Horse magic

I was in a magic place yesterday. Magic on earth.

My trip started with the usual butterflies in my stomach. There I was, in a bus to Evia. Alone, with my thoughts, I was going to a place and I tried very hard not to have any expectations... Evia is a big Island, bigger than Crete and I was going to the north of it where I was told is very green and beautiful. The bus trip included a small crossing through the sea with the ferry. So when I got into the ferry, it was beautiful, the sea was very calm, the weather was gloomy and seagulls followed us. I dreamt of dolphins, but there where none on that grey, cold morning. I hadn't seen the sea in months and it felt strange. My whole country is surrounded by sea water but sometimes we forget it...

So where I was going? To a farm with horses in the North of Evia. I was greeted by Tassos, the owner, who picked me up from the bus station. I asked him if I can work for him for the summer.

How was this place? Will the people accept me? Will they take advantage of me? Will they be nice to me? Will they be horrible to me? Before I went there I was asking these questions and created such a negative mentality on the experience, I was just about to ruin everything. As soon as I realised what I was doing, I thought that whatever I expect I will get. I then positioned myself to a more positive attitude. I will think positively of the place and I will have a positive experience! I cannot describe in words how difficult it was to make a swift from my negative thoughts...

Anyway, we arrived at the farm. Being a Sunday, it was busy and people had already started riding horses in the pathways of the mountain. It was like I was already working there!

They asked me to escort Tina, a female pony, rid by a little girl in the pathway into the mountain. Dimitris - who has been working there for years - was with us and he was right behind us with two more horses. He warned me that Tina was a cheeky horse and if I don't pay attention she will go to the edge of the path to enjoy some tasty greenery... and she DID! At first I was scared because she's very heavy and I could not manipulate her. So I was instructed to let her eat. Finally, it was the father of the little girl who managed to take her off the tasty food and get her back to walking... I was so embarrassed... And then I thought, why am I embarrassed? I have NEVER done this before, don't be so strict on yourself! Off we went, under the shade of trees through little rivers where cheeky Tina HAD to drink some water... Do I want to live like this over the next three months? YES I DO!, my soul answered.

Me and Tina took another couple of walks together, while she was carrying different children. And I discovered that I do like talking with the children, talking about their fear of being on top of a big animal, answering their questions, talking about school and their interests, making a connection with them. Do I want to live like this over the next three months? YES I DO!, my soul answered.

I started feeling more at ease with the situation and the animals and the children and the smells and the colours and the people... Even Tassos told me that I am a good teacher for the kids... Do I want to live like this over the next three months? YES I DO!, my soul answered.

I decided to lay back for a while, and stay in the stable while the others left for yet another ride... cheeky Tina was there and she rubbed her head on my stomach! She put a smile on my face, "she recognizes me!" Thirteen horses in total, beautiful, strong, magnificent, glorious, friendly with big eyes that stare right at your eyes... I really DO want to stay here for a while... I will learn their names and their habits and get to know them better. When the rides stopped and Dimitris brought out some hay for them to eat, they started neighing happily!

Now let me tell you something. I am a person that was brought up in the city, in a block of flats, I never had so much encouter with animals and nature and the earth. But now I have come to the point which I really need this experience and my soul brought me to that which I was longing for. It all started with a dream on the 15th of May. I promised myself I will go to a mountain in a month from the date I dreamt it. Actually I'm going there on the 5th of June, which is less than a month... My point is, that if you make a clear choice from the heart, things will turn around to get you there. I have been told this simple truth by many teachers, and now I am experiencing it.

To make a long story short (well it's not that short after all) in the farm there are goats and chickens and DEER and they all eat from people's hands. I almost cried when a baby deer took a bite from the bread I was giving it... The view from the mountain is breathtaking and the people are polite and gentle and they love their animals and they love nature. I made up my mind. I'm staying there for the summer and maybe even longer. It depends on what my soul longs for.

These guys are here: http://www.tassokrishorses.com/index.htm and you are very welcome to come and visit, just give them a call...

I will continue writing and describing my adventures in this blog, which I decided to subtitle A TRAVELLER'S DIARY and not A TRAVELLER-TO-BE DIARY since my travelling has already begun. You see, all I needed to do is to state what I am and say and believe that I AM A TRAVELLER. And what I am unfolds right here, before my eyes. Come to think of it, I only started writing and stating that which I am, on the 10th of May. And all this happened in less than a month... This is how quickly things move...