Music Playlist for June 2010
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Horses As Teachers
by Justine Willis Toms
Through the years horses have been my teachers in life. The hours I spend on horseback dissolve into a timeless void as in sleep or meditation. There is no ticking of the clock, just fluid movement, single-minded focusing, two living forms becoming one as if in a dance.
I've often wondered why riding is primarily a woman's sport. Through many years of working in circle with women, I'm beginning to realize that women's power is the power to connect, rather than "hold power over" as is the case in a hierarchical social order. Horseback riding is a place where this gift for connecting shines. The best riders work in partnership with their horses. When this is done well, one can feel the horse striving to meet the rider in a celebratory equine dance.
One of my most treasured highs in riding is jumping over a course of fences. I'm constantly amazed at the willingness of horses to commit themselves to flying through the air with riders on their backs. Jumping combines in a practical way so many of the qualities I learn from my meditation practice: focus, balance, trust, letting go, being in the moment, and, greatest of all, unity with another living creature.
In nature what is the most beautiful is also the most effective and the most efficient. The same is true of riding a horse over fences. The perfect jump includes a minimum expense of energy for maximum effectiveness. One must be traveling at the right speed and take off at the right moment, all determined by the size of the fence, the terrain, and the stride and impulse of the horse. No two jumps are exactly alike. Even the same jump is different depending on the mood of the horse, the weather, the time of day, and the attitude of the rider. When horse and rider are thinking and moving as one, making instantaneous judgments about all these factors, it's magic. When I experience a good jump it's like a pas de deux performed with perfect harmony.
Focusing is a priority in this sport. If my mind wanders, the horse knows. Equines are like Zen masters when it comes to reading your mind. They intuitively know that mind and body are connected. For example, if I approach a particular fence with fear, thinking we won't make it over, my horse senses my fear and will frequently put on the brakes just as we reach the obstacle—depositing me, sans horse, on the other side.
When I'm far away from the barn and my four-legged teachers, if I fall into a panic and my mind tells me, "Justine, you'll never accomplish this task; success will never be yours," I can bring up the memory of riding my horse and flying over a jump in perfect balance. Triggering this body feeling is like taking a magic "I can succeed" pill. I'm not pretending to be successful—I'm activating my body's memory of success. My mind does not know the difference between the actual event and the memory of the event. I can access my body's memory of success at any time, and use the feeling of success to help me get through any challenge, in any aspect of my life.
When you find yourself feeling doubts about your ability to attain your goal, take a moment to remember a time when you, too, have enjoyed a great accomplishment. It is more effective if it is something that you accomplished not only mentally, but physically as well. The body has a phenomenal memory. In fact, some say it has a greater memory than the mind. When you're uncertain, let your mind take you back to your triumphant moment again, and feel it in your body with as much detail as you can. Recall the smells, colors, sounds, feelings, and surroundings. As you sink into this most pleasant memory, allow it to resonant in you once more as if it were happening for you in the present moment. Let the exhilaration of your success stay with you as you turn yet again to the task at hand. This meditation will be of enormous support for you in actualizing your goal.
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