As I sat with Zoe today, who has made it clear that she wants me to sit with her more often, she enlightened me to the nuances of communication. It is a two-way street. She wanted to move to a pile of hay closer to me but that meant getting next to Jack. This is no problem as he has little authority over her but he at least communicates his distaste for her moving closer. She responds to him by moving away from him a bit more. There I sit with Molly in my lap, Rocket to my right curled like a fox on a flake of hay in the corner of the lean to with Zoe right in front of us, Jack and Lady to each of her flanks. Rocket was aware of his lack of space to move and Molly with disgusted with Lady chewing in her face. I wondered briefly about my safety but realized the horses were very aware of my presence and allowed me enough space to feel safe. My thoughts of concern for my safety were answered with their awareness for their hooves, so they wouldn't step on me or one of the dogs.
I can't count the number of times I have witnessed a human demanding a horse to do something while the horse is flat refusing. The human reprimands the 'bad' behavior and the horse becomes 'sour' and unwilling. This is the epitome of failed communication between horse and human. This situation could be different by the human listening to the horse, maybe he is in pain or confused. This would allow for an adjustment of approach that is able to help the horse want to respond. This is how it should work. Horses want to communicate with us be sometimes we just won't listen. I know I have fallen prey to deaf ears when working with horses in the past. I know that I have pushed without listening to why the horse is responding the way he is. It is my mission to always listen. Listening will create better relationships based on trust and understanding.
Communication comes in all forms- prayers, meditation, verbal, physical, mental, and emotional. We put a message out to the world in hopes someone will answer. Only in listening do we hear the answer. So much of the time we are busy putting the messages out to the world but never bother to listen for a response. We don't always get a response in a way we are hoping for or expecting to. Responses can from from the most unsuspecting places. For instance, I put the message out to the horses that I would like to learn from them and hear their messages. I can put that out there all I want but I must be willing to hear, feel, sense, intuit a response. So every day I get quiet, I rest my mind from all the hoopla of the day and just sit with them. I am patient and wait with no expectation for anything specific to come. Then it seems to float in as a thought and things for the day have a different meaning and perspective for me because of the response I received. Today was communication and all day it has been about sharing my messages but more importantly listening with my whole being for the response.
Horses deeply want to share their wisdom and love with us. We must be able to listen to them in order to hear their messages. It isn't just horses that have something to share with us. Everything in nature speaks to us if we will only listen. The tree I saw get chopped down without regard didn't understand what was happening. The trees ask us to ask them for their messages. They have a voice and are here to reach out to us (branches) and support us(oxygen and roots).
Most times as I write the messages just come flowing through me. These are my interpretations of the messages sent to me that are wanting to be heard and shared. I sit down with the computer and let the words flow through my fingers to the keys and onto the page. Before long I have written something that is lovely, touching, and profound. These messages from the horses through me are sharing that wisdom and love. They want to be heard. They want you to pause in reflection for the messages that you can receive and share with others.
I am convinced more than ever that I need to listen more and talk less. Most of you know that I can be quite verbose. The more I have chosen to listen the less verbose I have become. Words no longer spew out of my mouth but now they flow more slowly and steadily as I feel my audience can hear me because I have listened to their needs and can respond appropriately. So frequently with horses I have just asked and told and begged for them to work for me. Now it is an exchange of communication, they listen, I listen, they send messages, I send messages. It is nothing short of profound the experiences I have with my horses have changed to one of respect, honesty, and trust. The foundation of communication where each side of the party has a chance to share a message and listen to the response and adjust accordingly to work in harmony is beyond profound. Yet it is so simple.
We are in an age of wireless and ever increasing lack of personal contact with those we communicate with. Things are moving faster and faster around us. Things are seemingly starting to frey at the ends with the stress of such a fast moving world. Almost everyone that has taken a moment can feel the tension of coming change. Change is good. Communication that resonates with us on a soul level and speaks from a place of love and understanding will positively impact our lives.
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