Happy September Everyone,

After a few days of rain, the grass is green again here in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been out digging in the garden, tending the bed for what we hope will be the birth place of the next Great Pumpkin. Our local community here on Thornhill has decided to have its first annual Great Pumpkin Race and Roll. Neighbours of all ages gathered at the local hall to share some of their secrets. I overheard one lady whisper that it’s all about the manure, so I smiled to myself, giving quiet thanks to the Chiron’s Way herd for their prolific offerings. I wonder if having such wonderful horses will give me an unfair advantage? I’ll keep you posted.

Messages From the Herd

Wisdom of the White Horse

My dear friend Bonnie and I have been collecting quotes and ancient tellings about white horses for years. It began as fodder for a workshop we wanted to create entitled Wisdom of the White Horse. It seemed only natural then that on my trip to England this March, I would plan to visit a white horse, the Uffington White Horse in fact, with the delightful Mark Mottershead as my guide.

I spoke with Bonnie a few days before my trip. She sounded tired but was excited about my plans to walk around the chalk horse carving which dated back to 1000 BC. She asked me to take a picture and to say a prayer by the heart of the horse. I happily agreed, saying I’d imagine her with me and then recant every detail once I was home.

What I’ll say now is I started writing this note way back in March. It is only now that I am able to finish it – I think. While I was in England, standing in the center of her most ancient stone circle, on the night of the Spring Equinox, making wishes for all whom I loved, my dear Bonnie died. I learned of her passing days later as I was off grid for much of my stay. Grief tore at my heart and I longed to be home with my family and to be held in the comfort of my mare Grace. With no flights to be had, I sought solace walking the hills above Uffington. There awaited the White Horse. I would find her heart and pray for my friend.

Legend says the white horse is a wish giver and a symbol that returns the memory of our higher home, our place of origin. When we meditate or pray by the horse, we reconnect with our TRUE identity and the wishes we wish will come true.

I walked alongside the ancient horse to where I felt her heart would be. There I paused and my prayer for Bonnie sounded much like our phone call would have went. I told her about all of the wonders I had experienced while I was in England, the water I had collected for her from the Chalice Well, about the people I had met and how I wished she was here. As I said that, the wind picked up and I watched the clouds blow across the sky. After blinking away tears, I focused again on the clouds, and there, in between the blue and the grey, was the white outline of a horse. I smiled and said thank you – to Bonnie for showing me she was there/here, and to the Uffington Horse for granting my wish.

This volume of Have You Herd is written with love to my friend and horse sister Bonnie Treece of Gateway Colorado. Bonnie embodied deep compassion, great courage and true, unfathomable wisdom. She had many amazing gifts, one of them being the ability to listen to horses. To the right is one of the passages she shared with us, her friends Sue, Jenn, Fran, Sara and myself as told to her by Midnight Merlin. It is his telling of the Wisdom of the White Horse.

Thank you as always for your kind support. I’ll write again soon with some exciting news about the Horses In Art magazine that a talented friend has taken over. You’re going to love it and it features many incredible artists, including our dear friend Kim McElroy. It even features an article talking about the Art IN Horses– how horses inspire us to become our own masterpiece. You may recognize the writer.

Wishing you all many joy filled days.

Heart-fully,

Sandra

Your lesson from the White Horse is a good one though not easy to swallow.

Somewhat like a desert thistle but a good learning for the future. These are
the toughest lessons but make you more worthy of moving forward on your path to bring the work to others and to assist Those of Like Mind, as I
request you share this story and my words.

I look forward to meeting with you again and hold you in a warm embrace like the desert sun mingling through the leaves of the mesquite. You have
journeyed far and have far to go, as always it is a cycle, a cycle means
continuous beginnings and endings. Do not stay at either end of it too long
or you will stagnate. As you already have heard me speak of Flowing, I ask
you to take it to a new level and let go of Results.

Results are an ending.

Ideas are a beginning.

True Freedom is beginning and ending without needing to know the Results.

They are meaningless without the In-between.

So please stand with me in the Place of In-between and honor it as much as
you do the Beginnings and Endings, the Ideas and Results.

This is the Place of Freedom.

Remember this as I have taught you, the Embrace is just as important as the
time in-between Embraces.

Otherwise there would be no difference, and you would not be able to recognize how good it feels to be in the Embrace of Love, Gratitude and
Grace.

Truly Yours, Merlin

Welcome to Winter Everyone.

It’s been a season of books and for the first time, I’m on the writing end of the pen.

Contributing to the second book in the Horse As Teacher series was a wonderful opportunity. I hope you enjoy the excerpt below, taken from my chapter entitled… “A Grace Remembered”

Coming in 2010:

If you want to move beyond affirmations and resolutions in 2010, you’ll love learning the life changing processes taught in the PSYCH-K® workshops. I’ve scheduled a class in Vancouver on January 9th-10th for just this reason. Check the website calendar for other dates and locations.

Join me in Glastonbury, England for a Divine Integration Retreat,

March 22-24, 2010. I will be leading this PSYCH-K class with the delightful Mary Trenfield, in the birthplace of King Arthur.

Yes, I’m still pinching myself

For those of you awaiting dates for the 2010 Sacred Ride, they have been set for May 26-30, 2010. As this event always fills up quickly, we encourage you to register early to reserve the final 4 spaces.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2010 cohort of Dancing With Equus, the Chiron’s Way Facilitator Training Program in Equine Guided Development. Contact Sandra or view the website calendar for more 2010 workshop details.

I want to express my gratitude for a wonderful and wonder-full 2009. A couple highlights for me were: The Path of the Horse adventure with Stormy, Kim, Connie, Davina and Mark. We had great fun and met incredible people. Thank you to everyone who attended and shared.

Creating A Grace Remembered has deepened my desire to write. I shall pick up a pen again in the New Year and see where the ink takes me. Grace continues to craft stories of healing and in their sharing, I hope she will open more hearts.

Until 2010, have a joyous holiday season.

Heart-fully,
Sandra

Warm Winter Wishes,

Messages From the Herd:

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Now it’s common enough for folks to recount stories of their visits with the horses but every now and again, someone will relay an experience which can only be described as a literal “message from the herd”. The most recent account of this was from a woman who braved the snow because she “wanted to know peace and calm before the craziness of the season”.

We walked down to the horses on the snow covered trail. They were sprinkled in white and each approached in turn to offer a friendly hello. Kristin giggled as Chiron touched her nose with his. He gave way to Cricket, who not to be outdone, batted her bejewelled eyelashes, showing off each snowflake to its best effect.

Then came Grace. She rested her head on Kristin’s shoulder, nestling her nose to her ear and breathing warm horse breath into her hair. Kristin sighed and everything became still. As I watched, a gentle smile spread across Kristin’s face, and then a tear fell to her cheek. She sighed again and with her eyes closed, leaned her ear closer still to Grace’s warm breath. Another sigh and she opened her eyes to look at me. “Do you hear what I hear?” she asked? Before I could reply, she told me it sounded like Grace was whispering to her, and the words she thought she heard were “You are the source of your peace”.

Kristin raised her hand to rest on Grace’s neck. Another sigh, another tear, then Grace walked away, leaving Kristin with the peace and calm she had actually arrived with, but needed reminding of.

Coming Soon:

Visit Sandra at the 17th Annual Vancouver Wellness Show on February 6-8. 2009. Sandra will be giving an introductory PSYCH-K seminar on Saturday. Please drop by for a visit and get a taste of
PSYCH-K first hand.

The Dates are set for The Sacred Ride and The JOY Ride. They are May 27-31 and October 1-4 respectively. To reserve your place, contact Ainsley at BC Horse Vacations, or Sandra.

Unbridle your inner artist, dancer, writer at Chiron’s Way:

The Art of Equus Series will be up and running again this spring. IMAGINE… combining your love of horses with creative expression and the arts. Take one class or take them all as folks tend to find themselves captivated by their equine muse. See the website calendar for details.

As always, I love your feedback and appreciate your support. Thank you for another wonderful year and here’s to a joyful 2009.

Warmly,

Sandra

Welcome Summer!

Well I’d better say that quickly as I noticed a few days ago the horses are shedding out, which to me seems unfair as Grace just finished loosing her winter coat a couple of months ago. Now last year, we went from Summer to Winter with nothing in between so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more sun and more fun, and I think the horses are too.

More Than Meets The Eye…

There’s been a phenomenon happening here at Chiron’s Way. We’ve called it the Guinness Factor, and though I know this statement sends some of you into dreams of Irish country sides and tall dark pints, think instead of this…

Guinness, our English mastiff.
185 pounds of heart and a couple pounds of drool .

Guinness has been an integral part of our family and my work for the last 7 years. When he was a puppy, I’d take him to school with me once a week where 2 classes graphed his growth as an ongoing math project. There was laughter and astonishment as he changed before their eyes but the magic was in how all of the children sparkled when he was in their class and how he helped even the students who were afraid of dogs, calm and delight in his company.

As he got older, the symptoms of his wobbler’s disease became more evident but this seemed to deepen his ability to affect people…to draw them in. During workshops, Guinness loved to lay in the centre of each group. Much like the hub of a wheel, his presence seemed to help people connect. During breaks, folks would gather around him to talk and share. It was not uncommon to find someone laying down beside him, smiling as he’d raise his great head and offer up his signature drool mark.

Guinness taught us to see beyond limitations, to appreciate true beauty and to find joy in loving ourselves, and others, just as we are. He knew there was more to him than met the eye, just as he saw more in us than we often acknowledged.

It is therefore with great sadness and reverence that we honour his passing on June the 4th. I miss you deeply my friend.

With A Full Heart,

Sandra

Coming Soon:

I’m happy to report we had another wonderful Sacred Ride this year and as we were closing our group, the ladies wanted to know what was next??? Ainsley and I had been incubating just such an idea and so the JOY RIDE will be offered for the first time in the fall of 2009.

For those of you awaiting dates for the 2009 Sacred Ride, they have been set for late spring. As this event was fully booked by Christmas last year, we encourage you to register early. This event always draws a magnificent group of people and the ladies from this year’s ride called it profound and life changing.

Now to change stride for a moment, last fall, after much persistence from my friend Connie (whose inspiring new book you can see in this month’s Book Barn), I finally managed to take my first class in PSYCH-K.

PSYCH-K is a user-friendly way to dramatically accelerate personal growth. It moves beyond affirmations, will power and positive thinking by changing outdated perceptions and beliefs at the subconscious level of mind. It is fast, fun and effective and the results I’ve experienced with clients and myself have been phenomenal. So much so that I have gone on to become one of forty-nine instructors worldwide. I will be teaching my first PSYCH-K class here on November 15th – 16th. If you’re interested in learning more, attending, or hosting a class in your area, please call or write as I’d love to share the possibilities with you.

Again, I thank you all for your kind support and feedback.

Wishing you happy trails and sunny days,

Sandra

Happy Spring Everyone,

Although I must admit it feels more like winter than spring here on the west coast. Last week, when I went to feed the horses, I walked out into a winter wonderland. The daffodils, now blanketed in white, really should have checked with the horses before blazing their golden blooms, for the horses still wear much of their winter coats.

I know that in some places they revere the ground hog who informs us when to expect spring. I find that the shedding brush tells me just as much, and right now it’s saying… “Keep your mittens handy.”

Messages from the Herd…

Walking With Horses

Have you ever noticed that people can be gaited, just like horses? I first began to make this connection while facilitating round pen sessions. I’ve seen a variety of gaits here, in human and in horse, and I acknowledge I have a few of my own.

For myself, my gait seems to be situation specific. My carriage and how I move with the horses reflects what I bring with me when I walk through the gate of the round pen or paddock. To be more precise, how I move with the horses is a direct reflection of how I’m moving in relationship with myself AND… how the horses move in relation to me is also a reflection, and sometimes a magnification, of my own kinship … with me.

We all have our unique way of walking in the world and walking with horses seems to empower our stride, no matter our gait. Just like our horse partners, humans model a variety of steps. From tentative to tremendous, graceful to silly (Monty Python’s Ministry of Silly Walks would be proud), the Chiron’s Way herd have accompanied and encouraged each person they’ve “worked” with to find their own unique rhythm. This particular partnership then returns people to the world, having befriended power and in turn, having found it within themselves.

Within our wonderful herd of 3 there exists three very different gaits. Cricket is our little quarter horse who has CHUBBY in her lineage – say no more… BUT, in fact, she loves to perform airs above the ground. I think she’s practicing for a trip to Vienna. She also does an impressive Arab impersonation, usually when the deer pass by the paddock. Her tail goes straight up and she floats across the field, blowing and snorting like the Black Stallion. At such times, her face even looks dish like. Who knew there was a Lippizaner x Arab in her cutting horse body.

Chiron, the young prince, is still growing at 16’2″ and as such, is still learning where his body begins and ends. The basketball player in me appreciates his hang time – something passed down from his Friesian father. Air Chiron does like to perform for passers by, showing off his lofty trot for the dressage trainer down the hill and his “try and ride this” bucking bronco impersonation for the guys in the cowboy hats.

And then there’s Grace, Queen of the Gait. Being a Tennessee Walking horse, her gaitedness comes naturally but there is something deeper than genetics in Grace’s smooth power. Riding, in fact just being with her, is like being carried by an ocean swell. There is a giving over and a trust required to ride such a wave, and in the letting go, we come into a strength of self and connection, that brings alive the best of who we are.

Upcoming Events:

In Chiron’s Way news, our 2008 Facilitator Training Program in Equine Guided Development, is set to begin at the end of June. This program is ideal for anyone working in education, counselling, wellness or leadership as well as those seeking to empower their own perspectives through heartful practices with horses.

In a world that is looking beyond the status quo for personal and professional development, horses are leading the way. When you commit to working with Sandra and her equine team, you will learn about the vast potential of partnering with horses, how such work is accessible to a wide range of markets and how to define your unique contribution as you create your niche therein. Space is limited to six participants so please register early.

For those of you who love to combine horse time with the arts, check out The Art of Equus Series beginning this July with a drum making workshop entitled Creative Union: Hoof, Heart and Drum. Other workshops in the series will include DaVinci’s Horses, The Medicine Horse and A Dance With Equus. Click on each workshop title to learn more.

And finally, The Sacred Ride in June, filled right after the winter newsletter. As we are still getting requests we will offer another ride in the fall pending enough committed interest. There is room for 6 riders and we have 4 names on the waiting list to date. Please contact us right away if you’d like your name added and if we reach 6, we’ll contact you to set dates.

In closing, thank you so much for all of your encouragement and support. I love hearing from you so if you have any questions or suggestions, please call or write.

Wishing you all a warm and sunny spring, and hoping you all have a chance
to Walk With Horses…

Sandra

A Warm Winter Welcome

Welcome to the first issue of Have You Herd?… a quarterly mailing whose purpose is to share insights, innovations and inspirations pertaining to the powerful and evolving field of equine guided development.

It seems most appropriate to begin this first e-letter with an extension of gratitude for a wonderful year and a warm thank you to all who have kindly and persistently encouraged me to begin such an adventure.

There are so many things to share, so let’s begin…

Messages from the Herd…

Home Is Where the Heart Is: For People and For Horses

Here, on the normally wet coast of British Columbia, snowflakes have begun to fall. Chiron and Grace are soon blanketed in white, standing contently together, watching my daughters play in the snow. Cricket however, who is from snowy Alberta, where arctic winds can blow fiercely down from the north, is snuggled warm and content inside the shelter. It is so interesting to watch the three of them day to day.

For a while this fall, for five weeks in fact, the watching that had become part of my everyday was sadly absent. You see, after the horribly wet winter, spring and summer we endured this past year, the trail I had built for my horses to access the bottom part of our acreage was partially washed away. I had such high hopes for them, being able to enjoy the trees, trails and space therein, so when the opportunity arose for them to spend time on 6 acres, just 10 minutes from here, I jumped at the chance.

I thought this would be heaven for them. What I eventually realized, outside of my immense longing to have them home, was that this move was more about me than about them. Although Cricket enjoyed the all-you- can- eat buffet, Chiron never settled, and in stark contrast to our normal relationship, Grace gave me the cold shoulder the entire time they were away. The freeze lasted until week 4 when I told her I had called the hauler to bring them home. At this point she walked up to me and stared intensely into my eyes – it was like a Vulcan mind meld without the hand grip. I heard very clearly… “It’s about time!”

Grace continued to stand there, her eye next to mine, for the next 15 minutes. I had succumbed to the human nonsense only to be taught, yet again, through the wisdom of horses.

A week later, as we unloaded our herd, I said to my husband Greg, “Home really is where the heart is, and I think that holds true for people and for horses.” As an affirmation, Cricket left her pile of hay to come and stand with me, whiffling me up and down, finishing with her soft nose at my heart. Chiron whinnied as his buddy Guinness, our English mastiff bounded out to welcome him, and Grace… my Grace, opened her heart for me once more. We were home.

Upcoming Events:

In Chiron’s Way news, my dear friend Ainsley Beauchamp of BC Horse Vacations and I, after a wonderful influx of interest for the 2008 Sacred Ride, recently set the dates for June 11-15. There are only 2 spots remaining so please contact us right away if you’d like to join us for this unforgettable experience.

I also want to let you know that the 2008 calendar will be ready for viewing after the first of the year. I’m excited for you to see the scope of next year’s offerings which will include The Chiron’s Way Training and Study Program in Equine Guided Development, more corporate and school offerings, and a series of workshops designed to integrate equine guided learning with the expressive arts, including the much requested DaVinci’s Horses.

Please contact me with any questions or suggestions as your input is always welcome.

Wishing you all the best for a wonderful winter season and a joyful new year.
Sandra