Totem Tuesday: Horse Medicine

Horse Medicine

by Felina Lune Kavi

“The spirited horse, which will try to win the race of its own accord, will run even faster if encouraged.” -Ovid

Keywords:  Power, Freedom, Service, Assisting Civilization, Compassion, Friendliness, Memory, Clairvoyance, Prophetic Abilities, Luck, Passion, Motivation, Emotions, Vitality, Overcoming Obstacles, Expression, Human Mastery of Natural Forces, Attachment, Restraint, Support, Intellect, Endurance, Work Ethic, Movement, Travel, Exploration, Adventure, Healing, Soul Retrieval

It is said that the Horse was the first animal medicine given to civilization.  We certainly owe a lot to horses and all they have given us.  No one single animal has contributed more to the spread of civilization than the Horse.  Prior to mounting the horse and riding like the wind, humanity’s trek across land was limited.  Horse made our journey to each other swifter and less of a burden.  And though there is one species of horse in Mongolia that is still wild, and some feral horses like the mustangs in North America, most horses alive today are intricately linked to the service and/or companionship they provide for humans.  For this reason, Horse medicine has as much to do with freedom as it does with assisting humanity in our mastery of natural forces.

This totem brings a lesson in power and proper use of that power.  The power of Horse comes from remembering the pathways of the overall journey and harnessing your talents for the good of all.  Horses have excellent memories and will especially remember areas where they have previously been spooked.  

Horses are very clever.  Beyond being proficient at relatively simple learning tasks, they are also recognized as having the capacity to solve advanced cognitive challenges involving categorization learning and a degree of concept formation.  

But even more, these are compassionate and intuitive animals.  They have the ability to sense danger before it is even upon them, they respond to the emotions around them, and they even mourn the loss of loved ones.  They express their emotions with their face and a horse's mood can be determined with the help of their nostrils, eyes and ears.  

People with this totem have a good balance of intellect and emotional awareness.  They care very deeply for others and are always looking to help out a friend or family member.  Sometimes they can be very clairvoyant and are able to predict things before they happen.  Expressing emotions, using your power for good, and seeing beyond what is in plain sight is an integral part of the lessons that Horse can teach us.

Horses are powerful creatures whose medicine often translates to people who are family and service oriented.  These people often become teachers in some respect and have a close relationship with the land in which they live.  Many blue collar trades are often the choice of careers for these people.  They can be workaholics, having a very strong work ethic, but they strive to keep a balance between work and family.  Even if they don’t belong to the blue collar workforce, they are often drawn to 'fixing' things…whether it be machinery, relationships, or people.

Wild horses need the companionship of their herd and every action is done for the good of the tribe.  Even young stallions who are banished from the herd when they reach sexual maturity will band together in the wild.  The same is true for domesticated horses, as they get lonely without companions.  

Horse people tend to focus their care on family and friends, sometimes to the detriment of their usually exceptional health.  An example of this is when a mare will continue to nurse her foal well past the age that they should be weaned and, as a result, her back will bow from the burden.  People with this totem will also do anything within their power to care for their loved ones.  And even though they are exceptionally friendly and helpful, like horses, they want to be treated as equals and prefer to accept and trust others as companions on their own terms.  Horse teaches us that we must also care for ourselves even when there are so many others who would benefit from our care and service.

Sensory awareness is often strong with people who have Horse guiding them.  Horses have a better sense of smell and hearing than we do and can turn their ears in different directions to aid their hearing.  They also have almost 360 degree vision with their only blind spots being directly in front and behind them.  Of all land-dwelling animals, horses have the largest eyes.  People with this totem are often visionaries who are able to see the big picture and predict the best possible path for the most beneficial outcome.

The strength and stamina of the Horse will help you explore ways to pace yourself and keep moving in positive directions.  It can raise your consciousness to new levels and carry you into other dimensions that will enlighten and illuminate your path.  The adventures of traveling these spiritual realms are enhanced by the friendship and loyalty of this totem.  The beat of a shaman’s drum is often related to being carried by Horse on a shamanic journey and Horse is a powerful guide in helping Shamans with their work during soul retrievals.  

Horse people are very spirited, even if they are not spiritual.  Though they may often be surrounded by people who they care for or work with, they come alive when they can set all of that aside to just run free in a wide-open space where natural forces outweigh man-made environments.  They may be tethered to many responsibilities in their lives, but they understand the importance of sometimes breaking loose and having some fun.  A balance between restraint and freedom is inherent within Horse Medicine.  There is always work to be done, but sometimes you just have to let yourself run wild and free to reconnect to your inner power.

If Horse is one of your totems, these and many other lessons will be prevalent in your life.  Horse will urge you to refine your mastery of this medicine.  If you see a horse, but it is not one of your totems, respect it as a messenger for that time.  You may need its medicine for what is happening then or what is coming up in the near future.  It may be that you need to allow yourself some space to run free, express your emotions, or figure out the best way to be of service to the people in your life.  You can trust Horse as your guide toward harnessing the power within yourself for the benefit of all.