"The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives." Native American saying

Water. A precious gift and so often taken for granted. We are so blessed in this part of the world. We turn on a tap and water flows. Prior to living in the country, I rarely gave much thought to water. Yes, I did my best to conserve it, shorter showers, not leaving it running when brushing my teeth and doing dishes etc. I respected, appreciated, and was grateful for water when I lived in the city. Yet, I am much more aware of the sweet gift of water these days. Pure, clean, fresh and abundant water! Ravenheart is blessed with a wonderful well. Testing the water resulted in clean, safe drinking water, both from the kitchen tap and the horse hydrant. A front-load washer and reminding guests that "if it's yellow, let it mellow, and if it's brown, flush it down" are some ways we conserve. Protecting the ground water is a priority. No chemicals are used on the garden or lawn. Care is taken in maintaing the well and septic system. Softeners, iron removers, reverse osmosis, all new to me but now part of daily living as I perform my daily visit to the "basement" to check on the "systems".

So, yesterday when I went to the horse hydrant to fill a bucket for Spirit and no water flowed, I was shocked. What could be wrong. Panic set in quickly, as this is the main hydrant I use to fill the horse trough. With some research on the web I learn that a "frost-free hydrant" can freeze if the handle is left open slightly, no allowing all the water to drain down below frost level, or that filling small buckets instead of the large trough, can also cause it to freeze up. Since Spirit arrived (see earlier post), I have been hauling buckets to him, as he is in a separate paddock where there is no heated horse trough. I learn that filling one or two buckets, 3 or 4 times daily, can cause a problem. I learn that I could have just scooped buckets of water from the main horse trough and then filled it up, using way more water, which I guess is better. Oh, how I yearn for Spring!

The plumber will arrive this evening to check it out. I trust it will be an easy fix. In the meantime, I will be hauling buckets from the house. It is snowing today, so shovels full of white, fluffy snow is finding its way into the heated trough. Today I even appreciate the snow!

As I write this, I am listening to CBC Radio Saskatchewan on water. "Should it be a human right?" "Should everyone be on a water meter?" These are important things to ponder. All humans have the right to water. I am willing to share the water at Ravenheart. Maybe someday it won't be my choice to make. In the meantime, I will honour and appreciate the precious gift of water. A neighbour just up the road has drilled for water and found none, so they haul it in. This is a reality for many farmers and rural residents.

I offer this prayer...

We return thanks to our mother, the earth,
which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams,
which supply us with water.
We return thanks to all herbs,
which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.
We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters,
the beans and squashes,
which give us life.
We return thanks to the wind,
which, moving the air
has banished diseases.
We return thanks to the moon and stars,
which have given to us their light when the sun was gone.
We return thanks to the sun,
that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit,
in whom is embodied all goodness,
and who directs all things for the good of his children.
Source: Earth Prayers from Around the World - IROQUOIS PRAYER (adapted)

Welcome to Spirit!

Small in size but big in attitude! Spirit is the newest herd member at Ravenheart. This story reminds me of visiting a country market in the Laurentians (Quebec) on a field trip when I was in grade school. You could buy anything at this market, including baby goats for a dollar! If not for the bus driver who stopped me from boarding the bus, I would have arrived home (in town) with a baby goat in my arms. Not only did we live in the city, but my Dad had a definite aversion to goats...due to being chased by one as a youngster. Now that I live on a "farm", the billboard at the local mall is a risky place for me. In January I saw an ad for a sleigh...and a few days later it arrived in my yard, delivered by the artisan who I called "just to check it out." A couple of weeks ago I just happened to notice an ad that said "miniature horse for sale." No pictures or description, just those little pull-off tabs with the phone numbers...and one found it's way into my pocket. It couldn't hurt to call could it??? "Oh, he's a stallion. And he's the only horse we have, so he's all alone! And the kids aren't really interested anymore? We're asking $299, but we're open to offers"!!! Ok, I thought, we'll just go and see him. Melva came along. "Oh, she say's, I can help buy him." "He's so cute!" "And so fat!" (something to do with a hay bale bigger than him). So, the research started immediately with questions such as: What are the risks/benefits in gelding a 10 year old stallion? How can we safely and successfully introduce him to the herd and will they accept him, be afraid of him, bully him? Where will we keep him until he is gelded and fully recovered? Will he willingly load in the horse trailer? How will he react to the mares and how will they react to him? Will it be mayhem? What in the world are we thinking???

Well, I'm glad to report that overall things are going smoothly so far. A young neighbour and experienced horse woman, Amanda (Equine Massage and Chiropractic) offered to pick him up with her horse trailer. She calmly lead him around the yard, taking him back and forth to the trailer so he could check it out in a relaxed way. Amanda then laid out a handful of oats, and he stepped right on. Doors were closed and all was quiet on the trip home, thankfully just a short 1/2 hour drive. Upon arriving at Ravenheart, he stepped off the trailer calmly and all was well till he got sight of the horses. Then it was all Amanda could do to hold on to him. Thank goodness he's a mini. Once in the paddock there was plenty of snorting and whinnying and chaos, but thanks to a good electric fence, all took place without harm to anyone. He spent the first few days running back and forth along the fence if Raven and the mares got out of sight of his paddock. The vet is coming soon to geld him. After much research, I trust that things will go smoothly and he will recover easily and quickly, and in a few weeks be able to join the herd and enjoy the gentle company of Raven, Sugar, Lacey and Brownie, along with his new role in the Equine-Assisted Learning team at Ravenheart Farms.

For the Love of Horses

For the Love of Horses

“You took me to adventure and to love. We two have shared great joy and great sorrow. And now I stand at the gate of the paddock watching you run in an ecstasy of freedom, knowing you will return to stand quietly, loyally, beside me.” Pam Brown, Author

The horses are calling. A powerful transformation is taking place all over the globe. Our way of being with horses is evolving to higher ground and the horses are leading the way. This is profoundly evident by a Google of phrases such as equine assisted learning (EAL/EAP), spirit of horses, healing with horses, way of the horse, One with the Herd, the Tao of Equus, and Path of the Horse, which is just a few examples resulting in a vast array of websites and articles linking to this powerful and emerging way of being with horses. Amongst these sites are thousands of heart-felt testimonials from people who have been deeply moved and inspired through experiencing horses in this way.

Horses symbolize a magical balance of peace, power, beauty, and grace. Merely the sight of a horse galloping playfully across an open field or grazing peacefully in a pasture is enthralling. We are captivated by their power and elegance, and respectful or downright intimidated by their immense size. As long as we have inhabited the earth, humans have treasured horses for their exquisite beauty and have profited from their generosity of spirit, strength, versatility and power.

A reawakened “horse whisperer” approach to training and relating to horses is rapidly gaining ground. For people with a love and passion for horses, this movement is deeply welcome. It is no longer acceptable to “break” a horse. Words commonly heard these days are “relationship, natural horsemanship, trust, understanding, harmony, communication, lead, allow, partnership”. The “old” ways of training horses through dominance, fear, control, and force are falling away and being replaced all over the world with relationship, respect, and understanding.

In addition, horses are enriching our lives through their ability to bring us joyfully into the present moment and provide us with opportunities for clarity, understanding and reflection through activities such as Equine Assisted Learning/Therapy (EAL & EAP), therapeutic riding and Hippotherapy. Therapists, counselors, healers, life coaches, corporate leaders and spiritual communities around the globe are enthusiastically embracing this magnificent and inspiring movement.

Horses evoke a myriad of emotions within us. Play, lightness of spirit, love, calmness, and reverence. They present us with opportunities to connect to the deepest part of our spirit and reconnect to our true selves. If you want to pause, open your heart, uncover incongruent or buried emotions, and recognize your inner gifts, spend time in the presence of a most magnificent spiritual teacher and healer – the horse.

Sacred Journey with Denise Linn - Soul Coaching

Today I am beginning a 28 day Sacred Journey, accompanied by my friend Lynne. We are participating with Denise Linn and her Soul Coaching program. It is a free on-line fabulous program, so I invite you to visit her website, and consider joining us on this journey of self-discovery, spirit and creativity. http://www.deniselinn.com/index.htm

Here is my answer to one of the questions today: What do I want to do with the remainder of my life? Share it with my life partner. Create a Supportive Community here at Ravenheart Farms - a Teaching/Learning Community - an organic farm - supplying all the staples we need and enough to share. A safe and nurturing place for domestic, companion and wild animals. A place of Light and Healing and Growth. A place of Peace, Spirit and Creativity. A place of lively activity and quiet stillness, abundance, music and spiritual awakening. A safe haven. A power place - vibrant, energetic, healthy, peaceful, joyful, safe, beautiful and abundant.

Vision for Ravenheart

"Last night I was immersed in the energy of envisioning all that Ravenheart Farms can bring forth as a place of peace, connection to nature, the loving and healing company of animals, spiritual awakening and personal growth.

I believe in the statement "if you build it, they will come". I also believe that "if you dream it, you can do it" and I know that if I dream it, others do too, and believe that they will want to join in building it.

I invite all of you who reads this to share this vision for all that Ravenheart can provide you, your friends or anyone who you believe may benefit from spending some peaceful, quiet and reflective time at Ravenheart Farms. My bigger vision is to create a nature and sprititual sanctuary that will nurture the goodness of spirit, the beauty of nature and the divine connection that we share for the Highest Good of All.

A beautiful big old barn stands on the property.It needs lots of care and attention to restore it to its original magnificence. I can picture it fully restored, with the lower part beautifully designed to provide the best of care for the horses and Equine Assisted Learning and Growth, beautiful stalls, a feed room, equipment room, a warm and cozy place for the barn cats, bathroom facilities, and everything that will enhance the needs of the horses and people.

In the large upper loft, I envision a place where people can come to renew their spirits. A large community kitchen, an open area for drumming, workshops, circle, sacred ceremony, celebration, with the outer perimeter lined with cozy, simply furnished 10 x 10 rooms (with a design in the look of a horse stall), single beds or bunk beds, colourful handmade quilts, a desk, chair and lamp for writing and journalling, and overall a safe place for people to connect to their spirit, safety and healing.

The horses will not live in the barn, but a couple of lovely stalls will be available in case a horse is injured or sick. Horses are happiest and healthiest living outside, provided with good grazing and quality hay.

I have built fences, a round pen, furnished 4 guest rooms with cozy furniture and bedding, started the barn restoration, planted trees, created nature trails, held a couple of workshops including a most beautiful Primal Fire Retreat with Patrick Harbula (Living Purpose Institute and author of Magic Of The Soul) and Sweat Lodge Ceremony, and have welcomed many friends and family to enjoy this little prairie retreat.

There are many opportunities for creative projects. I invite artists, writers, healers, visionaries, sculptors, engineers, carpenters, organic gardeners, healers, mystics, seekers, teachers, and anyone who would like to participate in creating and building this vision. In return, I will provide room and board, access to a library filled with inspirational books and audio, organic food, the company of sweet and kind companion animals, friendship and lots of opportunity for meditation, quiet reflection, nature walks, and a listening ear.

Thank you for listening and holding this vision for Ravenheart Farms."

In Love and Light,
Carol

Midnight musings

It's been a while since I've written. I'm inspired tonight by insomnia and by a friend's creative Solstice Blog. As I read through my spring entries, I feel a sense of accomplishment and wonder in all that has taken place since. For my own sake and my readers, I'll list the happenings as they pop into my memory....

• Fence posts are in and two nice pastures are open to the horses (just need to install the electric wire on the other areas so waiting for a mild day and a willing assistant)
• Two new ponies arrived in April, Lacey and Brownie. Both very sweet, approx. 12 hands high, previously loved by Cliff (who transitioned early this morning)
• Barn is almost liveable and being slowly restored to it's original magnificence
• Completed the Cartier Equine Learning Centre Level One training in Equine Assisted Learning
• Completed an powerful and informative 10 day intensive training called Healing through the Reflection of the Horse with Deborah Marshall at Generations Farms in Nanaimo, and a workshop with Linda Kohonov (Epona) at Hollyhock.
• Have seen many kittens/cats come and go (nature's way I guess). I feed many "feral" barn cats, and they have a warm heated house in the barn.
• The little spring kittens found a good, loving home, but Momma cat ventured away in the summer, never to return
• Deer are wintering here again, so far not in the same numbers as last year (20 or so), but their trails can be seen moving across the yard
• Round pen built
• Walking trails through the woods (The Path of Least Resistance) created by Francine and much appreciated
• A 50th Birthday celebrated with loving friends, great food, laughter with many hands making light work of farm chores (Blessings to all of you!)
• All bedrooms furnished with cozy beds and bedding
• The Primal Fire Retreat a most beautiful weekend (watch for 2008 retreat information on the Living Purpose Institute website, and also at ravenheartfarms.com (under construction)
• A garden started (and organic certification in process) - wow the weeds grow big here!
• Many good times with friends and family, and I've greatly appreciated the many visitors this first year. It is your home too!
• Puppies Polly and Charlie have grown into lovely, sweet companions who are enjoying their fenced yard and doggie door
• Many other "little" projects completed along the way

I sit here tonight, on a rare occasion of sleeplessness (due to sleeping late this morning!) grateful for my life, my friends and loved ones, my teachers and mentors. I wish you all things Bright and Beautiful in 2008. I welcome artists, writers, creative beings, kind souls, friendly spirits, and every other courageous individual that is walking the earth path to visit Ravenheart and call it home for a little while, or a long while.

Spring is in the air!

This must be a test in delayed gratification...something I need much more practice in!

It's warm and sunny, and the "men" are here installing new eavestroughs. I love how a bigger project always emerges when you start anything. Well it will be done right! Nice new white eavetroughs to replace the old peeling, bent and broken brown ones that have probably lived here as long as this old house...1936 approx.

The two little kittens are growing fat and healthy and Momma Cat is such a good mother. I think she LOVES her new status as a house cat, hasn't even asked to go out, and doesn't seem to want to come into the main part of the house when the door is open...just content to have her little warm sun room to care for her kittens, a litter box and some good canned food along with the dry crunchies. Today I gave her a bit of catnip which she seemed to like. She doesn't mind me handling the kittens at all. Today, I was giving Polly and Charlie a little smell of the kittens, to help them get used to them as right now the room is off limits to the dogs. As Polly was sniffing the little black kitten, he actually hissed! Amazing instinct...his little eyes are not even open yet.

I'm looking forward to a massage today. I was happy to find a great little "spa" in the mall and a wonderful woman (turns out she's a close neighbour) who is just about to become a naturopath. She does aroma therapy, hot stone and many other healing techniques.

Raven seems to be doing much better, and I'm giving him a break from my over anxious worrying. The vet from Saskatoon said the only thing they could see was a Vitamin E deficiency. I ordered a powdered version from the vet clinic, but in the meantime the vet suggested just using human capusules...and he just eats them up with his supplement. Hopefully he'll eat the powder!

I'm anxious to get fencing, and a dog run built, a round pen, and complete the barn cleaning and restoration. Will just have to "hold my horses" as the snow melts and the ground dries a bit. I have a feeling there will be lots of water and mud for a bit.

I think I'll use Electrobraid fence. Any ideas out there? I'm happy to hear them. Wondering also how to build the best round pen for the best price.

Will be attending a Farrier clinic tomorrow (Sat.) with the Humboldt Horse Club. Should be interesting learning about the various hoof problems. So far, both my horses have strong, healthy hooves. Spent some time grooming Sugar yesterday...which she just loves. She'll be pretty with her fuzzy winter coat shed out and her lovely blond and buckskin summer coat. Raven is happy that I fuss with her now, and not him!

Thanks for listening.