Chevalia, The Way of the Horse, Book Introduction

Alexandra and our beloved aRamses, son of Feike and Wodi

Since the dawn of time, humanity has wandered the vast landscapes of existence, yearning to fill a mysterious void—a quiet ache that whispers of something forgotten, something longed for but unseen. This void calls us home, not to a place but to a state of being—a sanctuary of peace, belonging, and love. Yet, in our search, we have often turned outward, pursuing fleeting dreams of fame, wealth, and power. We have sought answers in doctrines and dogmas, in the applause of others, and in the glittering illusions of the material world. And still, the void remains, waiting patiently for us to turn inward and remember.

What if this void is not emptiness, but fullness? What if it is not a wound, but a wellspring—a sacred space where the eternal resides, inviting us to rediscover our true selves? Throughout history, sages and seekers have illuminated this path, showing us that the answer is not “out there,” but within. They teach us that by facing the dark abyss of the unknown, we awaken to the boundless light of the I AM—a presence that flows through all things, connecting us to the infinite web of life.

This path to awakening is not new. It has been whispered in the winds of ancient forests, etched into sacred stones, and sung by the rivers of time. From the Druidic groves to the Vedas, from the Tao Te Ching to the quiet wisdom of nature, the message has always been the same: the answers we seek are already within us, waiting to be remembered. Yet, in the clamor of modern life, we have forgotten how to listen.

Amidst this forgetting, there is one teacher who has never abandoned us—a sacred guide who has walked beside us through the pages of history, carrying us across battlefields, through deserts, and into the very heart of civilization. This teacher is the horse.

To many, the horse is a symbol of power, a beast of burden, or a partner in sport. Yet those who have truly listened know that the horse is far more than this. Across cultures and ages, the horse has been revered as a sacred being—Pegasus soaring through Greek mythology, Epona guiding the Celts, and the steeds of Norse gods thundering across the heavens. It is a divine messenger, a bridge between the seen and unseen, a reflection of the truths we have long forgotten. The horse carries within it the wisdom of the cosmos, speaking not in words but in the silent language of the soul.

What is most extraordinary is this: despite centuries of being misunderstood, used, and even mistreated, the horse remains willing to teach us. With patience and compassion, it invites us to step beyond our illusions, to shed the armor of ego, and to rediscover the unity that connects all life. The horse does not judge our failings or demand perfection. Instead, it holds up a mirror, reflecting our innermost selves with gentle clarity.

The Ancient Call

Horses are more than animals; they are living gateways to the divine. Their presence stirs something ancient within us—a call that resonates deep in our bones and pulls at the threads of our soul. To look into the eyes of a horse is to glimpse eternity, a silent reminder of the unbroken connection between all things.

Throughout history, horses have walked beside humanity not only as companions but as sacred mirrors, reflecting our innermost truths and guiding us back to harmony with the natural world. In their company, we are invited to step away from the illusions of separation and rediscover the sacred flow of life. The horse does not teach with words, but with presence. To approach a horse with reverence is to approach the Tao itself—the unnameable, eternal Way.

For many of us, this connection is a distant memory, buried beneath the noise of modern life. But for those willing to unlearn what society has taught and step into the unknown, the way of the horse offers profound transformation. My own awakening began with a single, fateful encounter—one that forever altered the course of my life and left an indelible mark on my soul.

I was twelve years old when I first met him, a black stallion who seemed to materialize from the golden mist of a summer’s morning. He stood alone in a vast field, his mane a dark waterfall cascading over his neck. The moment our eyes met, the world fell away, and something unspoken passed between us—a recognition deeper than words, as if he had been waiting for me all along.

Day after day, I returned to his pasture, drawn by a force I couldn’t explain. At first, I lingered by the fence, watching him from a distance. He would sniff the air between us, testing the unseen thread that tethered our souls. Slowly, cautiously, he invited me closer. And then, one day, he let me in.

What began as tentative steps turned into a sacred dance. We ran together in the open field, his powerful strides guiding mine in perfect harmony. He taught me to shed my human pretenses and become one with the rhythm of the earth. Though I was young, I felt as though I had been chosen by some ancient, divine force to share in his world.

What was this earthly god? A being of light and shadow, a creature who embodied the untamed essence of the universe. When he ran, the earth seemed to quake beneath his hooves, and when he reared, it was as if he commanded the heavens themselves. Despite his immense power, he made me feel safe, cherished, and protected. Together, we created a world apart, a realm where time ceased to exist, and only the sacred dance of our connection remained.

But this dreamlike union was not to last. One afternoon, as we played in his pasture, an old man appeared from a distance, yelling and waving his cowboy hat, his voice growing louder the closer he approached. Both stunned at first, frozen in his tracks, as he came closer, his shouts shattered our world. The stallion bolted, and I ran as the man’s angry words pierced the air: “Get away from him! He’s dangerous! You’ll get hurt!” His accusations felt like arrows, driving me from the only place I wanted to be. Tears blurred my vision as I fled, my heart breaking with each step.

The next day, my heart could not be denied and I returned to the pasture, hoping against hope to see my friend again. But he was gone, and the field stood empty. Day after day, I came to the pasture, only to be met with echoes of his memory.  How I longed to be with him again. The bond we shared was lost, and my heart ached for that sacred connection. Yet, even in his absence, he remained a part of me. His spirit lingered, a constant presence in my dreams and daydreams. I saw him in the shadows of trees, in the play of light on the horizon, and in the rhythm of the world around me.

One stormy night, as thunder shook the heavens and lightning lit up the sky, I lay in my bed, consumed by grief. The storm seemed to echo my sorrow, each crack of thunder a reminder of the bond that had been torn away. But then, as a bolt of lightning illuminated the world outside my window, I saw it—a tree shaped like my black stallion, rearing toward the sky. In that moment, I knew he was not truly gone. His spirit lived on, a beacon of hope and love that would guide me forever.

Years passed, and though I grew older, the stallion’s presence never left me. He ran alongside the bus as I gazed out the window, grazed quietly on the lawns outside my classrooms, and danced in the corners of my mind. He was a constant reminder of the divine, a symbol of the sacred bond between human and horse, spirit and earth.

Today, his legacy lives on through the horses who share my life. Though his physical form has long since faded, his eternal love radiates through their hearts and eyes. Each of them carries their own unique wisdom, their own divine essence, yet his spirit echoes through them all. I am surrounded by a pantheon of equine deities—gods and goddesses of ancient realms—each one a teacher, a guide, and a bearer of truth. Together, they remind me that the divine is not bound by a single form but is an eternal force that flows through all beings.

This book is an invitation to rediscover that force, the eternal flow of the Tao, through the way of the horse. Through ancient teachings, personal stories, and practical exercises, we will journey together into the heart of this sacred relationship, exploring its power to transform not only our lives but the world itself.

Let us begin where all journeys begin: with the breath, the heartbeat, the quiet pulse of the present moment. Let us step into the golden pasture of our own being and meet the stallion within—the unbridled spirit that has been waiting, all along, to lead us home.

Looking back, I see that the black stallion was my first teacher. He awakened a truth within me that I could no longer ignore. In his presence, I felt the rhythm of life, the interconnectedness of all things. I learned that the wisdom we seek is not found in the external world, but within—in the spaces where we are free from judgment, where the noise of the world falls away.

The horse waits for us, patient and knowing, inviting us to strip away the illusions that obscure our light. It does not seek to change us, but to guide us back to the truth of who we are. In the stillness of its gaze, we find a call—a call to remember, to awaken, to walk the path of unity and peace.

Will you answer? Will you allow the horse to lead you beyond the ego's illusions and into the eternal flow of life? The path is here, waiting. All you must do is step forward.

apart, a realm where time ceased to exist, and only the sacred dance of our connection remained.

But this dreamlike union was not to last. One afternoon, as we played in his pasture, an old man appeared, yelling and waving his cowboy hat. His shouts shattered our world. The stallion bolted, and I stood frozen as the man’s angry words pierced the air: “Get away from him! He’s dangerous! You’ll get hurt!” His accusations felt like arrows, driving me from the only place I wanted to be. Tears blurred my vision as I fled, my heart breaking with each step.

The next day, I returned to the pasture, hoping against hope to see my friend again. But he was gone, and the field stood empty. Day after day, I searched for him, only to be met with silence and longing. The bond we had shared was severed, and my heart ached with the loss of that sacred connection. Yet, even in his absence, he remained a part of me. His spirit lingered, a constant presence in my dreams and daydreams. I saw him in the shadows of trees, in the play of light on the horizon, and in the rhythm of the world around me.

One stormy night, as thunder shook the heavens and lightning lit up the sky, I lay in my bed, consumed by grief. The storm seemed to echo my sorrow, each crack of thunder a reminder of the bond that had been torn away. But then, as a bolt of lightning illuminated the world outside my window, I saw it—a tree shaped like my black stallion, rearing toward the sky. In that moment, I knew he was not truly gone. His spirit lived on, a beacon of hope and love that would guide me forever.

Years passed, and though I grew older, the stallion’s presence never left me. He ran alongside the bus as I gazed out the window, grazed quietly on the lawns outside my classrooms, and danced in the corners of my mind. He was a constant reminder of the divine, a symbol of the sacred bond between human and horse, spirit and earth.

Invitation to the Path

The story of the black stallion is not just my story—it is an invitation. It is a call to remember the sacred bond we share with nature and her creatures, a bond that transcends time and space. Through the silent wisdom of the horse, we are offered a path back to ourselves, a way to rediscover the divine essence that flows through all life.

This journey is not for the faint of heart. It requires courage—the courage to let go of the illusions that bind us, to face the void within, and to trust the guidance of a teacher who speaks without words. The horse invites us to step into the unknown, to embrace the rhythm of life that pulses through the earth and sky, and to awaken to the truth that we are not separate, but one with the great tapestry of existence.

Will you accept the invitation? Will you dare to step beyond the confines of the ego and into the boundless freedom of the soul? The horse waits, patient and knowing, ready to guide you on the path to unity, wisdom, and peace. All you must do is take the first step.