A horse story from my past popped up right before the Taurus Solar Eclipse, which is about showing us our hidden soul potential.
I recall as a child, growing up on a horse ranch, where at age 8, I was a foster mom to an Appaloosa colt, when a Mare died birthing him. That experience changed me, I saw the Mare die, and then I took her place. I became the mom, and so bonded to this beautiful soul, a black leopard Appaloosa named Educator.
I bottle fed him from birth. I later halter trained him when he was old enough. I felt he knew me and I him, soul to soul. We had a unique bond. I could ride him bareback without a halter, and used to lay on his back and just wrap my arms around his neck, letting him take me wherever he wanted. He was so gentle, never spooked.
I came home from school one day, and my Dad had sold him to somebody. I was crushed, my soul was deeply betrayed by this dishonor. He said that’s what I do, I’m a horse trader.
I asked him one day if he thought horses have a soul, he said no only humans. I couldn’t believe he actually thought that, a man who spent every day of his life with horses and he never understood them.
Years later when I was grown and on my own, I had a dream my Dad’s Mare gave birth to a black horse with a white heart on his forehead. I called him up and asked him if he had a Mare foal a black colt with a white heart on it’s forehead. Total silence on the other end. He finally asked, How did you know? I’m coming to see him, I said.
I arrived at the barn and my Dad took me to the empty stall where the colt was born. He said that right after the colt was born he jumped up on his feet and ran into the gate, so I named him Calamity. That was what my Dad nicknamed me as a child, after Calamity Jane. He told me I was a wild cowgirl.
Where is the colt now? I asked. He lead me out to the corral where the colt was nursing on his Mom. We walk up close, and the colt, curious to see me, tried to walk up to me. My Dad kept standing in between me and that colt. He wouldn’t let it get close to me. He knew it was special and he was afraid of me and what I had dreamed. I told him, “You have to give me this colt.” He said, “Sorry it’s already sold.”
How many of us have sold our soul to the life of making a living? I guess that’s what my Dad did. I guess that’s why he was afraid of me, if he admitted horses have a soul, perhaps he could no longer be a cowboy.
I see how this story shaped me, made me want to shape my own life, based on soul, not money. I later came to understand, I hold an animist view. Something I have always known.
Everything in nature is imbued with soul, we are part of, not separate or above. It’s all about heart and soul for me, and dreams:) 🖤🖤🖤
That black horse with a white heart on it’s forehead, has visited me often in dreams for many years now as my protector. He knew my soul, and I his, and that will never change.
Valley Reed © 2022
Awaken the Sacred Dream 