Freedom comes when you have the strength to put the gun down first. I had an opportunity to work with a Wild Horse named Songbird (not pictured). She was living in a state of hiding and fear. Anything near her other than her herd kicked her defenses into high gear and she became the aggressor.

As I stood facing her, seeing the whites of her eyes as they were as wide as she could open them, my body braced for a fight. But, a brilliant horse ‘listener’ said to me, put the gun down, squat down. My mouth dropped in exasperation! What? Put myself in vulnerable position when this horse is ready to run me down!!

It took me a minute, but I did what he suggested. I shifted my eye gaze off of her, put one knee on the ground and bent into my other leg, foot still planted.

Songbird watched. Minutes ticked by, me waiting and wondering what was actually happening. I eventually lifted my gaze back to her. Songbirds head was down and relaxed and her eyes were closed!!!!

The horse listener came over to me, and knelt down with me. He said to me this horse has been here for years and no-one ever choose to work with her. He emotional told me, that he’s never witness Songbird relax…..ever. He showed me what a WIN this was for HER. All she needed was someone to see her. All she needed was someone to put the gun down first.

It didn’t feel safe to put my defenses, or symbolic ‘gun’ down first. Many would argue that’s down right insane, especially when you look at other situations in your own life that all evidence is saying, you need that weapon.

We are all doing the best that we can, and when we feel threatened our knee-jerk reaction is to gather ammunition. Which just makes others gather theirs. It’s a no win situation, no one wins.

We are only as free as our most oppressed.

Put your ‘gun’ down, stop gathering ammunition, own your responsibility in any given situation and liberate your heart. Freedom comes when have the courage to choose Love over fear, trust over doubt and acceptance over the fight.

Songbird taught me the power of surrender, being vulnerable and ultimately offered me the opportunity to learn true freedom.

May you all find the courage to receive what you’ve been fighting so hard to get.