Inter-being

It’s possible I’ll get a bit too philosophical here, but bear with me. I’m taken by the idea that none of us exist in a vacuum. Our personality and behavior is the result of the conditions we find ourselves in, and the other people and creatures that we interact with. It is a state that the great Buddhist Monk, Thich Nhat Hahn, referred to as “inter-being”.

Inter-being is something that expresses itself every day here at the sanctuary. You see it the most effortlessly when new rescues are welcomed into the family.  

Some recent examples:

The adolescent pig Bilbo, was completely traumatized when he first arrived. He would startle really easily, wouldn’t let us touch him, and seemed fearful of the other animals. Over time, his personality has emerged from underneath these burdens. As I write this, I am watching him in the common area not 5 feet away from Frodo the dog. He often cuddles up next to mister Pickles, and they have successfully become pen mates. Bilbo likes to go next to the chicken run and rest near his feathered friends. And most importantly, he lets us pet him, and even blisses out to long belly rubs. It’s beautiful to witness his transformation.

We also see the transformation of our bantam roosters every day. At first, they were terrified of the much larger hens. They kept to themselves, like junior high boys at their first dance. Morgoth emerged as the more assertive, and came to mingle with the girls through the day. In fact, he now roosts on the main tree limb occupied by three of the ladies. You can hear his newfound confidence in his robust and elegant crow, generally starting at 3 AM.

Sauron the Bantam Rooster

Sauron is a bit more sensitive. He still roosts alone and largely keeps to himself, but is sweet and likes to be held. He has such a gentle nature. I’ve noticed him spending time with Brandy, who had always been the bottom of the pecking order. They seem to enjoy each other’s company. It’s hard not to feel like a parent when your shy kid makes their first playdate…Everyone in the coop is changing, with the addition of new personalities. Inter-being…

The new ducks and two new hens are still in quarantine in the future sheep house. But they seem very happy, especially when the atmospheric rains hit this weekend. They were the only animals that didn’t seem depressed by the soggy conditions. Wet worked fine for them.

In Goatville, the big new development involves Archie. Now, Archie, is a myotonic goat that came here with Gaga and Quinn, over a year ago. Archie has always been extremely shy. He never lets us touch him, and if you enter the pen he will hide from you. It’s a shame, with his silky fur, you want to pet him so badly, but no chance. He’s very close to Quinn, and Quinn LOVES to be pet, stroked and brushed. They are very protective of each other, always nearby, usually touching. One thing we noticed is that Quinn and Archie will buck with all the other goats, but never with each other. They are always patient and accommodating with each other. 

Anyway, our live-in volunteer, Marc, noticed that Archie would tolerate being touched at night, when it was dark. I tested the theory and, sure enough, he tolerated it! After doing that for a bit, now he has let us stroke his luxurious locks in the daytime. He is changing! What took Bilbo a few months to come around to, Archie required over a year for. Each has their own timeline.

The humans here practice Inter-being as well. Marc has been a godsend! The animals adore him, and he works hard and always has great ideas to make things better. With Marc here, I was able to go off on a 5 day retreat, and had no reason to worry about things being taken care of. I find myself able to think about long term planning, nuances of the animals' well being, and projects, being somewhat freed from daily tasks. There is a real balance that has been struck. 

Marc will be moving on next month. If anyone knows someone who would enjoy sanctuary life, send them our way. They get lodging and food in exchange for help with running the place. A great situation for young people navigating transitions in life.

Inter-being is also practiced by the people who come to Rivendell and share in its unfolding. Either as volunteers, joining us at Friends’ Table events, or bringing bags of veg for the animals. Rivendell strives to be a refuge for animals and people alike, and it’s a joy to see that slowly come to life. 

It is easy to see how we are affected by other people in our lives, but here, we get to see how people experience change by spending time with free and loved farm animals. Sometimes you see a little light getting through, when people observe “ah yes, they too strive to feel connected. To be happy. To be seen”. The closer we look  - the more similar we appear. So it is….

🙏