Moonsong Highlight: The Story of a Fly

Something happened during last weekend's workshop at Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue that felt share-worthy, even for someone like me whose relationship with technology and social media waxes and wanes these days! 

It's workshop season, and I could go on and on about all of the things that made this particular event so special. And they would be true!! But instead, I will tell you the story of a fly: 

We always begin workshops with mindfulness/awareness and connection exercises. I feel it’s fundamental to be fully aware of ourselves, the "other" (in this case, horses), and the environment that we share. If we expect horses to communicate discomfort to us, especially in ways that we humans deem "acceptable", we must be fully present, available, and safe. Otherwise, NO TRESPASSING!! 

(Isn’t this the way it is with all of us???)

One of the experiences I like to share with participants is a "dot exercise". I won't tell all the secrets here (come to a workshop to find out!), but basically, I draw a small dot on each person's palm, and we practice different ways of viewing it...to learn what happens to our minds, with our emotions, and in our body language, as a result of our changing perception. 

I am always enlightened by the conversations that come up during our "debriefing", and I find this to be one of the most moving parts of every workshop. 

This time, something happened that has never happened before!! A participant explained that once she became intentionally more present, more aware of her surroundings through her senses, and more loving towards her dot, a fly chose to land right on top of it! He or she stayed there, throughout the entirety of the guided practice, grooming, eating, doing who knows what........communing with a human!! 

We all listened in lighthearted wonderment, as she explained that not only was she surprised at herself, by never reactively shooing the fly away (as most of us would), but that she actually began to appreciate and even admire this little insect, with his or her various parts and behaviors, as a sentient being. 

On top of that, she realized that of all the places he/she could've gone, this fly *chose* to rest there, in a place of extreme vulnerability, literally in the palm of her hand!! What a gift, and a testament to what’s available when we simply sensitize ourselves. 

In all of life, we are as small as a fly in someone's hand. But neither the fly nor we are ever insignificant. Our way-of-being matters!! Every moment offers gifts as profound as this one was (and still is). All we need to do is pay attention. 

We can celebrate this life by being present in it. Thank you, to Mr. or Ms. Fly, to Adria and GGDHR, to all of the workshop participants I'm fortunate enough to meet, to our perfect horses, and to all of you...for the reminders woven into every day. Thank you!!