Philosophy and Method

As human-beings we experience many different stages of development. Beginning in our mothers' womb, from new-born child to toddler, from child to grown-up finally to elderly person. Each stage brings its own procedures, its high-points and low-points, its revelations and mis-judgements, the unforeseen and the irreversible. Our own personality develops from the sum of all these experiences and with this personality we live and connect. A wonderful explanatory model for life, so the Indian peoples teach us, is the "medicine wheel". The person, his potential, his life's themes, his influence in his fields of acquaintance and activity is represented by a large circle. This circle is, from the start, large and unbroken. According to the understanding of the Indians, the "circle of life" is synonymous with a "circle of power", power over one's own life. Medecine means power and power means knowledge. The "medicine wheel" is a "circle of knowledge", which provides power over one's own life. The work with the "medicine wheel" in my own understanding and approach sheds light on diverse aspects surrounding the development of my own personality from different view-points. Seeing as how in our Western culture the development of our own consciousness, as well as work on our own psyche and spirituality takes place mostly in the head, the horse is able to offer help to our whole being, a procedure which encompasses the entire body. Horses have acknowledged powers of healing. As soon as one comes into contact with these animals, with their good-will and benevolent nature, one experiences their capability to lead us to a level at which it is easier to reflect on oneself and one's feelings.