EQUINE ASSISTED therapy
to increase self awareness, explore TRAUMA impact
and Joyfully grow forward.
July 2020
The Equine Connection's Newsletter
All About Love
Sweetie Pie has been emotionally growing in leaps and bounds. She has been working with Marilee Moss, a trainer and riding coach. Marilee has taught Pie ground manners, and some tricks. Pie’s favourite is perching her front hoof on a log! She also prefers liberty work, as opposed to being on a lead line – the free spirit that she is! As Marilee and Pie have worked together, Pie has visibly filled out her body, become more grounded, and confident. Since she arrived here on the property, Sweetie Pie has also had regular bodywork sessions with Zabrina, which has also helped Pie fill out her body and own her space. In addition, Pie has received good nutrition to balance her physical challenges (which are becoming less and less present). Another piece of her development has involved Zabrina and I talking to Pie about her role as a healer. When I asked Pie if there is a topic she would like to teach people, what surfaced was the importance of self-love. For a lot of us, self-love is low on the priority list. We may even have trauma beliefs that create an obstacle to loving ourselves. Whatever the case, it is imperative to our health that we express self-love each day. It can be small acts like committing to deep breathing, or eating more whole foods. It could include thanking your various body parts for doing their job and supporting the quality of your life. Ideally our self-love includes a daily cleansing practice to release whatever we have picked up that is not ours. Self-love involves doing the activities that you are passionate about, without placing strict demands on yourself of how and how much you produce. It could be painting, gardening, dancing, riding a bike… Joy can be found in so many things. We are thrilled that Pie has brought self-love into the light and asked us to make it a more conscious part of the sessions offered here at The Equine Connection!
Coping Skill
Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. Close your eyes. Deepen your breath. Bring your attention to your heart. As you focus on your breath and your heart, ask yourself: “What is one thing I can do to love myself today?” Let the answer slowly pop into your awareness and then go do it!
Zaza comes home!
Zaza has come home! He has been gone for around six months. He is a bit thinner, his face more chiseled, and his coat rougher. For the rest, he is mostly the same guy - serious and protective, but perhaps a bit less forceful. When he first left in the Fall, he was gone for three weeks. He then returned for a week. That week home, he was super cuddly. He then left again, and has just recently returned, more than six months later. I have sat with him, meditatively asking where he has been, and what he was doing. His lips are sealed. Once I let go, and stopped asking, I heard: " We belong together." Warmth flooded my whole being, hearing those words. His explanation for his return contrasts with the story I had made up to explain his absence. I thought he was angry about another male cat, Derek, coming to live on the property. This story was dishonouring of what Zaza had actually done. The first cat he welcomed into the house was Makita, the fearless, female kitten, who had been found in a snow bank. He mentored her, and did his best to protect her when she was outside. Her dismissal of her own vulnerability, and her habit of flirting with danger led to an early death that Zaza grieved. After Makita died, he would not go into their basket, nor use the kitty litter until I cleaned them both completely of her scent. Watching him grieve told me about his ability to deeply attach. The next year, we brought Milwaukie home, another pretty girl. Again, he cared for her in a loving manner - grooming her, playing with her. When Millie, as we call her, was 16 weeks old, Derek arrived, unexpectedly. Without much fuss, Zaza opened up his territory to this new, male figure. For such a dominant guy, Zaza's actions speak of flexibility, and a willingness to collaborate, and practice inclusiveness. Despite all the evidence, it was still a stereotypical story I contrived to explain his absence. The truth is, I will likely never know why Zaza left home for such a long period of time. However, I could make up a story that honours what his past behaviour has told us about his character. A story that celebrates the spiritual nature of animals, and how they support us humans in journeying through life. Such a story would imagine Zaza going on a trek in the name of helping a human in need, or to support another household energetically. This story would speak of his devotion to collaboration, and his large heart that allows him to love deeply. The story I made up was the result of my injured pride, and my loss of his love, and presence in my daily life. I made his actions personal. While they did have a personal impact, Zaza's actions were also impersonal, not about me. His actions are about him. So, I am reminded how easily we colour our observations, and experiences with our own feelings, and desires, creating a story that is really about our injured feelings, and not getting what we want. While Zaza looks like a big, tough guy, and has a large presence, it is not possible to capture his personality and actions with a stereotypical label. There remains much mystery around his behaviour. As per usual, things are not what they seem, especially not through my coloured glasses!
December 2019
The Equine Connection's Newsletter
Celebrating the Body
As a counsellor, I have spent the majority of my career focused on the health of our thoughts and feelings. Since I started working with my equine colleagues, I have slowly been more and more immersed in the wisdom of the body, and also, in the importance of caring for our physical selves. Through various bodywork modalities, especially cranial sacral and acupuncture, as well as via herbalism, I have learned more and more about good physical and nutritional health. As I reflected on the impact of 2019, I realized that much of what I have learned has been about effective nurturing of the physical body. Whether it is the incredible functioning of the organs, or the fact that we can treat physical symptoms with energy, I would like to celebrate the physicality of our bodies, who, I believe, are our allies and represent our primary home. December is a month of reflection and of gratitude. For me, this process leads to releasing what no longer nourishes me and to a commitment of investing more energy into what does feed my soul. Personally, 2019 has been a year of shifting how I live. It was a wrestling match between old habits and ways of perceiving the world, and learning to operate, at a deeper level, in a more internally directed fashion. Part of this journey has involved deepening my awareness of my biology. Specifically, of how our physiology needs to be supported with nutrition and bodywork. And, how meditation and focusing (Eugene Gendlin's tool) allow us to access our body's wisdom, hear our subconscious, and support our biology.
Coping skill
We are interdependent beings. We are wired for connection. This means that every interaction we have with others, with our animal and bird mates, with all aspects of nature, with buildings and things involves energy transference. Some of the energy we pick up is nourishing and supportive, and some is not. And, some of the energy is simply not our responsibility. It is good practice to release such energy, daily. It is also extremely easy to do. At least once a day, as you take a deep breath in, say to yourself: “On the exhale, I am releasing whatever is not mine.” Or “On the exhale, I am releasing whatever I am holding that no longer serves me in a positive manner.” You may want to repeat this a few times, and concentrate on truly letting go of physical tension. Also, imagine that the energy is running down your legs and out your feet to be recycled in the earth.
with gratitude
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I would like to express my gratitude to the many people who support the herd, and I all through the year. Thank you to Zabrina, and to Cara who make everything better. Thank you to Diane and Britt and Craig and Carrie . Thank you to Marcel and Jeff and Alan for making hay. Thank you to Marilee for training Pie and to Maia for training Spicy. Thank you to Leanne and Paige for supporting Kara. Thank you to all the women who love the horses and visit with treats and attention. Thank you Vienna for leading the herd, and to Kaleb for helping with the leadership. And, thank you Zaza for your protective presence. One person The Equine Connection could not function without is my partner of 30 years, Christiaan . There is not a fence, nor building that he has not bettered. He created our beautiful covered arena, tackroom and sitting area. He is continually maintaining the buildings and fences on the property. Christiaan generously supports us with a smile on his face, and with a wide open heart. The horses, cats, and I love you very much. Thank you for supporting our foundation.
May 2019
The Equine Connection's Newsletter
Celebrating the Body
As a counsellor, I have spent the majority of my career focused on the health of our thoughts and feelings. Since I started working with my equine colleagues, I have slowly been more and more immersed in the wisdom of the body, and also, in the importance of caring for our physical selves. Through various bodywork modalities, especially cranial sacral and acupuncture, as well as via herbalism, I have learned more and more about good physical and nutritional health. As I reflected on the impact of 2019, I realized that much of what I have learned has been about effective nurturing of the physical body. Whether it is the incredible functioning of the organs, or the fact that we can treat physical symptoms with energy, I would like to celebrate the physicality of our bodies, who, I believe, are our allies and represent our primary home. December is a month of reflection and of gratitude. For me, this process leads to releasing what no longer nourishes me and to a commitment of investing more energy into what does feed my soul. Personally, 2019 has been a year of shifting how I live. It was a wrestling match between old habits and ways of perceiving the world, and learning to operate, at a deeper level, in a more internally directed fashion. Part of this journey has involved deepening my awareness of my biology. Specifically, of how our physiology needs to be supported with nutrition and bodywork. And, how meditation and focusing (Eugene Gendlin's tool) allow us to access our body's wisdom, hear our subconscious, and support our biology.
Coping skill
We are interdependent beings. We are wired for connection. This means that every interaction we have with others, with our animal and bird mates, with all aspects of nature, with buildings and things involves energy transference. Some of the energy we pick up is nourishing and supportive, and some is not. And, some of the energy is simply not our responsibility. It is good practice to release such energy, daily. It is also extremely easy to do. At least once a day, as you take a deep breath in, say to yourself: “On the exhale, I am releasing whatever is not mine.” Or “On the exhale, I am releasing whatever I am holding that no longer serves me in a positive manner.” You may want to repeat this a few times, and concentrate on truly letting go of physical tension. Also, imagine that the energy is running down your legs and out your feet to be recycled in the earth.
with gratitude
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I would like to express my gratitude to the many people who support the herd, and I all through the year. Thank you to Zabrina, and to Cara who make everything better. Thank you to Diane and Britt and Craig and Carrie . Thank you to Marcel and Jeff and Alan for making hay. Thank you to Marilee for training Pie and to Maia for training Spicy. Thank you to Leanne and Paige for supporting Kara. Thank you to all the women who love the horses and visit with treats and attention. Thank you Vienna for leading the herd, and to Kaleb for helping with the leadership. And, thank you Zaza for your protective presence. One person The Equine Connection could not function without is my partner of 30 years, Christiaan . There is not a fence, nor building that he has not bettered. He created our beautiful covered arena, tackroom and sitting area. He is continually maintaining the buildings and fences on the property. Christiaan generously supports us with a smile on his face, and with a wide open heart. The horses, cats, and I love you very much. Thank you for supporting our foundation.