It’s pretty well known that creativity has many benefits. Bringing creativity into any and all facets of our lives can enhance our experience at home, at work, in our relationships – pretty much anywhere we apply it. Being creative is just plain good for us!  But often, the act of actually “being creative” is harder than it sounds. Sometimes, creativity just isn’t as accessible as we would like it to be. We just aren’t motivated, can’t come up with ideas, or simply feel stuck. We’re missing something. We’re missing INSPIRATION!

Inspiration and creativity go hand in hand, like the chicken and the egg; it’s hard to say which comes first. Being […]

Read More →

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.”  ― Dalai Lama XIV

As the year comes to a close and the winter weather settles in, our natural instincts encourage us to wind down, take it slow and turn inward to a peaceful state of rest and rejuvenation. However, our modern practices usually don’t match these instinctual inclinations at all, and many of us find ourselves even busier at this time of year — finishing projects, holiday parties, family obligations, and other “merry” but very energy intensive activities. During this time of year, taking a restful pause is usually the last thing on our list of objectives and finding peace (internal or external) during all of the buzz can seem near to […]

Read More →

In a world where it is so easy to forget how to just be still and at peace, equines are wonderful reminders and great teachers of equanimity.

Monica* decided to try equine assisted therapy because she was going through a divorce and found herself anxious, irritable and always ready for a fight. She was depressed, having difficulty sleeping, and anger and resentment were common themes in her day to day life.

Monica started her first session by just observing the herd. She noticed that the equines were either grazing, laying down, or just standing next to each other. After some time, one of the larger horses came in between two others, essentially disrupting their peace. One of the horses moved away.  The other horse had a different response and instead […]

Read More →

It can be hard to join a group of people you don’t know. The same goes for horses. Joining a new herd is a process!

There are ways to make the transition into a new group a little easier for both the individual joining and the existing members. Check out these tips for joining a new group, inspired by Lady’s experience.

Listen and Be Curious: By really observing, listening and paying attention, Lady was able to learn who was who in the herd. She was able to get a sense of each individual rather than making judgements based on first impressions. By being curious about how the group was already working, […]

Read More →

Where are you right now? Not physically, but mentally and emotionally. Are you here, or are your thoughts somewhere else? Did you notice your surroundings on your way to your current location or the eye color of the last person you interacted with? How present are you now?  As you’re reading this, are you doing anything else besides just reading this?

Being present may seem like a simple thing, and it can be, but we regularly overlook this powerful and often elusive state of being. In our busy, modern world our minds are frequently somewhere other than where our bodies are.  We are so used to being in this state of split-presence, that it can become challenging to be present, even when we want to be.

Read More →