Happy Birthday Shiloh!

When your connection with animals is hindered by colonized expectations

Inside: Inspiration, insights & info on true kinship with animals - from me to you! Remembering Shiloh on his birthday, about Kindred, working together in reciprocity & the February teachings for paying subscribers. Want to get the weekly true kinship teachings? Become a subscriber today.

Remembering Shiloh

Today is horse Angel Horse Shiloh’s 28th birthday. Happy Birthday Shiloh!

That’s Shiloh above, wearing my hat, after ‘winning’ it in a game we played. He’d grab it from my head, chew on it a few seconds, then throw it on the ground. I’d reach down and put it on him. He loved that hat more than I did, and I’m not sure who had more fun playing that game! 🤠🐴🤠

Many folx at the barn silently rolled their eyes when they saw us playing. I was there to *ride* Shiloh, wasn’t I? “You’d better get busy and stop fooling around, it’s a horse 🤢, you have work to do, you’re spoiling him and treating him like a kid.”

Shiloh and I didn’t have the traditional, colonized horse-person relationship. We rarely rode, the training we did, especially at the beginning, was to help me get over the deeply rooted fear about horses that had been tattooed on my soul as a child.

The fact is:

We were/are partners, we were/are buddies. He was/is my teacher, I was/am his adoring and eager student.

I will always mourn the fact I couldn’t accept our relationship for what it was, one between two sentient beings of different species. I judged myself a failure because we didn’t show up as others thought we ‘should’.

🐴❤️🐴❤️🐴❤️🐴

Over the years, I’ve learned to give myself a break and be compassionate with myself. I had no idea there was a different way to relate with animals. I found myself in Catch-22 sensing a different way and not knowing what it was or how to find it.

Now…..

‘Shoulds’ be damned. I now see how colonization taught me to have dominion over animals and expected me to act from that place of dominion. It has taken time decades and support to recognize that and gradually learn to step away from the colonization expectation.

If you’re in that Catch-22, I see you, I hear you, I feel you. When you’re ready to start your true kinship journey schedule your discovery call and let’s talk. It’s free.

BTW, Shiloh died December 16, 2015. I had just moved to Montana and he was still in Minnesota. Here’s his story if you’d like to read it.

Heads up, Kindred members Level 3! Reminder the collaborative call is coming up tonight, Tuesday, February 18 at 6PM Mountain.

We use this time to share experiences, information, ideas, stories and build community. Want to join in? Become a Level 3 member today

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Together in Reciprocity

Animals are sentient beings with their own agency that doesn't need human validation for it to be authentic. Boom. Truth. Your engagement with my work through financial reciprocity shows your recognition of this & your willingness to stand with animals.

Below are ways to make your contribution.

Reciprocity with Paypal

Reciprocity with Amazon Wish List

NOTE: Amazon is not my preference to support and may not be yours either. However I do not have transportation and this is the easiest and often the most cost-effective place to shop. Yet another Catch-22 for so many of us in our changing world.

Reciprocity with Albertsons Gift Card - Albertsons is the local grocery store I shop and is DEI compliant. To send an eGift card, use email Talk2theAnimalsRadio@gmail.com

Reciprocity with Venmo

Plus, your financial support brings me peace of mind and helps me meet my financial obligations. Thank you for this and playing a part to make true kinship available for all AND much gratitude for those who already support my work in this way!

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