As far as animal instincts go this is one of the most natural reactions to surviving in this world. After my time with the horses, it amazes me how heightened their senses are. Did you know they can detect changes in human respiration and heartbeat from several metres away. It truly is remarkable. They also have 4/5 x the heart capacity than a human heart and therefor increases their energetic field significantly. This means they can effectively attune and sync into energies at a much greater distance. If you think about energy, every being and animal has an energetic connection to their environment and to one another. And it is remarkable to not only witness but sense even more into the connectivity of everything in this way.
As humans, we too are animals, and we too carry these abilities and can heighten our awareness to our environment. To perceive things and respond. To decipher what is a threat and what is normal. BUT unfortunately living in an overly stimulated world we have become very desensitised to this incredible component of what makes us such a connected species.
It is not because we are unaware or unconscious, in fact I would say, our perceptions are running even more high due to the states of the world today. The reason why is because more often than not our systems are running in a state of fight or flight and with those stresses running through our body, things are constantly heightened, guards are up and our perceptions of the world around us is causing a state of reaction. Unlike these beautiful animals who I witness an ease in which they respond, decipher the threat or not, and then shake it off and go about there day in a VERY calm and relaxed fashion. It is in a way incomparable, because they are not faced with the same everyday stresses, but it does also give a beautiful reminder of how far removed we have become from what I would consider, our true nature.
Personally, over the past year or so, I have dedicated my time and energy to attempting to ‘undo’ this so-called conditioning that it takes to operate in everyday life. I was not coping with the stress of it all and after my fall (literally off a horse) it became the reminder I needed to stop, pause and reconnect.
Horses have a heightened awareness and connectivity and a remarkable affinity with humans. They are also herd animals and have a natural instinct to follow the lead mare. In the equation of human and horses, the human is the lead and the horse listens attentively to all the signals sent. I started my reconnection with horses from a very fearful state so there was already an unease. I am also extremely sensitive. But my perceptions were off and my trust was limited. I was fearful and so I wanted to control every scenario. As much as I had moments of beautiful breathing ad relaxing amongst them, any minor jerk or startle from the horse resulted in a reaction. Ironically if you are in a state of fear and your heart is racing than these incredibly perceptive animals also mirror that state but in a more significant way. I tense, my body goes tight, and the horse believes it’s one of two things, she wants me to ride faster (not intentional signals TRUST me), or something is wrong (scared fight or flight scenario). Either way very soon they are taking off, and I am hanging on, until I am not. A simple solution in that moment is to just breath, calm yourself and the horse will come to a natural halt. However, that is much easier said than done in the moment. I could reflect on countless examples of this in life. After the situation calms, you pause and more often than not the reflection on how you wished you had showed up in the moment comes into play. But in the moment. Well that can be another story. All good in theory but the flight or flight mechanism built into our very human design, heightened by an overly stimulated world, does naturally create a state of reaction.
Another interesting thing I have reflected about this state of fight or flight. Is when our bodies are in it. It switched off our digestion enzymes and rushes sugar into our system to activate our bodies to run to safety or fight for survival. An incredibly designed function but again when the stimuli NEVER switches off and when we are constantly having this inner reactive state of being, we are simply not creating the moments to nourish our bodes with rest and restoration and getting the digestive enzymes flowing again.
I have found my newfound connection with horses an interesting parallel as it amplifies so many learnings of the world. How we respond to stressful environments, how we react to things presented to us, inability to flow and trust and how fast paced everything is around us. After the fall I had no choice but be catapulted into a state of slowness. This was the biggest blessing ever. It allowed me the time to focus inward. To listen. To connect and to get a whole new perspective on what is possible when we harness our natural capabilities. I have much more to learn. I too have loads of conditioning. And I am by no means able to just munch on grass all day and be at complete ease. But I look forward to continuing this life of learning, of healing, of growing and of living in a way that honours and enhances our connections with all life.
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