Opening New Channels of Awareness through Art Journaling

Posted by Barbara Techel
Opening New Channels of Awareness through Art Journaling
My first art journal page

My friend and fellow blogger, Lori, with her great post on Finding a New Creative Outlet and Finding Your Passion After 50 reminded me I wanted to share my new creative adventure with you.

While I believe what Lori shared in that trying something creative may help guide us to our passion, I also believe creativity opens channels of awareness and can bring about a new perspective we’d not have considered. If that leads to a purpose, that is wonderful. But if it also helps us to pause and learn more about ourselves for the sake of gaining strength in who we are, or wish to be, then how cool is this?

I really can’t explain it, but about two months ago I felt this calling to play with art journaling. It began when I came across something called blackout poetry.

I love words and the first time I tried blackout poetry I was surprised what came from it. It definitely was a way in which to put words and sentences together I’d not thought to do. I also believe what I wrote was speaking to a part of myself that had insight to offer. This is when the idea of art journaling entered the picture as I wanted to combine what I’d written through blackout poetry with collage, which led to opening to the idea of art journaling.

I also like the idea of art journaling, because it oftentimes combines collage with other mixed media such as paint, paper, stencils, you name it, it can be put on an art journal page. I enjoy putting different images together, which often speak to the subconscious parts of myself. This is something I stumbled upon during a time of seeking and then felt called to become trained in a process called SoulCollage® in 2014. Collaging on 5 x 8 cards, my SoulCollage® cards have definitely helped me along my life’s path, often serving as an insightful guide as I’ve worked through different transitional times in my life. My love of using oracle cards as a self-discovery tool, no doubt plays a part in this also.

So many of us sense life in a visual way and art journaling, SoulCollage®, oracle cards, etc. can guide us to see our stories in motion and how it is playing out, and how we can best move forward when we are feeling challenged or stuck. And it helps to strengthen our intuition muscle.

Combining my love of all of this and writing too, well, art journaling feels like a natural fit for me right now. It’s helping me step out of my comfort zone in working with paints, inks, etc. When I made this first page I’m sharing with you today, it was two hours later, and a half hour past Gidget’s dinner time, that I hadn’t even realized how much time had gone by. I was in another world and my soul was full of abundance! And luckily, Gidget forgave me for her late supper.  🙂

The quote that came through the blackout poetry I wrote is meaningful for me as it speaks of letting Spirit do its work through me, but in partnership with, so that I may remember the importance of inner work as necessary to free my heart when I feel fear or overwhelmed, and expressing it, whether through my writing or some other creative outlet such as art journaling.

Do you do art journaling? If so, I’d love to hear about resources that have inspired you, or if you wish to share a page from your art journal, I’d love to see it. I’ve been addicted to watching videos on others doing the process of art journaling also – so meditative!

Here’s to creativity for opening us in beautiful ways,

XO

Barbara

One of the Reasons Why I Write. Thank you, Alexa.

Posted by Barbara Techel
This butterfly that came to eat reminded me to enjoy the sweetness of creativity for the sake of expression no matter what.

When I first began writing back in 2006, I wrote mostly about the human-animal bond. I wrote to share my love of animals and the wisdom they brought me, and will continue to do so, though my writing has broadened over the years.

When I wrote and published my first two children’s books, I was on a mission to help others see paralyzed dogs in a new way – not out of pity – but one in which understanding they could live a quality of life and in a wheelchair if need be, just like my dachshund Frankie was doing at the time. Along with that, I saw that Frankie could be a positive example to children and adults and guide them to see their challenges in a new light.

Much of that focus was about getting the word out and involved much marketing on my part. While I cringed at the thought of marketing in previous work I’d done, this was different, and came from a passion of what I felt was my calling to share at that time.

When Frankie died and then my next dachshund died a few short months later, I knew in my heart I was in transition. Oftentimes I felt lost. My writing then became more about me expressing myself to help me work through the challenges I was going through.

It became clear that this is something I was meant to expand into and understanding that in transitional moments in one’s life there are often gifts within them. Though not always necessarily easy to see when in the thick of it.

How often I struggled with my identity, afraid to let go of what many have come to see me as in the paralyzed and wheelchair dog world, being an advocate, but also knowing I was evolving. While I didn’t always share the difficulties of some of the inner struggles I faced, I knew I had to keep writing – even if just here on my blog – and no one else was reading my thoughts.

But also in being honest, there are times I have wondered, Is anyone out there? Am I having an impact like I did with Frankie? Are other’s reading what I’ve written? Does it resonate with anyone?

But yet, I had to keep writing, even if just for me. So often it was, and continues to be, my way of expressing how I feel. In a world that is noisy and one where truly we all just wish to be heard, I know my writing has served me well in this way. I’m grateful for the self-expression and grateful for how this medium has helped me grow in so many ways.

I continue to make progress on the new memoir I’m working on (YAY!). What is interesting is that this is the first book I’m putting so much less pressure on myself than in the past. I’m also writing in a way I’d not done before. This time, I’m just dumping out everything on the page. In the past my perfectionist would kick in and I’d stop to edit or re-work sections. Though I sometimes still catch myself wanting to do this, I forge ahead reminding myself it can wait. I’m also not overly concerned with who my audience is right now either, even though you’ll hear via the industry standard this isn’t the “right” way to do this.

But trusting what feels right to my process is what I’m leaning into.  I trust also it will all take shape when I begin to sift the words and sentences in a more defined way after the first draft is complete. While I had concerns about who my audience has been in the past, and that they may not be the same with this book, I’m at a much more peaceful place about that now too.

And then this morning I read this beautiful comment from reader, Alexa, in response to what I wrote about yesterday on my blog …and I lit up from the inside out, because this…this is the woman…like me…who I write to…

Learning to feel safe to opening my heart when in therapy. Until a couple of months ago, whenever i talked about childhood hurts it was without feeling. like i was reading the back of a cereal box.

Now I cry sometimes as I truly connect with the child I was. I’m learning to give comfort and love to the little girl I was. It’s like the adult me is reaching out to my child self. I feel as though I am passing thru from one place to another. For the first time ever I trust myself to feel the pain instead of burying it or just muddling thru. I can say I’m strong enough and know deeply that I am.

Barb..your blog means so much to me. Your willingness to share. to be true to your self. I don’t know the why of it or how to put it into words but thru reading your words over the passage of time, I have been expanding,opening. I just hadn’t realized it until I cried during a therapy session. Healing tears. reading your words, your journey, I have been beginning my own.

While I began to express myself to make a difference and be heard, there came a point when I knew I had to keep writing even if just for me. But when this happens and I’ve touched a chord in someone else, like I did Alexa, well then, this is sweet, delicious, icing on the cake…and feeds my soul to keep going with my book on those days when I am not so sure and those pesky doubts try to creep in.

So thank you, Alexa, and all of you who continue to walk this ever-evolving transformational journey with me.

XO,

Barbara

On Letting Go & Staying True to Yourself

Posted by Barbara Techel
On Letting Go and Staying True to Yourself
This heart spot recently appeared during a reading session with a client- a wow for us both!

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. ~Anais Nin

I so often sense or hear from women in various ways the struggle to remain true to who they are. A few months ago doing a reading for a client she said, “How can I be my own best friend?” 

I recall the moment vividly as my hand immediately flew to rest on my heart and tears pooled in my eyes. It hit a deep place within. Little did I know her question was a reflection of the call I was about to embark on doing the deepest inner work I’ve done to date.

So often though, this is how it works. While animals have, and continue to be, a powerful reflection for me, it’s friends, family, clients, my connection to Spirit, nature, and creativity that also guide me to explore life in a new way which are so often reminders to continue to be me. The more I open to this, the more I’m supported.

This week on my blog, I wrote about something that felt vulnerable. Something for a long time I found difficulty in expressing for fear of judgement. I shared that even though I’ll be sad when my dachshund, Gidget passes on, there will be some relief too.

When I found myself not being able to cope well earlier this spring, it was getting to the core of buried pain from childhood that I was able to see this as a reflection of my inner world reflected in my outer world and my coping skills that were causing me great angst. It was a call to be true to myself and take time to be with all the emotions I’d never let surface.

I could have never predicted the outcome in that my coping skills drastically improved once I seriously focused and worked through what I needed to. I’m in a place again of acceptance and peace of where I’m at and staying connected to my truth as important as I continue to move forward.

Sharing this truth, I received an email from someone that shared with me they would no longer be following my blog. They shared that since I was “separating myself from the idea of helping the dogs no one else had time for,” as the reason.

While I don’t want to speculate what this person may have meant by this, it did bring up feelings I had to sit with. Such as how for so long I often feared disappointing others or they’d do just what this person did and move on. I had to discern what was mine and if there was any truth in the statement as I was hearing it. As first, it wasn’t pleasant and was uncomfortable with my old story that tried to take over.

I realized as I sat with my feelings this was a reminder to stay true to myself and what my truth is. While I’ve made the decision to not personally care for another special needs dog after Gidget, her teachings, as well as others before her, remain deeply embedded in who I am. I will carry that with me always and what an honor to have been positively changed because of each of them.

I carry the wisdom of them forward in being true to myself by following the call in my heart to be of service to women who struggle with wanting to be true to who they are, just like I have, and sometimes still do – and guiding women who are in one form of transition or another, encouraging them to live from the authenticity of their hearts.

When we follow our souls calling, it means an ebb and flow of expansion and letting go. Nothing stays the same. The truth is that I do look forward to a day when I’ll have a chance to explore and experience life in a new way without a special needs dog to care for. This isn’t a selfish statement, but one of which I’m honoring what feels right for me.

But it has also made the remaining time I have with Gidget all the more precious knowing she will be my last. Because of her recent powerful teaching, she helped me come to an even deeper understanding of how being true to who I am matters.

Me and G having some one-to-one sweet time

While I let go in one sense, I know I’ll also never separate myself from the wisdom from my dog friends, nor would I wish to, as it is integral to who I am and how I will continue to strive to be true to me and my ever evolving self.

This has led me to my wish for you, my fellow soul sisters, to do the same and embrace all of who you are, too. When we embrace all of who we are, and let go, well…just get ready for the universe to gift you with new opportunities…and enjoy the flow!

ORACLE GUIDANCE TO PONDER

What do you need to know about staying true to yourself?

The Heart of the Sky from Wisdom of the Oracle: This card immediately spoke to me of how my heart has a direct line to Spirit. When I remember this and stay connected, and trust, I then by default stay true to what matters most to me. I don’t get caught up in falling down the rabbit hole when I try to manage others. I can only be responsible for me. When I remember this and practice it, I have the energy to be my true best self and positively impact others.

Wolf from Power Animal Oracle: Anytime I pull the Wolf card I feel a whoosh of love go through my heart being that Wolf has been my spirit animal guide for quite some time now. My first encounter with her through a guided visualization during a painful time of letting go, as a reminder that I am safe, to keep my heart open, when it feels like it wants shut down for fear of getting hurt again. She reminded me then, and now, to continue to follow the fire (passion) within and she will protect me. She certainly has! Thank you Wolf!

Your turn: What do these cards mean to you in regards to being true to yourself? A suggestion is that you may want to find some quiet time and journal with this question. 

Here’s to staying true to you!

XO,

Barbara

Interested in a personal reading/coaching session? You can learn more here.

A lovely thing a client shared about her recent session. Thank you, Monica! 

I have work to do. Hard work. In my seemingly never-ending quest to gain clarity about my path in life, I booked an oracle reading with Barb Techel. The session was time well spent.

Even though we were a thousand miles apart, my session flowed so easily, it felt as comfortable as being across the living room. The session brought awareness to areas of my being that need further exploration. Without attempting to fix my issues or challenges, Barb guided my attention in where self-excavation may serve me well. Ultimately, I need to do the hard work. Barb’s intuitive coaching helped shine a light on the focal point of where to begin. Now, where did I put that shovel?  ~Monica S.