Curiosity Opens Exploration

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I often find pleasure and relief in my daily desire to explore new discoveries. Every horse throughout my day has a message to convey. Mornings are full of conscious clearings of tension and residue from my prior days experiences. When I practice this I am able to receive what feels like little pearls from each horse. For me this is a type of giving up self to open my ability to receive.

One particular horse who has been in my life for over 20 years is a stunning Quarter horse Arabian cross with the name of Henry. He brought a gem of a message to me years ago that went deep.

Every time it was Henry’s turn to be worked with, I approached him with a feeling of excitement because he is very alive and full of expression.

As Henry developed and strengthen over time, he became very athletic in his ability. I found he also would have a stiff and rigid feel in areas. Daily I would ask myself what is this resistance which I am feeling? After ruling out important to consider possibilities like teeth, saddle fit and hoof care,  I became open to explore other answers to this accumulating reoccurrence.

One day I decided to take Henry to a clinic and ride In front of  a knowledgable horseman. Within minutes of my private lesson I heard the clinician contribute some valued words of wisdom. He said ” Donnette how about ridding a different horse today ” I was confused and perplexed what he meant and asked him to clarify. The Clinition continued to say give Henry another name and approach him as if you have never met him. I became curious and willing to explore this new idea. I renamed Henry  with a name that was completely different from the identity I felt I knew him as. I named him “Mr Clarity ” instantly I felt a shift in myself and how I was relating to him. I completely felt a new birth in our relationship. There was a new freedom in both of us and I no longer felt the concerns I previously had as I began to let go of their existence.

My relationship with Henry was transformed as I completed the session that day. He was Mr. Clarity as he showed me that I was not allowing him freedom to be who he needed to be and move his body how he needed his body to move. He showed me how I was restricting him. He was clear with me and I missed it.

By removing my (SELF) from the situation and becoming curious I clearly received  a pearl from this beautiful horse Henry.
“The Zen master Dogen said, “To know the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things.”  The only way to forget the self—to realize the fixed intrinsic self does not exist, is to know the self. By exploring and knowing ourselves fully and completely, we becoming curious about this thing called my life and about this person called me.

Curiosity opens you to explore and receive 

In your discoveries, become complete in your clear inner knowledge of knowing your full self 

By Donnette Hicks