All Good Things…

I am a Star Trek fan. I will date myself by saying that on September 8, 1966, when the original Star Trek premiered, I was there. I was 16, and my life was forever changed by the possibility of new worlds, new civilizations, and a Vulcan named Spock. A world a bit more benevolent than the one we were living on in the 60’s. Star Trek gave us hope.

As it evolved, so did we. And while I was extremely loyal to what is now called “Classic Trek”, I also fell in love with the Enterprise-D and its diverse, wonderful crew, headed up by Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

After seven years, Captain Picard’s Enterprise left the airwaves, and the two-part finale was titled “All Good Things.” It was a ripping yarn of time travel, alternate timelines, and quite satisfactorily (to my mind), ended the television journey of that noble ship.

Of course, there were films, and they were pretty good too. But eventually, the crew moved on, and JJ Abrams rebooted “Classic Trek” with an amazing cast and a new look at the world of Star Trek. Still hopeful, still full of new worlds and new civilizations, and with its feet firmly planted in our present. It’s great, and I hope it goes on for several more films.

As with Star Trek, growth and change is inevitable for all of us, and I am no exception. I’ve been posting on this blog for a couple of years now. It has nourished me as I navigated through the passing of my mother, a friend’s adventure with breast cancer, and the letting go of childhood wounds. I’ve also been nourished by the posts of my fellow bloggers, all beautiful women with warm, loving hearts, who have opened themselves up in this forum to share their deepest grief and their highest accomplishment. I salute you all.

This will be my last post for Women Move It Forward, but it doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped moving forward. Indeed, I will be posting on my own website, and taking my life and business to exciting new levels. New worlds. New civilizations. And, like the Enterprise, I will boldly go where I’ve never been before.

To all of you I say, in the words of that eminent Vulcan – Live Long, and Prosper.

 

 

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Ashara Morris is a certified Equine Gestalt Coach, Animal Communicator and Trekkie. You can find more information about her and the work she does at www.harmonysheartcoaching.com or www.harmonysheartanimals.com.

 

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Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it …. Snow AGAIN?

I’ve been having a love/hate relationship with winter for many years. When I tell people I live in Colorado, the first thing they say is “Oh, you must ski.”

No. I essentially hibernate, especially in January and February (which in Colorado is the longest month of the year – will the cold and snow never end?)

When other people are out snowboarding, skiing, or tubing with their kids, I’m in the house trying to keep warm. In the winter, there are never enough cats to layer on the bed, or enough incentive to get me to even think about hitting the slopes.

I tried. In my 20’s and 30’s I tried to be a one of those Coloradan’s who lives for winter. Cross-country skiing was pretty okay, because you’re always moving and it’s easier to stay warm. My fondest memory of a Colorado winter was a cross-country skier traversing the Pearl Street Mall during quite the little snowfall, where the flakes came down thick, but not fast. It was magical. And I was inside one of the mall restaurants, sipping on a glass of wine, enjoying time with my spouse and some friends, watching that person swoosh by. Ahhh, yes, a fond memory indeed.

The last few years it’s been pretty dry in the winter, and that has been a double-edged weather pattern. It’s been nice for getting outside on the sunny days, not much to worry about in the snow department, and easy to travel from one place to another, which is important when you live on a dirt road and the nearest (small) town is about 15 minutes away. Better have a full larder.

On the down side of the dryness, nothing really grows. So a dry winter and dryer spring means no hay for the horses. Now that we have 30 acres in hay, moisture has become more important to me (of course – it’s all about me – and my horses). We have been fairly bereft of hay from our own field the last couple of years.

And what about those rumors we heard about our dirt road being blocked by drifts? Nah, we thought, not going to happen, if the last two years were anything to judge by.

Then there’s this year. A more “normal” year in the snow and cold department. VERY long January, even longer February. Multiple snow storms. Wind howling like the proverbial banshee, which means drifts. Big drifts. Six foot high drifts across our dirt road that prevent anyone from leaving, or coming home. My beloved spent two days in a hotel near his work  because our road was blocked with drifts in both directions. Of all the beings living in our house, the only one who looked even remotely happy about the snow was Niko, our malamute.

I gaze out at our back field, though, and even though I don’t care for winter, or cold, or snow, I bless every flake, because I know we’re going to have a bumper crop of hay this year. Like everything, there are two sides to the situation. So I’ll enjoy the snowstorms, even the part where we have to slog down to the barn to take care of the horses, and know that Mother Nature is taking care of us. We have a warm house, and yes, our larder is full. It can snow all it wants, and I’ll take a deep breath and say thank you.

Just don’t ask me to ski.

 

 

 

People Keep Dying

By Ashara Morris, one of the Women Moving it Forward…

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My best friend of the last 25 years died in early December 2018. My oldest cat died a few weeks ago. Mortality is staring me in the face.

I’ve spent most of my life running from death. Not in the death-defying way of Captain Kirk, who spit at death and beat it back over and over, but more like person-hiding-behind-trees-if-it-can’t-see-me-it-can’t-get-me stealthiness. Except I can stealth all I want; the reaper and I are going to meet up at some point. Nobody gets out alive – or perhaps nobody keeps the particular physical body we have in the moment is a better way to put it.

Please note that I didn’t refer to the reaper as “grim”. There’s a part of me that feels like the next adventure is going to be awesome, so when we DO meet, I hope that part of me is feeling frisky, grabs the reaper’s hand, and trots off into the ether, head held high and really looking forward. The other part of me, though, the part hiding behind trees, does tend to be in control more often than not. Not as often as she used to be; I was a white knuckle flyer, every little ache or pain in my body was a death sentence, I could start hyperventilating at the mere thought of leaving the planet. I wanted to outlive whoever I was with at the moment. I was always the last one standing.

As I’ve aged, I’ve come to terms on a few levels with my own mortality in this physical body, and developed a belief system that seems to work for me – that we do continue, that hell, if there is such a thing, is right here on earth, that all is forgiven (because God/TheUniverse/AllThatIs is pretty nice), and that we get to come back if we want. I’ve certainly seen that played out time and again with my animal friends. They keep showing me that we continue. I keep seeing it, believing it intellectually, and STILL holding back my faith to some degree. “What if I’m wrong….?”

A dozen cats, dogs and horses can’t be wrong. They cavort around me, showing me parts of their former personalities (and sometimes even more), and as time goes on, letting the discernment be deeper and more mysterious. I’ve gotten to the point with them that if I can imagine it, it can happen. If that’s so with them, then it must be true for us humans, too. Right? Right.

Aloysius photo bombs Torbie.

So – out there somewhere is my friend, Joy – who is still Joy but more than Joy, and when she returns will sort of be Joy but definitely more than Joy. We have conversations weekly, just like we used to when she was in a human body. They’re pretty amazing. This little voice pops up in my head, and darned if it doesn’t sound just like her, and I write down what she says. And out there somewhere is my cat friend, Aloysius – beautiful boy, teacher on so many levels, telling me (and I can hear Joy in the background, telling him what to say) that I don’t need crutches any more, I know what I’m doing, so for goodness sake just do it because people need it. Time to stop hiding behind trees and bushes, and get on with life.

They went before me. I should listen to them, I think. Except don’t think. Feel. Feel what’s going on. And then get on with it. Okay, OKAY. Message received. And thank you.

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Ashara Morris is a Certified Equine Gestalt Coach and incredible Animal Communicator. She speaks with animals living and passed, with your guides and helpers, and can assist you in moving forward in your life on a variety of levels. She has lots of experience “stepping up”. Learn more about her at www.harmonysheartanimals.com  or www.harmonysheartcoaching.com.

Peeling the Onion

Posted by Ashara Morris, one of the Women Moving it Forward.

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This was written in mid-November, but it has relevance as we move into the new Year.

This has been a tough month, November. Lots of lessons to be learned about who I am and why I do what I do, and how fragile I feel when it comes to “making a living”.

I’m discovering that I am hard on myself. I’ve always thought I was  pretty tough – I could handle most things, bad news, changes, I was able to roll with any punches directed my way. But I’m finding that as I open my heart further and further, I’m becoming more vulnerable, and all of my long-ignored “stuff” is making itself known. This is a good thing, even though it doesn’t feel like it.

It’s a painful process, as anyone who has ever received any coaching or therapy can attest, to lay yourself open to yourself. Because you have to look at the shadow as well as the sun. And those shadow things, those Gremlins floating around in our heads, are in everyone. No one is immune, least of all a coach. It’s good to recognize them, love them, and let them be, but it sure isn’t fun while it’s happening.

Lately a lot of my Gremlins have been about money. One of the things I remember hearing when I was young was about how I was just like my aunt who always had money problems – I couldn’t hold on to my money, I wasn’t sensible about money, I was less than worthless when it came to money – all my interpretations of what I heard and saw. I honestly don’t know how bad my aunt was with money – all I know is that I was compared to her, and the people who meant something to me, whose approval I was seeking, compared me to her.  Brrrrr.

There’s lots of stuff going on in this scenario – seeking approval of others; money issues; responsibility issues; worthiness issues. I’ve dealt with all of them over the years, and many layers have been peeled away. AND as I tell my clients, once you peel that layer away, there’s another one right behind it. Sometimes they show up fast, other times you get a bit of breather and THEN it hits you. Lucky ol’ me, seems like several of those onions have piled up at once.

It’s a pain that I know is serving me. As I deal with my own Gremlins, I heal parts of myself that will help me better navigate the parts of me that are just trying to keep me safe, but are no longer serving me. I don’t have all the answers, but I am listening to what I have to tell myself, and maybe those revelations will assist me in assisting others. Not by giving advice, but by understanding.

I know this trench I’m in right now will eventually fill with water (from tears?), or slope upwards, and I’ll be able to climb out. I’ll be dirty, exhausted, and changed for the better. It’s worth it, to be in the dirt. It doesn’t feel good when it’s happening, but the rainbow at the other end is totally worth the journey, because every soul on this planet deserves that rainbow, including me, and including you.

So if you’re going through a rough patch right now, hang in. Ask for help (I did). Be honest with yourself. Feel the pain. Meditate, reflect, spend time in nature. Go to the horses (or the cat, or the gerbil), and a coach; they will listen without judgement and help you find an answer. We’re all in this together, so let’s help one another.

Namaste.

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Ashara Morris is a certified Equine Gestalt Coach and animal communicator. When she’s not peeling away her own onions, she helps women navigate through the pain and confusion of questionable relationships, find the power in their own center and assists them on the path of their purposeful life.

Find out more at http://www.harmonysheartcoaching.com

 

The Little Pony With the Messy Mane

Tags

Animals, Horses

Once upon a time, there was a pony named Emma. She was a Fell Pony, and as such, not tiny. When she was full grown, she would be big enough for a light adult to ride her.

Emma was only two, which means she was full of herself, and had opinions about everything. One day, her opinion, which said “I go through this door FIRST”, and the opinion of another, larger horse, collided. They both had the same opinion about who was going to go through the door first. Unfortunately, they both didn’t fit, and Emma lost that discussion. She also cracked her elbow and her scapula on the door jamb, and things were bleak for a while.

She couldn’t put any weight on her leg. She hobbled around like a tripod, and looked miserable. The vet came out and took x-rays. Uh oh. Stall time for Emma, and maybe, just maybe, she’d get well enough to be a beautiful pasture ornament for the rest of her life.

Fortunately for us all, Emma was wise beyond her years and took very good care of that leg. In only a few days, with the help of some horsey pain killers, she was starting to put weight back on it. She stayed quiet in her stall, ate hay, and chewed on wood. Her good friend Declan, another large pony-sized equine, stayed in the barn with her and kept her company. Emma was very grateful to Declan for making that sacrifice.

Emma’s mom thought it would be nice to braid Emma’s very substantial mane into braids, because it was quite warm in the barn and it would help keep Emma cool. So she did. Emma was not impressed, especially with her forelock braid.

“Why do I have to have my forelock braided,” she fretted, and rubbed her head against the side of the stall. It’s itchy. It goes sideways. It’s got YELLOW TWINE in it, for crying out loud. I look like a hussy instead of a cute pony.”

Emma rubbed and rubbed. The braid became more and more messy. At last, success! Her forelock was once again free!

Emma on the left, Declan on the right, freed at last from the barn.

After braiding it three times and having it rubbed out, Emma’s mom gave up. If Emma wanted her forelock loose that badly, so be it.

Emma worked on the rest of the braids. It gave her something to do while she was confined to the stall. Got them all out, too.

She continued to heal. After 8 long weeks, she and Declan got to go back outside. Now she’s once again free, eating green grass, and running. Braid free.

 

What in the World…..?

Tags

animal communication, Animals, balance, cats, Centered, change, Vision

A post by Ashara Morris, one of the Women Moving it Forward.

There has been a lot of unhappy things in the news lately, it seems. Our country is becoming Fascist; innocent people are being murdered for no reason other than someone doesn’t like their religious beliefs, or the color of their skin, or one of a hundred other “reasons”; animals are being thrown out of the windows of cars, or left to die on a road, or in a backyard.

All my life I’ve loved animals. I’ve always felt that people, for the most part, can take care of themselves, and if they can’t, they should be cared for. There are millions of caring, loving people out there who do their best for the humans who cannot help themselves. But the animals have no voice that most are willing to listen to – because if they did, they would be humbled. The animals don’t have much in the way of rights, either, but that’s another blog.

Let’s talk about hearing those animal voices, and how thoughtless some humans are to those species who can’t say out loud, “No matter what, I love you.”

I saw a post on Facebook the other day about a kitten who was thrown out of the window of a car. This happened in the county and state in which I live, and I have never been so saddened by an event. Tossed away like a piece of garbage. Discarded.

A LIFE.

What must those people think of themselves? How fearful they must be that they are so without value that it’s okay to devalue another life, and as a result feel better about themselves. I can tell myself that all day, and I mostly have compassion for those people who would throw a kitten, a living being, away like a piece of trash. Compassion is winning out over other, baser instincts – the part of me that wants to rip them to shreds, to toss them out a window and see how they feel. But what good would that do? It only serves to escalate the anger, the fear, the discombobulation we are all feeling during this time of great transition. Staying centered and trusting the Universe is paramount.

So I meditate. I pray. I let go of the anger, and I send those people, and all humans for that matter, Love and Light and the hope that some day they may listen to those small voices, who love us so much that they allow themselves to be tossed out of a car window to get our attention. Those small voices, those lives, and the lives of all the humans sacrificed, saying “Wake up! Wake up! Do you really want to go down this path again? Love one another. See yourself in me, a small furred creature, or a human with another color face. We are all the same. We are all part of God. Wake up!”

p.s. The kitten, for those who are wondering, was rescued, doctored, and has found a loving home.

p.p.s Happy birthday today to my mom, who would be 93 if she were still on the planet. She loved all animals, too, especially dogs and cats.

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Ashara Morris is an Animal Communicator and Certified Equine Gestalt Coach who loves all things furred, feathered, scaled, or whatever. She is President and CEO of Harmony’s Heart, LLC, home of Harmony’s Heart Coaching, Harmony’s Heart Animals, and The WindRider Project. Find out more about her and the work being done at Harmony’s Heart at www.harmonysheartanimals.com, www.harmonysheartcoaching.com, or www.thewindriderproject.com.

What or Who?

Tags

balance, Centered, change, passion, Self-Care

Posted by Ashara Morris, one of the Women Moving It Forward on this Blog.

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Our society today takes great pride in, and raises up, those who do, do, do. If you’re not doing, you’re not producing, therefore if you’re just “being” you will be passed over or ignored or even denigrated.

I’ve noticed this when meeting people for the first time, and I’m guilty of it as well – we ask “What do you do?” We want to know about what this person does in our workaday world, not necessarily who they are. But which might be the more important question?

What do you do?

or

Who are you?

Photo by Snapwire on Pexels.com

I am fascinated by people, by how they think, how they feel, the opinions they carry. They are a constant source of revelation to me, not only about them, but about myself. If I ask someone “what do you do?” they’re going to tell me about their job, and that’s fine, because certainly it’s part of who they are, and if they love their work, that will be a good indicator of who they might be. But the question “Who are you?” is much more interesting to me. And, I think, also scary for the person being asked.

We live with a lot of masks in place. Even the most authentic person has to sometimes remove the “I’m being authentic” mask to be who they REALLY are. It’s an amazing dance. So we have to learn about people in kind of a sideways fashion – mostly by starting with “What do you do?”

I’m sure those of you reading this know what you do. But who are you? Are you sensitive? Are you afraid of the dark? (I always leave a light on when I’m home alone over night, even though we have four dogs to help me stay safe.) Do you think everyone is out to get you? Or maybe just a few people? Do we live in a friendly or unfriendly world? How do you relax? Do you like to read? Do you draw? Do you enjoy just sitting?

Photo by Ary Shutter on Pexels.com

Favorite TV show? What did you think of school? Did you enjoy it? Or was it painful? And why? What was enjoyable or painful?

Those are just a few of the questions that go through my mind when I’m getting to know someone, and even when talking with old friends, because friendship doesn’t happen in one fell swoop – it is a matter of years, and layers, and the unveiling of some new aspect of a friend is like a gift wrapped in shiny paper and topped off with a beautiful bow – how amazing we all are!

If you want to know more about me, ask me – who are you? And I will tell you. Be prepared though, because I will ask the same of you. I don’t need to know about your job – who are YOU?

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Ashara Morris is sensitive, intuitive, and laughs a lot. The glass is generally half full. She talks with animals, plants, rocks, her car quite a bit, and sometimes even her favorite green chair. You can find out more about what she DOES at www.harmonysheartcoaching.com and www.harmonysheartanimals.com.

 

 

Bird’s Eye View

Tags

nature

Flying recently to California, we paralleled Interstate 70, which I travel frequently by car. It was a magnificent day for flying; clear, calm, the landscape below crisp and clear. I recognized landmarks all along the route – there was Loveland ski area, and the huge mountains under which the Eisenhower tunnel runs- how did the engineers even figure that out? From the ground, Glenwood Canyon is beautiful, and I recall the massive effort to maintain its beauty while still allowing a four lane (stacked) freeway. How did the engineers figure THAT out? Glenwood Springs, and the road leading to Aspen. Onward to the canyon outside Palisade and Grand Junction and on into southern Utah.

Green River is the gateway to the most magnificent stretch of I-70 imaginable, at least to me. From the air, the change in landscape shows a fault line, one plate pushing up onto another. Is it ancient, and no longer doing any moving, or is there still some adjustment going on? It’s a crescent on the ground, and I-70 crests it and moves on. On the other side, Ridgefield Utah is an oasis in the landscape. A few minutes further on and I-15 from Salt Lake City intersects and drops south toward Las Vegas. I-70’s journey is complete. We continue northwest toward San Francisco, into new territory for my eyes.

It was a privilege to have a bird’s eye view of a frequently traveled ground route. I have a new appreciation for the many ecosystems I cross in the 12 hour journey from home to my work at Horsefeathers Farm in Las Vegas. The Colorado mountains hold a particular appeal, and even though I’m not all that fond of the cold, I can see our business flourishing there – a destination for the weary, the troubled, a place to come and breathe in fresh air, hang with the horses and other animals, and find equilibrium and peace. The destination we have now, near Elizabeth, is also wonderful. Perhaps two locations at some point?

What a gift we’ve been given in this world. I am amazed and grateful every day. The next time you take a trip by air, see if you can get a window seat, and let yourself be transported into the cosmos surrounding our beautiful planet. I can guarantee you’ll feel the Love of the Creator cradling you in its arms, and you will be comforted.

This is Me

Tags

Animals, Coaching, Vision

I just watched a video that took my breath away.

A little background: Along with my husband, I have a small business, Harmony’s Heart LLC. For me, that business is all about talking with people’s animals and helping them navigate things like “When is it time to put my elder cat down?” or “My dog is so nervous – I wish he’d calm down.” These conversations often take on the aspect of coaching, as over time I’ve found that our animal friends are more interested in helping us be better humans than whether or not they have the best kibble.

For years, I worked in Information Technology in large corporations. This is not even close to what I do now. It was technical. It was serious. It was “important”. It was also borrrrrr-ing.  For me, one of the best parts of the job was interpreting what was going on with a machine and putting it into words that the uneducated or technology-challenged user could understand, so they’d get along better with that application or printer.

Hmm, when I look at it that way, maybe it was a bit like what I do these days. I was an interpreter, and I still am. It’s just that now, I’m assisting a living, breathing entity (or what once was living and breathing, since I also connect with animals who have passed) be understood, much like I assisted people in understanding that printer, or that application.

Where I’m going with this is the thought that what I do can be construed as “strange.” “Weird”. Definitely a long way from what most of the U.S. considers “normal.” On my darker days, I feel like an outcast, as though my passion for the animals, and what they have to say to us and want to help us with, is something that is useless. So I’ll become frozen, and not want to make phone calls, or put myself out there. Better to be safe in my little cocoon instead of the object of ridicule or hate.

When all of my fears and insecurities have taken their rightful place at the back of the bus, and my passion and purpose for this lifetime have taken over the driving, I know that’s hogwash. What I do is what I was meant to do. It’s taken me a long time to get to the party. Now that I’m here, though, this is my gift. Interpreter of animal wisdom. Teacher of those who want to open themselves to that gift themselves. Cheerleader for a better world, starting with our relationship with the animals and nature around us.

This is me.

Watch the video. Be inspired. Remember who YOU are. In your authentic self, you are making a difference, no matter how large, no matter how small. You matter.

Ashara Morris is the President and CEO of Harmony’s Heart LLC, where she assists animals and their people to have the best relationship ever. For more information, visit http://www.harmonysheartanimals.com, or contact Ashara by phone (720-737-0495) or email (ashara@harmonysheartcoaching.com).

The Necessity of Nature

Tags

Animals, Health, nature, Self-Care

As I’m writing this, it is the first day of Spring. Here in Colorado, on our farm, there is snow on the ground, left over from a storm that quite literally blew through a couple of days ago. We need the moisture, so I’m grateful that it is slowly melting into the ground, inspiring the grass to peek out and providing a much needed drink for the pine and aspen trees around the grounds.

One of the most pleasant harbingers of Spring is the return of the Meadowlark. I love their song. I imagine they were a bit surprised to find their return also included a snow storm, but it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve heard Meadowlark song before and after a big snow.

Listen:  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Meadowlark/sounds

Meadowlark

Not everyone is as lucky as I, surrounded by open fields, grand vistas of the Rocky Mountains, and our many household pets. Back in the day, in what we might call a kinder, gentler time, access to nature, whether it was in a park or by taking a drive in “the country”, was much more common. There’s something about spending some time watching the ripples on a pond, or the breeze gently blowing the grass that soothes a human’s soul, and we re-establish the connection that we inherently know – that we are all one.

These days, most people live in cities. The cities may have parks, but they are not as safe as they used to be. Even in the smaller towns through the U.S., danger seems to show up. People are spending more time indoors, plugged into their computers, talking to one another through text instead of in person, and having nary a whiff of fresh air. Our disconnection with one another, and with nature, is taking its toll.

In order to survive as a species, we need to establish a bond with the planet that nurtures and protects us. If we don’t, if we pillage and use up all resources, if we ignore the pain in our hearts, we are going to find ourselves in, as they say, deep weeds. Except there won’t be any weeds.

Our psyches need nature. Just watch inner city children introduced to farm animals. They can’t do it; they can’t maintain their protective shells around the gentle beings who only want to be petted and loved. They melt, and they find themselves. They may have to go back to their environment; they may have to put the mantle of protection back on – but they will not forget the look in the horse’s eyes that said “I acknowledge you for who you are; a fellow traveler on this planet like me. And I love and accept you for that.” (for more information about the impact of farms on inner-city children, check out these resources: http://environmentreport.org/?p=2814, http://blog.theanimalrescuesite.com/comptonposse/

What can you do today to touch nature?

 

Ashara Morris is the CEO of Harmony’s Heart LLC, of which Harmony’s Heart Animals is a part. Learn more about her and the way Harmony’s Heart is changing the world at http://www.harmonysheartanimals.com / http://www.harmonysheartcoaching.com / http://www.thewindriderproject.com