The Space to Ride Together
I believe there is such a thing as a "creativity hangover." It’s an exhaustion that is deep, but not depleted—an energy that is still alive and vibrant, but needs to saunter through the day rather than race. I used to feel it after leading "Not Church," and I feel it again today.
Yesterday was our monthly Zoom for Take the Reins—a gathering to find our center and reclaim our agency. We began at the start of the year, coinciding with the Year of the Horse. Back then, the energy felt "galloping." Now, a few months in, that pace has shifted from a gallop to a steady, rhythmic, forward walk.
On Saturday, I participated in a cabalgata to honor the one-year anniversary of a friend’s passing. There were twenty of us, covering a ten-mile loop. I rode Luna. In the horse world, we say Luna has a lot of "forward." It is a driving, powerful, ground-covering stride. She isn’t trying to bolt ahead, nor is she trudging behind. She is simply there: ready, willing, and forward.
This is the energy the Year of the Horse offers us. It isn’t rushed, manic, or panicked; nor is it dawdling. It is a purposeful stride that covers territory while taking in the view. It is powerful, but composed.
Yet, had Luna and I been riding unknown trails alone, Luna’s "forward" would have evaporated on the spot.
Luna is a mare who likes her space—she isn’t one for snuggling—but she is still a herd animal. While we do go out on solo rides, she moves with a different kind of courage when she is with others. Riding together gives her the confidence to move boldly, without hesitation, even when the path is unknown or off the beaten track.
Aren’t we humans the same?
We may need our space, our own "seat," and our own rhythm—but we find our bravest forward motion when we know the herd is riding with us. It’s not that we can’t ride alone, or that we don’t sometimes enjoy the solitude; it’s that riding together provides the courage and connection to face the unknown.
That is why we gather. And that is why, today, I am happy to sit in this "creativity hangover." It is the quiet, lingering vibration of a herd that moved forward together yesterday. It’s a good tired.
If you’d like to join us in Take the Reins we’d love to have you part of the herd. Our next gathering isn't until May, but if you send me a DM or leave a comment, I’ll reach out with the details and keep you in the loop as we get closer.
