REFLECTIONS PT. 2: Uncanny, Mystical, Universal Nudge

First, if you haven't read the previous post, "Reflections: Imposter Syndrome be Gone," here's the link so you can understand the crazy power of what happened next. Reflections Part 1 

After sharing that post with a friend, she asked if I'd researched the katydid as a totem. Obviously, I had not. I mean...who does that? Well, she did, and I was absolutely gobsmacked at what the Universe had clearly sent to me when I spotted the well camouflaged katydid sitting upon the green gate. 

The article read, in part, that the katydid as animal totem symbolizes transformation, adaptation, and finding one's voice; encouraging the shedding of old beliefs and embracing new opportunities for growth and success, and patience in achieving goals. Also, when the katydid totem appears, it signifies: being in a stage of significant personal change, the need to adapt to new challenges, overcome past failures and move toward success, and encourage the expression of your unique identity and purpose.

I mean...come on, Universe! My mind was blown!

There I'd been, struggling with all the feels of imposter syndrome, at a crossroads of sorts as I tried to resign the frustrations and disappointment I'd felt with myself from the sessions that morning, and possibly considered throwing it all in and living in the woods alone (well, except for my animals and The Chad). BAM! Katydid to the rescue! 

Of course, I'd written about it. ("Reflections..." posted yesterday) 

But then, and this is where today's must write and share came from, after all of that, I went out to play with my Mustangs again. I wanted to be sure I'd resolved the trouble with Pivo, and I was curious about how Cinder and Cappy would or would not be tuned into what I was asking.     

What happened was, quite honestly, completely unexpected, lovingly received, and brought everything full circle. It reminded me, once again, of how quickly things in life can turn around from doomy gloomy to butterflies and unicorns. Yes, I went there! LOL

With my katydid totem in mind, I invited Cinder into the arena. We've been working on chaining some behaviors together to create a flowing moving of her hip away from me, a turn on her front, if you will. It includes a wait, targeting her nose toward me, stepping her hip away (without stepping backward) when asked, and continuing until I click to end the behavior. It's quite a number of things! 

Until yesterday, we could usually get the wait and about half the time, the nose and a step or two of her hip. Nothing was really clean and sharp, often involved extra steps, many repeats of what I was asking, or even a total lack of any response that resembled we'd been learning these things. I mean, it is what it is, because horses, humans, emotions...and so many things.                        

Imagine my surprise, when Cinder moved like a dream, like the perfect little Mustang mare she is, and voila! As if to say, "Of course I can do these things." If once wasn't enough, Cinder did an even fuller, bigger rotation a bit later. In fact, the entire session was one big WOW after another. Not to be outdone, Cappy was eager to play, too. Yes, he was randomly throwing in his favorite behavior, the spin, here and there, but I just ignored that and moved on with something else. Focus on what I want, not what I don't. R+ 101.

As I grinned my way back inside afterwards, all I could think about was watching the videos from these sessions. The katydid's meaning blended it all together: the transformation that had occurred, the need to adapt, and how embracing change had made it all possible. I worked on editing the lengthy sessions into a shorter, shareable video. As I worked, I enjoyed watching and rewatching my horses as they thought about things and made decisions. It was perfect, but not because there weren't any mistakes. It was perfect because we were having fun, making mistakes but laughing and learning from them. 

I was mesmerized the day before by the movements of the katydid, so simple, yet magical. Katydid Magic

I was amazed and elated by the movements of my Mustangs. If you want to see the highlights, here is a little compilation posted on my YouTube Channel (which you should please subscribe to if you haven't done so already). Amazing Mustang Sessions!

I am doing my best to take in what the Universe sends me, to move past failures and toward success in my unique way. 

I can do this, even after the challenges and obstacles that I've been thrown in life. 

So can you.


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