The year 2024 is truly shaping up to be one where many of us are being called to explore how we wish to be in the world moving forward.

We might be pondering how others see us, how do we see ourselves, but most importantly, who are we really?

While it can feel frustrating and confusing at times, I believe if we can find quiet moments to just be with all we are feeling, answers will eventually bubble to the surface.

Perhaps some sadness too. But it’s a beautiful opportunity to honor it all.

In fact, I think it is vital.

I’ve certainly had my moments of swirls of emotion lately, followed by moments of clarity. Then moments of relief followed by moments of strength and trust that all will be well.

This brought me to remembering a fun exercise I heard on a podcast a few years ago. The woman being interviewed (wish I remembered who!) shared these three prompts:

• How you want people to see you.
• How people actually see you.
• Who you really are.

Hint: the clue is to really be who you are! 🙂

As an insightful and fun exercise I added the element of pulling cards from an animal themed oracle deck and put this together in a free booklet I hope you will enjoy.

Animals have helped and guided me over the past 25 plus years to see aspects of myself I wanted to hide, while also showing me my strengths, and cheering me on that I can be who I’m truly meant to be!

As an example here is my card pull answering the prompts provided in the booklet and using the deck I created, Animal Reflections Healing Oracle.

The wonderful thing about doing this self-reflection exercise is that you can re-visit it once a year (or more!) and pull new cards because you are always changing and evolving.

I hope you will enjoy giving it a try. I know when I pulled Peacock as who I really am my heart burst with joy!

May you come home to the heart of who you really are too.

Click here for the free booklet.

If you’d like to learn more about my Animal Reflections Healing Oracle deck, click here.

XO

Barb

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Florida is a treasure. As the sign states driving into the park, “This is the real Florida.”

It is one of the things I love about northern Florida is that in many aspects it feels like stepping back in time.

One of the highlights was seeing quite a large alligator in the marshy part of the preserves. It was truly a thrill! And actually, we got to see two! This one below we watched as it swam toward land, not far from where the other gator was hanging out.

I just marveled at how ancient they really are. Walking along a boardwalk nearby I saw this sign:

Alligators…

At first I chuckled reading this sign. Then I wondered, do people really think they are lazy? Then the more I thought about it, the more I appreciated this teaching from alligator.

Being that gators are cold-blooded they have to get their energy from the sun and why you see them laying out in the open like this. Though we humans aren’t cold-blooded, we too, get our energy from being outdoors in nature and learning to slow down and just be.

So basking turns out to be a good thing for all of us! And basking, slowing down, and taking in nature and the sunshine has certainly been so good for my spirits these past few weeks.

The other highlight was seeing wild horses out in the prairie that we were able to observe after climbing the tower at the preserve.

This was equally a thrill to see! Watching them for a time I found myself feeling verklempt as emotions stirred within me. To be wild and free. It’s what I think we all wish for, isn’t it?

While the area we are in is known as horse country with horse ranches abundantly scattered about, it was the wild horses that really spoke to me. And how blessed I feel to have been able to see them, to be part of their energy if only for a short time, and experience the stirring of emotions that I did.

XO

Barb