“Why the ubiquitous rhinoceros on your website?” you may well ask, unless you already know me.
Here’s an exercise to acquire this deep wisdom and something else for yourself.
You may like to tape these instructions, or perhaps you can remember them.
Part 1. Grounding
- Sit on a chair in a peaceful place where you are unlikely to be disturbed.
- Sit in your most grounded position. I advise back comfortably straight, feet firmly on the ground about hip-width apart, hands palm up.
- Shut your eyes.
- Let your breathing breathe. In about three breaths it will settle into a natural rhythm.
- Now imagine you are a vase, and that your breath fills you like water flowing into a vase, from the bottom up.
- Don’t force your breath. Don’t over-breathe or hyperventilate. Just intend your breath to do this and it will. A hand as low down on the belly as possible will help.
- Now imagine that your butt is a second pair of lungs, so the base of your vase becomes bigger.
- Imagine that your thighs are a third pair of lungs, so the base of your vase becomes bigger still.
Part 2. Advice
- Let an interesting personal problem on which you could do with some advice come to your mind. Let it be juicy.
- Now invite an animal to come to you. Just open yourself up to seeing an animal in your mind’s eye.
- Greet the animal politely.
- Ask the animal if it is willing to help with your problem. Usually they agree.
- Tell the animal your problem.
- Listen respectfully to the animal’s advice.
I call the first part of this exercise Bums and Thighs in my groups, and can say that expression in several different languages, including Polish.
Funny name, you may say. Well that’s how we well-grounded rhinoceroses think of the world, isn’t it?
Want to go further with your animal?
Write down its qualities and faults.
For example: Rhino is earth, is grounding, is animal, is instinct – - – is a short tempered with mean, short-sighted eyes ….. and all of that’s me. Starting from the end: I have made it my life’s work and purpose to achieve a Wider Vision – read my books to decide for yourself if I’m succeeding. I discipline the part of me that can be sharp and cultivate compassion. I’ve worked hard to become truly grounded and to have reliable instincts. Rhinos have a terrific sense of smell. I’m pretty good at sniffing people out. I get what they are really up to, and, if they choose, in groups, or in private sessions I’m good at protecting and guiding them to get the best out of themselves: to come to their Wider Vision. Rhinos are amazing with their young. If I’m teaching, all younger questors feel safe.
I hope you had fun with these exercises. I’m not sure how playful rhinos are. I’m playful. The rhino is only part of who I am.
