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

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

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?

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

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?

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

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

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/