Copyright © 2007. Liz Mitten Ryan. All rights reserved.

Illustrations and Photographs copyright © 2007. Liz Mitten Ryan and Nicole
Reynolds.

Designed by Kat Mack

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Prima Publishing
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Liz Mitten Ryan

PublishingWorks
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Life Unbridled
 To L.I.F.E.
everlasting, to God in celebration of his infinite
wisdom grace and love

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need; by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears of all my life! – and if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“Freedom” - Painting by Liz Mitten Ryan
Contents

Introduction - Liz Mitten Ryan 5

About Liz Mitten Ryan and The Animals 9
Prologue - The Animals 13

UNBRIDLED

1 Freedom of Expression 19
2 The Power of Belief 39
3 Intention vs Invention 67
4 The Absolute Truth 91
5 Connection 111
6 Illumination 135
7 Beyond the Veil 157
8 Recovery 181
9 Renunciation 201
10 Celebration 221
 Monet and Friend

A piece of my heart is with Monet,

In spirit,
... Loving him there
A piece of my heart is waiting,
For his return.
And a piece of his heart,
I will always hold close,
To keep me company
Until we reunite as one.

- Winnie
Introduction
Liz Mitten Ryan

M
any years ago, in my young adulthood, I was
captivated by the phrase, “Many are called but few
are chosen.” I knew that I had been called because
from my earliest memory, I had had conversations with God. I
visualized God as a benevolent father figure who knew and loved
everything about me; I knew we were intimately connected.
No one else understood my good intentions as he did, or put
my welfare above all else. I also knew that God had this same
relationship with all life. My understanding has grown over the
years, but what has never changed is my all-consuming desire
to be chosen by this benevolent force. “Not my will but thy will
be done.” Through many difficult times I have surrendered,
begging for the easier way out. If God could direct my life, how
much less stressful would that be?
This decision to surrender is where it all began. I wanted to
be chosen to do God’s will on the physical plane, no small task
even for Christ. I believe when we surrender to this will then
we become the highest expression of our possibility, and in that
uniqueness and true reflection of the life force, we in fact do
God’s will. I therefore do not take ownership of this book, and
when friends look at me in disbelief, I explain to them that it is
not me expounding on those opinions they are having trouble

Life Unbridled 5
 swallowing, but that I am simply serving as a vehicle for a
higher authority. I have completely given up questioning, and
regardless of the repercussions, I am committed to taking any
and every criticism of my sanity in good faith. I can even play
the fool and laugh at myself at the same time, for after all, God
has a wonderful sense of humor. I believe that when we connect
with the force of God within all life then we become that joy,
freedom, abundance, truth, wisdom and love that is inherent
with that force. We also become less self-conscious as we are no
longer driven by our egos – but
“Not my will but thy will be done.”
by something much grander.
Through many difficult times I have
It’s not always an easy road when
surrendered, begging for the easier
one invites destiny to direct your
way out. If God could direct my life,
life. I know I came here to learn
how much less stressful would that be?
as much as I possibly could so I
would not have to express on the
physical plane again. Physicality is hard, particularly if there is
a faint memory of life before and after incarnation. I have loved
and lost other souls that are very dear to me, and yet because of
what I remember of spirit, I continue to feel close to them.
There is a far grander dream than any human can begin to
realize (animals do not have this problem). I know this because it
has been given to me in conversations and visits with my departed
soul mates, (both human and animal) and with God. I have been
led to write this third book without any idea of where it is going,
but again, I have surrendered, and I trust it will take us on a
journey of discovery and inspiration.

6 Life Unbridled
 In my book, The Truth According to Horses, my beautiful
pinto Monet came into the world, and eight months later, he
left. One morning I noticed he had not returned from being out
with the herd. When I discovered his body (he had died from a
bout of colic) I was devastated.
Later, I spoke with him.
“Monet, my darling horse—I always called you my baby
because you gave me the same unconditional love and trust
that you gave Winnie, your horse mom. You would put your
nose against mine and look deep into my eyes. There were no
barriers between our souls. Why did you come here and bring
such joy and love to my days and then leave such an empty
place behind? I will miss you forever.”

From Monet ( speaking from the other side):

“There are many things forgotten on the physical plane.
If you were to remember, you could not bear to be there.
From a spiritual perspective, life is over in the blink of
an eye. It is the quality, not the quantity of our days. I
came to bring you joy, to teach you communication on
a soul level. Our souls will always seek each other again
and again. Trust in that truth and let go of life. Let it find
you, and teach you its mysteries. Believe in love. I will
return in another blink of an eye. I have found you in
many different forms. Look deeply into my eyes and you
will know me.”

I replied: “I want my beautiful pinto horse back with the perfect

little white patch under his chin.”

Life Unbridled 7
 “Then ask for it,” Monet said. “Hold the picture clearly in your
mind and believe it will manifest in matter. I will help you. I will
see you soon.”
I have had many such conversations which continue to
contribute to a higher vision – a remembering of our foundation
as spiritual beings.
Unbridled will lead you along pathways to spiritual freedom.
The animals I have loved—both living, and in spirit—offer
their council.
Climb on, grab a handful of mane, and enjoy the ride! You may
be pleasantly surprised . . . You might even remember a time
when all of this was perfectly natural.

8 Life Unbridled
About
Liz Mitten Ryan and
The Animals
For those of you who have not met us in previous books I will
briefly describe our situation so as not to bore those who have.
Liz Mitten Ryan, artist, and her husband Kevin Ryan, architect,
parents of six, grandparents of seven, decided to embark upon
a dream. Their children had fledged and were quickly replaced
with more horses, dogs and cats. All of the above live happily on
320 acres of stunningly beautiful grasslands, forests and lakes in
the Nicola Valley, B.C.
There, Liz breeds horses, paints and writes while Kevin
practices his profession of architecture along with multitasking
on the ranch.
The horses have birthed and some have died (Matisse and Monet
since book two) and all the animals have made contributions
that continue to amaze and inspire Liz. Book two, ‘The Truth
According to Horses’ is a handbook of horse teachings written by
the herd.
Fully embracing ones destiny can be both rewarding and
devastating. Farming brings us close to the earth and encourages
our examination of the mysteries of life. Birth and death are
very much a part of the landscape and amidst the quiet seclusion
can be examined and reflected upon. There are huge vistas here

Life Unbridled 9
 Monet and Crystal

MIND is the beginning and the end,

of all possibility...

- Prima
Prologue
The Animals
Written by the animals, who are not limited by the barriers of time
and space we humans fall prey to.

T
he animals who communicate these messages, are dogs,
cats, and horses—individuals who have unique and
special attributes that are specifically theirs, but unlike
humans, they continually commune with others of their species
and interconnect with all life on this planet, and beyond. They
travel freely between realities and offer connection to ALL.

From the animals:

Unbridled is about life everlasting, lived in complete spiritual
freedom. The things that confine humans are constructs of fear,
manifested on the physical plane. There is nothing to fear but
fear itself, for fear limits freedom, and we are free except when
we choose otherwise. There is nothing one can do about death.
It comes at its own choosing and by our spiritual agreement.
We have all experienced deaths and births before, and we are
here now by our choosing. What is there to fear but life lived
less than fully?
We, the animals, have much to teach humans about spiritual
freedom. We have not lost our connection to the All (God), and
the understanding of All there is. On one level you remember that
connection and the truth of our existence. We are all there is, the
be-All and the end-All. Life is all one experience. The experience
of us All. It is only when we limit our perspective to a finite point
in that existence that we have anything to fear. That finite point

Life Unbridled 13
 Be strong you warriors for truth,
It is not your might, but your right,
That will take you furthest...

- Prima
is the ego; the individual, physical-plane existence experienced for
but a brief moment in time. If we choose to identify with that
fragile experience, then there is much reason to fear.
We animals have not chosen to limit ourselves as people have.
Often, humans do not place much importance on our lives. We,
being no lesser parts of the All, experience the same range and
depth of emotion that it is possible to experience. We feel love,
desire, happiness, sadness, pain, and longing—sometimes more
than people do—as we are often captives in a barren existence,
prisoners of human ambition. There has been little incentive or
opportunity to develop a finite sense of self, and possibly that is
why we are in our present situation. When one does not solely
identify with this existence, it is easier to leave it.
Imagine living with the perspective of being inside and outside
yourself at the same time, as we do. We can experience all aspects
of life on this plane and beyond, the greater All existence. The
moment you make that connection, everything is given. It is like a
drop of water becoming the ocean, a beam of light blending with
all light. Within and without there is nothing else—we become All
form itself, Oneness—All.
The moment we touch the All, we become the All. It is a joy and
a homecoming that is immeasurable. This is what we have to teach
you about spiritual freedom. Do not imagine yourself a drop of
water or a beam of light when you are the ocean and the sky. Do
not imagine yourself to be the world, when you are the universe.
You have nothing to fear but fear itself. Fear is a finite piece of
freedom, and freedom is all there is. As the raindrop falls into the
sea and evaporates again to become a cloud, such is your life. Let
us help you gain a new perspective.

Life Unbridled 15
 thoughts travel within MIND. MIND, I am shown, is like one
huge intelligence for all life, which holds the individual thoughts
of all that life Like an enormous invisible circuitry, all thoughts
connect, unrestrained by time, space, or dimension. Because life
is subject to our own beliefs, we become one with all life, one
with MIND, the instant we believe in it. Animals are not limited
by our separation belief, having never developed an elitist myth
that would offer them a private club set apart from the rest of
creation. The problem with this myth we humans hold is that
we have dominion over all life, and we have thereby lost our
connection; we are no longer one with all creation.
The simplest way to bridge the gap is to start a dialogue. It only
has to be with one animal, for each animal connects to MIND
and can share that connection with you. Believe in the possibility,
and start the dialogue. Don’t look for simple answers relating to
daily life; instead, look for universal truth. Animals connect with
all existence, the big picture, and they can share it with you as
they do with all life forms. Spend some time around them with
an open mind and suddenly you will find yourself “knowing” the
secrets of the universe, the simple truths that are the foundation
of our existence. These answers will offer a much broader vision
than that of the human myth, and you will recognize them as
truths. You will be able to count your goose bumps when you
recognize the truth; it is an infallible lie detector test, energy
moving up the body in waves when our circuits are opened.

From Matisse (speaking from the other side)

We, and I mean all of us, know truth at all times. It
tends to get weighted down, lost in matter, so the more

118 Life Unbridled

 heavily rooted you are in the physical plane, the less you
will recognize truth—not the physical plane, mass-belief
truth, but the universal truth. Humans have their own
unique belief system which only holds true for humans on
the physical plane. You are all heavily invested in the earth
experience and consequently, you are heavily limited by
those beliefs. For us there is only life, not death. Death is of
the ego only (a very good thing as far as we are concerned).
There is only truth; lies are a human invention. There is
only good, as evil is also a human mind belief; it does not
exist for the rest of creation. Everything is in constant
transition. There are no days, months, years, hours, past,
present, or future, and all is space. We are not in, on, over,
or above; we just are—always. Isness, Beingness, Oneness,
and Allness are concepts we understand. The more you
hold on to, own, contain, attach to, the more work you
make for yourself, and the more pain you experience,
when movement—which brings separation—occurs.
All life belongs to the ALL. You cannot hold your
breath and live, and you cannot hold the breath of ALL,
which is life, still, for a time. It is constantly breathing and
exchanging. As all of our breath mingles with the breath
of the earth, we are all united.
We are ALL ONE, one living, breathing, growing, and
evolving organism.

There were moments when Matisse explained the animals’

experience and understanding that I felt I had known, but had
forgotten. I do know that the pieces of the puzzle are coming
together as I invite discussion. Sometimes as I am writing
something the animals have told me, I am given entire concepts

Life Unbridled 119

Micah and Friends
 Chapter 8
Recovery

F
rom Prima
Let us pretend you humans are recovering from
an addiction. You are addicted to your way of
thinking—the human condition—and as far as we can
see, there is no sense in it. When you are untruthful, you
cannot find truth. It is just like your story of the boy who
cried wolf. Because he got caught in a lie, no one would
believe him when he told the truth. You interact with each
other, thinking that no one can read your thoughts, and
therefore, you can lie for your own benefit. It will never
be a benefit, and your thoughts can be read, certainly by
all nonhumans, as well. The first step to recovery is to
give up all lying. Then find a support group—your closest
friends and family—and renounce all lies. Just like your
AA groups, form a group of your own and announce: “I
am a recovering liar.” Start to unravel the truth. The best
animals to have in your support group are horses, for they
will call you on every lie. Practice safely on the ground
with us before you climb on our backs, and develop a
relationship based only on truth. Use body language and
intent, and get so good at it that you do not need ropes to
cover up your lies. We respond to truth, the whole truth,

Life Unbridled 181

Serene braving the unkown
 conveyed mind to mind in clarity, and in every muscle
and fiber of your being. When you have mastered “love,
language, leadership,” as Parelli says, you will have grown
beyond the lie. The truth is, when you are connected,
body, mind, and spirit, you are ready to ride unbridled.

I have come to realize that recovery is a slow process. You can’t

rush it, as the psyche is bound to mass belief and we have fooled
ourselves into believing that lies are the truth. Work at it slowly,
for you will often lapse into forgetfulness. One moment you will
see evidence that you are moving beyond the veil, connecting to
all life in truth, and the next, you will have slipped back into mass
consciousness.
Horses are excellent barometers of our progress. I notice very
quickly when I have been busy doing other things, and have
not made time to commune with my animals and nature. I find
this especially true with the horses, because I lose my ability to
communicate with them. Prima in particular is a taskmaster,
and if I am not speaking with exactly the right inflection and
pronunciation, she will not hear me. It is not that she doesn’t
understand my pidgin truthfulness—it’s just that she’s training
me to be superhuman, a leader of the herd.
When I spend a lot of time training with her, our minds become
as one; each look or thought or tilt of my head conveys a message.
I have to be careful what I think, because if I think a negative
thought—like, I know Prima will test me and go sideways when
I ask her to change direction—she will do exactly that. It is a
great lesson on thinking only what you want to have happen,
not what you don’t want. The problem is, it takes a lot of time

Life Unbridled 183

Paschar and Kala Play Tag
 Chapter 9
Renunciation

I
spoke at the beginning of this book about being called by
God. I believe this must be similar to what we term our
intuition—gentle nudges that inspire, enlighten, and connect
us to a wisdom inherent and integral to all life. I had always felt
these nudges, always known a comforting, familiar presence that
seemed to me almost fatherly (probably because of my religious
upbringing, which was centered on the New Testament, and of
course, God was the Father). A more complete understanding
was to unfold at pivotal moments as my life evolved, and my
spirit began to flower.
When I was twenty-two—a low moment in my, until then,
idyllic life—I found myself back home after a short and rocky
attempt at living happily ever after. I was lying on my bed,
praying for an answer to what my existence was about, when I
suddenly felt a rush and a ringing sensation. I was floating above
my body to become one with God. I can only describe this as
a homecoming, at once familiar and remembered. When we
remember, we realize that we have done this many times before,
and it is so profoundly our essence and true expression; once we

Life Unbridled 201

 have felt that communion, we are forever changed. There is
nowhere we would rather be, nothing that we would not give,
to experience that intensity of love. All else pales in comparison.
We know that the desire to immerse ourselves in that oneness
and love will supersede everything else from then on in our lives.
I would imagine that the experience I had is similar to a near-
death experience (from what I have read of them). I returned
reborn with an enlightened vision of my mission here on earth.
I went on from there to marry, have four children, divorce,
remarry and inherit another two children, all while constantly
working on and refining my human understanding. My
shortcomings had not disappeared, but they were clarified by a
firm foundation and understanding of their purpose. I knew I
had a mission, and I also knew that if I trusted and followed my
intuition, I would be guided toward its accomplishment. I also
knew that the mission I had volunteered for had nothing to do
with my own aggrandizement, but would serve the purpose and
grace of God.
I know that this sounds like some sort of higher calling, but I
have come to understand that in fact, we have all volunteered for
our own unique and special mission that can be accomplished
by us alone. We have volunteered because the accomplishment
of our individual endeavors is the only thing that is true and
lasting—the completion of which fulfills us, unlike any of our
earthly desires.
Our individual calling does not need to change the world in
one fell swoop, but it will contribute in its own particular way
to the evolution of the spirit of God—or Good—upon the earth

202 Life Unbridled

“Ducks Unlimited” - paintint by Liz Mitten Ryan
(Look for the ducks in the clouds)
 and beyond. True renunciation is about surrendering to this
intuitive nudge and trusting in its rightness—its fruition as our
individual truth. It is about placing the utmost importance on
the wisdom of that nudge and surrendering to the will of God as
it is manifested through our lives and all creation. This is the gift
of spiritual freedom that animals clearly embody.
There have been many times in my life when I have lost my
way, and I have felt very alone in the absence (or even company)
of my human companions. It was in those times that I turned
to my animals, immersing myself
Suddenly I had an epiphany, and I in their quiet reassurance and the
could feel the amazing grace of God comfort of their love. When I
within me. There was no longer a father judged myself, they showed me an
separate and apart, but within . . . and unconditional acceptance and the
without . . . and with everything. clear image of the higher truth.
Time spent in their company and
in the healing surroundings of the natural world fostered a sense
of forgiveness and a new, clearer perspective.
My animals and my God were my constant companions, many
times the only constants that offered unconditional love no
matter how unlovable I thought myself to be. Immersed in their
gentle teaching, I gradually came to view myself as flawed by
virtue of my human incarnation, but also, somehow flawless and
shining in my spiritual essence. It was the marriage of the two
that was the greatest challenge, and our individual mission in this
life. It was the animals’ mission to help me both understand and
accept the possibility of its accomplishment.
In nature animals teach their young by example, and so I began
to spend time alone with my animals and my God, in the natural

204 Life Unbridled

setting where I could properly observe their interactions with
each other and the natural world. This coincided with our move
to the ranch and many hours spent in silence and reflection. I
began to absorb not only the nuances of their body language but
also their telepathic communication.
In a way, it was like meditating within a community of monks.
I began to tune to their frequency—my molecules vibrating to
be in symphony with theirs. This was completely unconscious,
and appeared to be a law of physics. Much like scientists are
proving that the results of an experiment will synchronize with
the expectation of the observer, my intent to experience oneness
with the animals was manifesting in matter.

From Prima
In chapter two of The Truth According to Horses, I told you:
Riding bareback across the clouds, with no constraint,
is one of your fondest desires. We can take you there.
We can carry you across the clouds that block your
understanding, that obscure your vision. Listen to your
heart, connect to our hearts, and trust what you remember
to be true. It is all there inside of us—who we are. You
have just forgotten. Wake up and let us help you regain
your trust.
You are one with us the moment you cease to think;
the moment you let go of your limitations and your self-
imposed prison, you are free. Ultimately you will return to
the point where you began—you are, after all, part of the
ALL. You are the alpha and the omega—the beginning
and the end—and everything in between.

Life Unbridled 205

 From Matisse (speaking from the other side)
It is only from this perspective that you can begin to
assimilate even a piece of the puzzle that seems so obscure
on the physical plane. From a vantage point that is above
and beyond the physical, you can view the life experience,
from the eternal understanding of the ALL. You are
simply that—the only life force in existence, whether you
are inside or outside a body, or in any other life form in
existence. You are ALL, the be-ALL and the end-ALL,
ALLways.

I remember when I first experienced God, not as a father but

as an intimate part of myself—or, more correctly, myself as
an intimate part of God. There was no longer a me that was
separate and apart, or a God that was above or beyond—we
were one. I was reading The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck,
and I came to the section on grace. It was the first time in my
life that anyone had described God as an elaborate root system
or rhizome that interconnected all life. He explained that life,
individual life, blossomed up from that root system in its season
like a flower, and then died and became once again nourishment
for the rhizome, which continued to blossom over and over.
Suddenly I had an epiphany, and I could feel the amazing grace
of God within me. There was no longer a father separate and
apart, but within . . . and without . . . and with everything. The
words to the song “Amazing Grace” took on new meaning, as
did my entire life from that moment on.
I have many times since mentioned this understanding—really
more a knowing or remembering—to many other people, and

208 Life Unbridled

 Picasso and our friend Clive

Let us explore,
The possibility of our communion,
Together . . .
We contribute something new,
And as yet undiscovered,
By us . . .
And life itself.

- Picasso
 But to talk with God, we need love in our hearts,
Not guilt nor any black spot.
Whenever you want to talk with God,
It’s surprisingly easy to do,
Just think about those you dearly love,
And He will be there for you.
You may thank HIM for helping you help yourself,
To reach your next upcoming peak.
It helps if you first give yourself a review,
Of the goals that you fervently seek.
The church may talk about Adam and Eve,
And warn of original sin.
But an act of God is an act of love,
And the kingdom of God is within.

Although there are many kind and loving people that I have
known who live their lives in an almost childlike innocence,
it is not until they reach this understanding that true spiritual
freedom can be experienced.

From the animals

When Liz spoke at the beginning of this book about
allowing animals the freedom to choose whether or not
they would stay with their people, we would like to say that
we have chosen, and that is why we are here. It is not the
fences that hold us in captivity—it is our spiritual mission.
Each of us has their individual path, their reasons for
accepting the circumstances they are in, but long ago, we as
a whole made the decision to be soul mates and companions
to humans. Dogs, cats, and horses are the most common,
but more and more species are choosing to share their lives

212 Life Unbridled

and love, and spiritually resonate with humans. As the veil
continues to thin, our spiritual frequency will vibrate ever
higher. There will come a time when all life resonates as
one. Entertain the possibility and commune with us in
the pursuit of “animation”—the synonyms for which are
life, spirit (good spirit, blithe spirit), vitality, exhilaration,
ebullience, excitement, ardor, elation, glow, vibrancy,
brightness, gaiety, and good cheer, to name a few.

From the animals

To have your life, you must give your life. True
renunciation embodies absolute trust—absolute truth and
complete surrender. True clarity and connection are found
in the quiet of the voice and of the mind. How can you
hear when you chatter ceaselessly? How can you know the
truth when you think your truth is all that matters?
Cats, dogs, and horses have been your companions for
millennia. We have surrendered our fate into your keeping,
such is our trust in you. We know your hearts and your
spirit, and we know that there, you are free. It is your minds
that limit and confuse you. Turn off the chatter, let go of
the confusion, and allow the stillness to fill you with its
peace. The peace is within us all, but you revisit it only in
brief moments. Stay a while longer. Let us take you there
and sit beside you in communion and worship of this most
precious gift. It is there we can speak with our hearts and
share in the memory of our true kinship with each other
and with life itself. We are all children of the earth, seeded
from the heavens where the ALL shines eternally. We are
eternally, spiritually free, and when the memory awakens,
we become fully actualized spiritual beings on this and all
planes. We must give all to have all . . . That is the secret.

Life Unbridled 213