Healing Horses: A Journey through Equine Assisted Reiki Sharing Healing with Horses

The sun warmed my face, a gentle caress after the cool morning air. I stood at the edge of the field, the dew-drenched grass painting emerald strokes beneath my feet. This wasn't just any field; this was a Field of Reiki. It stretched out before me like an invitation, its borders defined not by fences, but by the slow, deliberate graze of 2 horses.

I’d come seeking solace, a quiet place to mend the frayed edges of my spirit. Life, with its persistent demands and disappointments, had left me feeling disconnected, a stranger even to myself. Here, surrounded by the timeless rhythm of nature and the quiet wisdom of these graceful creatures, I hoped to find my way back.

They were an interesting pair, the horses. A sturdy dark bay with a knowing eye, and a playful yet gentle piebald grey who seemed to carry the weight of centuries in his calm gaze. They moved with an effortless grace, a symphony of muscle and bone, their breath misting in the cool morning air.

I wasn't there to ride or to train. I was there to be with them, to simply exist in their presence. My guide Chonti had instructed me to approach them without expectation, to open my heart and let their energy flow. It felt strange at first, this lack of purpose, this absence of agenda. But as I stood there, letting the sounds of the field fill my ears – the soft munching of grass, the occasional snort, the distant call of a bird – a sense of peace began to settle within me.

Reiki, I'd learned, was about universal life energy. The ‘rei’, the universal, and the ‘ki’, the energy that flows through all living things. Here, in this field, it was palpable. The horses radiated a calm, grounded energy that seemed to seep into me, washing away the worries and angst that had been clinging so tightly.

I found myself drawn to the grey gelding. He stood apart from the other one his head low, his body radiating a quiet strength. Slowly, I walked towards him, my movements deliberate and gentle.

He watched me, his dark eyes deep and knowing. I didn't touch him, not yet. I simply breathed, allowing my heart to send out its own energy, its own plea for connection.

He responded. He turned his head slightly, his nostrils flaring as he took in my scent. Then, he took a step towards me, closing the space between us. I reached out, my hand hovering just above his velvety muzzle. He leaned into my touch, a soft sigh escaping him.

In that moment, something shifted within me. I felt a release, a letting go of the tension that had held me captive. The horses, in their gentle acceptance, had reminded me of my own inherent worth. They hadn't judged, hadn't questioned, they had simply been. And in their simple, profound presence, I had found a pathway to healing.

This sharing healing with horses, in a Field of Reiki, I realised, was not just a place, but a state of being. It was a reminder that true healing comes not from external sources, but from the quiet communion between ourselves and the natural world, from the unspoken language of the heart, and the gentle, powerful energy that flows through us all. It was a reminder that I was okay, and that, perhaps, I always had been. August 2024, Lydia