- they touched the depths of my soul!

We began with a guided meditation where participants got in touch with the energy that their Soul Name is carrying, they reclaimed their Soul Title (or soul purpose), dissolved a block standing in the way of moving ahead on their mission, and they discovered a Soul Tool to help them leap forward with power, passion, and playfulness.

Whew! And that was just the beginning!

Then we went outside under the moon for a powerful, mystical ritual with the horses.

And let me tell you, this ritual was more powerful than even I expected!!!

I was treated to tingles all night long, as each Circle member mounted a horse, came before the tribe, and stood in their power by proclaiming their Soul Name, Energy, Purpose, Block, and Tool.

The group acted as a Mirror, echoing each member's Truth, then we sent them symbolically forward on their soul path with their new tool, as they walked 2 circles atop the horse of their choice- with the horses helping them to integrate the new energies.

It was remarkable to feel the spine chills as the group affirmed each members true soul purpose, and the horses provided additional confirmation, as they yawned and shook their heads at the exact same moment for each member.

This experience brought home to me the deep importance and healing gift of being recognized by our Tribe, for the unique service we've come here to provide to Humanity.

It's so powerful to hold a mirror up so that people can see themselves, and feel their Light, more clearly.

We are so infrequently truly SEEN, and even less, deeply acknowledged and appreciated for Who We Really Are- that a ritual like this can be life-altering, giving us the confidence we need to commit to walking our soul path with our heads held high, and our hearts open in service to all we've come here to do.

It was also remarkable to notice how each member of this evening's circle had a different soul purpose, yet each role seemed to come together for the good of the tribe- each person's gifts weaving a beautiful tapestry of support for the whole.

It was a perfect microcosm of what's True in our larger Tribe.

And imagine the power if we all stood within our Human Tribes, knew the gifts of everyone, respected those gifts, and made use of them as they were originally intended! Life would flow with Divine Perfection!

Wow!

Not only was this evening personally healing and empowering for everyone, but it shed light on how grace-filled it could be as each of us move forward, indeed a part of a larger Tribe of people awakening all over the world, knowing that yes- we each have an important, role to play, unique to us.

Trusting that what we have to bring to the group is beautiful, and needed, and will be richly rewarded as we strive to SEE each other on a soul level, and support each other on the level of Spirit!

THAT is the goal of this Summer's monthly Full Moon Equi-Healing Circles!

If you'd like to join in the magic and transformation, mark your calendars- because we've got more adventure in store for you- and we'd love to have the joy of your company on this soulful journey!

Visit this last event's page to read what members had to say about their experience of this circle!

June promises to be a particularly profound event as we'll be riding the powerful Equinox Energies which happen earlier in the week, as we meet on the night of the actual FULL MOON! Imagine the possibilities for transformation with all of those supportive universal energies available!

More details to come soon about each events particular themes/activities- as they will all be different.

Be sure to become a member of our Healing Circle on Meetup to keep up to date on opportunities for stepping into your Soul-ful Self!

Upcoming Dates: Saturday Evenings

June 26
July 24
August 22

At the Happily Ever After Holisitc Healing Horse ranch, NE Parker, CO

See you under the moon!

Got Pain? Call in the Cosmic Chiropractor!

2010-05-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

If your herd is anything like mine, hey- we all have chronic misalignment issues that create discomfort.

A tweaked neck here, a sore low back there, some weakness on the left side, some tightness on the right.

All of us- horses and humans alike.

And I admit it, some days I get frustrated and wonder how on earth we'll all ever get into tiptop condition.

That is, in the absence of bodywork sessions that cost $100 a week for each of us! Um, let's see that would be a minimum of $500 a week!

But since THAT's not a current option, I was feeling kinda down when I found the latest lump, bump, and crick in Charm's neck.

Ok, more than down- I was starting to feel downright hopeless.

But hopelessness begets desperation. And often, desperate minds will reach for ANY solution, no matter how unorthodox.

That's how I came to be standing in my driveway, my right arm exhausted from trying to massage away a knot that was definitely NOT moving in Charm's neck, realizing there was no way in hell I had the skill to make this happen.

So, with nothing to lose, I turned to Spirit and called in the Cosmic Chiropractor. I figure there must be one, right?

Plus, for good measure, I called in all of the Highest Energy Healers in the Universe- hey, why not- they are free!

I'm not exactly on a first name basis with these Beings, but in the book Hiring the Heavens, the author suggests it's possible to get expert help from the spirit realms with just about anything, just by asking.

So, then I stepped back and expected NOTHING to happen.

Imagine my surprise when, for the next 30 minutes, I was guided step by step through a series of seemingly complex, ordered energy healing maneuvers!

It started with a lot of breath-work first directed at her tail, then various spots of her body, which continued for most of the session. It included some light and moderate touch both above her body and directly on her body, often with tapping occurring 3 times. And it definitely included doing a variety of very odd things I never even considered doing to a horse before!

To Charm's credit, she stood stock still the entire time and she wasn't even tied- with lush green grass beckoning just a few small steps away. In fact, she appeared far less confused than I felt! I kept wondering, "What the heck was going on?"

Yet- I found that if I stayed in my body, and stayed in the moment, as soon as I finished one maneuver, I just knew what to do next, and gracefully began doing it.

I got the impression that the work was opening energy channels/meridians, balancing chakras, creating alignment across all systems, and basically resetting her entire energetic matrix!

How cool is that!? And what a blessing!

The whole series finished with some really lovely words about our combined well-being.

And I was even given after-instructions: She needed 3 days of rest during which she may feel more sore for a bit, she should be turned out as much as possible because movement was key in her reintegration, and she needed lots of pure water.

It was suggested that this healing ritual be repeated for all of the horses, every 3-4 months for about a year, when we should all be feeling good as new.

When I was done, I was pretty shocked at what had transpired between us and part of me wished I had an observer who took notes so I could repeat that process for the other horses.

Because how on earth was I going to remember a whole 30 minute routine I'd never even read about?!

Then I realized that just as I was wordlessly guided today, I would be silently instructed any time I called in healing assistance.

I, personally, don't need to know anything.

Just as you do not need to.

We simply need to be willing channels for spirit's healing energies.

We only need to put out the call and be open to allowing the answers & energy to flow through us to the Beings we have agreed to assist.

The more we can get OUT of the WAY, the more we can allow what needs to happen to BE.

Of course, the animals know how to do this, it's us humans who need more practice asking, trusting, and allowing.

Want to join me on a healing adventure? Play with opening up to spirit and see how your animals would like healing to be channeled through you to them!

Hey, it's free, and you have nothing to lose. But we all have so much to gain!

I'll let you know how the cosmic healing goes for Charm and all of the healing herd!!

Readers: Have you had a cosmic healing experience with your animals? Please share!

What's Waiting to be Released in YOU?

2010-05-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

Today was an important anniversary for me.

But actually I had no idea. No memory.

However, Serendipity, the head of our healing horse herd, knew.

And she took it upon herself to remind me.

***************

For some reason I felt compelled to go out and groom the girls at dusk, not suspecting that more was in store.

That’s often how healing opportunities present themselves- out of the blue.

Standing with the brush in hand next to Seren, she seemed to be enjoying the strokes, when she moved her head closer to mine.

In the quiet of the evening, as she turned her eyes toward me, I felt a wave of sadness.

Was it hers or mine? For a moment I could not tell.

Then she said, “Today is the anniversary.”

“Anniversary?,” I wondered back to her.

There was a moment of silence, filled with sadness, and then she continued, “The Indian massacre we were involved in happened today.”

Ah, so the sadness was neither hers nor mine, it was OURS.

I was immediately reminded of a full moon spent under the stars last summer with my herd and two shamanic friends, when we discovered that we had ALL shared an Indian life together- the 3 of us and my 3 horses. It was not a life that ended well.

The fateful end came when our tribe was ambushed by white men, who killed everyone, even the horses.

Our little group of 6 had done some healing that night last summer under the full moon, but apparently there was more to be healed.

***************

Back in the paddock today, Seren lamented the useless, savage loss of lives that day. And reminded me that we both still carried scars of mistrust from then.

That day she lost some trust in the goodness of humanity.

And she gave me a history lesson, reminding me that I too lost trust in my fellow mankind- showing me that I had worked hard at creating peace among the peoples, but in the end I had been betrayed.

And apparently, the betrayal, mistrust, sadness, and even guilt still hung hidden in my heart.

Seren said it was time for more forgiveness and healing to take place.

In a flash, I saw in my mind’s eye a circle of light and it was clear there was a gathering of souls involved in that day- the white men come to offer apology, and the Indians and horses, there to create forgiveness.

From the Higher Self side, there was nothing left to be forgiven, all had already been absolved. And yet the human ego and physical body often retains energetic scars that still need to be released.

And so, that’s what we did, Seren and I stood and allowed all of the darkness and pain to be dissolved into light. The circle came together, and everyone stood in the Light, filled with heartful love.

It was a beautiful, deep, healing moment, filled with tears.

I thought we were done. Then Seren lowered her head, placing her nostrils into my ear for several long moments, as if she were whispering sweet nothings.

But not exactly so sweet, those breaths held the remembrance of so many lifetimes where I had been unable to save my people.

Seren showed me that the current guilt I feel in so many areas of my life, was a holdover, a habit, an energetic pattern and residue from many past lives when I was powerless to save myself, my family, or the people I felt responsible for.

“It’s time to release that burden of guilt. It was never yours to carry, you know,” wise Seren continued.

Indeed, and so I let the rush of tears cleanse and purify me of eons worth of sadness, burden, loss, and guilt- asking to be released from all agreements, vows, or even curses, left over from these lifetimes so I could move powerfully ahead in the present.

We allowed the process to unfold with grace and ease. And then, as these things go, the process was done, and Seren casually walked away as if it were any other day.

Yet we were both clearer & lighter, and thankful for the gift of deep healing and release.

What patterns are your horses ready to help you release? Are there emotions, reactions, or behaviors that keep you feeling stuck, that seem too strong to be explained by what you know about your history? They may be residues from past lives that need clearing.

The Horses stand ready to assist!

Readers: Do you have a story of horses helping you heal a past wound? Please share.

Horse is Calling You to Join in a Vision of Horse-Humanity Healing!

2010-05-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

As you know, over the holidays I co-wrote a book, Awakening Unity with Horse, with a Spirit Horse named Jasper about Horse's role in helping to heal humanity and support them towards the next stage of our current Consciousness Shift.

Last night, I tuned into the Spirit Horse Herd, and like many previous nights, they shared with me a vision, that I now wish to share with you.

They've shown it to me so many times, that all I can presume is that they want YOU to join with me in holding this beautiful vision of Unity, as it will help promote healing worldwide!

It looks like this:

Imagine seeing a globe of the world, all blue and green.

From every location on earth, horses and humans step forward to take their rightful place in the Circle of Enlightenment.

See a circle taking shape that encircles the entire globe. Side by side, the horses stand next to the person- each member the Next Link in our Healing Whole.

Horse, human, horse, human- with the human's arms reaching wide open to touch a horse's back on each side, connecting all members of this circle with enormous heart energy.

Every Horse and Human who comes forth has been called to become a part of this Healing Mission of Service to Humanity.

Have you heard your call yet? More and more are remembering their original plan to assist in this momentous occasion.

As the circle is completed, it is clear that there is a column of light flowing down into each member of the circle, horse & human. This Light is carrying the healing codes, helping us make the leap to Higher Consciousness.

And each member of the Circle is holding space for this healing vibration.

As they do, it connects with all other members in the circle, creating a vast, interconnecting web of light encasing the globe in a beautiful sparkling web of enlightenment.

This is the vision of Enlightenment that Horse and Human have come here to partner and co-create.

Please join me in taking a moment each day to hold this vision, in your heart.

See it, then FEEL it, starting from your heart.

Allow it to gather it's force there until it wishes to burst forth from your heart, to be sent out from you, to the world.

See yourself connecting to the whole web, brightening the light. Knowing that your light adds to the whole.

As often as you can, do this visualization in the presence of your Horse, who will add his Light to the circle. Or if you cannot be together, invite her to join you in Spirit and she will.

Every time we take a moment to feel this as Truth, we are strengthening it as our Reality, until at last we'll reach the tipping point, where all of our brothers and sisters will join us in a transformation of Love.

I'll see you there!

PS. A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who took a moment to vote for Unity with Horse over at the Next Top Spiritual Author Contest. Today is the last day to vote in the first round. I'll let you know soon, if we made it to the next round!

Here's the link to vote!
Vote for Unity with Horse

Horse Needs your VOTE to Help his Voice be Heard!

2010-04-28T20:54:00.000-07:00

*Please vote to help Unity with Horse get published at the Next Top Spiritual Author Contest.*

Have you ever wondered why you are so drawn to horses? Why you feel so much better after playing with them?

You are about to find out!

My brand new, awe-inspiring, paradigm-shattering book Unity with Horse reveals for the first time in stunning clarity the true spiritual purpose behind the horse and human relationship.

Discover how horse is helping YOU, and all of humanity make the current shift to higher consciousness. Plus, it’s paired with the exceptional equine artistry of Kim McElroy, so it’s designed to give you a direct energetic activation for your own healing.

Our relationship with horse is much deeper, and more meaningful than we ever envisioned!

But we need your support to bring the Wisdom of this Truth to the masses!

Help spread the word that Horse is here to help heal humanity, and at the same time, discover how to deepen your own relationship with horse, starting now.

*Please vote to help Unity with Horse get published at the Next Top Spiritual Author Contest.*

Voting ends on Sunday, May 2.

Please take a moment to spread the word to vote to all your horse-loving friends!

In this way, the truth about the healing power of Horse, humanity’s dearest friend for eons, will finally be revealed for all to appreciate!

See more about the book at www.unitywithhorse.com

And vote to get it published by visiting
http://www.nexttopauthor.com/profile.cfm?aid=2934

(Please note that in order to vote, you will have to visit the above page, click on Register, enter your email, then open the Confirmation Email they send to you, which will bring you back to the book’s page to vote. We know this takes an additional moment, but it keeps the contest fair and Horses need our support!)

As a thank you for your vote, I'm offering a download of the eye-opening excerpt, Jasper's Invitation to Humanity, where he reveals why you've been so magnetically drawn to horses all of this time. You'll be able to access this from the page after you vote.

I guarantee, you'll never look at Horse the same way again!

The Horses thank you for your love and support!

We can’t do it with out you.

Please join me in spreading healing one horse & human heart at a time!!!

Why Greg is the Best Horse Husband Ever!

2010-03-12T12:15:00.000-08:00

I have to hand it to Greg. He never complains.

He's solid like a rock when you need him.

The kind of man you can count on- who doesn't wussy out, even when:

- it's midnight
- he's just about asleep on the couch
- and you need him to go medicate and bandage a fussy yearling
- in the windy, cold, winter night.

What more can you ask of a guy!?

Especially when it was my prior silly decision that lead us to be doing this onerous chore so late in the freezing dark- in the first place!

Damn he even kisses horses!

He deserves a reward, don't you think? What shall it be.... any ideas?

True Love: Being willing to help each other out, even after dumb decisions, never once muttering, "I told you so!"

Readers: How does your partner help you out with your beloved animals without complaint? Please share!

BTW- This is #761 Reason Why You Should Marry a Horse Lover!!! Listen In to my cheerful debate on Stable Scoop radio about why you definitely should marry a horse-lover!: Valentine's Day Episode

The Great Helmet Debate Continued

2010-03-09T11:40:00.000-08:00

Join me in recommitting to riding with a Helmet, every time, no excuses!

In early March, the beloved Olympic dressage rider Courtney King-Dye, ended up in a coma with a skull fracture that came about from riding a young horse who slipped. Right now, I'm sending her and her family love and light for a quick and speedy recovery.

Yet- here's the facts: Accidents happen. People get hurt. A lot of the time, sadly, it's tragic. But, it's part of riding. And it's a risk we take every time we get on a horse.

But are you doing what you can to minimize the risk????

Courtney wasn't wearing a helmet. Would a helmet have prevented this injury?
Maybe, maybe not- but it most likely would have lessened the severity.
That's what helmets are for: Protecting our precious heads.

Now, I am a firm believer that everyone should wear a helmet ALL of the time- because horses are unpredictable and like people, they make mistakes, have bad days, misjudge things.

BUT- even with that firm belief in place, I have to admit- I get LAZY sometimes about putting on my helmet.

Sure, there are a million excuses, but none of them good ones.

That's why I'm taking this opportunity to re-commit to wearing a helmet, every time, no excuses.

Thank you for the reminder that life is precarious, and that every moment of it is made for sweet savoring- as safely as is reasonable.

Here's my hope for helmets.

A lot of people bitched and moaned when seat belts became mandatory- even though they clearly save lives. These days I can't ride in a car without my seat belt, because I have gotten so used to the feeling (which used to be uncomfortable)- that NOT putting it on FEELS unsafe! It somehow feels wrong. So, if I do momentarily forget, I find myself immediately reaching for the belt.

Let's hope that people begin to see helmets as mandatory, because they too save lives. And that eventually people become so used to their helmets that it actually feels wrong (unsafe) without it!

In that moment, that slightly uneasy, unsafe feeling helps you remember to run back to the barn and put it on!

Here's to happy, healthy heads for a good long time!

Want to read more? Head on over to the Great Helmet Debate on the Horse and a Half Blog.

When is Your Horse Refusing to Work a Good Thing?

2010-02-22T18:35:00.000-08:00

When she wants to offer you healing!!!

Very often, your horse knows what is best for you- because she’s more in tune with Truth and what’s really going on inside of you both!

But if you aren’t listening, or worse, think your horse is mis-behaving, you’ll miss out on some pretty powerful experiences for your own benefit!

Here’s an example.

The other day I went out to ride Charm. I really, really wanted to ride. It didn’t have to be a long ride, in fact, all I was looking for was a short bareback ride in a halter. But I wasn’t having a great day and really longed to feel her back beneath me.

She was cooperative enough, until I brought her up to the mounting block. Then, she just wouldn’t step up the last 3 steps so I could hop on her. She planted her feet and basically refused to budge.

I was disappointed, it was getting late and cold, I didn’t have a lot of time to fool around.

Now, it would have been easy to see her behavior as “disobedient.” I could have INSISTED she step up. Frankly, I am sure that would have worked.

But these days, I know better. So I take a deep breath and try to tune into what’s really going on.

I sat on the mounting block, and explained to Charm what I wanted to do, then I asked Charm what was going on.

She responded with a sort of concerned look in her eye and took a step further back from the mounting block. Ok, so we definitely weren’t going for a ride.

What were we going to do?

Charm was awfully interested in my hands, so I let her smell them and lick them.

When she began repeated yawning, I knew what we were doing- we were having a healing session.

Charm was right- what I really needed more than riding, was time to tune into the heavy weight of depression that had been bearing down on me lately. And she was ready to help.

She got busy moving stuck energy from a variety of the charka areas, but she kept returning to my hands.

Then she did something I’ve never seen any of the horses do while healing- while licking my hand, she kept her tongue on my palm and began to yawn, without removing her tongue from my hand.

I would have thought it was a coincidence, but she did it deliberately, more than once.

And it had an immediate effect: I retched a couple of times, until I actually threw up.

Charm calmly waited, ever attentive to her mission, even though she wasn’t restrained in any way. Never once did she try to grab some grass to nibble, or take off to the freedom of the surrounding pasture.

Then it occurred to me: I just witnessed an Equine- Energy Extraction Technique!

From previous healing work, I’ve discovered that sometimes a stuck energy actually needs to be physically thrown up from the body, by a series of violent retching, or actually throwing up. It’s quite effective in dislodging really stuck energies.

Then the tears came, and I allowed them, knowing they were helping to cleanse away unneeded energies that were no longer serving.

When the emotions passed, I felt lighter and clearer than I had in days.

I thanked Charm for having the wisdom to refuse to ride and the loving kindness to offer me what I really needed instead: A Healing.

What would change in your life if you started to tune into what really wanted to happen in any given interaction with your horse?

What would shift in your relationship with your horse if you made the assumption that your horse had a valid opinion of how to best spend your time together?

What would happen if you slowed down and took the time to really listen to what your horse had to offer?

Try it out and let me know what you discover!

Join us for a Spring Equinox Mask-Making Adventure

2010-02-17T17:36:00.000-08:00

Calling Forth Your Inner Strength with Your Power Animal

Have you ever wished you could step away from your everyday stresses and walk into a creative wonderland? Now’s your chance to do just that and experience the profoundly healing effects of shapeshifting into an animal with just the magical properties you most need right now!

On the Spring Equinox, Sunday March 21, from 11am-7pm, the ranch will be hosting a powerful mask-making workshop, along with a potluck and drumming circle. Take advantage of the equinox energies to ensure 2010 is a success! This is a not to be missed event!

Recently, I had the honor of participating in one of these transformative events lead by Shamanic Practitioner Gavin Hughes, of White Raven Mystic Arts. It was a deeply moving experience that I’m grateful for because it allowed me to step into a dormant side of myself.

For awhile now, I’ve been aware that I’m being spiritually groomed for a leadership role. However, it’s a role I wasn’t sure that I really wanted. Couldn’t I just be a healer and let someone else lead?! I’d always been a bit suspicious of authority anyway- why would I want to be that person. And certainly, I wasn’t sure I was ready for it because on any given day, I was still having difficulty feeling like a powerful leader.

That is, until the mask-making workshop- which finally gave me a profound opportunity to feel what it’s like to be a leader.

During the guided meditation to discover my power animal, Lion showed up. But not just any lion. More than the leader of his pride, this Lion was Benevolent Leader of the Entire Kingdom!

First, I got to feel the raw physical power of Lion by sitting astride him as the pride went for a run through a glorious sun-drenched field.

Then I got to really experience the deep feeling of Benevolent Leadership as Lion assembled the whole animal kingdom, with a powerful roar. Standing on a cliff, I watched as all members of the natural world gathered in front of Lion.

I understood in that moment that the animal begins were not afraid of Lion’s powerful voice, but rather they respected it and felt comfort knowing that someone was overseeing the kingdom with kindness and gentle, but decisive leadership. And rather than resenting the Lion’s role as leader, I saw how the animals appreciated him, even felt affection to him, for his protection, which allowed them to go about their daily lives knowing everything was in rightful order.

A profound feeling of love pervaded my heart, as I realized that all of the beings stood together in cooperative unity, in comm-unity, each with a role that served the greatest and highest good for them all.

In that moment, I knew that THAT was the kind of leadership role I was being prepared for- a Benevolent Leader who United Beings under the Divine Spark that was Common to Us All.

Finally, I could feel what I was being called to.

And that was just in the first half hour of the workshop!!!

The remaining time, of actually making the mask and doing ritual exercises with it, allowed me to step inside Lion, to be Lion, to creatively explore him for hours so I could internalize his gifts on an initial level.

What better way to embody your renewed capabilities than to honor your power animal by creating a mask modeled on your very own face!

And allowing your intuition to guide you step by step in making, painting, and decorating this object which will now be imbued with the characteristics you most need to stretchinto at this time.

And when you are done- you leave with a physical representation that will remind you on a cellular level of Who You Are Becoming- every time you look at it!

What a meaningful gift Gavin’s workshop gave to me!! And it’s a gift I highly recommend you offer to yourself by joining us this Equinox!

BTW- you don’t have to be an artist or creative type to enjoy this experience- it’s all about discovering your inner strength. No matter what the physical outcome looks like- the process itself is transformative!

For more details or to RSVP visit our MeetUp Group: Spring Equinox Mask Making Circle

Listen In to Stable Scoop Radio: Should You Marry a Horse Person!?

2010-02-14T17:25:00.000-08:00

Its an age old question. You are passionate about horses. Arguably- you've created an entire lifestyle around your devotion to equines. So when it comes to partnering up for love with a non-equine- should you pick another Horse Person?

Whether I answer you personally or professionally, my answer is the same:
A resounding YES!

Personally, my most rewarding days are the ones I spend immersed in my deepest passion, horses, with the person I am most passionate about- my husband- who is also a rider. Sharing something we both love makes us feel closer to each other, and gives us endless things to talk about, never mind, to do together.

Professionally from a psychological viewpoint- it's always best to chose a mate who loves to do the things you love to do- it minimizes conflict and gives you plenty of time joyfully doing something you both enjoy- which boosts your bond.

And we've all heard horror stories of the STRESS horses can cause in a relationship when one is a horse lover and the other, well, just isn't.

What if you aren't lucky enough to find the perfect partner who ALSO loves horses?

You can work around this, but there are some important things to consider!

To learn more while having a chuckle, listen in to my interesting chat with Glenn and Helena on the Valentine's Day episode of Stable Scoop Radio (I'm the second guest). Click the link below.

Stable Scoop Episode 78 – Annual Valentine Episode

And if you haven't heard my expert tips on the 5 minute Horse Tip Daily show, check them out here:

Dr. Jenn: Horse Tip Daily

Here's hoping you had a Valentine's Day filled with horse-y and human LOVE!

BTW- Did you know that my other passion is LOVE COACHING?

If you are still single and searching for the perfect partner, head on over to my other site, My Soulmate Solution to get all of the knowledge, guidance, and support you need to attract a love that will last a lifetime! Don't be single NEXT Valentine's day!

Join now and tell me you are a horse lover and get an extra month coaching membership FREE!!!

What It Takes to Heal: Willingess to Keep Peeling the Onion, No Matter What

2009-12-28T12:10:00.000-08:00

The other night, I had a surprising spontaneous healing session with the ponies. It was nightfall, and they were finished eating. I was just giving them some love, when Seren let me know it was time for some healing “work.”

It’s one thing when I go out with an intention to work on something for myself, but it still surprises me when THEY decide it’s time.

Lately, I’ve been doing my best to listen to my intuition, both with the horses, and without. But sometimes I still argue.

So when I’m standing next to Seren and I get the sense I’m supposed to kneel down and put my forehead on the ground, I resist. It’s cold out, the ground isn’t exactly clean…there are a million reasons, but the prompting persists, so I acquiesce.

I’m hanging out with my forehead on the ground wondering what the heck this is about and Seren touches a spot on my back, and the tears start flowing.

Wow- sometimes that’s all it takes to access a hidden issue- a posture, a simple touch.

And then words start flowing with the tears, words I don’t have any meaningful reference for, at least in this lifetime.

Words like, “I couldn’t save them. I wanted to be there. I couldn’t get there. They wouldn’t let me. I should have been there.” Over and over again, with so much grief. I get the sense it must be a past life scene. It feels like maybe my family was killed when I was away.

And then the tears clear, there is a moment of rest, I’m sitting up and Seren is taking some energy off of my shoulders and the top of my head- she bites my hat, grabbing something that no longer is serving me.

Then a new prompting occurs- “Lie down on your back” this one says.

“Are you crazy? It’s freezing out here. What if the horses step on me? Can I be safe? I’m not doing that!”

But it continues. Ok, fine. I’ll do it. So I lie back on the frozen ground, with my head out of the paddock for a little more security. And I start crying again, and shivering, with my thighs shaking. I keep saying, “I’m so cold, I’m so cold.”

I really am cold, but it seems like that I HAVE to be physically cold because that’s part of this past life scene that is being cleared- a cold and lonely death sometime, some place.

The tears continue, until they stop, and there is some peace, before the next prompting.

“Continue lying there, but put your hands behind you back.” I’m thinking, that’s crazy- but heck, it’s not any crazier then what I’ve already done, so fine- here you go. Let’s get this over with because I want to go inside where it’s warm!”

And that posture sets off an entirely new healing scene, a clearing of a fiery death by persecution it seemed. That’s not the kind of death anyone deserves.

All the while, Seren is standing watch over me, keeping me safe, assisting with clearing the energy, guiding the process. And Charm is holding space as an assistant directly across the fence.

Apparently Frolic and Little Man aren’t invited to this party, because whenever they come close, they get run off. Even the dogs aren’t allowed close by. This must be serious healing time.

And Seren plays her role perfectly, majestically, lovingly as leader of the healing herd- always letting me know when the work is done.

When I finally rise from the ground, I give all of the ponies thanks and hugs for their beautiful, willing, life-affirming service and I hurry inside to get warm.

Arriving back in, a lot later than my husband was expecting me, I utter, “Darn I’m cold!”

“Good thing I have something for you”, he says, as he hands me a huge mug of homemade hot chocolate.

And I feel like the luckiest girl in the world- surrounded by such supportive healing angels- both inside and out!!

As my own healing journey continues deeper and deeper, I am discovering that true healing really only requires one thing:

That we show up and fully ALLOW whatever needs to take place, to unfold.

Today I learned about the added power of posture to trigger that which needs to be released.

And fostered a deeper understanding that past life traumas often get carried into this life in our bodies and need to be cleared and released. Especially traumatic past deaths.

That sometimes these will come up to be cleared just when you are ready to take an important step forward that those energies may be preventing. And so they come up to be released.

Healing is about your willingness to get still, to go within, and to allow whatever feelings & energies come up, to play out in their entirety- giving them whatever words, sounds, postures, or tears come naturally, until you reach the stillness again.

Knowing that one more layer of that which no longer serves you, is gone for good.

And we need to keep showing up, peeling the layers away like an onion, until we reach the pure love that resides at the very center of us all.

And always, when you are ready, the horses stand prepared to assist us on this most amazing healing journey toward wholeness and love.

Ice's Christmas Message: How to Connect with your Departed Loved Ones

2009-12-04T00:23:00.000-08:00

I know the holidays can be a hard time for anyone who has lost someone they love. To never be able to see, touch, or hear a beloved again, particularly during special times- nothing makes the heart heavier.

So, if you are one of those people with a heavy heart this season, I have a message to pass on: Your loved one is really only a thought away.

When you put your attention on feeling your love for them, their energy and love will join you. You can be together again, if only in spirit- for now.

I am an unlikely carrier of this message, given that up until 3 years ago I was a proud atheist.

I believed that when you died, that was it. Kaput. Nothing. Blackness forever more.

Now I know different.

Now I know that your spirit lives on and can continue to comunicate with those who love you, because love is the universal language and your spirit never dies- it only changes form.

How can I be so sure?

Well, a LOT has happened to me to convince me of this over the past few years, but mostly right now, I want to share with you the story of how my beloved departed greyhound taught me that love can reach out through all time and space to connect you once more, whenever you choose- so that you too may know the comfort of your own loved one again.

You know those stories about how after someone close to a person has died, they feel like they have been visited by their loved one?

When it happens to you, you don’t just feel it- you know it and now it’s real. It’s truth.

I never expected it to happen to me.

Many of you may remember our greyhound Ice who passed away this summer (You can read more about him here: Serving with Love) But all you need to know is that shortly before his death, I discovered that he has been one of my spirit guides- holding a similar mission of spreading love on earth and supporting me on mine.

He crossed over after a very long, loving life, and it was time. Not that it makes it much easier.

Several weeks had passed and occasionally I’d still find myself breaking down in tears, missing a dog I didn’t realize how much I had loved.

One day, while I was driving on the highway, I suddenly noticed tingles on the right side of my head, and out of the corner of my left eye I got the impression that Ice had returned to tell me that he was well. I had a picture of him jumping around and showing me how much he enjoyed his new body. And tears of recognition shook right through me.

Just at the moment when the vision passed, my attention turned to the song playing on the car radio and I immediately knew it was a message from Ice.

I had caught the tail end of Lonestar’s I’m Already There.

This is what I heard:

I'm already there

Take a look around

I'm the sunshine in your hair

I'm the shadow on the ground

I'm the whisper in the wind

And I'll be there until the end

Can you feel the love that we share?

Oh I'm already there

We may be a thousand miles apart
But I'll be with you wherever you are

(If you’d like to hear the whole song, here is a YouTube link of the video: Already There )

Of course those words made me cry even harder. And right then, Ice’s real owner, my husband Greg called me on the cell phone to check in. Coincidence? Yea right!

What a wonderful and timeless message it was: A reminder that through our love, we will always be connected. And that I can feel his love all around me in the gifts of nature.

This holiday season Ice wanted me to remind you that that’s all you have to do to connect with your loved one:

Feel the love that you share and they will already be right there with you.

What a gorgeous gift Ice came back to offer to me and I feel blessed to have recognized it and allowed it into my awareness. My hope is that you will take his message and play with it, to lighten your heart and bring your loved ones near.

I know it wasn’t a fluke because Ice came back to me several times, always while driving the same stretch of highway, always with those same tingles and tears, and usually bringing a message via the radio!

Even now as I write this, there are those head tingles, letting me know I am not alone, and that writing this was not MY idea!

There was a time when I would have needed an explanation for how any of that was possible.

But not any longer.

I have seen the light and I know we are all connected by love.

I'll leave you with this poem that came through the Colorado Beagle Rescue, just in time to be included here. It echos my message and brought tears to my eyes- if only we could know how close our loved ones really are!!! It's written from the crossed over pet's perspective to his still grieving owner.

The End of my Journey

I stood by your bed last night. I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep.
I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea.
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "It's me."

You looked so very tired as you sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know I was standing there.
It's possible for me to be so near you everyday,
To say with certainty, "I never went away."

You sat there quietly, then smiled, I think you knew.
In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.
The day is over...I smile and watch you yawning
and say "good night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand side by side.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out...then come to be with me.

- Author unknown

Go forth in that love this Christmas, holding your loved ones close, and allow miracles to unfold around you.

May you be blessed with love.

A Mother-Daughter Healing Team Blossoms

2009-12-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

In the last few healing sessions, my heart has gotten all warm and fuzzy watching how Serendipity and Frolic, mother and daughter, have been working together to assist clients in dissolving blocks.

It’s becoming ever clearer that they do their work best in a tag team format. Obviously, each has their own niche and role in the healing process, because when one is done with their part, they walk off and the other steps in.

Frolic, ever curious, open, and friendly seems best at welcoming clients in, making them comfortable, and getting them in touch with whatever block most needs to be released.

With the deeper core issue exposed, Seren steps in to lead the cleansing, clearing, and releasing that is needed to dissolve a block.

It’s a beautiful dance without an obvious choreographer, each simply knowing when the time is ripe for their work and stepping in silently, willingly, lovingly.

There are barely words for how it touches me, to watch these animals I adore so deeply, work their magic.

When Seren came to me all those years ago as a barely broke 4 year old who became my eventing show horse, I have to admit I never would have guessed that deep within her was a healer waiting to serve. It was never in the plans that we would take this journey of healing together.

And I never would have guessed the reason why I felt a compelling, illogical urge to bring Seren’s yearling Frolic back with her to Colorado when Seren finally retuned to me after 5 years as a broodmare.

“We needed a yearling, like we needed a hole in the head,” as my husband Greg likes to say. And he was right, but I just KNEW she was supposed to be with us.

It wasn’t till a few more years later that I discovered WHY she was meant to be ours.

My favorite animal communicator, Kali Crosby, explained it to me after the Healing Ranch was up and running.

She said Seren calls herself a healer and when she made babies, she did her best to create horses that could also be healers. But when the time came for Seren to return from Wisconsin to me, she had not taught Frolic enough yet so she wanted Frolic to come along with her. So that eventually, they would work together as a team.

Funny- with the cranky way Seren treated Frolic, you wouldn’t have known she WANTED her around! Ah, mother-daughter antics I suppose.

I’ve been fascinated watching Seren train up Frolic in the healing arts. In the very beginning, Frolic was only allowed to watch.

As time passed, Seren would step back and invite Frolic to try the work. And as Frolic worked, Seren would occasionally walk on over and offer some advice (by breathing into each other’s noses) before departing to keep her watchful eye on the process close by.

This summer, I could tell that Frolic was taking her final exams, as most often Seren held back and Frolic took the lead. I knew she passed her test because you almost couldn’t get Seren to step in- as she was allowing Frolic the space to grow her abilities.

And now, it has come full circle, where they work together just about as equals- each playing their own unique role in the healing.

I can tell there are still some times when Frolic has more knowledge to absorb. Especially when doing deep work with me, Seren will keep Frolic back, asking her to just soak in the process. Which being so curious and helpful by nature, Frolic has a hard time doing! She always wants to help!

What a beautiful gift they have been to me- and to all that encounter them. To have my very first horse, and now her daughter, beside me- all of us with the same intention- to lead people back to their magnificent selves-the selves they came here to be.

I couldn’t wish for any finer companions on this amazing journey of healing and discovery. Thank you girls for being angels in a horse-y disguise! The transformative power of your love never ceases to amaze me.

And I can’t wait to watch the path unfold even further along side of you and the other amazing members of the Healing Horse Herd.

Horse Wisdom: Trust Thyself

2009-11-29T10:45:00.000-08:00

During a recent client session, the healing herd did a really unusual thing.

They all laid down. Not just down. But all the way out on the ground- all four of them. At least one was snoring in fact.

“I didn’t know horses snore!,” my client remarked.

This was astonishing.

As creatures of prey, horses are constantly vigilant for predators.

So, almost always when it’s sleepy time, at least one of the herd remains standing, as sentinel, guarding the vulnerable, resting horses from danger.

And humans, especially strange, unfamiliar ones, like a new client, fit in the category of potential predator, until proven innocent.

So, horses will rarely lie down with people they don’t know well. Even when they know you well, some horses never will lie down with you close by. When they do- it’s a huge sign of trust.

So, here were 4 horses, all who not only were on the ground, but laid flat out- the most vulnerable position possible for a horse- with me and my client standing nearby.

One of the tenants of equine-assisted work is to always assume that what the horses are doing is a message. Not just a coincidence, but that their behavior has a direct or symbolic meaning for the client.

This time, the message was clear:

It is safe to be vulnerable with others.
We trust you.
It is time to wholly trust yourself, in the same way.

The horses want you to know that until you trust yourself, success will always be just out of reach.

It’s time to heal whatever is standing between you and trust.
Trusting yourself, trusting others, trusting the universe.

The horses are standing (or lying!) willing, ready to assist!

Top 10 Reasons It Kicks Ass to Have Your Horses in the BackYard.

2009-11-24T17:21:00.000-08:00

On the eve of Thanksgiving, I turn my heart toward all that I am thankful for. Of course, the very first thing I live in gratitude for is residing on this gorgeous ranch with my amazing herd of healing horses!

To honor the depth of my thankfulness for this experience that I’ve waited my entire lifetime to enjoy, I’ve written down a few of the more compelling reasons I love living with my horses.

May they help bring appreciation into your own heart as well!

My Top 10 List of Reasons It Kicks Ass to Have Your Horses in the BackYard.

Number 10- Pony cuddle time, three times a day!! Hugs and kisses all the way around.

Number 9- When cramped for time, I can be on and off a horse in under 20 minutes.

Number 8- Star gazing with the herd, on silent nights.

Number 7- I can feed the horses in my pajamas! Thank goodness the neighbors are a few acres away.

Number 6- When the Farrier is an hour late, it’s not too awfully inconvenient.

Number 5- At my leisure, I can ride 3 horses a day- one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening.

Number 4- In the middle of a nasty snow storm, I don’t have to sit at home worrying if my horse is shivering, OR risk driving to the barn on slippery, snowy rollercoaster roads- I just stroll out the door.

Number 3- Anyone who’s ever boarded a horse, say it triumphantly with me now: I can feed as much hay as I want, as often as I want!!!! Shhh, don’t tell Greg, the Hay Police, that I said that!

Number 2- When the vet orders something to be soaked and wrapped 3x a day- there is a chance in hell that I may actually be able to do it!

And Number 1- My all time favorite: Bareback moonlight pony rides!

I wish you a very grateful Thanksgiving filled with appreciation for all that is well in your world and all of the gifts that are on their way into your life as we speak!

Readers: What is YOUR favorite thing about having horses in the backyard?! Please share!

What is Your Horse Thinking???

2009-11-23T12:23:00.000-08:00

Lately I’ve been noticing that when I take one of the horses out to the arena to ride, the remaining 3 spend a great deal of time watching us from the paddock. It always surprises me a little, quite frankly.

I can’t help but wonder what they are thinking??!!!

After some consideration, I’ve narrowed it down to the following:

1) Good God, I’m glad that’s not me!
2) When is it gonna be my turn??!!!
3) Hmmm, let me assist and send Jenn some tips on how to ride that horse right!
4) Let’s help out that poor pony and give them some clues about what on earth Jenn is trying to communicate.
5) It’s so boring out here, at least there’s something to watch.
6) All of the above.
7) It depends on which horse you are talking about.

So, which one do you think it is?

Personally, I think it depends on which horse is watching.

If Charm is watching, I imagine her to be saying: “How could she have picked that horse instead of me! I’d better watch and make sure nothing untoward is going on!”

If Seren is watching, I imagine her to be thinking: “Oh thank god, I lucked out today. I get to sit here and be teacher for the little ones.”

If Little Man is watching, he seems to be saying, “ Oh please, I want to be next! Please, please!”

And if Frolic is watching, she seems to be soaking in the lessons, “Oh, so that’s what a round circle is! I’ll try that out next time.”

Readers: Please share- What would your horse be thinking???

Horse Wisdom 101: Being IS Doing

2009-11-16T13:15:00.001-08:00

Recently one of my favorite animal communicators wrote about the healing that was taking place in her relationship with her horse, Ed.

Bridget Pilloud, of Pets are Talking, writes a kick-butt Reading of the Week blog post- and I devour it as soon as it comes out- so I think you'd enjoy it too.

This week, her horse Ed reminded Bridget of one of the founding tenants of Horse Wisdom: The Power of Being Instead of Doing.

Ed is a smarty pants and apparently a bit of a poet. He described it by saying: "We're passing the peace."

How lovely is that!!??

Bridget is right, most horse owners want to DO something with their horse. They get satisfaction and feelings of accomplishment from DOING.

That's all well and good. Horses like that too.

But they like it best when we balance it by spending good quality time BEING together.

Just hanging out, side by side, being quiet together. Maybe gentle brushing, light touching, but mostly just being together, with your mind quietly present- not doing the usual mental gymnastics.

You can even try just BEING atop your horse- maybe bareback while they munch on hay or grass. I've got one horse who appreciates this style of togetherness.

Another animal communicator friend of mine, Kali Crosby, tells me that horses love this quiet, 1 on 1 time together because they love to talk to us. Think your horse isn't talking? You probably just aren't listening quietly enough.

If you get your mind still, breathe deeply, and just listen for what wants to pop into your mind, you'll likely get an idea of what your horse is talking to you about.

It's the perfect time to connect Who We Really Are with Who They Really Are. And to let the love flow.

Horse are masters at Being. They don't often worry about DOING- they go with the flow- in the moment- where love resides most powerfully.

Personally, for awhile now, I've let the balance slide over to more BEING than DOING with my horses. And though I miss the action, what I've found is that the beauty of connection, companionship, and communication that comes from just being together, far outweighs the glory of accomplishing by DOING.

The best part? Once you are deeply connected by BEING together, the DOING happens much more easily and effortlessly as a harmonious team.

Readers: Head out to the barn today and try just Passing the Peace with your horse- and let me know what you feel!

Read about it in Bridget and Ed's words here: Pets Are Talking Blog

Little Man Finally Gets a Real Name!

2009-11-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

Little Man had been here maybe 2 months and still he didn’t have a proper name. I feared that his nickname would forever be his calling card. This was especially troublesome since he’s on course to be our biggest horse. He should reach 17 hands- nowhere close to little!

Worse, I wondered if my previously high-functioning naming ability had left me high and dry. What else could I conclude after a series of less than innovative names like Squeaker, Big Kitty Kitty, and Little P?

But I needn’t have worried. Because his perfect name was just waiting for me to discover it.

Late one night, right before bed, I picked up a book I had previously read (and marked all up). Looking for some general inspirational guidance for my life, I employed a handy technique I have been using for awhile after learning it can be a more concrete way to access your intuition.

Holding the book’s covers between my hands, I asked, “If there is anything that would be helpful for me to know right now, please show me…” Then I flipped through the pages, allowed the book to open to a random page and started reading.

This time, within the first paragraph an unusual name was circled: Jaren. By the time I read the following sentence explaining it’s meaning I actually had tears in my eyes and I really didn’t know why.

I let it settle in that Jaren is the Hebrew word for “outpouring of joy.” And I immediately had a knowing that it’s the perfect name for Little Man.

Then I was startled into the present moment by noticing that I had previously circled the name over a year ago, for no good reason that I can remember. I chuckled at the serendipity of it all.

Yet, on a logical level, I still couldn't decide if it’s the totally perfect name for him. Heck, when pronounced the way it looks, it’s awfully similar to Seren, what we call my mare Serendipity. Yet, it does conform to my tradition of naming my horses after something that’s full of happiness.

So, I played with it for a few days. I started pronouncing it with a sort of French twist on the J, and a Spanish twist with a rolling of the R- more like Ja’ rrrren. Now, that I was more excited about. It’s fun to say. And it reminds me of a sexy Frenchman, which definitely fits a part of Little Man’s vibe. Except, I have no talent for rolling R’s and have to ask my husband to pronounce it the way I intend it to sound!

So I took it out to Little Man. I figure it’s supposed to be his name so he should get final approval. Over a bucket of hay, I asked him what he thinks of Jaren, letting him know that we’ll still use his nicknames that include words we know he likes such as Manly Man, and Handsome Man. With all of the munching going on, I didn’t feel like I could hear his answer.

I made a note to ask him soon during some quiet 1 on 1 time.

I never did get a chance to ask again- because about a week later Little Man found a way to let me know.

It happened after 3 days away from the ponies for an intense emotional workshop. The first day back, I took some time to connect with each of the horses, starting with Little Man.

He seemed eager to share something with me, but I couldn’t tell exactly what. He was pushing me around a bit with his head and neck. After a minute, I guessed he was trying to position me in front of his chest, with easy access to his heart charka. So I stood there and placed my hand on his chest. I got quiet and took a deep breathe and a lovely feeling of joy suddenly welled up into my heart, and came out as a few tears. I smiled and thanked Little Man for sending me such love. I thought he was just trying to reconnect with me after my absence.

So what I heard next surprised me. “Well, that’s my new name isn’t it?!” I giggled as I recognized that indeed, yes! Jaren meant an outpouring of joy. And here he was, sharing his outpouring of joy as a way to confirm acceptance of his new name.

How very clever indeed! And totally joyful and loving. The perfect name for a horse with a heart of pure gold. Thank you Universe for dropping it right into my lap! Literally.

Readers: How did your favorite pet get his/her name? How did the inspiration strike you? Please share.

Who is Your Healing Angel?

2009-09-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was September 12- International Angel Day. It was also my 36th Birthday.

As I paused to reflect on that serendipitous occurance, it allowed me to honor all of the earth angels at the ranch.

If you didn't get a chance to pause last week to thank all of the angels in your life, here's my invitation to you to send that appreciation out now. When we fill the world with loving, grateful thankfulness, we really are ALL angels, uplifting the planet.

I'll go first!

My deepest, heart-felt Thank You goes out to:

Angel Greg: My super loving husband, who by ever adoring me constantly fills me with Light and Love, allowing me to share that Light with the world. Without you, I couldn't be serving my mission with such passion.

Angel Serendipity: As my first horse and leader of the Healing Herd, simply having you in my life after all of these years is enough to fill me with wonder and fuzzy warm tears every time I look at you. Thank you for offering your healing service first to me, then to the rest of the world. And, you are a remarkable teacher to us, as well as the rest of the healing herd!

Angel Frolic: From the moment you arrived into our lives, as Serendipity's baby, we knew you would be special. But there is hardly enough thanks for the amount of grounded, warm, laughter-filled wisdom you offer to us daily with your ever-increasing and freely given Love.

Angel Charm: Your utter gorgeousness and the way you fully inhabit your charm, grace, and power, but still with an open heart- is a constant encouragement for us to embody our Highest Selves and to use them flamboyantly, exuberantly to play. Thank you for blessing us with the Warrior Goddess energy every day!

Angel Beau: As the ever-friendly protector of the ranch, your steady, wise loyalty and big, deep brown eyes are enough to sustain me when Angel Greg can't be around. Thank you for standing by my side in Love.

Angel Big Kitty (Noel): From the moment you arrived on our porch starving and shivering, I knew you came for a reason. By standing so solidly in your Queenly-ness, you remind us all that we deserve to demand the love we deserve. Thank you for chosing us to share your lesson with, My Royal Highness!

Angel Squeaker: If it weren't for you breaking Greg's heart and mind open to the Awe that is Feline- he would never have known the love and splendor of Cats! Thank you for snoodle-ing with him daily- because his heart can't resist love given freely- even if it does come from a cat. And for this gift, I forgive your total lack of love for me!

Angel Little P(anther): Thank you for arriving at just the right moment to offer your tremendous gift of a furry ball of Purr-fectness. The joyful way you claim the world as your playground and use it to explore your power, athelticism, & enjoyment with abandon is a huge role model for us all. As another carrier of the Warrior Goddess energy, you challenge us to step right into our power, with no apologies. Everyone needs to know that they can still be adorable standing in your glory!

Angel Little Man: As the newest member of the Healing Herd who arrived completely by SynchroDestiny, and the only male in the Herd- we are delighted to discover that you are carrying the energy of the New Masculinity- by standing grounded in your power, relaxed and at ease, with a huge, willing, and open heart you will bring healing to the Wounded Man inside of us all. What an adventure that will be!

And to our recently departed Earth Angels, who can now
continue their supportive angel ways from the Other Side....

Angel Ice Man: Clearly there is not enough gratitude to send to you for your role as Spirit Guide in my daily life- inspiring, teaching, and prodding me into my Greatness and supporting my role as Spreader of Love into the World. Thank you for everything.

Angel J'oui: For sparking in me a depth of unconditional love that I didn't realize was possible, and for teaching me that it is time to create that love on my own and share it with the world, there are no words of thanks, just an undying connection of love that will unite us for eternity. I hold you close in deepest gratitude.

Dearest Readers, now it is your turn! Won't you please share your gratitude here for some of your sweetest Earth Angels- the people and pets in your life who offer you the healing, support, and love that allow you to become all who you are meant to be!

Please share!

A Final Good Bye to J'oui, My Kitty Soulmate

2009-09-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I wrote about how the kitty love of my life, J'oui, was unexpectedly dying. My deeply felt tribute to him and his legacy was in that blog post: Finding the Sweet Spot of Love in Death.

Now, an update. We had to put J'oui to sleep the other week, seeing in his eyes that the pain was no longer worth baring.

A very strange and difficult thing, to know you have 6 hours, 4 hours, 2 hours, then 20 minutes left to spend with your loved one. I eeked out all the love I could from those final hours- as he let me hold him close- yet it never feels like enough.

I still miss him horribly at times.

But I want to thank him from the bottom of my soul for filling my human heart with more love than I ever imagined possible.

Until we meet again my little, gorgeous friend, may you fill many other lives with love and may I learn your lesson of spreading unconditional love far and wide, with a smile in your heart, a sparkle in your eye, and a gentle touch of the hand.

And may I grow in my understanding that though we are no longer together in the physical realm, we are never really far apart.

God speed little one, as you are on to other adventures!

I'll always hold you close. Thank you for being you- the glorious, beautiful, lovable you. You are a gem of a lifetime.

Is SynchroDestiny Working It's Magic In Your Life?

2009-08-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

How the Bread Crumbs of "Coincidence" Brought in the Newest Member of the Healing Horse Herd

Do you recognize serendipity at work in your life? What some call “coincidence” others call SynchroDestiny.

To me that means that when you have set a clear intention, and are open to receiving, the universe arranges just the right thing at just the right time to support you on your path.

The keys to allowing SynchroDestiny to blossom in your life are to:

1. Recognize when it happens,
2. Not dismiss it as coincidence,
3. And be willing to act on it.

I call it being willing to Follow the Breadcrumbs…the little clues along the way that bring you right to destiny’s door. Then all you have to do is knock!

Trouble is, what shows up may not always be what you were expecting, or perhaps, you weren’t prepared to act because you weren’t expecting anything at all.

In these moments, we can be paralyzed by doubt, by fear- what if we are wrong and it really is just coincidence??? What if I am not meant to act???

SynchroDestiny asks for your faith, for you to take the leap into the unknown, trusting that everything is unfolding as it should.

And for your faith, you are rewarded with brilliance, with miracles, with magic. And they can happen every day once you are In the Flow with the Universe.

I feel compelled to write about SynchroDestiny today because lately, it seems to be working it’s magic all around me.

Recall the 2 most recent blog posts about how a new black kitty who touches my heart arrives at just the same time that my favorite soulmate kitty is dying. THAT is SynchroDestiny working it’s magic. I wasn’t sure about getting her, I was afraid. Yet I acted and have been rewarded with a tremendous new love in my life.

Now, the pending arrival of the latest member of the Healing Horse Herd has SynchroDestiny’s stamp all over it.

Let me share with you the story so you can get a sense of how Following the Breadcrumbs helps you allow the Universe to assist you towards your dreams, with SynchroDestiny.

So you can more clearly see the process of SynchroDestiny unfold, I'll use Italics to denote the breadcrumbs. And the Inspired Action, that was necessary to allow Synchrodestiny to unfold, will be in Bold.

It started in June with setting the clear intention that we will attract all of the perfect healing animals that will be working with us at the Healing Horse Ranch. You set it and forget it. We had almost forgotten our request!

The summer rolls along and it’s August. I’ve got 2 saddles for sale and neither one of them is budging. I’m getting frustrated that we can’t seem to sell anything!

Then one night I am on the Internet and I run across a brand new horse show event. I’m curious because it’s unusual: an Event for Gaited Horses. Gaited horses don’t usually do dressage, cross country jumping, and stadium jumping.

So I look it up and discover that all horses are welcome and it’s late enough in the year that I can get my mare, who’s been off for the season due to injury, to a show finally. I’m excited about that.

But I have a commitment that weekend that I would need to move to attend the show, so I shoot off an email to the organizer of the event, Lisa, to see if she’s sure they will hold the event. Her friendly reply assures me that yes, the event is solid.

Great, I think. So I moved my commitment, thinking that was that. A few days later, I get the intuition that I should write to her and see if she knows anyone interested in the saddles. But this time, I don’t do anything…I mean to, but I don’t act on it right away.

Several days after that, I get an email that Lisa has sent out to her contacts that informs us that we can advertise horses and tack for sale on her event website for $5 each. This I noticed because it was an unusual coincidence- I was just thinking of emailing her about the saddles and instead I get an offer from her to advertise them. Interesting, this prodding from the Universe. Sometimes when you don’t act, you get a little prod. Strangely, I still don’t do anything!!!

A few days pass, I’m trying to decide if I want to spend the $10 to put both saddles on her website. When I finally get ready to email her, I notice that I had missed an email from her about a week earlier because it was in my spam folder.

I open it and she’s asking me if I know anyone who wants a yearling a colt who would make a great future eventer. No, I’m thinking, I don’t know anyone. But strangely, I ask her to tell me about him anyway. Why- I have no idea! AND, I also ask her if she knows anyone interested in my two saddles.

We exchange a couple of emails with the details of each offering. When all of a sudden I get an email from her that says that one of my saddles is her dream dressage saddle, would I be interested in trading the saddles for the horse?

Well, heck I never even considered that! We don’t need a 4th horse. And if we did take one on, we’d want it to be a horse my husband could ride right now and/or a steady horse any of our clients could sit on. A yearling, even if he had the right temperament would still be 3 YEARS away from being the right horse!

Nevertheless, I tell her that if she would consider trading just the dressage saddle (worth only $700) for the horse, we’d be interested in meeting him. Why did I say that?- again I’m not sure…but by now I am getting the feeling that SynchroDestiny may be at work. So I am definitely at full attention.

She writes back that yes- that would work for her.

So, I call my husband, almost afraid to tell him what’s going on because it’s slightly absurd- what would we do with a horse we’d need to feed for 2 years before we could even start to ride him!?

Unexpectedly, he says, “Well, it sounds like a no brainer. The horse is worth more than the saddle.” This from a man who has been really worried about tight finances and been very clear about NOT wanting any more animals right now. His openness to this crazy situation is another breadcrumb.

So, within the week, we go to meet this little fella. We discover that he seems to have just the personality that we look for in a horse, peaceful and super friendly. And he’s going to be very tall- at least 17 hands- which will make him a great future mount for my husband. And Lisa thinks the saddle is perfect.

So, now we need to decide:
Is this just a crazy coincidence that will make our lives more difficult, or is this divinely-inspired SynchroDestiny at work, bringing us what will turn out to be the perfect horse at the perfect time- even though we weren’t looking for a horse and we really weren’t too keen on a horse we wouldn’t be able to ride for years!!!

That’s where faith comes in. So, as I’m driving down the road, I ask for a sign:
Is it in the highest good for all concerned for this little guy to join our herd? If yes, please send me a very clear sign!!!!

The intuitive response I get is immediate and funny: “What more of a sign do you want!? We’ve dropped him into your lap!” And this recognition came with one of my signs of Truth- tears. Indeed for almost a year now I’ve been asking for the perfect horse for Greg to drop from the sky and land in our laps, for free.

And here he is, not exactly free, but requiring no exchange of money. He just didn’t come in the package we expected.

So, we’re being asked to trust that this will indeed turn out to be the Perfect Horse at the Perfect Time. That he will be carrying gifts we are meant to receive right now, and that we will offer him equal in return.

We’re being asked to act on the mere belief that there is a very good reason that this particular horse has been dropped in our laps at this particular time- even if we don’t know exactly what that reason is.

SynchroDestiny asks one last time, “Are you willing to make this leap?”

Throwing caution, doubts, and fears to the wind, Greg and I answer, “Hell, yes, why not?- let’s go for it!”

He is arriving and I can’t wait to watch the magic continue to unfold!

You can learn more about SynchroDestiny, a concept put forth in a book by the same name written by Deepak Chopra here: SynchroDestiny

Readers: Can you share a time when SynchroDestiny worked it's unexpected magic in your life???

Little P's Epilogue: Finding the Sweet Spot of Love in Death

2009-08-18T12:08:00.001-07:00

The Gain of One Kitty Heralds the Loss of Another

Fascinatingly, within a week of Little P's arrival, another reason for her serendipitous joining of our family became apparent.

The day after Little P arrived, my soulmate kitty, J'oui, became ill. I didn't take him to the vet right away as he often gets a little under the weather only to bounce back after a few days.

Little did I know, he was dying right in front of me and I was missing the signs. Sure, I knew something was off, I just hoped it would clear itself. I didn't know how sick he was.

By the time I got him to the vet, they didn't think he would last the night. Devastated can't come close to describing the feelings of loss and grief I experienced.

Unable to sleep that night, I stood out with the horses under a meteor shower and cried. I cried so hard that eventually all I could do was lie down at Seren’s feet in the field, totally exhausted. She stood over me, like a silent sentinel, holding space for me. Frolic and Charm also laid down to rest. I felt one with the herd. And when I opened my eyes again, the sky was brightening with the sunrise.

It didn’t change the fact that I was afraid of losing J’oui.

J'oui was the one who had introduced to me the feeling of overwhelming unconditional love. Lying in my arms, his little arms touching my face, staring into me with his huge blue eyes, I knew a kind of pure love that I had rarely been in touch with in my life.

- All I had to do was look at him peacefully sleeping and love would well up in me.
- Watching him slink across the floor would make me smile.
- Noticing him clumsily almost fall off a banister would make me giggle.
- Hearing his outrageously loud purr would make me beam.
- And simply shouting his name with glee brought me more pleasure than it ever rightly should!

J’OUI!!!!! (pronounced J-weeeeeee)

Short for Joie de vie which is French for Joy of Life- THAT was exactly what this kitty inspired in me with his very presence- day after day.

I took more pictures of that cat than anything else, except for maybe sunsets. Greg joked that we would publish pictures books with names like J'oui and Me, The Tao of J'oui, and Oooo, La La, J'oui J'oui!

Greg would watch me oozing with pure bliss and ask me incredulously, “Is there ANYTHING that cat does that doesn’t make you happy????”

Um, no.

Sorry. I know you wish you were that cute. And you are, almost.

But my love for J’oui was otherworldly. Heck, I didn’t really understand it either. I just knew I planned on enjoying it for the rest of our lives.

I was often struck with deep gratitude for our relationship, knowing that it was such a tremendous gift- this ability to inspire such love and share it freely. I felt blessed to have that opportunity every single day and I realized how special it was.

I guess I thought acknowledging such gratefulness for it, would ensure it lasted forever.

So, the thought of having that love ripped from me unexpectedly. Well, it was more than I could handle.

I hadn’t been given a chance to adapt to the thought of life without him. To say my goodbyes. So I prayed that he would last the night and I could at least take him home to hold him one more day.

Thankfully, he did make it through the night, and strangely, against all odds, he’s holding on. He seems to be better. But I'm not convinced that it’s not his time. And I’ve given him permission to go on now.

But what I am convinced of is that the Universe arranged to deposit one gloriously loveable black kitty into my arms at just the time when I was about to lose the kitty love of my life.

And miraculously, that new kitty is able to inspire in me the very same glowing, unconditional love that J’oui can.

You know, not every cat has that effect on me. So the very fact that this new kitty can is not lost on me. It’s the miracle, the serendipity of the Universe working it’s magic.

And as I enjoy every moment I have left with J’oui, I am sure to thank him for sending in his replacement. Because I know, in my heart, J’oui has my back. And when I look into his eyes now, I can see that he’s got me covered.

I know there are more lessons to be learned here. But one of them is that the pure joy of unconditional love is always available to me, whether it’s in the form of a new kitty, or in the form of our timeless connection that will last even when J’oui leaves this earth.

Greater than that, though, is the challenge that J’oui is offering up- possibly it’s even his parting gift to me: A reminder not to look outside of myself for a source that will create that love in me, but to re-discover that place within me that can create the love all by itself.

Perhaps it’s a bit like a final exam, given from J’oui, the teacher, to me, the student.

It goes like this: "Now that I have reminded you what this great love feels like, can you go forth and share it freely from your own heart? Offering it far and wide to everyone and everything?

"And when you can sustain this kind of loving offering, you will have succeeded in the most important lesson of all, really the only lesson: Love."

I can almost hear him say, “Remember, Love is All That Is- now go forth and spread it. And as you do, you will always be close to me.”

And suddenly, just like that, J'oui's passing becomes the greatest gift one being can offer another: The chance to know yourself as Love.

Thank you J'oui from the bottom of my heart for all of the love that we share. And for this final, most monumental of gifts.

I know I'm not quite ready to pass this exam with flying colors, but I'll do my best to practice this lesson you so lovingly offered, until Living In Love comes as naturally and effortlessly as the love I felt with you.

Readers: Has something important come into your life at the time of a big loss? Please share.

Following the Bread Crumbs to One Gorgeous Black Kitty

2009-08-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

The Story of the Latest Addition to the Healing Horse Ranch Family

“We need another cat like we need a hole in the head,“ Greg plainly states, as we’re sitting in a PetSmart Adoption Play Booth, trying to cuddle with a wriggly, still people-shy, yet totally adorable long-haired black kitten.

“I know, I KNOW, but still…..,” I reply, knowing that Greg is, of course totally right.

He’s the logical one. The rational one. The one that keeps me grounded- and from being a crazy cat lady with 26 cats.

And logic says that we have 3 cats already. That one doesn’t get along with the others so we have to keep them, sometimes awkwardly, segregated, otherwise bruises and black eyes develop.

So why on earth would I need a 4th cat? And what if she doesn’t get along with the others? And who will pay all of the bills, anyway????

That’s the logic. But I’ve never been ruled by logic. I go with the heart. The gut. What my intuition tells me.

And my intuition tells me that maybe, just maybe, I’m supposed to take home this little bundle of fluff.

WHY???, I wonder to myself…

It seems to go back a couple of years to when I went to a hypnotherapist and underwent my very first Hypnotic Regression. And on the way back, way, way back to another time and place, we made a pit stop to see if I had a guide who wanted to make itself known.

I arrived in my mind in a circle of grass, carved round by a forest of trees surrounding it. And I saw eyes, glowing eyes, yellow, perhaps green, staring at me from the wood. Ominous? Maybe, I couldn’t tell. Then a great big Panther strode out from behind the cover of darkness. Now, I was a bit nervous- big cats bite, hard- don’t they?

Just as soon as I began wondering if I was safe, the big cat morphed into a little black kitty, rubbing my lower legs in a figure eight pattern. I was safe. This animal was here as a protector, teacher, guide.

When I got home and did an internet search, I discovered that the Black Panther, as power animal or animal totem, was all about facing your fears, reclaiming lost power, embodying your sensuous grace, and playing with the moonlit, magical darkness. “Ha!,” I thought, “Perfect! Those are all of my current struggles- Panther is the ideal companion for me!.”

So, right then, I knew my future held a black kitty. Yet, now we had three cats- none of whom were even close to black.

Nevertheless, the seed had been planted. And it was watered the previous week when my blacksmith told me a tearful tale of how one of their 3 new black kittens had met a tragic, unexpected end. The whole time he told the story, not knowing where it was going, part of me wondered if he would be asking if I knew someone to take one of these kitties. But, that wasn’t where his story went, I had to admit, a little disappointedly. Yet- now the seed was sprouting.

And so it was the following week, in a new PetSmart, that I ran unexpectedly into the cat Adoption Center. I was just toodling around trying to find what I needed when, wham, my head flew up and there I was. “Crap!,” I thought, as I KNOW I’m not supposed to EVER go by the cats in their glass enclosures, as every time I do, they all call out to my heart and my will becomes not my own.

But there I was standing in front of one of the enclosures, housing three, 4-month old kittens. I gazed at them and a black and white tuxedo marked one stood up from the soft pile of kitty bodies, and strode over to me- rubbing against the glass. “Hell- now I have to play with them,” but just a minute I promised myself.

Once seated in the Kitty Play Booth, surrounded by the 3 kitties, it soon became clear that the one who originally caught my fancy, the Tux, would never be a good fit in our house- she was all Goddess- brave, strong, adventuresome. No, our cat Squeaker would never stand for that- he required submission.

But the more gentle, shy, fluffy Black one, now she seemed to fit the bill. More outgoing then the 3rd sister, and “Oh-My-God-Soft,” she intrigued me. Ever since my childhood cat Fluffy died back when I was maybe 10 years old, I’ve always wanted another longer haired cat.

I reluctantly gave them all back to the employee and headed on home, now wondering, am I supposed to take home that cat?

Since our beloved greyhound died a few months ago, Greg has been adamant that he did not want any more pets. Not now. And he’s never been a fan of cats anyway.

When I sort of tested the waters later that day by telling Greg that I had played with the kitties and the black one interested me, he replied, “I’m surprised you didn’t come home with him.” His resolved sounded a little softer than before.

But I try, I swear I try to uphold his wishes-so really I was only toying with the idea of getting that cat. But then something took hold.

I decided to sit with it. They are kittens, usually kittens gets adopted fast. Maybe if she is there the next time I go in, that will be a sign.

For the next few days, my soulmate cat, J’oui, was especially loving, alternating between curled up and being laid flat out in my lap. My heart purr’ed with pure pleasure in these moments and I radiated such happiness, that even Greg couldn’t be immune.

Greg would sit next to me, and I could feel how my unadulterated happiness became his happiness- since all he ever wants is for me to be happy. And clearly, the right cat brings me an ecstasy that he really can’t fathom, not being a cat person.
But he had to admit it, it was so very clear: Cats equal joy to Jenn.

And so, I could feel his “No More Pets” resolve soften further. By the weekend, I said, maybe we could just go see her again, you can meet her, and we can decide. He said ok, no doubt knowing that once my heart is set on something, there is little he can do to deter me. And yet- trying to respect his boundaries- I really wasn’t certain we needed to have this cat, right now.

Even sitting in the play booth- all three kitties and us, I still wasn’t sure. I was afraid to be sure, really. What if she wasn’t The One? Yet- she was so cute!!!

And so he acquiesced to filling out an application. And I figured it would be a day or so before we heard and we could always change our minds. As the staff member ran to get the forms, my favorite song came on, It’s Friday, I’m in Love by the Cure. As I swirled Greg around the floor, I wondered if this was a sign. This song makes me deliriously happy, it’s jaunty little tune always making me move. Surely, the timing was a sign? I’ve never heard that song in public, ever! Greg, not believing in signs, shrugged.

Surely the second sign was the fact that another employee strode over to us not minutes later and said, “She’s yours- you can pick her up tomorrow.” This, even though they were closing that very minute and typically they have to fax the application to the Pet Rescue and wait a day for an answer. “Hmmm, well I guess she’s ours,” I thought. I hoped I had made the right decision.

Even the next day, driving home with the new kitty crying pitiful mew’s from the cat carrier- I still wasn’t sure. “What if this is a mistake?,” I thought, as a hawk took flight off a fence by the road right in front of my truck. Nearly hitting him, I wondered if it was a sign. Hawk is another one of my power animals, and usually a good sign for me.

With a mix of trepidation, curiosity, and hope, I pulled onto our street, and immediately I saw the familiar rainbow by the side of our home. Always arriving as a sign that “All is Well,” the sight of “my” rainbow was the second welcoming sign and I burst into tears of gratitude, knowing I had correctly followed my intuition.

This black kitty was here for a reason.

It was only two days later that I discovered why.

As I sat at my computer, the new kitty, whom we were calling Little P, short for Little Panther- clawed her way up my chair and into my lap. She snuggled all over me, reaching her little arms up to my face, playing in my hair, rubbing nose to nose, staring into my eyes, purring. We had discovered that she was set on Perma-Purr, she is always purring- my absolute favorite sound! And her gentle, curious, connecting love just broke my heart absolutely wide open in joy. I reveled in the furry softness of her coat and the fuzzy, warm softness growing in my heart- it was such luxury.

I sat in that chair with tears in my eyes, overwhelmed with happiness, so grateful that I had followed my gut. And even more grateful to Greg, for seeing how much joy the cats give me, and allowing me to open our home to yet one more pet, who appears to be carrying the healing, universal message that All is Love.

Thank you Greg- you are my angel.
And thank you Little P for joining us. I love you already!

As I finish writing this, I feel compelled to go to the back porch and look out. There it is, another gorgeous rainbow shining end to end in the back yard. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

I’ve given up believing in coincidence, now I only believe in fairy tales.

Little P expresses her agreement as she crawls into my lap and begins kneading my heart chakra. Love, indeed. And tears of joy.

Curious what Greg had to say about getting Little P?
Read his version of the story over at our Soulmate Celebration Blog: I'm Married to Jenn the Creepy Cat Lady

Readers: When has following your gut lead you right to the perfect pet, even when you weren't really looking? Please share.

Calling Forth Your Goddess Self : A Mini-Playshop with Horses

2009-08-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

You KNOW men are attracted to goddesses. Heck, all good things come to those who stand in their Goddess nature. So whatever happened to your Goddess Self!?

You are invited to join us for a half-day of mythic self-discovery and recovery as we bring forth a fuller, more vibrant version of your Goddess Self, with the aid of the Healing Horse Herd.

Next Date:
Sunday Oct 11

12-5

$35 includes lunch.

Outside Denver, CO

Play Shop Activities:

- We’ll start by exploring what being a Goddess means to you, as we wonder which parts of the Goddess Energy you may have left behind in your past- perhaps due to pain, loss, fear, or illness.

- Then we’ll invite the energy of a particular Goddess’s attributes to work with you, by selecting your personal card from the Goddess Deck.

- Ready to get in touch with your own missing piece of the Goddess, we’ll enjoy a group reflective round pen exercise with the horse, designed to help you discover and recover the part of the Goddess energy you’re most ready to reclaim to help you create success in your life right now.

- Then you’ll be given the opportunity to embody your newly reclaimed Goddess Self during a short individual active round pen session with the horses. By stepping into your new energy, you’ll be able to accomplish a task with the horse, as partner, opening the door to accomplishment in your real world- using the very same Goddess energy.

- Next, we’ll anchor our rediscovered Goddess vibe into our powerful subconscious mind by engaging in it’s primal, potent language of images and symbols, with the creative and playful Pony Painting Activity- where we actually create an image of your Goddess energy by painting on a horse! What fun!

- We’ll complete the circle of our mythic journey by pulling a card from the Horse Wisdom deck- discovering how to integrate ancient horse wisdom with our new Goddess energy in our current lives.

You’ll leave with an authentically inspired, practical plan to bring more of your True Goddess Self into all that you do- making you a powerful magnet for success worthy of a Goddess!

Give yourself the Gift of Embodying Your True Goddess Nature!

Email for more info or to register: drjenn@happilyeverafterranch.com

Or visit: www.happilyeverafterranch.com

Wait! Before You Do Anything with your Horse- Ground

2009-08-16T18:09:00.000-07:00

Whole-Hearted Horsemanship Skill 2: Grounding

So, tell me. When you first get to the barn, what's your typical state of mind? Relaxed and peaceful, or um, something else.

If you are like most horse owners, you arrive after your day- scattered, stressed, distracted, maybe even grumpy or depressed. You might even be looking forward to some time with your horse to help you shift OUT of that not-so-nice place.

That's cool, because most of the time, hanging out with your horse will help you feel better.

But what's not so cool is subjecting your happy horse to your tension.

Imagine what it would be like if you were hanging out with your buddies, relaxed, having a good time and all of a sudden someone with the energy of the Energizer Bunny (buzzing, whirling, swirling, agitated) walks up to the group. It's jarring, uncomfortable, disconcerting. Heck, you'd just want to move away so you could get back to enjoying your peaceful vibe.

Well, it's often that way for our horse when we arrive.

Most of us are stuck in our heads- with a never ending chatter going on about everything in our world. This does not feel comfortable for your horse.

Actually- it doesn't even feel safe for him- because you are not in your body- centered and grounded. And that's where he is, usually, in his body, grounded to the earth, with his energy balanced and free-flowing.

So right away, you are in two totally different worlds. One that feels good to him and one that he'd really rather not have to visit, if that's ok with you!

Luckily- your horse does want to help you shift to become more like him, grounded and relaxed.

In fact, he'd like you to do that first thing with him so you guys can start off with a nice clean slate, connected and ready to go anywhere, do anything- TOGETHER.

It’s the perfect place to start too, because once you guys are both grounded, you are on the same page, the same team.

You’ve essentially opened a clear line of communication, where before there was just static and your horse shouting, “I can’t hear you!”

So, here’s a simple, easy way to get grounded with your horse, using his energy field to help you out!

Getting Grounded

1. Stand next to your horse, with your arm over his whither, if he will let you.

2. Take a big deep breath, expanding both your chest and stomach areas- as you exhale, imagine sending all of your energy down from the top of your head, all the way down your legs and feet into the earth.

3. Take 3-10 deep breaths, continuing to flow all of your energy into the earth, until you feel calm, steady, and stable.

That’s it! Totally simple, and yet it’s the only true place to start with your horse.

And if you are feeling especially crazed, take some time to ground in the barn before you approach your horse so you won't set him off. Then go do it together and let let him help you the rest of the way.

But please make sure that you always get grounded before you get on your horse! Always!

Otherwise your ungrounded energy can create unclear communication and result in spooky, distracted behavior.

And if you become uncentered or ungrounded once you get on your horse because something unexpected happens, simply repeat the exercise while seated on your horse- until you are both calm.

Remember that other people in your life respond to your energy in the same way that your horse does!!

So if you want to create successful and smooth interactions at work or home, always take a moment to take a few deep breaths and get grounded before you start any important conversation. The other person will unconsciously respond to your peaceful vibe by being easier to get along with.

So try it with your horse, boss, co-workers, teenagers, or spouse!

And let me know how it goes!

Until next time,

Have a Whole-Hearted Ride!

My Money Mojo Magic MAKEOVER: The Gift of Being Reconnected to the Infinite Source of Abundance

2009-07-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

I had money on the brain. Money, money, money.

Me and money? Not so much friends.

I figured it was time to do something about it.

So I joined several hundred other folks to participate in Jeanette Maw’s Money Mojo Magic Party.

Otherwise known as the Good Vibe Coach, Jeanette is my favorite Law of Attraction guide. She’s on her game. Heck, that's partly because she knows it’s a game, one to be played with, with a playful spirit. Creation should be fun, joyful, frolicsome!

Now, if only I could create money out of thin air- that would be frolicsome!

Anyway, I figured if I was serious about getting to the bottom of this money block, I best “Take this issue to the horses.”

Why hadn’t I thought of that before!? So, out I went to the horse paddock intent on discovering and releasing this prosperity block.

I stood by my leggy beauty Charm, took a deep breathe and brought money, particularly a lack of money, to mind and then wondered, “Where in my body does my attention go?”

“Hmmm, interesting,” I thought, as I noted what felt like an invisible line running right across the bottom of my throat, “I’ve never noticed that line before!”

I wondered what was below the division, checked in, and discovered that I felt nothing, numb.

Huh, well that certainly suggested that there was a massive energy block, eh!?

I wondered what might be more helpful than a line dividing me, and got the image of an hourglass, with energy able to flow back and forth, up and down the throat, to the rest of the body.

So I went ahead and installed it in my mind, playing with flowing the energy through a much clearer throat now- imagining seeing big piles of money being deposited at the bottom of it.

But, instinctively, I knew there was more. Just how much more I could never have predicted…but I followed my intuition, crossed over the fence and stood next to the Wise Leader of our Healing Horse Herd, Serendipity.

I wasn’t there but a moment, bringing money to mind, when I burst into tears. Sobs really- long, pitiful ones, that came with narrating words like, “There’s never enough,” “I’m so hungry,” “Please hug me.”

There were no specific memories that came with the words. I didn’t know if we were talking a lack of food, love, money, what? Was it even this life, or a past one?

From previous work I’ve discovered that you don’t need to know. You just need to stay with the sensations, the emotions, allowing them to flow freely- and if there were words that came, great, allow them to flow out too. Give voice to them, bring them forth.

And so I did, pitifully repeating the same theme over and over till I felt my back crumpling over in a posture of defeat- spine curling in on itself, shoulders hunched over, arms hanging heavier towards the earth.

True defeat- the kind that comes when you think you’ve tried everything and have finally come to the realization that “Nothing I do will make a difference here.”

Then it came, something I’ve felt creeping in many times before, “I just want to die.” I wanted to give up, be done banging my head against the wall. I never really knew where that notion came from, but here it was again, clearly a defensive strategy meant to help me cope with a powerlessness to get primal needs, for love, food, safety, met.

Slowly the wailing stopped, as Seren stood stock still the entire time, despite all of the nagging, biting flies. The tears dried, and I stood up taller, straighter.

It was as if a weight had been lifted. I knew I had released some ancient, deep-seated pain. Sometimes called catharsis, I’ve discovered that the horses are gifted at assisting with it- helping us humans connect with and then release huge reservoirs of emotional turmoil.

As the space cleared, I knew it was time for the next phase and I followed what my gut told me to do next, “Put your hand on Seren’s heart area.”

As I did so, I took a big, cleansing breath, allowing whatever needed to happen, to come. And come it did, as I sensed love flow from Seren’s heart over to me, eventually engulfing me in a gigantic deep red heart.

It was as if she was filling the void created by releasing so much pain- filling it with what was really supposed to be there in the first place- nothing but love.

It was beautiful, this spontaneous gift she was giving to me, and I breathed into gratitude- expecting no more, I mean what more is there to give!

And yet it came. Now I was being connected to an even greater, more powerful source of love than we earth-bound creatures can offer each other.

I saw it as a huge white tube connecting my heart to the sky, and instantly knew I was being re-connected to Source- to the Universal Source of Abundance.

“Wow, this is deep, important, pivotal even,” I thought. No wonder my life had been defined by Lack- I was disconnected from the Source of All That Is!!!!

As I allowed Source to continue filling me up, another unexpected thing occurred. I watched as out of the big white tube sprung a smaller white tube, growing up towards my mouth.

“Ha!,” I laughed when I intuitively recognized that it was a straw, given to me so I could “Sip from the eternal sweetness of life and offer it to others.” That was the phrase that came.

“Well, that’s certainly touching,” I reckoned, now with tears of joy and small giggles of delight intermixing. That’s clever, down right funny even, given my eternal sweet-tooth that is never, ever satisfied! I started to wonder if I could fill my need for physical sweets with this ethereal straw? After all, once you’ve sipped from eternal sweetness, is the taste of earthly sugar and chocolate ever quite as satisfying!?

I was pretty sure I was at the end of the gifts of this magnificent healing session when all of a sudden I had an AH-HA- although, to be honest, they sometimes come in as DUH’s.

And this one went, “DUH, you know all of those double rainbows you see around here? Well, they ALL come with pots of gold, silly. You are surrounded by endless pots of gold- all yours once you are open to receiving them!!!”

Well I’ll be darned- that had NEVER occurred to me before!!!

The double rainbow has been a powerful sign that all is being taken care of since the very first time I asked about the future of acquiring this ranch, and one materialized out of thin air in front of me. Two by two, they’ve made countless appearances in the year since then, always perfect, always special, always sending me a silent hidden meaning: That everything will be alright.

And never in all of that time did I remember that rainbows come with pots of gold!!!

So enlivened with this most obvious of realizations, I hopped on Seren’s back in my mind’s eye and we galloped over to the pots of gold, all of them- frolicking among the coins representing true prosperity, free-flowing wealth, infinite abundance. I allowed myself to feel it, to finally experience what it would be like to be enveloped with never-ending abundance.

Soon, I got back from my imaginary jaunt, dismounting with a “Damn, that was one hell of a healing session Seren. My God, THANK YOU!”

She stood patiently, taking in my hug and kisses, then turned to walk away plainly, as if nothing meaningful had happened- as if she didn’t just reconnect me to the Source of ALL That Is!!!! As if she was pleased to serve, but considered it simply “all in a days work,” since the miracle of infinite abundance is a Truth known to all horses, even if humans have to work to re-discover it!

I reeled for days with the enormity of the healing offered that afternoon, spontaneously under a sunny sky. I vowed to play daily with that most powerful of images, being connected directly to Source, and knew that money would begin flowing once again.

And so it has, slowly, as a trickle at first. But as I continue to frolic among those imaginary pots at the end of the rainbow, soaking in the reality of Infinite Abundance, I know that feeling will translate into earthly Prosperity. I can almost hear Seren’s wise counsel, over the jingling of gold coins, “All in due time, my friend. In due time.” More timeless wisdom from the Healing Horse Herd.

Readers: What timeless wisdom of Abundance has an animal graced you with? Please share!

Horse's True Mission of Inspiration: Thanks Kim McElroy!

2009-07-22T20:40:00.000-07:00

If you are a horse lover and don't know Kim McElroy- you've got to check her out!!

A masterful equine artist, she paints mystical, lyrical, soul-touching portraits of horses. She doesn't just do typical portraits, she's also gifted at portraying the spiritual essence of horse and rider. Further, she's a talented poet/writer, bringing in spirit-filled messages that speak directly to our souls.

If you are a fan of Epona Founder, Linda Kohanov's books, The Tao of Equus & Riding Between the Worlds (highly recommended BTW) , you may be familiar with her other work- a book and card deck, Way of the Horse. Kim McElroy is the artist whose images adorn these gorgeous cards.

I especially enjoy Kim's e-Inspirations newsletter, which also links to her Spirit of Horse blog. Weekly you can read about the latest inspiring images and words, and learn about where her Inspiration for the images come. It's one of the only e-newsletters I gobble up immediately every time it comes!

All of that is by way of introduction so I can share with you one of her latest Inspirations. This piece of inspired writing touched my soul so deeply that I got tingles and tears in my eyes- signs for me of Truth, with a capitol T.

If you are a companion of horses in your heart and they are in your blood- I imagine that this will speak directly to you as well.

I believe that part of my mission is spreading the very same message that is the essence of this writing of Kim's: That horses are here as healers of the spirit and that they are waiting for us to recognize the gifts that they have come to share with humanity. All we need to do is open our hearts to join them.

If you find yourself in agreement, let's work together to spread the word of Horse's True Nature, wide and far, because as the poem ends, there is indeed, much work to be done!!!

Luminous by Kim McElroy

Once there was a Being called the Beekeeper
He happily and diligently tended his hives
Only instead of bees, they were full of horses…
Horses of every size and shape, color and breed.

With the Beekeeper’s blessing,
One by one the horse beings left the hives.
They flew to the Earth realm, disguised as earthbound creatures
Only instead of seeking flowers, they sought human beings

The horses were most drawn to the humans that were open-hearted
Only those humans could be pollinated with ideas and inspirations
With this miraculous partnership, the horses and humans thrived.

The horse beings are still working to this day…
Patiently waiting for more human beings to bloom
So they can continue to share their knowledge.
There is much to be done.

Read Kim's original blog post on SpiritOfHorse.com: Luminous

Readers: Please share your reaction to Kim's BeeKeepers message!

Join in the Phenomenon: Group Empowerment Drumming

2009-07-15T08:00:00.001-07:00

Have you ever heard of Group Empowerment Drumming? Neither had I until I met Health Rhythms facilitator Sean Shealy.

And now I can't WAIT to experience this amazingly powerful protocol for healing.

Research shows it has powerful stress busting effects and well-being boosting benefits. Plus, heck, it's just downright FUN!

When was the last time YOU banged on a drum, making music that spoke directly to your soul???

Humans have done it for eons in cultures all over the world because it has an intoxicating effect.

Now's your chance to get in on the heart-thumping, peace inspiring action!

Join us for Health Rhythms Group Empowerment Drumming hosted at the Happily Ever After Ranch.

Sunday, July 19th, 5:30 pm
NE Parker, CO
Cost: $10

Learn more and RSVP at our Healing Circles at the Ranch Meetup Group.
Learn more about Health Rhythms Drumming.

Heart Centered Connection: The Key to Success in All Relationships!

2009-07-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder why your horse sees you coming up in the pasture and turns to walk away? Sort of hurts your feelings doesn't it! At least it used to hurt mine!

That's because most of us have a dream of an amazing bond with our horse- the kind where the horse willingly leaves his buddies and the luscious grass to trot TOWARD us with a warm welcome whinny!

I think one of the reasons this often happens is that frequently we approach the horse with an attitude of "What can I do TO him today?" rather than "How can we BE together?"

The horse immediately picks up this attitude that basically, he's an object to you.

But, he'd rather be a partner and enjoy a connection WITH you.

He'd rather you focus FIRST on BEING with him, and once that connection is established, he's much more willing to DO with and for you.

Heck, the same is true for all of your relationships, isn't it?!

If you approach anyone- co-worker, spouse, child- with the attitude of what they can do FOR YOU- they bristle and it's not very successful.

Approach the same person, with the same request, but come from a place of curiosity to who they are in that moment and what their needs might also be- and you've opened the door for cooperation.

That's why learning to create heart-centered connection is a success skill for all of your relationships!

Learn more about how you can create that connection!

Listen to my interview with Glen from Horse Tip Daily:
Tip #8- Sharing Your Heart with Your Horse

Or watch my YouTube Video:
Creating Heart Centered Connection with Your Horse

Give it a try soon and stop back by to let me know what happens when you connect from the heart first!

Special Report: Summer Solstice Celebration!

2009-06-23T17:35:00.001-07:00

Wow! We had such a fantastic kick off event at the Solstice Celebration at the Ranch.

Thanks for everyone who came out to play on Sunday! We had such a gorgeous, loving, kind-hearted group – and their combined energies were amazing!

A special shout-out of appreciation to members Sean and Xakon for their drumming expertise and for bringing their drums and some extras so everyone could enjoy feeling the beat!

We had several powerful healing experiences, but I have to say my favorite was the drumming circle, followed by the Journey Ride Meditation. Why? Because we had all sorts of other-worldly guests supporting our transformation!

Just as we began drumming, a rainbow formed and stayed with us throughout the drumming, only fading as the drumming wound down. Our sometimes sighted, Antelope Stag even came out for the healing sound! I wonder what medicine he brought for the journey?!

And even more profoundly supportive of healing, our lovely co-facilitator Jen Tomas, saw an incredible vision of love surrounding the group during that activity.

Behind each person, she saw an angel or guide, each holding hands, forming a circle behind our circle. And then, there was another circle of angles and guides behind that circle. The circles continued outward to infinity- all there, sending light and love, holding space and supporting our transformation!! What a glorious gift of healing!

And lastly, although most people had to take off before our final Ranch Blessing Manifestation Meditation, I have to tell you, our co-leader James led an extraordinarily potent chanting meditation to help the Ranch manifest into reality as a glorious healing retreat. This group chanting was amazingly powerful and if you or your group needs to manifest something, I suggest you get in touch with James and have him lead this meditation with you! I can tell it’s one of his gifts!

What people were saying:

"An incredibly beautiful place, and a deeply spiritual experience. Dr. Jenn and husband Greg are incredibly warm and gracious hosts -- and the Happily Ever After Ranch couldn't have been better named!" - Sean

"It was really really great. Very energizing and uplifting....Complete with a real rainbow, horses, rain and sun and incredible venue. Just wonderful, thanks Jennifer." - Kristin

"Already, it's like a powerful network of healers, magicians, lightworkers and just downright loving beings. There was a magic and a symmetry, as well as a profoundly supportive connection with nature present every moment...It was simply a beautiful time which left me charged and enriched. Superb!" - James

Well, that’s the update from the ranch and we most definitely hope to see you next time!

We’re in the process of setting up the next Healing Circle. Tentatively, it’s scheduled for the afternoon of July 19^th. And if you got to meet Sean at this Circle, you know you don’t want to miss this one! He’ll be leading a Health Rhythms Drumming Session. The healing benefits of such a drumming circle are outstanding. Pencil it in- more info to come soon!

And if you’ve got ideas for future Circles, let me hear from you!

Until then, be a blessing to yourself and everyone around you!

Finally Feeling Seen: An Appaloosa Gift

2009-06-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

The last post took us on Alex’s healing adventure of going from feeling unseen to being filled with vibrant love.

While we’re on the topic of feeling unseen, I’d like to share my own unseen healing story.

Back before we were moved into the Happily Ever After Ranch, we boarded our horses. Two of our horses lived in a pasture with about 10 other horses.

One day, when I was carrying some sadness, but not really sure why, I decided to take the healing process out to the herd to see what could be done about it.

So, I stood at the top of the pasture hill, the horses off in the distance. I began the process of tuning into my body, seeing where this sadness lived, getting in touch with the sensations. The tears flowed steadily.

Honestly, I didn’t even know what they were about- but I know that for healing to take place, you don’t always have to understand what’s happening.

Thru my tears, I noticed a big Appaloosa gelding had caught sight of me and was making a beeline to my side.

I didn’t know him personally, but it was clear that he was the self-appointed healer for the day.

That’s what I love most about this work- the horses know and they willingly offer their healing service. They will send the horse who is best for the job at hand.

All I had to do was stand there, and the best possible help would come.

And so we did stand, me and this enormous gelding. In fact, he stood a bit oddly- with his head held high, right in front of my face. He kept it there, staring at me, for the longest time.

Ask any horseperson and they will tell you that it’s uncommon for a horse to stay in any particular position for very long, especially looking into your eyes! So, I knew he had a message, but I couldn’t figure out what it was!!

So, I allowed him to gaze right into me. And then his healing message came, “I SEE YOU.”

“Oh,” I thought with an Ah-Ha giggle, “That’s what he’s saying!”

And the tears flowed harder and faster, as I realized that was what this sadness was really about. As a child, often no one was around to see me, to be with me.

So I carried a deeply hidden sense of being invisible. A wounded inner child screaming, “Notice me! Pay attention to me!”

That day, simply standing with this big Appaloosa, he gave me what I most needed right then and what I had most needed since I was a kid: To be seen, without judgment, in all my weakness and strength.

Years of grief washed through me, as I took in his most healing gift. When there were no more tears left, I stood beside him, feeling light, free, happy and SEEN- by this stranger who was now a friend.

I let the peaceful contentment flow through me, taking some big deep breaths, relieved that the heavy weight had been lifted.

The Appaloosa, satisfied that his job was done, gave me a little nod with his huge head, and off he ambled back to his grazing friends.

If you had looked at the scene a moment later, you never would have known the momentous and genuine gift he had offered willingly, effortlessly, and with love.

It still amazes me that horses will leave food and friends to serve when their heart is being called to by another heart that needs healing. And the gifts that they bestow can melt lifetimes of hurt in minutes.

Thank you big Appaloosa friend, for coming to me in my time of need and giving me the biggest gift of all: Being Seen.

If you have access to horses, you can try this same technique that I call "Taking It to the Horses." Whenever your mood turns dark, go out to the horses, tune into your emotions, and allow what wants to unfold. Be ready for miracles to happen!

Readers: What healing message has a horse offered to you?

Listen in to Healing with Horses on Stable Scoop Radio!

2009-06-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

Come out and play with us as Dr. Jenn chats with Glenn and Helena, hosts of the popular internet radio program, Stable Scoop, on Episode 43, The Healing Power of Horses.

Get inspired and see how the programs at the Happily Ever After Ranch can help you reclaim your power and live the life of your dreams, whether you're looking for love, or wishing for a better relationship with your horse.

Amy Blossom at Reins of Change, is up first in this episode, then Dr. Jenn takes you on a healing adventure at the ranch.

Listen in and feel the power of this work to transform lives!

Healing with the Herd: Attracting Your Soulmate

2009-06-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

I bet you are wondering how on earth a horse could help you find love!

Let me share a healing adventure story from the ranch, so you too can apply what a recent visitor learned about attracting love.

If you’ve been attracting everything but the perfect partner, all it means is that something in your body, heart, and mind isn’t in perfect alignment with creating beautiful love.

You might know what that something is that is standing in the way, but many times, we do not, because it’s tucked away in our subconscious, long forgotten, but not gone.

For a recent visitor, whom I’ll call Alex, that something was a deep-seated feeling of being “unseen.”

Acquired during childhood, this map continued to play out in adulthood, helping her attract one romantic relationship after another where she got to star in the role of not being seen or appreciated for her full, beautiful self.

The horse she selected to work with, Serendipity, helped her bring that core issue to the surface by acting like yet another being that seemed to not see her, triggering in Alex that familiar feeling of wondering if she was liked at all.

The healing horses are brilliant like that! They sense in you exactly what needs to be addressed and act in ways that bring out the pattern or emotion. Once the issue is fully “up” for you and you are experiencing it, you have the opportunity to transform and release it. What a gift!

Then sitting on top of Serendipity, I led Alex through the heart-centered coaching process, where we looked more at where this issue of feeling “unseen” lived in her body. We discovered that it felt like a dark, heavy blob around the chest area. It held a disappointed and lonely feeling inside of it- yet the message her body wanted to share was that it could be a different way.

Was Alex ready to embrace a new way and let this part of her go?

Yes! So next Seren and I helped her dissolve this block and replace it with something that would serve her. Once you set a firm intention to leave behind a block, the horse’s massive energy field is able to help you neutralize stuck or negative energy.

What did Alex want to replace this feeling of being unseen with?

We allowed an image to come to Alex’s awareness, then elaborated on it:

It was an enormous pink, tingly, laughter-filled heart.

Both of us smiled as the image came to life, knowing it was perfect. And as Alex sat on Seren, we walked a circle to help embed this peaceful, loving image into her body.

We paused for a moment to reflect and ask Seren
how Alex could use this heart to further her healing. Alex suddenly got the image of a glorious sun shining forth it’s warmth.

At just that moment, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, offering it’s warmth and Alex spread her arms high and wide to welcome in the healing heat.

Ah, of course! What a wonderful idea! That happy pink heart, now filled with warmth could be used as a soulmate magnet!

We walked another circle, sending that loving, happy vibration out into the Universe, with the intention of calling in The One. A gorgeous red-tailed hawk appeared overhead. Hawk is known as a Messenger so we imagined him taking this message of her readiness for real love out to the world.

Now, instead of sending out a vibration of being “unseen” which attracts more partners who won’t meet Alex’s needs, she’ll be sending out a different signal, to everyone she meets- that she’s happy, whole, and ready for a loving, sweet, and playful partner to join her.

As Alex gave Seren a thankful hug, I suggested that she use that image of her huge tingly happy pink heart every day.

For even a few minutes daily, she should send that feeling out to the Universe, expecting, knowing that her perfect partner will be on the way.

And it will be so!

It can’t be any other way, because she has shifted a fundamental vibration that was getting in the way of success.

By bringing that happy pink heart out of hiding, the coaching session helped Alex re-experience what it’s like to BE loved.

Remembering that wonderful feeling and anchoring it in her body- she now can call on that bodily sensation whenever she’s put in a situation that doesn’t feel good. Before when she might freeze up, now she can shine her warm heart forth, unfreeze herself and handle the situation with love.

What a beautiful, healing outcome! Every time, I feel honored to be part of this process of giving people back to themselves in all of their natural magnificence. Thank you Serendipity for offering the healing gift of love so that now Alex can be offering love to herself and all those around her, including her future soulmate!

Readers: What are you ready to let go of and what would you like to put in it's place? Please share!

Join us for The Summer Solstice Celebration at the Ranch!!!

2009-06-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

The Happily Ever After Holistic Healing Horse Ranch is excited to introduce Healing Circles at the Ranch.

A monthly gathering for healing body, mind, & soul.

Each month we’ll be hosting a variety of healing modalities, exercises, and activities- all designed to feed your spirit. With frequent guest healers to expand your horizons.

You're Invited to Our Special Kick-Off Event!

Summer Solstice Celebration

Sunday, June 21st, 4-8 ish pm,

Our first event is FREE!

Join your hosts, Dr. Jenn Oikle, founder of the Ranch, and Jen Tomas, Reiki Master at Silver Owl Healing Arts, along with special guest James Galusha for a celebration of summer and your Greatness. We've planned an afternoon full of healing experiences, designed to guide you in releasing what no longer serves and reclaiming your natural gifts.

Activities will include:

- BBQ Potluck

- Meditation w/ Chanting

- Chakra Clearing

- Guided Meditation w/ Drumming: Journey on the Back of Horses

- Fire Releasing Ritual

- Ranch blessing

- Plus, more!

Come take advantage of the powerful Solstice energies and spend some enchanted time with us on our sacred space designed for healing body, heart, mind, & soul!

Rsvp Requested before June 17^th

For more info/directions email: drjenn@happilyeverafterranch.com

www.happilyeverafterranch.com

Trust-Building Update: Charm's First Halter Ride

2009-06-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

Recently I posted about how I've been working to melt fear and boost trust with my horse Charm.

Today I wanted to share a win!

Charm has had about 2 weeks off due to an injury, so we haven't been riding. I'd had a tough day and needed to feel rejuvenated, so I headed out to the best healers I know: The Ponies!

I started with a leisurely bareback gallop around the field on my old, trustworthy standby Seren. Feeling refreshed, I decided to offer Charm the opportunity to build on our blossoming trust.

I held up the halter and reins that I had just trusted Seren to gallop in, and with a questioning look on my face, I asked Charm if she wanted to give it a try?

Her answer? I kid you not: A little whinny.

So, I tied on the halter and off we went.

Mind you, I've NEVER ridden Charm in a halter before. We've worked up to doing some bareback dressage, but always I've ridden her in a bridle.

To take this young, athletic, playful mare and ride her bareback. That's trust.
To ride her bareback, in a halter. That's a lot of trust.

To ride with halter, bareback when a horse hasn't been ridden in a few weeks? Perhaps that borders on insane!

So, we started in the round pen. I did some natural horsemanship tuning from her back, making sure she responded by moving each body part.

Frankly, I was surprised how responsive she was given her time off! I am definitely starting to believe that bareback riding gives a much closer communication- allowing for clearer signals and quicker response from your horse- especially when teaching them something new.

I knew it was time to move on after she turned her head toward me and made a big sigh, "Ok, mom, see, I'm listening. Now can we go do something more interesting?"

So, receiving gold stars for her responsiveness, I opened the gate from her back, another thing I've never done. She pushed it open with her nose- as if she'd done it her whole life.

Then, off we went down the driveway to retrieve the garbage cans- a chore she often helps me with.

She was an angel and we were both relaxed. I didn't even need to use our Power symbol of the sun.

And in appreciation, she got to eat tasty grass, all the way back to the house!

Thank you Charm, for being willing to build a heart-centered relationship with me!

Readers: Please share how you've worked to build up trust with your horse!

Mystical Body Worker: The Horse

2009-05-27T17:11:00.000-07:00

Have you met a horse that's a body worker yet?

I have, let me share my adventure with you.

From the time I arrived at the Buffalo Women Ranch, in SW Colorado, I was intrigued by one horse in particular. A big-boned black horse with a mysterious eye- she was the embodiment of Presence & Power.

I knew we were supposed to do some work together, because where ever I went, I felt her stare follow me. And whenever I came close enough, she wanted to touch me.

When our round pen session came, I was expecting fireworks- perhaps emotional floodgates being opened to cleanse ancient wounds. I don't know.

Instead, I got a healing of a different sort.

Loose in the pen, Star came directly to me. And she began working me over. Mostly with her muzzle, she'd rub those huge, powerful lips all over my body. She started on my back, worked over my head, continued down the stomach, all the way to the feet.

It was a bit disconcerting, having to trust this large-mouthed new friend, as she worked tirelessly, for more than 45 minutes! But holding so much chronic pain in my body, I was willing to receive help however it came!

At the time, I didn't know WHAT on earth she was doing. But I knew it was important work, because she took it very seriously and never took a break- she was focused and on task the entire time!

Which, if you ask any horse person, is a highly unusual level of focus for a horse, especially given it's freedom!

When she was finally satisfied that her work was complete, she took her leave of me and stood over by the gate, signaling it was time for a snack.

Amazed and in awe at what just happened, I chatted with Robbie and Charlie, the lovely leaders of the ranch- who informed me that Star is their master body worker and energy healer. Though, even they had to confide that they had never seen her quite to intensely focused and for so long!

The effects weren't immediate and I went to bed wondering what on earth to expect from such horse service.

The next day, I drove the long 10 hour drive back to Denver, with a horse trailer in tow.

It was exhausting, but when I got out of the truck after our epic adventure- I was amazed to notice that I strode away standing taller and straighter than I had in years! And, standing like that took NO EFFORT at ALL.

Usually I'd have to man-handle my body into such a posture and the muscles would become so tired from their effort they'd completely refuse after a short time.

I smiled an enormous smile of gratitude, "Ah, sweet friend Star, this was the gift you bestowed upon me yesterday!"

No doubt, she also released emotional wounds that went along with those physical pains.

I found the change remarkable and my eyes were forever opened onto a new vista of how Horses are Natural Healers- here to help give us back to our selves- in full health, happiness, and vitality.

Thank you Star for opening my heart and mind and showing me one of the many ways horses have come to heal us!

Readers: Have you met a Body Worker masquerading as Horse? Share your experience!

Charm’s Antidote for Jumping Fears: Shining Your Calm, Confident Sun

2009-05-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

"At its finest, horse & rider are joined not by tack, but by trust. Each is the selfless guardian of the other's very well-being."
- Author Unknown

I’d like to share with you one of my own healing journeys, as a rider.

Let’s put it this way, my previous horse- a spooky, athletic guy who thought the bogey man was hidden beneath every jump- left me a bit of a basket case. Why I bought Charm, a 3 year-old, barely broke mare as his replacement when my nerves were shot, I’ll never know!

Teaching Charm to jump was mostly a joy, except for the background fear that kept creeping in, and sometimes felt overwhelming. She never did anything to provoke it- it was just fear left over in my head, heart, and body from the past.

Not really fair to her, I knew it got in the way of giving her the confident ride that a green horse deserves.

Fast forward to Charm’s first cross country jumping lesson this spring. Charm acted like she’d never seen a jump before. As a result, my fear crept up till I finally asked our new instructor to have a sit on Charm to give us both some confidence.

Boy, when I got back on Charm, she let me know she had not been pleased with my decision. Worse, back at home, she didn’t want to “talk” to me for 3 days! Repeatedly, she ignored my overtures for affection.

By the 4th day, I knew it wasn’t just a mare mood she was in. She was upset about something. It felt to me that she was mad that I didn’t “trust” her. She seemed to say, “Why didn’t you trust me? I’ve never really done anything! You need to get over yourself!”

She was right of course. So, I decided to make amends. I stood looking at her in the paddock, wondering what gesture would signify to her that I indeed was willing to extend my trust to her.

It only took a moment for me to know what I had to do: Ride her bareback. Charm often watches over the fence as I take one of our other 2 mares for bareback rides- something I do comfortably because I trust them implicitly.

I strode over to her and informed her of my plan. She stood in silent agreement as I awkwardly got on her in the paddock (It’s not easy lifting yourself up onto the naked back of a 16.2 hand, sensitive horse!).

Before taking her for a ride, I decided to work on healing this issue of trust and fear by taking myself through the Equestrian Harmonics Exercise called Body Wisdom Method.

Sitting atop Charm, I tuned into where in my body I felt that familiar fear. Immediately I knew it lived in my upper chest, around the heart area. As I focused in on that space, and felt the tight sensations- the image of a closed, restricted fist came to me.

Believe me, riding with that kind of constriction doesn't help you or your horse!

I engaged in the Dialogue process, discovering how to release this pent up fear that was lodged in my body. Soon, I saw that closed fist in my chest opening and relaxing.

Taking the Dialogue further, I wondered what healing image I could replace the fist with. Suddenly the image of a warm, powerful, but relaxed sun came to me.

It was clear that I was to reclaim my power by allowing the symbol of the warmth of the sun to reside in my chest and radiate calm, confident strength all through my body and outward.

Next I wondered out loud to Charm how I could remember this image when I was out riding and I got the idea, “Just look up at the sky.” Indeed- that would be simple enough!

I wrapped up by questioning how Charm herself could help when I became fearful in the future. The thought came to me, “Remember all of the fun we had together!”

I wasn’t even sure what fun we were referring to! But the statement had a powerful emotional impact on me and I burst into tears, collapsing over her neck, crying away years of fear, doubt, and mistrust.

It was in that moment that our relationship was healed. And I FELT deep down for the first time that I could, that I should, trust her. That we had each other’s backs.

When the tears dried, I led her to the round pen, where I rode her bareback briefly before venturing around our unconfined yard. She was the perfect lady the entire time. We had begun rebuilding our trust.

Since then, we’ve had delightful bareback hacks around the property (Well, except for that prominent whither!) and have even done some saddle-free dressage. Always, she’s behaved lovely.

And our jumping has improved! I discovered that the sun image held profound power.

If I shone that relaxed, yet confident energy forth from my heart space, I could ride that energy up and over the jumps, allowing it to guide us both safely, with joy, over every obstacle!

THAT’s the healing power of heart-centered coaching with horses as your guide! In one 30-minute session I was able to melt old fear, rebuild trust, and increase a heart-felt sense of partnership with my horse that had long-lasting benefits.

I invite you to give your own version of a relaxed, confident sun a try the next time you ride!

Readers: Let me know how your sun, or other image, assists you to overcome obstacles!

Re-Mothered by a Black Horse: More Effective than Talk Therapy!

2009-05-25T13:05:00.000-07:00

Let’s kick this blog off with some of my own healing adventures with horses!

In fact, let’s begin at my very first personal experience of equine-assisted coaching: It rocked my world.

Back when I was doing my post-doctoral fellowship in Rochester, NY, I went through a devastating breakup. The kind of persistent pain that caused me to seek out therapy to make sense of it all.

The therapist was brilliant in getting me to understand what the ferocity of this pain meant: It wasn’t about this boyfriend at all, it was really about my distant, childhood past.

I needed to really grieve not having my needs met as a child, she said.

Problem was, I didn’t have access to those memories OR the feelings- so I COULDN’T grieve.

I wanted to, but I my subconscious had neatly tucked away all of it to protect me. And try as I might, I didn’t seem to have a way to get in and make contact with the part of me that needed to heal.

So, therapy was a stalemate.

Sure, I walked away with greater insight into the situation, but insight is only the first part of healing. Insight alone doesn’t shift anything monumental.

Fast-forward several years to the first equine-facilitated learning workshop I attended.

I stood outside of a round pen, across from a jet black horse that I had selected to work with, because somehow, she felt “right” to me. And before I even stepped into the pen to begin my ‘session’- I was crying.

When I entered and stood next to this mare, I cried harder and harder. It went on forever and I didn’t even KNOW what the tears were about.

Then as I stood enveloped in her warmth, one word floated into my awareness: Nurture. In her own way, she was offering the mothering I had craved.

In a split second I realized that at last I had made contact with my wounded inner child, the child that had stubbornly remained hidden for 9 months of therapy years before. And now, a childhood of sadness was finally being grieved, finally being experienced.

But more than that, it was being released- from my body, my heart, and my mind.

After more than 30 minutes of full-on sobbing, the tears began to dry up. I stood next to this black mare, my arm over her whither. And as the sun came out from the clouds behind us, it illuminated a shadow before us: Of me and her, together.

Immediately I was struck with this idea:
I am never alone. Walking beside me is always the comforting force of Love. And together, we’ll make it through.

As that knowing flooded over me, a new wave of tears came down, this time refreshing my soul with comfort and relief.

In one instant, a new memory was installed in my body, heart, and mind: A memory that should have been part of my childhood, but was missing.

Now, I held it close to my heart and breathed in a new sense of wholeness. It was like a 100-pound weight was lifted, leaving me light and renewed.

What a beautiful healing gift this horse had given. Yet more was to come.

Later back at the hotel room, I laid down to rest. And I was startled to discover that something had changed in my body.

Suddenly for the first time, I was able to breathe all the way deep down into my stomach. Honestly, before that moment, I wasn’t even aware that I couldn’t do that! I didn’t know that I was holding a block there.

I was amazed to realize that a simple, yet profound 30-minute round pen session with a mysterious black horse was able to accomplish what 9 months of talk therapy could not!

A block that had probably been there since childhood had melted, leaving my body with a greater sense of wellness and energetic flow.

After this session, the trajectory of my life changed. I knew I was being called upon to combine my two life-long passions- love and horses- to help people experience this kind of awe-inspiring healing.

Thus began my own healing adventure with horses and a new passionate path opened before my eyes. A path I’d be honored to walk alongside of you at the Happily Ever After Holistic Healing Horse Ranch!

Welcome to the Healing Ranch!

2009-05-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to the Happily Ever After Holistic Healing Horse Ranch, where we delight in being your guide on an amazing healing journey to the person you were always meant to be!

On this blog, we'll share with you some of the heart-warming, healing adventures taking place at the ranch, where 3 remarkable horses and I will be your co-healers.

You'll discover the powerful, transformative healing that can occur when you learn to access your own Inner Genius to melt away your mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual blocks to wellness and wholeness.

At the ranch, our mission is to lead you back to your Highest and Best Self so you can reclaim your Magnificence.

Or, if you are a rider, our passion is helping you uncover the healing gift of the Authentic Partnership that is waiting for you & your horse. With a bond like this, satisfaction & success with your horse comes naturally.

The horses have stepped forward to be our facilitators in this profound work. All you have to do is come with an curious mind, an open heart, and a willing spirit.

Together, we'll create the space for you to re-discover your Gem-ness. And recover all of your natural gifts and abilities!

Are you ready for an awe-inspiring adventure to the Center of You? Climb aboard for the Magic that is- Healing with Horses! Consider yourself personally invited!