Musing on Kindness

First, a little housekeeping…Thank you all for the kind feedback on my last note. I’m doing my best to communicate once a month and to respond to what you want to know. Is this a newsletter?  Yes, but more like an idea inspired by what the animals are sharing.  I’m going to dub it the Monthly Musing and archive copies on the blog page of my website in case you want to look back. 

Next, I got a tip from a reader who wants to know more about animal wisdom, and oracle work. So, I’m including a power animal to consider while musing on the topic.

Finally, if you are reading this because someone forwarded it to you, there was no obvious way to subscribe. I put a link at the bottom.

And now…Kindness.

Have you ever met an animal that isn’t kind? So far, I have yet to meet an animal who isn’t wired with loving kindness in their general nature. Maybe they are afraid or anxious, traumatized or stressed to the max and highly reactive. Given time and support, animals recover their kindness.

If I am having a horrible day, it only takes one glance at my dog to interrupt my stress spiraling and lift my spirits. He looks up with presence and curiosity. I feel better instantly…there is kindness in his greeting. The same is true when I see my horses in the pasture or stroke the soft fur of the cat in my lap. My heart responds to genuine kindness. It is unplugged. It is pure. It is ultimate simplicity. It brings me into the present moment.

My animal friends aren’t using kindness to manipulate me into passing out treats or going on a walk. Being kind is not egocentric. Ego, which keeps the focus all about me, might lead me to say that the animals are manipulating me for their desired response. Actually, the animals are exercising full-on, heart-centered attraction simply by being kind. Imagine the power of attracting what you want using only kindness. I’m more than happy to treat the dog or take a break to stroke the cat who has positioned his purring majesty in the space between my computer and the edge of the desk.

True kindness is magnetic. There is no superior or inferior being with loving kindness. It is broad and inclusive. Kindness does not require credit or recognition. Loving kindness activates the law of attraction. Our animal friends are models of loving kindness and lead us to experience it.

As we approach the 4th of July holiday celebration here in the USA, there are a lot of triggers that might get in the way of feeling kind.  Travel delays, big crowds, loud music, attempts to exit the parking area after the fireworks, family tiffs, missed connections, malfunctions, misunderstandings and on and on…

Think about how your actions and reactions affect the situation. Are you able to offer a kind smile to the person who just cut you off in traffic? Are you able to be grateful for the opportunity to celebrate and let go of the trigger set off by the neighbor’s loud music? Kindness doesn’t flow without humility and kindness is always a choice.

Some of our animal friends (and some of our human friends) don’t perceive fireworks as a celebration.  They feel scary and unsettling to many.  If you are aware of suffering that is triggered by fireworks and you can do something kind, please make the effort.

Have a safe and happy celebration!!

Hit reply and let me know how your animal friends are teaching you about kindness…I read and respond to every note.

Spirit animal: Vulture

Vultures are best known and respected for purification. The ability to cleanse and renew earth by changing death into new life. In their creation myth, the sun was overheating the earth and vultures had the power to push it far enough away to keep the earth safe and comfortable. The lasting marker of this great service is a featherless head.  

In addition to their powers of purification, vultures embody friendship, kindness and community.

You can call on vulture energy to embody strength and change the energy in the space around you. This is not a power to impose on others. It is a challenge to embody your powers of service and renewal, which will attract others to recognize their own. Kindness is also joyful service with no credit or recognition, for the sole purpose of putting kindness into the world.

Behind the scenes…

Well, I’ve managed to successfully send another newsletter.  Just like I mentioned before, I have been agonizing (overthinking is my nature) about what to write and when to send it and how much is enough. Thanks to all of you who responded to the last note.

Business highlights…

1.      The book is coming along. It’s a general philosophy about what and how our animal friends teach us. I’m getting more comfortable with sharing my personal stories and learning outcomes.   It feels vulnerable to reveal relationship ups and downs.  I’m focusing on my relationship with my horse partner, Chip as a case study. Chapter 1 is about presence. More on that in the next update.

2.      As I mentioned in the last note, I’m offering an Equine Assisted Learning small group with the horses on Saturday, July 26 from 9 am to noon. The topic is the heart centered virtue of Loving Kindness.  We will gather onsite, here in Lebanon, Ohio. Registration includes materials and refreshments. Investment is $137 per person, limited to 4 participants. Watch for the registration link to be live on my website Monday, July 7 or hit reply and let me know if you want a direct link for registration and I’ll email it to you on Monday.

Personal notes…

I’m wildly grateful to have my hay for this year stacked in the barn.

Watercolor painting is my latest creative inspiration. I’m following a you-tuber who is putting out a daily challenge for the month of July. It will be fun if I can manage to stick with it!

I’m looking forward to a good tomato harvest for canning and hopefully enough ground cherries to make a small batch of jam.

Thanks for allowing me to land in your inbox. Reply and let me know if you have any questions, comments or requests.

In Joy,

Michelle