Journey into Animal Communication

“There is nothing to fear but fear itself”

               This representation of society’s view on fear does little to solve the problem of chronic fear, and in fact,moves us even further away from the solution. There is nothing to fear about fear. In fact, valid, present-moment fear is our friend, a tool of intuition that can actually keep us safe. It is when we begin to cover up our fear that it becomes dangerous to us. Hidden from view, it may become larger than it originally seemed. It may become a story in our heads that becomes catastrophized until it piles on false stories, and false fear, which is based on a lie. Hidden fear will also create tension in our body, which may impede our movement, leading to more tension, frustration, and likely more fear, as our balance and sense of safety are compromised by the tension we have used to cover the fear. Suppressed fear may also send a signal of dissonance or incongruence to our horse, who reads hidden emotions as a threat to his safety.The horse is willing and able to help us with fear put in the open; but hidden fear makes the horse feel unsafe along with us, sometimes even leading him to react dangerously—leading to more valid fear in us.

               The key to stopping this cycle is to stop fearing (and thus covering) our fear, and instead look deeply into it. When we look into the fear we are holding, we may find that there is not as much there to fear as we originally thought. We may find the feeling of fear tonot be as overpowering or all encompassing as we have been lead to believe. In honoring our fear like this we may even find it is possible to have fear without  the tension that is commonly associated with it.

               As we look into our fear, we may find that behind it is an old memory that no longer holds power over the present, or an out-dated belief system in dire need of updating. When put in the open, we can easily revise these beliefs in a way that serves the present,and moves us towards confidence.

               On the other hand, we may find behind the fear there is some very valid trauma we have suffered that was toogreat for us to process or connect to at the moment it happened. Our defense then, at the time, was a very valid and necessary part of our protection. As we become willing to look at this event through the lens of present-moment awareness, we may find that what was once insufferable can be reconstructed andintegrated in a manageable, safe manner. From this place of present-moment safety, we may gain power over this incident by looking at it from a view ofseparation, and recognizing that while our feelings from this even were valid,our conclusions were not. By releasing conclusions and emotions that no longer serve us, we can build new conclusions and come to a place of mastery of thesituation. We can reprocess our fear as grief, grieve what we lost in the moment,and return to a place of confidence where our past traumas hold no power overus.

               Sometimes as we delve into our fear, we may find it an imposter or a cover for another emotion. We may findthat our fear has been a façade for covering grief, anger, or some other emotion. It may be hiding from us an important message about something in our lives or our past that we are avoiding. Horses are masters at mirroring ouremotions back to us, and pulling faulty belief systems to the surface so thatwe can release them. When we find ourselves avoiding our horses or riding, it may not be due to fear at all, but in avoidance of the emotion or lesson our horses are trying to show us. In this case we must listen to the message of the emotion beneath our fear to determine how to proceed.

               Often, we find that our fear may have begun as a valid message. Fear, in its basic form is a survival mechanism:a message telling us “pay attention” or “slow down.” When we habitually ignore and cover up valid, present-moment fear it may speak to us in overdrive.Because a whisper doesn’t work, it may resort to a siren. Because we ignore it when it is important, it may begin to alert us at the slightest sign of anything amiss, or even nothing at all. By becoming friends with our fear, and  developing our intuition we can learn to distinguish valid, present-momentfear, from fear rooted in the past. By honoring our valid fears and intuitions,they can return to using a gentle voice at the appropriate moments instead of running on overdrive.

               Similarly, sometimes repressed fear can go dormant. Then we may feel “fearless” or “desensitized.” Fearlessand desensitized are just synonyms for “checked out.” We may enjoy success with this checked out feeling for a while, but then may find ourselves suffering mishap after mishap, until a riding wreck great enough brings us back to oursenses—and we feel an overwhelming, paralyzing sense of fear. This paralyzing fear may be a blessing in disguise, as it keeps us safe until we can learn to mind the messages of our body. There is nothing safe about being checked out.Only by moving back into our bodies and minding its valid messages can we free ourselves of this paralyzing fear that our body has used in order to keep us safe.

               The safest place to be is always one of connection—with ourselves, with the horse, and with our memories and emotions. Through this place of connection we can find a place of safety that leads to confidence. In this place of connection there can be no trauma, as trauma, by its very definition, only occurs in a place of disconnect. In this place there can be no “fear of fear” because we have found fear to be our ally and friend. In this place, ironically, we have “conquered” our fear by connecting to it and befriending it.

               May your fear lead you on ajourney of emotional growth, healing, and safety.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Christy