Raising Consciousness

How horses help raise the consciousness of humanity

By: Georgie McBurney, U.K.

A Welsh-Arab horse called Jac came into my life seven years ago. Having responsibility for someone else’s needs when there is a language barrier created an opportunity for my intuitive side to come to the fore. Meeting his needs made me question if I was meeting mine. In those moments of watching him, just being, I realised that I was just being and how calming that was.

As our time together continued, I became aware of our innate connection, and in this, a link to something bigger than ‘us’. He became part of my awareness when I was not with him, physically, and this subtly led to me following my heart. This ultimately meant following my soul path. If this is one horse helping one person navigate life, it is not hard to imagine how the collective herd can connect humans to a higher consciousness. It may once have seemed far-fetched to say horses are able to assist with raising the consciousness of humanity. Although, not since the coronavirus has humanity demonstrated what is possible from other parts of creation. Whilst humans were ‘locked-down’ on a global scale, we collectively became aware of how quickly our planet began to recover and, that coexisting with her is not only possible, but also crucial to our continued existence. Societies with a more community-based way of living were able to endure restrictions with more ease. Key roles that are essential to keep society working came to the fore (e.g., emergency, food sources, cleaning and refuse, transportation, and delivery etc.), and many started to be given the appreciation that was not always there before. Dependent on our beliefs on consciousness, it

could be possible that our collective consciousness invited change from a growing dissatisfaction with modern life, and the increasing need to live with more authenticity and integrity.

“I will not give a definition, for that would be less clear than the thing itself” – Henri Bergson.

Intuitive Art – Yvonne Battersby

Consciousness is something we are familiar with, but it is still considered a mystery. There is no agreed definition, however it is commonly accepted as a ‘subjective experience’ that is unique to you and therefore not easy to explain to another. Consciousness is how we experience the outer world around us and the inner world within. Its functions are perceiving, desiring, willing and acting. Its structures are the body, mind, soul, and spirit. We have different states, e.g., waking, dreaming, and sleeping. We have different levels, e.g., conscious, subconscious, and unconscious.

The phrase, ‘Raising Consciousness’, was first used in the 60s when a group of women began to share their experiences, of living within the patriarchal society, to the masses. Nowadays, it includes anything we ‘collectively’ increase our awareness on. That could be matters such as climate change, black lives matter, LGBTQ and many other important matters. We officially increased our awareness that we are not the only conscious species when, in 2012, prominent scientists declared that a significant amount of non-human animals were conscious. Horses are not only conscious they are more aware of their relationship to the Great Web of Life than we are, and in their knowing they are showing us this connection.

“The horse knows. He knows if you know. He also knows if you don’t know” Ray Hunt

Humanity is currently raising its consciousness. In ancient Sanskrit this is known as a spiritual awakening. The lifting of the veil of ignorance, which stops us operating in the lower levels of consciousness, of not knowing. It involves a recalibration, of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies, to higher frequencies. The patriarchal society that was the catalyst for the phrase, raising consciousness, in the 60’s, is now becoming more balanced with our divine feminine attributes. To be clear, this does not mean a matriarchal society. It means balance between both our masculine and feminine qualities: the energy of Doing and the energy of Being. For some cultures this could mean a big shift. It could mean a big shift within the horse industry, as horses are the embodiment of feminine qualities and it has not always been an easy journey for them within a patriarchal society.

Reflecting on my own childhood, my more masculine attributes were celebrated by adults around me, and therefore by adulthood they were developed well. With that, I was very suited to my first careers in the police and Army. Furthermore, at this life stage, I was facing my ‘masculine’ journey; this is to say my outer journey into the world. I had a world map and used to mark places I had journeyed to, and all those I would like to visit.

When Jac came into my life, in my middle

adulthood, I was experiencing a challenging time. My logic, self-reliance and strength were qualities that got me through this time. Conversely, there were moments where something else was required, like patience, collaboration, and listening to my intuition. An abrupt life change heralded the start of my ‘feminine’ inner journey. This was the time when Jac and I got closer, or more precisely, I realized how connected we were. I felt his support in honing my feminine attributes and began to communicate with him more easily. I started to realize the inner world was just as vast as the outer during meditations and other guided journeys inwards. Jac even appeared in one meditation running with the herd and gave me a feeling of joy. Later I went up to the field and was shown a video of the herd running around, with Jac leaping up from the ground and kicking out his hind leg. Jac’s joyful movements happened just around the time I was meditating. This gave me the proof I needed to realize the connection we have was not just in the outer world but within.

“We are all spirits having a physical-body experience, so spiritually we are all connected” Jac

During my work as a natural therapist (working with reiki, zoo pharmacognosy, kinesiology) I had noticed that animals were able to bring themselves into a healed state relatively quickly compared to humans. Additionally, some animals could not be healed if their humans were not included. When I worked as a counsellor (aka talk therapy), compared to equine-facilitated counsellor (aka connection), I observed Jac and his equine friends could shift blocked energy within a few moments of meeting a human. This would take many room-based sessions to even begin to get close to the block. It often felt like our use of language to communicate seemed to overly complicate matters, as we rarely say what we mean. Furthermore, talking often gets in the way of feeling our feelings. If they are not felt (movement) they are stored (stuck) in the body.

Our body, our wise companion, whilst often abused, criticized, and ignored by ‘us’, is perceptive, honest and the first to detect any issues. Horses can engage directly with our body. They encourage us to connect with our bodies and therefore our feelings. Horses also engage with us spiritually, reminding us of the connection to all that is. What they seem to bypass, by not using words, is our dysfunctional mind. As we come out of fear-based living in lower consciousness, we seem to be recalibrating from survival-fear to unconditionallove so our bodies can put out sensors for a new way of being in the world. Horses have always embraced this concept. They do not live-in fear of attack, they are alert yes, but relaxed. They are simply in the now and lead by example. To be in the now helps heal our mind from its dysfunctional state of criticism (the past) or anxieties (the future). Our minds are powerful tools so it is better to have them functional and working in harmony with body, soul and spirit. In short, I have learned that mindfulness is helpful to balance our masculine energies, whilst feeling the feelings is helpful for our feminine energies. Horses help us work with both.

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure” – Paulo Coelho

Carl Jung made reference to the horse in dreams as symbolizing personal power, mastery and your natural gifts. The horse can help you recall your soul path, as the horse is a symbol of remembering this, and having the courage to change your life accordingly. You do not have to have a horse in your life for this to happen. Long

before Jac, I was once contemplating leaving teaching and setting up an animal behaviour business. It was heavily on my mind as I was driving to school one day when traffic, on a fast road, came to a standstill. As I sat there, with anxiety about being late, a white horse came cantering down the center of the road. Police were called but they never found the horse. An animal sign from the spirit world as our ancestors may have said. I set up that business a short while later.

In ancient societies, Shamans (community healers/connected persons), believe that everyone has a spirit animal that resides within, to empower and protect them. These spirit animals often change depending on what we go through in life, and sometimes we have several at once. If the horse is with you in spirt, it symbolizes unconditional love within your heart and encourages you to share your unique gifts and talents with the world. They do not have to be grand and on a global scale. When I journeyed with the horse to discover why I am here, my answer was simple. I was to experience life with my senses, to remember my connection to all that is, and to hold space for others to remember the same. My shamanic name is, ‘She who listens’, which I discovered after I had become a spiritual counsellor. My path was to heal and, of course, this has meant self first and then others. I was to share why and how I have had a strong connection with animals who have supported this journey.

It is said that if you are lost on horseback, give the control of the reins back to the horse and the horse will lead you home. I have found the same applies in the spiritual sense. When I have felt lost in life, I have handed over the reins to Jac and he has guided me home. Home being what is in my heart. It is there that I found my passions to share with the world. So, as humanity navigates a rise in consciousness, if you feel fear or you feel alone, just let go of the concept of control which will be immediately replaced with connection. Then allow the horse to guide you back to your unconditionally loving home. ~*~