www.whisperingherd.com

My trip to Colorado was so enriching. I received so many confirmations to continue practicing this amazing work. It was a real blessing to to meet such a powerful herd and to ally with like minded women. Robbie, Cristy and Sofie, thank you for being such an inspiration and for witnessing me along my own Path.

I am so grateful for the teaching of the BWR and the Epona approach. My experience in the South West was an important foundational piece on my own development. Being open to being vulnerable and in the "hot seat" of engaging in my own therapeutic healing process gifted me with being more open, heart centered and strong. As well, it reminds me of the compassion needed and presence when "we hold the scared space of possibility" for clients.

Lots has happenned since I've returned. My practice is growing, our garden fuller than ever.

It is with both anticipation and apprehension that I await the arrival of a new herd member. His name is Aspen. If he clears his vet check, he will be home next week. I met him 2 weeks ago under a Grand Forks double rainbow. Being a bit of a romantic I read it as a fortuitous sign toward his adoption....
I pray that he's healthy and that he will join our herd soon. It will be interesting to witness how Prowler and Tamrah as well as the other 'hood horses welcome him in their expanded herd.

Other good changes lately are the creation of a beautiful wooden round pen. Although therapeutic engagement can happen anywhere, accross a fence, in the field or paddock, I find that the circular shape of the pen allows for a gentle focus and sacred space. It also reminds me of a Mandala and a Medicine Wheel.

I love being part of the Herd. The strenght, respect, creation and earning of trust and unconditinal focus moment to moment holds me and the horses in sacred space together. Body, mind and spirit are invited to attune, re-member an ancient knowing that lives with equanimity with all of Creation. I laid with Bella, Cody, Hermenito and Magick two mornings ago. I am so grateful for their trust.
I feel one with this elemental force, I feel the synchronicity of strength, integrity, presence and harmony. I am experiencing  QiGong in sacred space and feel replenished and heartfull.

I am enjoying some quiet time today. A day of Sabbath and rest is a welcome respite as I am feeling the need to integrate quietly some of the skills I am practicing here.
The last few days have been busy with the usual ranch routines of feeding, helping with building new fences, fixing fences, playing and riding horses as well as reflective Wu Wei time well spent with the herd.
I am deepening my connection with Robbie, Cristy and Sophie as well as the 10 beautiful horses here. They all are teachers in their own way, so different one from the other and yet cohesively co-existing and thriving. I feel a nice flow with the group dynamics amongst the fellow women here. We all share chores and follow our rhythms with respect to our own individual needs in a way that honours also what needs to happen on a day to day basis here on the ranch.

Some highlights these last few days:
The sacred pipe ceremony in the honour of Charlie Mc Guire. It was a remarkable experience. Robbie, Cristy, Sophie and I shared in this ceremony lead by Robbie. It was an honour to acknowledge the sacred wheel, creation,to pray and to experience some the Lakota teachings that Robbie shared with us as a pipe carrier and sharer of Eagle Medicine. It was fortuitous to receive the Hawks blessings as it circled above us and opened the ceremony. The horses too offerred their own blessings as they entered the round pen and joined up with us curoiusly sniffing the Alter at ceremony's end.

Other highlights include: Creating wholesome meals together, sharing laughter, taking an afternoon off with Sophie to go bask in the sun and refresh ourselves in the Dolores River at the feet of an enchanting sandstone canyon. The river offerred its generous clay,  we had a hoot pasting it on our bodies enjoying the raw earthy rejuvenation.

What stood out for me also was creating increased rapport and authentic sharing and overcoming some resistance vis-a-vis Cristy who helped trigger deep seated emotion relating to belonging, trust and respect. She is like a wild dominant mare who is slow at accepting a new herd member. This is teaching me about not taking it personally and allowing us to build rapport in its own good time and respecting her needs for boundaries.  It is also teaching me what it feels to be on the receiving end of having difficulty accepting a new herd member. This is a particularly potent teaching as the dynamics in my own herd/family back home have been very similar except, I was the one having difficulty embracing a new member as an integral and very valuable part of our day-to-day life back at Whispering Herd. With this, I am learning to integrate the teachings of what it means to live in authentic community and embrace differences as well as practice consensual leadership, a dance in trusting and sharing. Indeed, "the time of the lone wolf is over". Blessings to Jai for her patience and persistence in hanging in there while it took me a while to recognize her inherent strenghts in helping hold the space for one another as well as for our beloved horses.

Here are some of the Epona skills (inspired by Linda Kohnaov) we encourage one another to practice:

- Taking response-ability for assuring our emotional and physical safety and  supporting  the needs of others to this regard.
- Using emotion as information.
- "Keeping our seat" in uncomfortable sitiations-thus responding rather than reacting.
- Being Present with, aware of other's emotions.
- Attuning to body language and behaviour and reading it as important information.
- Practicing sensitivity, flexibility and responsiveness to personal space and boundaries.
 -- Creating and holding sacred space of presence and possibility. This engaged form of presence, empathy and patience is crucial in helping tap into creative solutions that arise from activating and expressing authenticity.

Enjoyed an outing with Jennifer yesterday as we ventured to the Mesa Verde cliffs. Although the site is a popular archeological site within a National Park, we were able to get away from all the tourists. Down in the canyon we hung out by ancient sandstone, played on a couple boulders and enjoyed the mid day heat while enjoying Robbie's lasagna from last night.
I loved attuning to the wind, the breat of the Creator and played my flute as a prayer and an offering of gratitude.
The outing was a fun interlude from the ranch and a natural extension to it as well.

To my delight and surprise on our way in to Mesa, I noticed from the corner of my eye, a small herd of horses. They allowed us to approach them, I stood still and admired their wild beauty. They seemed undisturbed and stood still watching. I feel like I am on what Tom Durrance would call a Holy Grail of horsemanship, attuning so closelly to horses and their simple honest ways. "Every moment you're with them, they're taking your measure with the accuracy of a creature whose very survival depends on precise readings of its environment" (Irwin, C., 2001).
Horses appreciate when they feel us genuinely calm, focused, consistent. They appreciate it when we are strong yet compassionate, they encourage us to be the best we can be, honest, present, courageous and in tune with our environment.
I feel so grateful for the lessons they teach me and for the mutual respect I feel. I am so encouraged on this journey to continue cultivating compassionate presence, authenticity and leadership.

Blessings.
A.

Today was awesome with the Herd. Awoke to another brilliant day, cool and crisp in the am and then it got hot! Even with 70 sunblock , I got golden with the beeming sun.
I relaxed with the herd before breakfast as they were just finishing theirs. I invited Jennifer and Robbie to join and was delighted they did. We all relaxed on yoga mats in April and Beau's paddock. On the other side just accross the rail were the rest of the herd. They did not lay this morning but stood guard as we humans basked in the sweetness of their smell, the comforting sound of their hay munching and their occasional blow. I found it especiallly relaxing to be breathing with April, a 29 year old Fox Trot Mare who is walking between Worlds. She is a master with the breath of fire (a Kundalinin Yoga breath). After our attuning with the Herd, we had breakfast and then mucked.
Later I formally was introduced to an Epona ceremony/session called "meet the Herd".
But instead of me choosing the horse akin to Kohanov approach, I  respectfully stepped into the herd's field and hung out while most came and visited and I, along with Jennifer and Cristy noticed who came back and seemed to want to continue join up with me. Initally I thought Hermenito and Star because I unconsciously was choosing them, joining with them. Upon checking with myself, Jennifer and Cristy we confirmed that Bella was to be the one. Initally it felt "too easy" for me. As though I held an expectations that it was to be challenging or that I had to be paired with a horse that was challenging to me behaviouraly or otherwise. When they all approached to smell me and greet me, none felt particularly challenging and thus offered a new perspective for me. Indeed round pen therapeutic sessions are not pre-planned or activity focused. In this way the moment guides what needs to be felt or happen if we allow spaciousness for it. Upon checking with myself, I realized that my interaction with Bella invited a lot of tenderness, trust and encouraged me to relaxed into my 2nd chakra, an often tense area for me where I store a lot of tension.
Interestingly here at the ranch even in this Haven of a place, it takes me a while to fully allow for profound relaxation and trust. Trust of myself to trust, trust of the herd and of my gracious host. After a beautiful Medicine Wheel ceremony honouring the four directions and calling for guidance, love and support, we started the session by doing a body scan. That's when I further felt the tension I was holding in my center and felt encouraged to let it go. I proceeded for the circle of the mandala (round pen) and sat on the mounting block. Bella immidiately came and stood by my side. For what felt like a long while she stood by my side, rested her head by my chest and belly and even briefly fell asleep. The feeling was one of complete presence, acceptance, compassion, deep rest and pleasure. As I begun to breath more deeply and feel my belly relax and soften, her breaths too deepened as we shared a few our mouths and nostrils in an intimate exchange of our essences. It was a beautiful experience. Another gift from the Buffalo Women Herd. I am so grateful for this. Not only does it feel renewing and healing, it is a profound confirmation of my own frequent experiences with Tamrah and the potency of Equine facilited healing and personal development.

Another gift today was earlier as Magick and my energy were shifted and he approached me, very friendly and respectful and after the incident 2 days ago he even laid with me and the herd yesterday morning after breakfast. I don't feel attracted to riding him however. Something about his energy when I saw him out under saddle with the other women of the ranch. He likes to test. He likes to run away. I'd rather save myself from that challenge and just build very slow with what feels solid. Today I rode Star bareback again, a gorgeous 16 hand sweety. First round pen play, then rode in the huge field and then too her out out back by the old Oaks, the sages and brush. Really awesome to ride her bareback and feel a close connection with her. Although I was told that she spooks easily on the trail, today alone with me was no issue. She responded to the bridle and french snaffle and I kept my hand quiet yet supportive. She leaned on the bit at first and then we both relaxed and it got light. She is beautiful. I learned that this was only her 3rd ride out. I feel honoured of our developing trust.
As the days unfold I continue to re-member how very fortunate I am to be living such an exquisite experience. Learning skills and attuning to the Herd, to the Great Spirit, Creator and my fellow humans. I give thanks. Especially a huge thanks to David back home and our dear Kali and Luke keeping him company and also a big than you to Jai who is looking after our two beloved equines.

Love,

Anni

Today I awoke to a brilliant cloudless sky. A welcome change from the cold and even snowy last two days. The energy here is raw much like the landscape and wind. Huge skies, sage, cacty, brush, dust, clay dry earth, huge farm freshly plowed fields with Mountains in the far distance. The weather here is unforgiving, raw and crisp. Winters must be very harsh.  Despite being early May, yesterday felt like a cold winter day back in the Koots. At 7,200 ft there is a lot of variability in the weather up here and the wind is strong.
I feel so grateful to experience the sacred space here with lots of spaciousness. I have been here four days now and getting into the rhythm of the ranch here with Robbie, Jennifer and Cristy along with all the critters. I finally feel like have landed.

There is a natural flow that happens and although there is always much to do, the vibe is generally unhurried and holistic. This in kinship to Wu Wei. While "things get done" its not about the doing. Its all about process, readiness, timing. Much like nature and the its natural cycles, seasons. We do the chores as they need to be done withough clinging strickly to a rigid agenda.
Initially when I met the herd I thought there were 9 horses, there is 10, I hadn't met Bella yet, a little Paint.
I felt so stocked to go for a ride on Apache a 16 hands white and Bay Paint Tennesse Walker gentle giant. Today I had the honour of grooming, doing circle games and riding Star a Fox Trot and absolute beauty. Deep shiny black once groomed, this amazing mare invited me first thing this morning to respectfully enter her meditative circle. I laid close to the herd and decided to lay as the vibe was sleepy. As I laid down, Star, Cody, Magick and Bridgid lay too, it was so wonderful to be resting trustingly with these magnificient Equines. I have laid many times with Tamrah, breathing in synch and resting deeply in a state of reverence and prayer but today to be amongst the herd of ten with eventually 6 of them trusting to lay and rest near me was a rare gift.
Thus far my days comprise of awakening with the sunrise, meditating, stretching, playing the flute, hangin' with the Herd, sharing meals and chores and sharing horse time with Robbie the host and Buffalo Women Ranch integrative healing facilitator and Jennifer and Cristy, two  young women who are also here on a work study. Cristy had been here over a year and Jennifer has just begun her second month. I enjoy their company. Jovial, fun, honest, soulful, strong, energetic, thoughtful, they too are on their path to deepening their own connection with themselves, the Way of the Horse and sharing their many gifts. They have been showing me the ropes so to speak in terms of ranch routine and responsibility.
There will be clients at the ranch later on in the month so I have a chance to do alot of my own inner work before I assist and support others on their own healing and learning path with the guidance of horses. The journey thus far is as intense as the landscape, honest and deep.
I had a few very insightful experiences with several of the horses already that confirmed how horses are amazing teachers for presence, trust, respect and community.
Magick, Apache and Star have touched my heart thus far. Magick with his bold reminder to trust my instincts and to enter equine space with clarity, intention and respect and to allow for trust before asking the horse to join-up. He did this by nipping my thigh when I approached him too quickly not allowing for our energetic fields to join and our breaths to synchronize. The result: a humbled selft as well as a huge bruise. A worth while occurence, a good teaching. Indeed while setting intentions clearly, to respectfully enter the herd and wait for a clear yes in safety and invitation form this Teachers. I saw a different side of Magick this morning as he too lay trustingly just a few feet away from me and his other herd mates.
Apache reminded me to allow for collection (physical and emotional) to happen naturally without force and that freedom is key. For instance when I first got on him in the fenced area he felt tense and grumpy. I persevered at communicating my pleasure for riding him and as soon as we headed for the open trail he relaxed much more prefering the fun trail ride as opposed to arena work something he has apparently done a lot of in his past as a show horse.
Today Star who I thought was a thouroughbred, apparentely is a Fox Trot gaited horse. She reminded me of the power to prepare slowly as I groomed her slowly, deliberately in preparation for the round pen play. She was awesome on the longe line. We felt well connected. did circling games on both directions, lots of halts initiated gently with the energy through the rope. I gently rode her after bareback with a rope halter, no bit. Enjoyed her long and low walk encouraged her to strecth and then asked her if she wnated to join me in more active walk and then a trot. Her gait felt very different from what I am used to. She'll teach me to be a better feeler of movement and ultimatelly a better rider hopefully.
Trust was established. I look forward to being with her again and exploring together.
One of the highlights of my journey thus far is the sisterhood and support I feel from my hosts especially Jennifer. She has been so gracious in sharing glimpses of her own transformative experience. She's filled with joy and light and is also a fellow climber. We may go to Mesa Verde tomorrow afternoon... So with the gifts of presence, trust, respect, freedom and connection I welcome sleep.

P.S. Photos to come soon. I am awaiting my digital camera download wire Dave will mail me as I forgot to pack it. Thus far though I captured a few great images and Jennifer has a keen eye and took a bunch. I'll post pics as soon as I can.
With Love and Gratitude,
Anni