Subjective vs. Objective

Whac-A-Mole

Cracking and shifting. A recent very painful, problematic situation with three horses and three people left me digging for something once again.

Reread a book from 10 years ago that talks about the human personality/soul from the perspective of 9 aspects of the enneagram. I can now place a check mark by the nine aspects and see that the human lens is the obscuration to the Divine. The human lens always has some percentage of ego, but it can be shifted to view the world objectively instead of subjectively.

One of my most profound experiences in meditation while in India, I became aware of a state of being with no boundaries, a texture of peaceful, joy, and a quality of essence. It has been a precious point of awareness that I have carried into my daily like. It felt like some sort of stream of energy that bound everything and everyone together whether one was aware of it or not. I have wondered if it would ever be integrated somehow instead of just a very deep sense of Truth. When there are disturbances, I have been experimenting with looking at them without my subjective lens and chalk them up for the human experience. More trips to the surrender pile. Gratitude for the relentless urging from the Universe to go deeper into the flame.

Christmas morning spent with babies/small children in the Loma Linda Children’s hospital while handing out gifts. Humbling!

Boutique Farm Life

Desert sunset

Gathering eggs, driving the tractor, watering plants, gardening, boutique animal collection care, and whatever is needed has been a nice experience for 1/2 the day. A mini-farm retreat.The passing of my adoptive mother has removed an unexpected veil. Something is brewing for another shift. Bought two horses as projects for the winter, Lincoln and Smarty.

Discovering a new richness in morning meditation. Grace.

A few of the animal members.

Peacock prints on the clean porch. They visit the window's to my casita daily.

Life Without Breath

Nothing much to the body when there is no breath. Looking at the lifeless is its own teaching. Breath at the start and not at the end. Rest in peace. My adoptive mother. Unexpected departure. Grace to have no suffering. 

Leaves of Trees

Teaching of leaves: circle of life, always in a state of change, no attachment at the end, flexible...

Last walk with the fall colors making dramatic changes. Interesting to observe my own changes.

EquiSeers

Irrigation and 26 degrees. As I drive down the road...

Launching a potential consciousness shift in the equestrian world. Five of us got together who are troubled about the state of consciousness regarding the working horse world. Amazing process. Thank you India and the time spent in deep self-examination. All the tools in the toolbox are needed in this endeavor, so we take action with a minimum of ego. Collaboration vs. competition.

Equiseers:

Definition:  EquiSeers expand mindfulness of ethical and compassionate horsemanship for the well-being of horses and humans in all equestrian disciplines.

Mission:  Expanding and enhancing equestrianism.

Vision:  Empowering people through mindfulness and awareness to expand ethical and compassionate horsemanship with experiential learning and techniques while unifying mind, body, and spirit.

Art glacier in Antarctica. Not much different? (photo credit CNN)

A Sliver of Colorado

Carbondale, CO

Walking is decreasing and riding is increasing, but walking is still a form of meditation for me.

It has become even more clear that my path to my spiritual heart is one of reason/intellect even though the heart is significantly involved. Both ladders reach the same point of Oneness, but the point of reflex, response, and examination is clearly different. The more I study humanity, the more clear my own approach becomes apparent. Even a point of separation and something to be considered.

Bears

Three bears taking a nap.

Mama Bear and her two cubs. I have wanted to have a live bear sighting, so this doesn't get much better then watching them for two hours from the front porch of the cabin. An in the dark encounter when we scared each other was another version. Animals and nature are stupendous!

Looking for apples after knocking them out of the tree.

Safe distance from the porch.

More Steps

Still walking, but in Northern California for a few days. The world is feeling like home especially with long and deep friends sprinkled around the globe. Tomorrow, heading to Colorado. New projects opening up. Lots of check marks from the two months abroad.

Another Beautiful City--Budapest

Lovely to walk without an agenda, wander, beautiful day, beautiful city, and explore.

30 Years to Celebrate and Reflect On

I am not this religion, but I have a deep respect for the statue in the field. 

Thirty years ago I began a professional riding career, living/working internationally, and observing myself in the process. It started in Hungary while meeting Andrea and now I reflect upon this while in Hungary staying at Andrea’s farm. A lot is happening in the world with radicalization, racism, and terrorism. A lot is happening in the world with love, truth, and compassion. I don’t find the ostrich approach with my head in the sand is in alignment with the responsibility and evolution of my spiritual heart. Race, religion, and politics are the outer wear we dress in along with gender, culture, skin color, and more. Walking in the outer and inner world is challenging, since they are often not in alignment. At this point, I need to keep trying to walk the talk as I deepen in the understanding of my true nature. Thoughts matter, words matter, actions matter, and the relentless practice of self examination and not just self justification. 

1912

Hungary

How wonderful to come to this beautiful area and share in the horse community. The translators were working hard and did an outstanding job. No corrections needed. I spoke, they spoke, and the riders translated the words to the horse language. Classical principles are powerful and magical.