The Aura Within

Our family farm was old and run down. Imagine an enormous tree beautiful and grand in stature but age has withered its bark, broken and twisted the limbs, and stripped some of the leaves. That was our farm. My grandfather raised cows and was a dairy farmer. It was a hard life, filled with long days, cold nights and pinching each penny. His perspective was outward, work - build - maintain. My mother, Amy, was never fond of cows nor dairy for that matter. She was lactose intolerant. The irony, her father's passion made her sick. She did, however, love her rescue mare Chloe. On those long days, Chloe was not far behind her. She was a smaller mare, perfect for my mother's size standing barely 5 ft tall. On rare occasions, my mother and I would lay in the tall field grass, watching the fog pass over the moon while she told me stories of cold nights in Chloe's stall. As a young girl, my mother dreamed of life beyond our farm and Chloe listened closely. She imagined saddling Chloe, and riding nonstop until both of them could run no longer. The adventures that would await her, were unknown but she did not fear them. Rather, the fear challenged her, ignited something within her soul. As the years flew by, obligations and responsibilities consumed her life. My grandfather passed, my mother married and our dairy farm was turned into a horse farm. Somehow, devoting her life to horses quieted her dreams of adventure and she was able to accept that her life wasn't beyond our farm, but beside it.

Then, came me! Hi, my name is Abigail (Abs for short). I was a twin or I am a twin. My sister Arya was sick and was born an angel, but my mother tells me she was very special and strong because she lived long enough to make sure I made it here. My mother says Arya is her angel but I am her miracle. I always found comfort in that. Growing up as an only child, on a large farm, one would assume I was lonely. Surprisingly, I never felt alone, I think Arya was always with me.

When I was a little girl, just nine years old my mother's mare Chloe became sick. It was time for her to leave us, to be sold. I asked my mother if she regretted never saddling her, taking the ride into her unknown. Living out her dreams of adventure. My mother looked down at me, with tears in her eyes and said: "Abs, you are the best adventure that I could have ever dreamed of!” With Chloe by my side as I grew, and now you, I am happy right where I am, on Papa’s farm.” I smiled back at her, but I didn't quite understand, until she entered my life, one day she was there!

Her face was bright and as white as snow. She settled above Chloe's old stall, and surrounded herself with hay. Day by day, I observed her in the corner of the barn as I tended to our horses. Never hiding from my sight, I am certain she waited for me. I named her Aura, a name I carefully chose for her. A presence so gentle, just as soft as her fur and a name that resembled Arya, my twin sister. Her appearance represented love and nature combined, natural coloring with a light tan heart that encircled her face. Deep insight glowed in her large eyes and wisdom beyond this barn, this farm, weaved through her feathers. She was beautiful, and she was free to wander our vast open land. She would command our sky, gliding so effortlessly through the wind that I would swear the air around me would sing. Her silence was infectious and comforting, peaceful and calm. Her movements were fascinating, she had claw precision and speed. Her and I's souls were intertwined, intuitively tethered. I would often wander, was she Arya? A spirit sent down such heavenly grace inside this beautiful creature.

Barn owls by nature are nocturnal, but she wasn't. She would glide through the air, as I would run through our forest and down cobblestone trails. She would swoop underneath bridges and play with me much like a sibling would, much like I imagined Arya and I would have. My grandfather's stories portray owls as a bad omen, he said they would bring bad luck. I didn’t believe that! Without a mate, with the freedom to flee, she chose to stay. She chose, me. She, was just a creature of the night that was misunderstood.

Now, as I reflect back as an adult, I understand what my mother meant! My grandfather’s cows helped him build a future for his family, a legacy and a home. He had outward perspective. My mother’s mare gave her the vision and passion to continue our farm and find adventure beside it, with Chloe and then me. She had linear perspective. Aura, my barn owl, filled me with insight, wisdom and dual vision. I was able to grow and learn with my twin beside me and within me! I have inward perspective. I was able to live my mother’s adventures though Aura and find purpose to continue our family legacy within our farm, not beyond it.

Our farm today is now an animal sanctuary, for the rescue mares like Chloe and the barn owls that are rejected because of superstition. For the cows that can no longer produce milk and the children who need a best friend. You will find perspective on our land. By definition, an aura is the energy around you, but here, we help you find the aura within you!