“To develop a complete mind: Study the science of art; Study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” ~ Leonardo Da Vinci
The artwork pictured here is a recent piece of mine; a portrait of a perlino horse with mystical and mysterious eyes gazing out into a grid of the sacred geometrical flower of life pattern. This horse has learned, or maybe never forgot, how to “see” in the sense I feel Leonardo Da Vinci was implying in the quote above. I feel that this insight is a quality that the whole of the equine species possesses and is a large part of why so many people are drawn to horses.
I chose the symbolism of the flower of life to be juxtaposed with the main subject of the horse very intentionally and will continue to use sacred geometry as a common theme within future works. The symbolic implications it has for my work of symbiotically connecting my quest for equine welfare in compassionate horsemanship with my artistic practices is potent. So today I’d like to discuss what sacred geometry means to me, why I’m drawn to it, and how I feel the underlying concepts can be correlated to an artistically and scientifically minded horsemanship approach.
Let’s begin by discussing a bit about sacred geometry. Sacred geometry inspires a variety of definitions and interpretations. One definition I came across early in my studies on the subject was that sacred geometry is the geometry utilized in the architectural design of sacred buildings. This notion aligned with information I came across later on, that described it as blueprints for building structures based on the use of specific angles and proportions that allowed for transcendental resonances within the created spaces. Of course, the origin of sacred geometry goes way beyond our use of these patterns for architectural purposes. The fractal nature of these geometries implies that our use of them to create structural forms which transform space into places of both mystical and materialistic potentials, may have been inspired by the vibrational frequencies that created the structures of our universe. This tracks with another common definition of sacred geometry being that it is a fundamental structure of life in the universe, presenting as specific shapes, ratios, proportions, and harmonics.
Ok, but let’s back track for a minute and get a more solid description of the geometry itself. Sacred geometry is a set of geometric patterns that have been ascribed deeper esoteric symbolism. The shapes themselves are those of basic geometry, the sacred nature of them is derived from the implications of their origins and potentials. These geometries are directly related to the five platonic solids. Metatron’s cube, a sacred geometrical pattern, holds within it all of the platonic solids. The Flower of Life, another sacred G pattern, often times considered a blueprint of sorts, holds within it the building blocks of Metatron’s cube. Unsurprisingly the mathematical formulas associated with these shapes and patterns are found throughout nature from plants growing in accordance with the Fibonacci sequence to galaxies spiraling in the same golden ratio.
To me, sacred geometry symbolizes an integration of the natural and mystical worlds. It is the divine relationship between art and science. A representation of balancing forces and a unifying force of interconnectivity. My journey as a horse woman has been to integrate the natural patterns of nature with essences of intuition and spirit to create coherent and compassionate horsemanship practices. My journey as an artist has been to inspire my viewers to think and feel outside of the box and to remember to look beyond initial surface layers to see the mystical within the mundane. And I do perceive a thread among it all.
It seems to be relatively common for people to have transformational experiences with horses that inspire deeper connections not only between horses and humans, but also between individuals and divine universal energies. It is undeniable that horses possess innate intuitive and emotional capacities. And they use these natural gifts to reflect our own capacities when we choose to see what is possible. Because of this there is a growing community within the horse world that incorporates the use of energy work into their practice with horses and the results are more peaceful, rewarding, and harmonious dynamics between the horses and their people. This type of horsemanship does tend to get a bad wrap in some circles though, and comes across as too “woo woo” for many people. So again, the symbolism of sacred geometry is poignant to encourage those on the fence to consider some of these emerging practices from a different angle.
My intention is to encourage equestrians to adopt an intuitive and creative approach to their practices that is balanced with factual research and scientific study. And this is just another reason why I use sacred G symbolism, because it represents the balance of age-old innate wisdom with the promise of evolutionary discoveries. We are existing in a time where the evolution of our technologies and scientific understandings of things are increasing at astonishing rates. So then why are so many of our horsemanship practices remaining stagnant and continuing to utilize dominance theories and forced submission through fear tactics? There are also less obvious and seemingly benign (to some) practices that are still the standard today, that are actually very harmful to the wellbeing of our horses. Such things as limited access to turn out and socialization come to mind among others. In many equestrian circles these practices are not even questioned simply because they are the status quo, but I believe that somewhere deep down, every horse lover’s intuition is whispering to them that there is a better way.
Of course, while intuition alone may be enough for a select few, to influence any significant change to the standards of the equine industry at large, is going to require a more factual and scientific roadmap to encourage those rooted in their old ways to consider a new perspective. And so, I’d like to take this as an important reminder that we should consult with science just as much as we consult with the art of intuition. Our intuition leads us to the scientific discoveries that offer us affirmations that we are on the correct path. Unfortunately, without the balance of scientific affirmations, our intuition is often overridden by fear and/or lack of understanding and this leads us to act in less than harmonious ways. But as our knowledge evolves in the realms of behaviorism, biology, psychology, physiology, trauma responses, etc. etc., in equines, humans, and mammals in general, so too can our approaches evolve. With newfound theories and the science to back them up, we can and are beginning to apply more fitting structures and foundations to our horsemanship practices which are resulting in healthier patterns and more harmony overall.
People are allowing themselves to tap into subtler energies when communicating and connecting with their horses. They are seeking patterns not initially visible on the surface layer to connect root causes of behaviors rather than simply covering up symptoms. We are learning how to see that every behavior a horse presents connects to some need that is fundamental to the structure of that horse’s make up on a biological, psychological, and physiological level. We are allowing ourselves to see the fundamental unifying structure and using it as a map to guide us into harmony with our horses. And the transformative nature of this comes from the fact that by learning how to truly see our horses, they are showing us how to truly see ourselves in return.
The point of this article is really just an exercise in viewing ideas from different angles and finding ways to connect dots. A contemplation to offer context to themes within my art, and a contemplation to inspire us to illuminate patterns and seek connection whether it be in our horsemanship practices or day-to-day lives.
Maybe these contemplations resonate with you, and maybe not. Either way its ok, it’s all just food for thought. Take it or leave it. But if something inside you does stir when reading this, then I encourage you to sit with it. Try to feel into it rather than think and intellectualize about it, at least to start. Allow the wisdom of your being, of your body, of your sacred building blocks, to uncover the ways in which this knowledge can be integrated into your horsemanship practice and into your day-to-day life. And then for the sake of balance, go ahead and seek the science and analyze the actual factual data around such concepts. We live in an amazing time of available scientific knowledge that can act as profound affirmations that we are or are not aligned with the coherence of reality. It is all just a perspective to consider. And ultimately, that is what I am trying to do here. To encourage those who work and interact with horses to consider a new perspective of the dynamic between our species. A perspective that takes into consideration the Whole; the Whole self, the Whole horse, and the Whole relationship within the grander symphony.
I will leave you with this image of the seed of life which I painted on a horse for a fundraising event to symbolize divine partnership and the notions expressed in this article. The seed of life because I am planting a seed of perspective for people within the horse world to consider an artistic approach to horsemanship that utilizes a divine middle path of timeless wisdom through intuition and emerging scientific knowledge.
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