Power And Freedom
We ran across the rocky paths and wild land down to the beach today and all along it, in the soft sand, and back again... We saw a lot of horses - they are wild on the land, curious and lean, watching us and sometimes coming closer - just to see... They are on the beach too, taking the tourists for rides over the hills to donkey beach...
We saw a couple of horses with their riders, wading into the sea again, just like on the day I fell on the rocks...
It looked glorious - a delight for horse and rider - the horses snorted with joy and tossed their heads as the water reached their flanks; these horses do not live wild on the land like the ones on 'cactus hill' but they still have a free and independent powerful energy...
I looked up horse totem when we reached home... It seems representative of my journey; this is what is written
Travel, Power, Freedom...
Horses are symbols of freedom.
This totem brings new journeys.
It will teach you to ride in new directions and discover your own freedom and power.
If a horse has shown up in your life, you must ask yourself:
"Am I feeling constricted? Do you need to move on or allow others to move on?"
Horse will teach you how to ride into new directions to awaken and discover your own freedom and power.
Before we went running today, I went for another early morning gym session with Rodja... He is as keen as keen on training. He loves it himself and is committed to developing his clients; but he trains me in a way that works for me... He backs me off rather than pushes me on...
He asks a lot, sets a good programme that will stretch me; but when it's evident that I need to back off, he backs me off and so my spirit is kept intact, my willing spirit that knows that my body can be all my spirit is, is left joyous and believing the impossible is possible...
All because just at the point when it becomes evident the impossible may actually be impossible, Rodja steps in and makes the exercise a little easier and my belief remains intact - it IS possible...
With practice...
'I can do it...'
Many years ago, I read Monty Roberts the horse whisperer's book about his life - reading about his attempts to save the horse Brownie from his fathers cruel methods of breaking a horse struck a deep chord with me....
How I longed to have a coach like Monty, a coach who would 'get me' and nurture my spirit rather than break it...
My own journey has been one of learning how to be my own best coach, to nurture my spirit rather than break it; to retire the harsh coach in my head - many of my clients will recognise this technique if they are reading!
Eventually there came a time when I recognised that the harsh voice in my head, the one that always berated me, and told me I should do better, had served its time.
It was now time to give this coach a golden handshake, thank them for their efforts and good intentions for my development! - And send them off into retirement...
The time had come to employ a kind coach in my head, one who told me I was doing just fine, one who celebrated my efforts and was always encouraging...
And it follows that when we heal the wound within us, and clear the energy that attracts us to harsh pushing coaching methods; in its place will appear real life coaches that support and encourage us, instead of breaking us ...
Matt Shore helped me to rehab after my knee, and his stretching and coaching was so subtle that I went from not being able to jump 6 inches, to leaping 24 inches onto a box with ease....
And now I arrive here in St Lucia, and discover a new coach who is taking me another step as I get fitter and stronger, and reclaim my running form...
He backs me off, and so my enthusiasm is high and I want to go back for more....
As with any good coach, this leads us to the threshold of our own mind; so that ultimately we do unto ourselves what we would like done unto ourselves!
I was brought up in a Christian hosehold and so phrases like:
'Do unto others as you would have done unto you...' And... 'Love thy neighbour as thyself...' Rang in my young ears....
Over the years I worked out that of course, the most important thing to work on and to live out, was to love myself, to treat myself well; with kindness, respect, compassion forgiveness, doing unto myself good things....
Because from this place of love and kindness to ourselves, love and kindness to others naturally springs forth....
And from this place, we will truly be open to discover our own freedom and power..
