On Saturday the Banana Slugs eagerly gathered to give their day to Animals as Natural Therapy, a nonprofit that uses farm animals to heal humans. During our day, girls were able to see first hand all of the ways animals can provide therapy without human hands or voice. We witnessed horses, goats, chickens, bunnies, and llamas instinctively teaching trust, responsibility, love, connection, conscious movement, and clarity. In addition to this, during the Blessing of the Animals ceremony, we were able to hear stories from those who benefit from ANT’s services: youth and elders who have experienced trauma, dysfunction, illness, depression, addictions, and loneliness.
We spent the day experiencing many of the animals' therapeutic methods: llama’s wary size-up of our trust-ability; the horses’ stubborn response to brushing and snorting gratitude for cleaning their water dish; bunnies’ patience with our handling; chickens' incredible calm and trust; the goats’ playfulness and clear head-butting communication. We also got on-the-spot training about how to teach others about the animals at the farm, quickly learning how to relate to llama, goats, bunnies, chickens, before turning around and teaching visitors how to do so! It was just great watching the girls be empowered by real responsibility, and benefit others with their patience and new skills.
The day was broken up by the Blessing of the Animals, wherein all animals were led to the center ring to be individually blessed and honored. Some of the Banana Slugs even had the chance to participate in the blessing.
By day’s end, the animals had worked their therapy on each one of us, and during our acknowledgements girls each chose an animal to thank for gifts given this day.
To see the full photo album, click here.
To see the full photo album, click here.
