Hawk-Assisted Therapy? Yep, it’s Pretty Cool!

A few weeks ago I was in Sitges, Spain and met a friend of a friend, named Fares, who teaches corporate teams and CEOs how to become aware of their energy – and use it more effectively – using birds of prey. Whaaaa?? I had never heard of this before, and Fares graciously agreed to give me a demo (using my husband Ian) so that I could see it and film it for you guys!

Fares also has a stallion and gelding together on his property that he takes people to work with after they’ve worked with the hawks, eagles, buzzards and owls, so I also shot a quick explanation of what he perceives is the difference between working on your energy/communication with birds vs. horses. Grab a cup of tea, cause this is a good one!

Why are the birds chained?

Let me say right away that, YES, it does not feel good to see amazing flight creatures like this chained to weighted perches. I didn’t have time to talk in-depth with Fares about the logistics of their care or training (he only had an hour and then had to drive back to Holland). I had some ideas, having read the book, H is For Hawk, but I do know that some of his birds are rescues – like my horses, they’d be dead if they weren’t captive with him.

I’m also not quick to criticize others based on the fact that I have a whole field of wild horses that I’ve imprisoned and cut their balls off. This is one of the conundrums of too many people on the earth who are taking all the land. If you’ve read the news or been on social media at all in the last decade, you know about the rate and breadth of species extinction happening on this planet. So what’s worse – imprisonment, or death? There’s no easy answer.

So although these birds are chained, know that Fares also regularly takes them out and allows them to fly free – it’s one of the reasons he bought this property in rural Spain, so the birds can fly free and enjoy nature on a regular basis.

If the birds are allowed to fly completely free, why do they return to Fares? I found this pdf from a bird rehab in Australia that does a good job of explaining the positive reinforcement training technique.

In the video, Fares also briefly discusses that it was the birds NOT returning to him that first made him become aware of his energy, and how his energetic state affected the birds.

It’s amazing to me that even when we imprison all these beautiful creatures, they don’t stop teaching and encouraging us to grow, to develop our consciousness and to hopefully, someday, become loving, wholistic members of Mother Earth.

Hawk-Assisted Therapy? Yep, it’s Pretty Cool!

15 thoughts on “Hawk-Assisted Therapy? Yep, it’s Pretty Cool!

  • November 10, 2019 at 5:58 am
    Permalink

    Dear Jini,

    I enjoyed watching this excellent video, but I would really like to see more of how this is done with horses. I got my 1st. horse 2 years ago (Tex) and I would like him to be a therapy horse. He is a 21/2 year old gelded American Quarter horse and he is very social and curious about everything. I introduce him to adults and children alike and he seems to like everyone. Although I sometimes wonder if he isn’t just looking for a carrot or apple which I give to him daily. I’m73 yrs. old know and a bit feeble, but I still love working and spending my day with all the animals at the animal sanctuary here in rural Missouri. What a delight it is to be with these beautiful angels with tails. I look forward to learning more about how to experience their healing energy physically, mentally and spiritually.

    From “Angels With Tails Animal Sanctuary”… Peace!
    Bob

    Reply
  • November 10, 2019 at 11:17 am
    Permalink

    Fabulous!! I wanted to tell Ian to be in Mountain Pose 🙂

    Reply
    • November 12, 2019 at 10:57 pm
      Permalink

      The funny thing is, we were going through a LOT of emotional turmoil with our son at the time, plus Ian was getting eaten alive by the mosquitoes on his legs. He’s normally a very grounded person, but then that wouldn’t have made for a good video, would it? LOL So I guess the universe decided to make it a bit tougher for him.

      Reply
  • November 10, 2019 at 12:30 pm
    Permalink

    Wow, Jini! That was amazing. Your video is giving me words to describe my experience rehabbing senior horses. They have led me to the “being” place, rather than “doing”. No amount of doing will ever bring the peace and connection of the “being” place. I love the explanation of vertical alignment first, then body language, then words. And keeping feelings with thoughts, rather than just thoughts alone. I’ve been at classes where it’s all body language and words, but the first piece is missing which results in the voice of the horse being over-ridden (no pun intended) simply because no one has the skills or awareness of the first piece of vertical alignment. This gives me even more to experiment with with my horses. Thank you!

    Reply
    • November 12, 2019 at 11:02 pm
      Permalink

      Awesome Mary! And I agree, that image and languaging of THE VERTICAL is a life-changer. Such a wonderful gift. Fares ran a highly successful sporting goods business and then had an overwork ‘breakdown’, which led him to retreat to this villa in Spain to heal. Which is where the birds took charge and took him in an entirely new direction. Of course, he just “happened” to come for lunch at our friend’s place (we were there for only 1 week) and then he had to leave that same evening to drive the birds back to Holland. So the timing was typical alignment-with-the-universe style!

      Reply
  • November 10, 2019 at 3:14 pm
    Permalink

    Jini this is gold!
    Thank you for sharing. Thank you Ian for letting your vulnerabilities show to the world – this is not easy for me and through you we have been able to see very clearly how Fares and his birds work beautifully together. Your discomfort was extremely clear and I couldn’t help but wonder how much time you get to spend in nature daily?

    Jini I agree that we imprison our animals in a way – and yet I think on some level that it is a co-agreement to help lift humanity back to a much more aware spiritual consciousness. I wonder how many of these animals feel truly imprisoned, ie. with no choice in their lives at all? Like your animals or indeed mine?

    I used to feel imprisoned in my life – a sensitive with huge empathic abilities and also with Asperger. I used to feel like I couldn’t wait till it was my time to leave the planet, until I realised what I was really doing here and that I am actually in control of my own energies and how important to the everything it is that I live out my life! I wonder if the animals of the planet have this knowing that it’s been pretty rough, is still pretty rough but if we do our best, this will one day be in our past?

    I don’t really know, but I like this idea of co-creation together in a way as humans we don’t fully understand and perhaps maybe struggle to comprehend.

    Thank you again lovely Lady! And BTW I hope that you never again feel like you have to address all the crap comments on your YouTube channel! The drain to your energy is really not worth it! I wonder if you still let it get to you because a part of you is still trying to validate why you do what you do with the horses? I hope that one day you feel true contentment, that your best has been enough❤️ And you have given at least me an energetic place to call home, I am so grateful for all of your work and unconditional openness and acceptance ❤️❤️

    Reply
    • November 12, 2019 at 11:17 pm
      Permalink

      You’re very welcome Tamara 🙂 And please know that the YouTube comments don’t upset me – I’ve been posting on my health channel for over a decade now and am well used to the culture. Gives me a chance to experience just a smidge of what Donald Trump endures on a daily basis LOL. I know that a lot of people are drawn to my LTYH channel because it is an ‘opening’ for them – but that also can throw them into turmoil, indignation, stress, etc. so their knee-jerk can be to lash out. The first encounter with something that has the potential to shift the guideposts of our paradigm is always pretty uncomfortable.

      I agree with you about animals’ role/gift to humans here. I know they don’t view time, death, pain, grief and a whole bunch of other things, the same way we do. While I think that animals (like us) are at varying stages of development, they are definitely operating in greater connection to Source than humans, across the board. So they offer us a greater wisdom and the opportunity to evolve beyond our limitations. And yes, they most definitely are choosing to offer us help!

      I think as humans – who often question why we’re here and long to “go home” – if we can have even a glimmer of understanding of how powerful our vibration/frequency is, and how much it affects those around us (human, animal, plant, earth)… we would not waste another second questioning or longing. We would focus instead – as you pointed out – on doing the best we can, with what we have, and who we are, right NOW.

      Reply
  • November 10, 2019 at 6:03 pm
    Permalink

    It’s hard to see the birds tied. I always love to see birds fly free. But what a great service they are all doing, Fares and the birds. That is what I discovered with my mustangs, same thing. If I am not centered, they don’t pay any attention. They don’t fly away, but there is no connection, no communication. They literally walk off. Thank you for sharing this!

    Reply
    • November 12, 2019 at 11:19 pm
      Permalink

      Yes exactly! And the second we center (vertical) they are right there 🙂

      Reply
  • November 11, 2019 at 8:10 am
    Permalink

    I don’t even know how to convey how powerful this video was for me! It really is fascinating and very deep! This gentleman has such a way and ease about the way he presented the interaction! I came away with a way better understanding and feel of being grounded and in my body! The vertical and horizontal is so clear..not easy..like he said …I am sure a lifetime of feeling and understanding goes into accomplishing it and truly understanding! Love how he said sometimes we just can’t..we’re to tired or just in the wrong head space to even go there! I know this about myself for sure …and when I feel this …I am very aware of the way it will impact the horses! What an absolute privilege and amazing opportunity to experience this with these birds! I have become very in awe of birds as I get older and especially since moving to where we live now.as the birds really seem to get deep into my soul! Can’t wait to practice this with them in my daily interactions! Especially the Magpies! They are extra sensitive to people/energy! I am a person who believes that some of nature’s creatures have made the sacrifice to help humans get back to what we are and we’re meant to be! It’s not necessarily fair but I believe it is needed if we are to save this planet! The animals know this and are deeply aware of how it is…like you say …energy..we are all the same energy…being..source…and it all affects everything!

    Jini…this is really a gift you have shared with us! Sending you such gratitude and thankfulness for your special way of finding these remarkable people and sharing it with us!
    I understand this is not why you do these things…BUT…you have so much beautiful Karma…flowing your way…for allowing yourself to be a vessel for all this astounding positive, enlightening, energy flowing to all that are ready to receive it…and to those that it helps …nudge..in that direction!

    ✌🏼❤️🐴

    Reply
    • November 12, 2019 at 11:29 pm
      Permalink

      I agree Michelle – I loved Fares’ honesty and realness about this process and his own growth. And I agree too about animals choosing to make the sacrifice to help us evolve. And thank you so much for your kind words, this has been a very challenging year for me – I keep wondering when this growth-pressure-cooker period will be over and then I get hit with another round. It’s been a continual cycle with Montaro saying to me, “Don’t ask for the burden to be smaller, ask to GET BIGGER, so the boulder you’re carrying becomes a pebble in your pocket.”

      Reply
  • November 12, 2019 at 5:42 am
    Permalink

    WOWSY what a powerful video! THANKS so much Jini for making it and thanks everyone for your interesting replies.
    I too was concerned about the birds being tied and jolted out of their peaceful state repeatedly. I found it fascinating to hear Fares share his authentic journey with these hawks. I can relate it to my experiences in being exposed to race horses and the behind the scenes training that they go through before hitting the race track. For me it has been an 18 year journey and one that the horses clearly pulled me into.

    My x- partner owned several race horses. When we started dating it was exciting to go to the races and cheer on his horses. What evolved as a result of my exposer to the race horse world was a shift that touched every detail of my life. Like Fares, I was not seeking what unfolded for me with the horses, but the horses pulled me in. My journey was my need to come to an understanding what was going on inside me every time I was near the horses. My curiosity and need to understand has taken me down a path that 18 years ago I could never have dreamed would be my path. The four race horses that I am now the care taker of most certainly influenced the fact that we are together on the same land now. We continue to evolve each other. It seems we have made an agreement to be together that the horses were and are as much a part of it as am I.

    I totally resonate with Jini, Tamara and Michelle when you say:

    -“It’s amazing to me that even when we imprison all these beautiful creatures, they don’t stop teaching and encouraging us to grow, to develop our consciousness and to hopefully, someday, become loving, wholistic members of Mother Earth.” Jini

    – “I agree that we imprison our animals in a way – and yet I think on some level that it is a co-agreement to help lift humanity back to a much more aware spiritual consciousness.” “I don’t really know, but I like this idea of co-creation together in a way as humans we don’t fully understand and perhaps maybe struggle to comprehend.” Tamara

    -“I am a person who believes that some of nature’s creatures have made the sacrifice to help humans get back to what we are and we’re meant to be! It’s not necessarily fair but I believe it is needed if we are to save this planet! The animals know this and are deeply aware of how it is…like you say …energy..we are all the same energy…being..source…and it all affects everything!” Michelle

    Sometimes I hear people say that “animals are the higher beings”. I do wonder about that sometimes myself. When I ponder the gigantic sacrifices that animals have made through history to benefit humans it is unsettling. Ultimately though, like Michelle said “we are all the same energy…being… source”. The more I come across powerful messages like the one the hawks delivered in this video the more I come to a place of understanding that we are all in this together and whether a human, an animal, insect, plant or a rock we are co-creating with each other and evolving each other. As in my journey with the horses and I can only imagine as in Fare’s journey with hawks the more we explore and open each other the more we create space for co-creation and the opportunity to expand our love and to evolve each other in the direction of becoming loving wholistic members of Mother Earth.

    Joan

    Reply
    • November 12, 2019 at 11:37 pm
      Permalink

      AMEN sister!! And I love the way you lined up our 3 quotes together – that really makes an impact – very powerful. Thank you. I can just imagine your journey from cheering newbie to the dawning of awareness, to where you are now. I did some pretty cringey things to my horses as a child (treating them the way I was treated = normal) but they were so ‘evolved’ about it. They knew my intention, my limitations, my handicaps, etc and they were WAY more forgiving than my horses are now! LOL Yet another way the horses model for us non-judgement and compassion for ALL beings, at all stages of life/growth.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

css.php