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One-ness

Page history last edited by ruth billany 14 years, 8 months ago

The feeling of empowerment by being at one with an other gives vitality to those that experience it. Encounters with horses can be understood as something like the unique relationship with a long time partner. That experience of nonverbal human interconnectedness, of an intuitive rapport that denies formal logic and cannot exist in syntax. This sensory experience can be described as liminal consciousness.

 

As a rider I describe times when I felt in complete harmony with my horse. In competition or training I had to concentrate on a clearly defined goal as I was challenged to use my skills to the best of my ability. My whole being was fully absorbed in the moment, free of the past and of the future, thus free of inhibitions, self doubt and mundane daily stressors. It is a marvellous sense of one-ness, a transcendence occurs, expands boundaries and time becomes meaningless, while I simultaneously felt both excited and peaceful. Happy.

 

These mystical or magical moments are a form of transcendence that is rarely reported as it is so difficult to put the experience into words.

Are horses being receptive to human thoughts and acting on them as if in one mind, in the moment. Is there a form of telepathy requiring a receptive horse, and a trusting relationship? Woman who experience such a phenomena are unlikely to talk about it to others with a fear of being ridiculed in some way, What is this concept of emotional resonance between two participating consciousnesses? That elusive phenomenon of one-ness is so overwhelmingly empowering if you have been lucky enough to experience it you will want to repeat that experience - that experience of a calm serenity.

 

Csikszentmihalyi describes such as experiences as Flow, a state people enter into when fully immersed in an activity for its own sake. He adds that a sense of time passing is lost and as skills are used to the utmost a great feelings of satisfaction and serenity occurs. This dynamic structure of optimal experience occurs in the daily lives of women interacting with their horses. This preferential lifelong activity has a high level of intrinsic motivation, involves high environmental challenges, enough to require active engagement, it is matched by the personal skills used in dealing with horses, which promotes satisfaction in their use. It requires deep concentration, involvement, enjoyment, control of the situation, and immediate feedback is provided by the horse. This is not a new phenomenon to psychology, when discussing peak experiences Malsow (1968, p. 102) states that the individual “feels more integrated … more at peace, more one-pointed, more harmoniously and efficiently organised with all his parts functioning very nicely with each other, more synergetic”.

 

One With The Herd: A Spiritual Journey – Liz Mitten Ryan

http://www.horseconscious.com/one-with-the-herd-liz-mitten-ryan-2.html  (excellent video)

Mother of six, grandmother of seven, Liz Mitten Ryan, artist, writer and horse breeder, and her architect husband Kevin Ryan, made a decision that would change their lives. They moved onto 320 secluded acres in the hills of the Nicola Valley, British Columbia, and built a solar home/barn, which they share with their family of horses.

Living in close proximity with the herd, and in seclusion from the rest of the world, opened the door to spiritual realms and mysteries that the horses revealed.

For Liz, worship in the wisdom of HORSE is a life-long fascination. She is dedicated to their understanding and their wisdom as great spiritual teachers.

The horses, living as they would in the wild, but with the benefit of loving and supportive humans, share their secrets through the concept of EQUINISITY: the gift of finding the unexpected and truly important perspective through the clear and almost 360-degree vision of the equine.

 

The depth of my connection with horses is not quantifiable by words. We have a name for moments of bliss where everything just falls into place, where horse and human truly become one- they are 'silver horse' moments. My instructor (years ago well before I met her) used to give her students a silver horse charm for their key ring so they never forget the special moments. Having a mentor who clearly communicates with horses, and is able to inspire me to be the best horse woman I can possibly be is extremely motivating (SA, Australia). 

I read with interest your work with women's health & horses and the female connection to the horse in general.  I have found it to be stronger than any other connection between pet and owner.  I would really love to know why horses touch the female soul as they do (NSW, Australia).

 

Going Home

I left [place] at age 5 and returned at 40 years of age not intentionally.  I really felt like I had come home though. This is the beginning of my love affair with horses. 

When Kim asked me to marry him I could see myself arriving on a beautiful big white horse.  Even though I had never been interested in horses even as a child, I know now the horse’s presence was sent to me to heal my breast cancer.  After having breast cancer twice, horses are angels sent into my life one after the other.  People kept giving me horses and I kept saying yes.  Not that I had ever shown any interest in horses or any animals before. 

Even though I had six horses at the time of planning the wedding, I did not have a large white one for my magic day.  A wedding without a horse just did not feel right.  Funny how we change. 

I even knew where to find my horse, not that I knew a particular horse there.  My intuition took me to a local Andalucian Stud and I asked if I could borrow one of their horses for the big day.  They showed me a horse called Pedro and mentioned they might be interested in selling him, even though they had not sold a horse for over ten years. 

I purchased Pedro and took him home.  I believe Pedro was sent to me for this time of my life.  He was very special.  Pedro was started by Monty Roberts in front of 5000 people and worked as an energy horse for Bowen therapy workshops teaching people how to heal. He also won a prestigious title in 2006. I said he was amazing. 

Pedro’s eyes had a knowingness about them like he knew his purpose.  He made me feel like a Queen when I was on his back.  His regal appearance was so powerful he captured everyone’s attention. 

Pedro bowed his head and gracefully carried me to the top of the mountain of my home where over 100 family and friends awaited our presence. 

Waiting patiently for the ceremony to be over, Pedro then carried me home while the sunset went down.  Being on Pedro I felt as one, like we are sole mates.  I was the happiest girl in the world.  It really was like I married two men that day, my husband, and my horse, Pedro. 

One and a half weeks later, Anzac Day, I returned home to lunge all my eight horses (still collecting horses) lunging Pedro last for a couple of minutes only.  My father was walking away and I called him to admire Pedro’s beauty.  I led Pedro out of the round yard and towards the stables, then it happened. 

Pedro stopped and began to lose control of his legs.  I started panicking and tried to hold him up.  Mum was screaming at me to get away, the other horses collected around us, my daughter and her friend were close, my husband, Kim, and his friend were driving towards us. Pedro was surrounded by everyone who loved him, then he dropped to the ground and died right in front of us.  Just like that. 

My fairytale has ended but my journey with Pedro was just beginning.  He was nine years old, quite young for a horse. His aorta valve came away from his heart and caused his death.  No one was to know he had a weak heart. 

Anzac day, a day that represents over 20,000 horses dying in the war is the day Pedro chose to die.  His death on Anzac Day is by no means an accident.  This was his choice. 

We buried Pedro at the highest place of our property on top of a Mountain, the same place we had our wedding photos with Pedro just over one week prior. 

My husband and I placed a large rock from our garden as a headstone and a plaque for Pedro calling him ‘The Wedding Horse’.  On the rock, just after it was placed on the grave appeared a clear vision in white of a horse carrying a bride with the veil flying behind, just like the wedding.  Both are wearing crowns. A cross lays on the right side of the rock with a dove.  We released white doves at the wedding and have wild pet doves at our beach house in New Zealand, that is another story.  No-one could believe their eyes or argue the power of the picture on the rock. 

Pedro’s funeral was a spiritually enlightening experience.  The builder wrote and sang a song for Pedro.  His previous owner bought Pedro’s full brother to the funeral.  This horse gave me strength as I held him through the whole ceremony.  My girl friends sang two songs and had everyone do a chant.  An older stranger turned up and asked to play guitar and a couple of horse songs.  Another friend and her daughter laminated beautiful wedding photos of Pedro and I, handed them out and read a special poem for Pedro.  Another friend spoke about why Pedro left this earth and explained how he had reached the highest pinnacle of this life and has moved on to his next journey. 

The love that surrounded first the wedding then the funeral was overwhelmingly beautiful, felt by everyone around.  The tears did not stop and I admit this is the first real love I have lost unexpectedly. 

I believe when it is my time to die Pedro will be waiting to take me on my next journey.  Of that I am certain (Janet, QLD, Australia).

 

Flying Changes by Liz Mitten Ryan

http://www.horseconscious.com/flying-changes-liz-mitten-ryan.html

 

I would like to share with you some horse secrets…

We see the world differently. You humans talk of being superior – you have beliefs that are not true. We see the truth of how things really are; all animals do.

I will tell you ten things you believe that are false:

1. Beings are separate.

We are all one – human, plant, animal, rock – every single little quark is united in the same cosmic soup. There are spaces but no boundaries. Boundaries are only thoughts.

2. We are here to advance ourselves.

Life is not a struggle – at least not to the rest of us. You struggle; you believe there is something that you must accomplish – there is nothing to accomplish except the desired results of your desires.

3. Our desires are important

You desires are frivolous – they mean nothing in the span of being. I am referring to the larger span of multiple existence.

4. Boundaries are necessary.

Boundaries are thoughts and create limits in a limitless universe. When boundaries dissolve, opportunities expand.

5. We have one life to live.

You see life from the perspective of your ego. It is so much larger. Because you identify with a finite expression, you are blind and deaf to all that is beyond your physical senses.

6. I am the center of the universe.

Imagine being outside yourself – being absolutely everything – as far back as all time in your terms; but being everything, time spirals, loops, and meets itself again and again – all in the instant of a thought. You are that.

Everything in creation you can experience; merge with the energy of a rock, a tree, a cloud – With no boundaries you are all.

You have trouble being outside yourself because you are absorbed in self.

7. I must fight to survive.

If you were to let go of your concerns for self for even a moment, the boundaries being just a thought would disappear. Then you would experience as we do.

8. I must protect myself from nature. (Build cities, walls, etc.)

You forget yourself in nature, in quiet – true quiet void of thoughts, and you remember a truth you knew long ago that has drowned in the confusion of your busy life.

9. I must create; I must achieve.

There is nothing to accomplish that hasn’t been accomplished already. You think you have a new thought, but you are just opening to mind, which as matter is infinite in its expression.

10. The world is a mess; there is nothing I can do.

In one instant you can change the world. If man were to change his mind, one mind at a time, a chain reaction (like nuclear fission) would occur. Human minds like ours are all joined – it is the belief in isolation that creates the limits. Simply let them go, and a far greater world is yours, ours and in the communion of spirit as it has always been.

That is the simple truth – you can affect your life with your thoughts, but beyond that narrow perspective you hold, nothing changes. The truth remains the same. There are two ends to the spectrum. Fear is at one end and it is false; love is at the other and it is all that is true.

The truth is we are all God. It is only humans who have separated.

“Why did humans want to separate? Why not animals?”

Perspective is the key here. From your perspective, you think that you are the different ones, the superior species – the most like God. That is the story as you have told it – it is your story. We all have a story that is our own perspective. The difference is, animals are in agreement because they have not left the garden. (the place where all walk and talk with God.) Humans believe in a human myth. It is the story that supports separation. Animals have a knowledge of good or God. People wanted to create a perspective that would give them superiority or so they thought. ‘Let us have evil, which is the opposite of what all other life understands.’ And they have boxed themselves into a corner. They have created another category, and being the designers of their world, have made themselves a hell. The point is we all view the world from our own perspective; ‘our’ being singular or plural. Human/Humans. Horse/Horses. The difference is humans believe in opposites; we believe in sames. Every being sees the world through their own eyes; every species through the eyes of the species. Animals interconnect species to species, to man, and that is how we can help you. We can share our vision; we can show you paradise again.

You are the only species who have lost the connection and therefore wrongly believes that you are separate and therefore superior. Just like in a flying change, the lead is the perspective. Change your lead mid-air and change your direction. It is that simple, – as you believe, you will experience life.

 

 

Comments (2)

ruth billany said

at 2:14 pm on Apr 20, 2009

I have just read your story. I am so glad I finally received it. Thank you.

I am in tears - I feel sadness but also a strength - connecting (a little) with your loss while at the same time having a horse connection moment myself, as the feeling of one-ness I had experienced with a special horse in my life, is reinstated. Your experience with Pedro is magical. How can it be described in mere words? But you have managed to describe the essence and enrich the reader.

Marie Conway said

at 11:42 am on Apr 30, 2009

Wow- what a story. I'm speechless!

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