Snakes periodically shed their skins, or more accurately, their ‘shed’ as they grow. This allows for continued growth, and it also helps them to rid themselves of parasites. Snakes also grow their entire life; this is a valuable metaphor for Humans. When we apply the snakes’ growth process to our relationship with our Horse, we are reminded of the importance of growth and the necessity of ridding ourselves of thoughts, ideas, and practices that no longer serve us but still hang on us like parasites.
Growth, ‘the shed’, will automatically take care of many of these for us.
When snakes grow, their old skin does not so they must shed what keeps them restricted. This is a compelling perspective of taking note about our own growth, or lack of. If you have not shed archaic practices or released outdated goals with your Horse, you have not allowed growth. If you have not invited alchemy for yourself as their partner, then you have not invited growth.
As they prepare to shed, a snakes’ eyes become opaque and it hinders their vision and like the snake, this can happen to us. We feel the change coming but we cannot see clearly the way before us, yet we must allow this change with a faith walk.
Or, perhaps when our vision with our Horse becomes cloudy, we can consider this as an indicator that it is time to change, to make a shed allowing for growth and ridding ourselves of restrictive patterns and beliefs.
Once we feel the call to change, shedding what no longer applies may not be a challenge, but what about shedding something that has deep roots within your psyche? Shedding something that has kept you identified with a certain philosophy about your skills or relationship with your Horse can leave you feeling vulnerable and highly sensitive.
Instead of shrinking from the sensitivity of this new skin, take in all of the new sensations that ripple through your journey with your Horse and let the feelings of innocence and unfamiliarity walk you into a new paradigm of partnership. This new skin is a testament of growth and renewal.
The Invitation
Take inventory of your patterns of growth or stagnation during your time with your Horse. Do you have a history of consistent growth or of resisting change? Consider the effects of this resistance on the betterment of your Horse or your relationship with your Horse.
Consider the beauty of shedding old beliefs and welcoming the purity of the unknown to introduce you to a new way of being with your Horse. Your Horse may be longing for this phase of sensory renewal that shedding old constrictive behaviors brings.