The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, build signal fires, causes proper matter to catch fire. To display the lantern of the soul is shadowy in times like these. To be fierce and show mercy towards others, both are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity.

The above quote is from a short essay by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, the author of Woman who Run with the Wolves. I was moved in reading this. There is always the chance that in writing about such writing, that I will not do it justice. But I must at least write about what it gets me to thinking.

These are supposedly dark times politically. Right now it seems like governance world-wide is in a state of disarray. On election day and immediately after I was disheartened, morally, emotionally, psychically. I felt like I was on a ship in the horse latitudes, I was in the doldrums where there is no wind. I was out there, adrift, and thought that I’d soon die. And I didn’t care one way or the other about this.

But the wind has seemingly picked up. A very quiet and peaceful revolution is now beginning to happen. This is not happening at the speed of light, not that it should. People worldwide are gathering up their individual and collective energy and figuring out how to deal. Once we figure this out (and it will be collective effort), the revolution will occur.

Some are making the important connections related to politics and creativity. On all fronts right now there is an outpouring of positive energy. If you look you can see the collective light, shining brightly, like a beacon on the sea. It’s impossible to ignore. It fills some with fear and others with hope.

I saw the light of 800 souls on last week’s woman’s march in Palmer, Alaska. And I saw the light of another 500 souls this past weekend in Portland, Oregon, when I attended the Karen Pryor Clicker Training Expo. The clicker, a handheld device, is simply a bridge signal, a quick means of saying yes. The use of the clicker is synonymous with the concept of positive reinforcement. Communicating with animals is challenging, finding ways of communicating with them in an exclusively positive manner even more so. The same holds true in interacting with people.

I know that animals have souls. The one’s that I have interacted with at length have taught me that a soul is a spiritual life source. I do not think that it is necessarily equated with a higher power. The soul is simply what is all powerful and all good. And it resides in each and every one of us.

For example Raudi has a soul. I see it in her eyes most every day. I first saw this in her and then I became accustomed to seeing it in those around me. And all the other animals here at Squalor Holler have souls. Rover’s the kitchen addition goat’s soul is shining brightly right now. It always has, but lately, with him being sick, it’s shining more brightly than ever.

Lately, I’ve been seeing the light shine in individuals, in particular my artist friends, Betty P, Bill S, Maria W, Jacki W. And as they continue to create, their souls shine all that much more brightly.

I’d like to be a part of a project called “Soul Searching.” This would be about the history of the soul as this relates to art, music, dance, writing, photography, and the fiber arts. A great idea, one that needs further consideration on my part.

I would also like to write a book entitled “Running with Horses,” which would be about how being around horses has empowered women. I would write about how Raudi brought about karmic and causal changes in my life. I am not the same person I was before she came into my life.

I took to TTeam work, Centered Riding, Feldenkrais work, Tai Chi, and clicker training in order to find ways of relating to her, ways that are non-adversarial. And as I did this, I discovered that indeed, we both have souls. Who woulda thunk it?

The light of our souls is going to continue to shine more and more brightly. In order for us to vanquish the dark side, we are going to have to do more than suppress anger. Suppressed anger merely rises to the surface, like the flotsam and jetsam in the ocean. Rather, we are going to have to find inner peace. And the sooner we can do this, the better off we are going to be.

I am at peace with myself. Seems like a fine mantra to me.

Next: 33. 2/2/17: The Farming Life: Animal Husbandry