Listen…
As six elderly dorper ewes, Astrid, Agnes, Aster, Alexia, Annette, and Aubrey, (yes, the “A” team) entered our fold we asked of them one question; “Who are you?” and slowly over the ensuring weeks these unique individuals have been telling us.
Listening to their stories has been profound indeed, “Despite my age, I am soon to be a mother” told three ladies, Agnes, Aster, and Aubrey. “The stamp of my foot says you need to hold your ground” shouted Alexis, “I don’t know what the others are on about. You guys’ rock, now give me some snacks” cooed Agnes.
Sweet, defiant, timid, calculating, intelligent, curious, fierce protector of my baby, sassy, not-so-sassy, fast, hungry (for food and kindness in equal measure), resilient, contented, are just some of the words that have come to mind as we have listened.
It would be misleading for we humans to think one size fits all when it comes to sheep in all of their glorious forms. All 76 million* of them!
And to think that we are separate from these beings with whom we share the planet; to think we sit so high above them in the order of things that we can trivialise their lives and ignore their suffering; to think that we can take their babies away from them and they will not be impacted by the experience, to think that they can only be valued in monetary terms; is a great failing that not only harms our humanity but causes to crumble our relationship with the natural world.
Such a thinking keeps us ignorant of our highest potential; it prevents us from being our best selves. But when we hold space with animals in the purest of motives, we become connected with them in such a way that we see so much of ourselves mirrored back. We see the shared need for food and water, the same necessity for protection from the elements, the equal desire to live free from harm and exploitation, the universal want to be with our family and friends.
Footnotes:
Agnes gave birth to twins (boy and girl), Adin and Adelle on 07/05/24.
Aster gave birth to twin boys, Gerber and Marigold on 27/06/24.
Aubrey gave birth to a boy, Audi on 03/07/24.