THE AWE OF HORSES
Catalyzing the Great Awakening
By: Kate Neligan
Horses remind us of who we can be. They require presence, evoke awe, celebrate authenticity, and help us to awaken to our true nature. Just being and breathing with them can help us to reset the nervous system and to feel unconditionally loved and accepted.
Additionally, if we have life or work challenges, they can help us to overcome them by role modeling ways of being that would be supportive. We can even learn life skills and emotional intelligence from them.
Over the last couple years, we have, collectively, been through many challenges and have had to go within ourselves, and into nature to find new solutions. This has been the great awakening, so we can remember that we are spiritual beings having a human experience and we can create a more harmonious world. The horses, with their unique ways of being and all the ways they bring us into awe, can help catalyze this process and serve as teachers too.
An “awakening” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “rousing from sleep or inactivity or indifference.” It’s a “revival of interest in something” and “a coming into awareness.” Often, we hear people exclaim that they have had an awakening as a dark night of the soul or had an epiphany about their lives.
While some can have a significant awakening overnight or in an instant, in my personal experience, it often happens over time and with many different “aha moments”, all leading to a higher consciousness.
The important part is that we stay curious about what an awakening is and what it can do for humanity. Staying “asleep” or “indifferent” to issues that need addressing will only keep us stuck. Conversely, becoming more aware allows us to make healthier choices.
If we look around, we may see that many systems and structures are breaking down in their own collective awakening process. It can be both a scary yet exciting time of change and transition. It’s very much like a chrysalis with a new being emerging just as the butterfly breaks free of the cocoon.
Over the last couple years, we have, collectively, been through many challenges and have had to go within ourselves, and into nature to find new solutions. This has been the great awakening, so we can remember that we are spiritual beings having a human experience and we can create a more harmonious world. The horses, with their unique ways of being and all the ways they bring us into awe, can help catalyze this process and serve as teachers too.
An “awakening” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “rousing from sleep or inactivity or indifference.” It’s a “revival of interest in something” and “a coming into awareness.” Often, we hear people exclaim that they have had an awakening as a dark night of the soul or had an epiphany about their lives.
While some can have a significant awakening overnight or in an instant, in my personal experience, it often happens over time and with many different “aha moments”, all leading to a higher consciousness.
The important part is that we stay curious about what an awakening is and what it can do for humanity. Staying “asleep” or “indifferent” to issues that need addressing will only keep us stuck. Conversely, becoming more aware allows us to make healthier choices.
If we look around, we may see that many systems and structures are breaking down in their own collective awakening process. It can be both a scary yet exciting time of change and transition. It’s very much like a chrysalis with a new being emerging just as the butterfly breaks free of the cocoon.
Horses As Partners
The power of the human-horse connection is an incredible catalyst in an awakening. Their love, soulful eyes, and calm, grounded presence can help just about anyone to center and remember their truth.
Throughout human history, horses have co-evolved alongside us and carried us forward physically in many ways. Through the advent of equine coaching, we can now partner with them to evolve our consciousness as we learn from their ways of being. Horses hold the map to help humanity advance, as we ascend out of ego-centric ways and become a more connected, respectful, and soulful society.
When we hold the quality of curiosity we can then play and experiment, through somatic learning experiences, with all equines and even goats too! Through this open orientation to life, we can continue to ask ourselves, “what if this new way of being was possible and brought greater success?”
Together we can find solutions, in real time, that can create positive ripple effects in all our relationships, most importantly the one with ourselves.
Let’s meet two incredible humans who learned, directly, from the wisdom of horses and found awe in their time with them.
The power of the human-horse connection is an incredible catalyst in an awakening. Their love, soulful eyes, and calm, grounded presence can help just about anyone to center and remember their truth.
Throughout human history, horses have co-evolved alongside us and carried us forward physically in many ways. Through the advent of equine coaching, we can now partner with them to evolve our consciousness as we learn from their ways of being. Horses hold the map to help humanity advance, as we ascend out of ego-centric ways and become a more connected, respectful, and soulful society.
When we hold the quality of curiosity we can then play and experiment, through somatic learning experiences, with all equines and even goats too! Through this open orientation to life, we can continue to ask ourselves, “what if this new way of being was possible and brought greater success?”
Together we can find solutions, in real time, that can create positive ripple effects in all our relationships, most importantly the one with ourselves.
Let’s meet two incredible humans who learned, directly, from the wisdom of horses and found awe in their time with them.
Growing Self-Awareness
A forty-something corporate sales executive came to a team building session on a ranch in Malibu, CA as part of an off-site retreat his company was holding. He and his colleagues were personable, fast-paced, and ready to experience horse medicine.
When he stepped away from his chair in a large sand arena, he was asked to move his horse partner, a sensitive mare, into an area where two poles lay on the ground. He had five minutes and he couldn’t use any tack or equipment, just his energy. I asked him to make sure he connected with the horse first, before he began. But old habits die hard! He immediately went into task mode and was focused on the result he wanted. He started to push the horse around by flailing his arms and moving quickly. This sensitive horse took off. He started to get frustrated because he didn’t feel in control. He wasn’t aware that his energy was all about “push” and there wasn’t any “pause” or connection.
Instead of letting him struggle, I quickly asked him if he had checked in with the mare first and built any rapport with her before he asked her for things. He sheepishly looked at me and said no. He knew what to do. He walked over and stood with this beautiful sentient being and just breathed. Then he softly touched her face and she relaxed. I could tell he was holding back some tears. This went on for a couple minutes and the goal was forgotten.
We debriefed and he had some powerful self-awareness surface. His old way of working was no longer successful. He knew he needed to slow down more and connect with others on his team and his clients. If he prioritized his relationships first, then the results would come. He no longer wanted to cause stress in a very “get it done” goal-driven way. I personally could relate as the horses helped me to recondition my own energy after I left a high-powered corporate career in the movie studio. I had this same “aha moment” which was part of my awakening right there in the dirt too.
A forty-something corporate sales executive came to a team building session on a ranch in Malibu, CA as part of an off-site retreat his company was holding. He and his colleagues were personable, fast-paced, and ready to experience horse medicine.
When he stepped away from his chair in a large sand arena, he was asked to move his horse partner, a sensitive mare, into an area where two poles lay on the ground. He had five minutes and he couldn’t use any tack or equipment, just his energy. I asked him to make sure he connected with the horse first, before he began. But old habits die hard! He immediately went into task mode and was focused on the result he wanted. He started to push the horse around by flailing his arms and moving quickly. This sensitive horse took off. He started to get frustrated because he didn’t feel in control. He wasn’t aware that his energy was all about “push” and there wasn’t any “pause” or connection.
Instead of letting him struggle, I quickly asked him if he had checked in with the mare first and built any rapport with her before he asked her for things. He sheepishly looked at me and said no. He knew what to do. He walked over and stood with this beautiful sentient being and just breathed. Then he softly touched her face and she relaxed. I could tell he was holding back some tears. This went on for a couple minutes and the goal was forgotten.
We debriefed and he had some powerful self-awareness surface. His old way of working was no longer successful. He knew he needed to slow down more and connect with others on his team and his clients. If he prioritized his relationships first, then the results would come. He no longer wanted to cause stress in a very “get it done” goal-driven way. I personally could relate as the horses helped me to recondition my own energy after I left a high-powered corporate career in the movie studio. I had this same “aha moment” which was part of my awakening right there in the dirt too.
Embracing Compassion
Another corporate executive came to a women’s workshop where mini horses were present. She had expressed that her life felt stuck and she was in a lot of self-judgment over being single and not liking her job. Her big dream was to start a family but she felt so far away from her goals. I could hear her harsh inner critic who was holding her to many high expectations and timelines. Luckily the mini horses didn’t!
When she entered the arena with them, she was immediately in awe. She had never seen such small horses and she squatted to be on their level and look in their eyes. She thought they were all beautiful, unique and had wonderful horsenalities!
Together we did some very powerful inner child work where she essentially traveled back in time. She gave her younger self, who had always been criticized by her parents, a lot of love, forgiveness, and compassion. While she did this, her favorite mini just stood right by her side as though she was a loving support system that saw, held, and honored her healing work.
She gave this mini a huge hug realizing she didn’t need to judge herself anymore, just as the horse hadn’t judged her. She rapidly moved from victim to empowered and, I’m happy to report, she made incredible life changes quickly thereafter, has a wonderful new family of her own and is thriving at work.
Another corporate executive came to a women’s workshop where mini horses were present. She had expressed that her life felt stuck and she was in a lot of self-judgment over being single and not liking her job. Her big dream was to start a family but she felt so far away from her goals. I could hear her harsh inner critic who was holding her to many high expectations and timelines. Luckily the mini horses didn’t!
When she entered the arena with them, she was immediately in awe. She had never seen such small horses and she squatted to be on their level and look in their eyes. She thought they were all beautiful, unique and had wonderful horsenalities!
Together we did some very powerful inner child work where she essentially traveled back in time. She gave her younger self, who had always been criticized by her parents, a lot of love, forgiveness, and compassion. While she did this, her favorite mini just stood right by her side as though she was a loving support system that saw, held, and honored her healing work.
She gave this mini a huge hug realizing she didn’t need to judge herself anymore, just as the horse hadn’t judged her. She rapidly moved from victim to empowered and, I’m happy to report, she made incredible life changes quickly thereafter, has a wonderful new family of her own and is thriving at work.
Activating Intuition & Awe
Horses are naturally intuitive beings. It may be because their hearts are on average five times the size of ours. They have incredibly large guts as well. They are more feeling-based rather than thinking mammals, and have some interesting differences in their brains, compared to humans. When people choose to be with horses and awe quickly surfaces, it’s a doorway into their emotions and heart space.
Being in the present moment with horses is integral for them to feel safe, as well as to create a strong bond. From here we can better access our intuition since we aren’t focused on the past or future. All of our power is in the present and that is where divine insight often arises.
The quality of awe is something people exclaim all the time when they see horses. They are either surprised at how big and powerful they are or transfixed by their beauty and majestic nature. Research on the benefits of awe include lower stress and inflammation levels, as well as increases in positive emotions and feelings of connection and meaning. Overall, feeling awe can improve our mood. (Research results published in Greater Good Magazine and completed by studies at UC Berkeley)
When we feel better, we often do better. We make changes, even micro-ones, that improve our daily lives and the lives of those around us. As we do this, we are in the awakening process and have a revival of interest in our own well-being and that of horses and humanity. This also grows love and respect of the natural world, and what we love, we protect.
The horses, in all ways, help us to grow self-awareness, embrace compassion, and activate intuition and awe, therefore helping people to awaken. When we feel better about ourselves and our lives, humanity becomes healthier and happier, which in turn benefits the horses and their care as well.
Aren’t those stories of personal great awakenings awe-inspiring for all of humanity? What could this human-horse connection catalyze for you and your life?
Horses are naturally intuitive beings. It may be because their hearts are on average five times the size of ours. They have incredibly large guts as well. They are more feeling-based rather than thinking mammals, and have some interesting differences in their brains, compared to humans. When people choose to be with horses and awe quickly surfaces, it’s a doorway into their emotions and heart space.
Being in the present moment with horses is integral for them to feel safe, as well as to create a strong bond. From here we can better access our intuition since we aren’t focused on the past or future. All of our power is in the present and that is where divine insight often arises.
The quality of awe is something people exclaim all the time when they see horses. They are either surprised at how big and powerful they are or transfixed by their beauty and majestic nature. Research on the benefits of awe include lower stress and inflammation levels, as well as increases in positive emotions and feelings of connection and meaning. Overall, feeling awe can improve our mood. (Research results published in Greater Good Magazine and completed by studies at UC Berkeley)
When we feel better, we often do better. We make changes, even micro-ones, that improve our daily lives and the lives of those around us. As we do this, we are in the awakening process and have a revival of interest in our own well-being and that of horses and humanity. This also grows love and respect of the natural world, and what we love, we protect.
The horses, in all ways, help us to grow self-awareness, embrace compassion, and activate intuition and awe, therefore helping people to awaken. When we feel better about ourselves and our lives, humanity becomes healthier and happier, which in turn benefits the horses and their care as well.
Aren’t those stories of personal great awakenings awe-inspiring for all of humanity? What could this human-horse connection catalyze for you and your life?
