Horse First Philosophy
Mini Clinic with GP Rider Jess Idol available July 12-13! Text or call for details!
Horse First Philosophy
Asking Permission (excerpts from: Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature, p. 187-190) by Ian McCullum
"To ask permission is not only an act of respect, it is an art. It begins when you acknowledge that every encounter with Nature is a dual experience; that it involves the intelligence of the other; and that the other may be more intelligent than you – that you may be the one who is lost.
… there is a critical distance between all living things, an invisible territory that must never be taken for granted. Be mindful of it for it is real. It is dynamic, contextual, unpredictable and powerful. It is a space that is filled with the ancient chemistry of yes and no – the first language.
To enter into the space of another without permission, be it the land, the sea or that of an animal, is to violate that space. How do you ask permission…? You take care. You “listen” to the intelligence of the other. You pay attention. You listen – feelingly.
This is the art of asking permission.
... be especially careful of trying to understand the behaviour of the animal according to your own needs and expectations. … This is an old trap and to fall for it is to end up knowing very little about the animal at all. Even worse, it is to deny the animal.
Sometimes the permission you seek may not be granted. If so, respect the refusal. Back off.
Pay careful attention to detail – the swish of a tale, the angle of the head, the inclined ear, the positioning of the feet.
Ask these questions of yourself: am I too close, too big, too quick? Have I inadvertently crossed the critical line?
Ask of the other: “What is your way?” And then, “Can I share it with you?”
Sometimes the encounter brings a deep sense of familiarity and other times a silence that is both humble and foetal; it may be a sense that this is delicate; that it will take time; that there is no hurry. With time, you will begin to find that your interpretations will become a lot more appropriate and meaningful. And when the encounter is over, say thank you.”