MAY HORSES BE YOUR GUIDE
Feature Page By: Mary-Joy Johnson, UK
There is a window into the wholeness of our being. Some of us have the privilege to not only sit at this window, but to open it fully and climb through it into a ‘mindful’, ‘bodyful’ and ‘senseful’ experience of the world. As I read through these pages I see this deep privilege that we humbly hold and work hard to share. Knowledge and experience around healing and change has historically been seen to be the work of a magic few. I am grateful to those who work to break down barriers, supporting access, inclusion and equity and for our innate birthright to heal.
It is with the grace of nature that we can discover our own unique pathways to healing, ways home to ourselves, discovering our own inner healing genius. Whether we are blessed to be able to live and work in natural environments or whether we can only make contact with it through short interactions, visits or virtually, it IS there for us. No filter. Direct.
No journey is the same. Some have a confidence to travel their emotional terrain that we can only marvel at, others need community and time. It is human work. We are a social, herd-like, species, we need safe human relationship to reorient from past wounds and we need a safe relationship with ourselves to return ‘home’ - maybe even a reorientation of what ‘home’ truly is.
Horses live within the threshold, domesticated as we all are, wild as we all originated – inviting us to (be)come into awareness in new ways, together.
It is with the grace of nature that we can discover our own unique pathways to healing, ways home to ourselves, discovering our own inner healing genius. Whether we are blessed to be able to live and work in natural environments or whether we can only make contact with it through short interactions, visits or virtually, it IS there for us. No filter. Direct.
No journey is the same. Some have a confidence to travel their emotional terrain that we can only marvel at, others need community and time. It is human work. We are a social, herd-like, species, we need safe human relationship to reorient from past wounds and we need a safe relationship with ourselves to return ‘home’ - maybe even a reorientation of what ‘home’ truly is.
Horses live within the threshold, domesticated as we all are, wild as we all originated – inviting us to (be)come into awareness in new ways, together.
These words, from John O’Donohue are sculpted so beautifully that the invitation is almost irrefusable…. May horses be your guide.
You have traveled too fast over false ground;
Now your soul has come, to take you back.
Take refuge in your senses, open up
To all the small miracles you rushed through.
Become inclined to watch the way of rain
When it falls slow and free.
Imitate the habit of twilight,
Taking time to open the well of color
That fostered the brightness of day.
Draw alongside the silence of stone
Until its calmness can claim you.
Be excessively gentle with yourself.
JOHN O’DONOHUE
Excerpt from the blessing, For One Who is Exhausted (To Bless The Space Between Us)
You have traveled too fast over false ground;
Now your soul has come, to take you back.
Take refuge in your senses, open up
To all the small miracles you rushed through.
Become inclined to watch the way of rain
When it falls slow and free.
Imitate the habit of twilight,
Taking time to open the well of color
That fostered the brightness of day.
Draw alongside the silence of stone
Until its calmness can claim you.
Be excessively gentle with yourself.
JOHN O’DONOHUE
Excerpt from the blessing, For One Who is Exhausted (To Bless The Space Between Us)
