The Tug and Pull – An Opportunity to Be in the Here and Now.

Posted by Barbara Techel

This morning during my meditation it started out with me sinking into the corner of the sofa and feeling quite calm. Then I noticed within a few moments that my mind began to wander and off into worryland it went.

I tried to just watch my mind as an observer —trying to stay detached to it — and trying not to get caught up in the drama it was creating. After all, I reminded myself, these were just thoughts I was having. Nothing was actually happening at that moment as all alone was I, sitting on the sofa in my quiet and safe home. 

My thoughts first drifted back to the past – thinking about something I’ve learned and how I wanted to identify with that teaching as a ‘mistake’ or wishing I had done better. I found myself in the spiral of self-judgment. Then I felt it physically in my body as my stomach began to feel like it had a knot in it.

Then my mind drifted to the future as I thought about the release of my next memoir in early 2020. What will become of it, I wondered? I then noted this tug and pull going on in my stomach. As if the right side was pulling the left side and vice Versa and back and forth it went. Soon enough I realized my shoulders were just about up under my ears! Very uncomfortable!

I dropped my shoulders, but still felt the tug and pull in my stomach. A moment later the last oracle card I pulled as I did a fall equinox reading for myself last night flashed into my mind. 

The card I pulled was, “Here and Now,” and the question I asked was from an oracle spread created by intuitive Jessica Paschke. It was basically asking what I’d bring with me from the past of what I learned into the next season of winter. 

The minute I conjured up the image of that card in my mind and saw the words again of here and now, I observed that the tug and pull in my stomach stopped. I was having those feelings again of wanting to control an outcome, be guaranteed security, and know all will be well — a pattern that I know many of us have – and one I realized once again that I can change at any time I choose.

After I was done meditating I pulled the card back out again from the deck to look at it and re-read my journal entry. The line I wrote that jumped out to me is: “In the present moment is where my power is!”

It’s so easy to give our power away, but then when we do we suffer. When I looked at the image again the past and future signposts jumped out at me. I was reminded to take with me what I’ve learned from the past – and that living in the past (my old story) does not serve my well-being. What I can take from it is the new awareness I have of what I’ve learned in order to create a better future – even though I don’t always know precisely what the future holds.

My eye then traveled to the sweet being sitting on the egg. The egg is symbolic of new life and hope. I appreciated also the open window on the egg — as if a window to my inner world and how if I stay open to receiving and in touch with how the universe is always supporting me, I will be just fine.

XO,

Barbara

Card from Wisdom of the Oracle deck my Colette Baron-Reid.

Raccoon and Fox Guide Us on Our Ever Evolving Healing Journey

Posted by Barbara Techel

From The Enchanted Map oracle deck by Colette Baron-Reid

And here we gooooo…into the last week of September!

I have an oracle reading for you to kick off the week and one I think is packed with lots of good stuff.

As I’ve begun production for my lastest memoir – which is about how animals helped me on my healing journey of working through a childhood wound – what I came to understand is that we are always healing on some level. It’s why I believe we are here on the is earth – to continue to evolve.

The world around us, which includes the vast cosmos, is here to guide us – providing us clues, signs, and messages along our journey.

So I asked the cards: What is it we most need to know as we each continue on our healing journey’s?

The card I pulled: “Heal the Ouch.”

I love that the card I pulled has two animals represented on it — because not all the cards in this deck have animals on them— and wasn’t I just sharing how animals helped me on my healing journey?

Looking at the card I first noticed the flower the raccoon is holding. This speaks to me that being in touch with nature is of great benefit as we continue to take steps on our healing journey. A walk in nature can be so soothing to a soul that is working through a challenge.

The raccoon reaching out to comfort the fox speaks to me of being on the recipient end when you are on your healing journey. To be open to asking for support and then receiving that help with grace and gratitude.

The raccoon is nocturnal and a reminder that when we are working on healing wounds the importance of going inward and spending time in silence. This is where the answers to how we move forward can then find their way to the surface to guide us.

Raccoons also wash their food in water before they eat it. I see water as symbolic to our emotions and the importance of feeling all our emotions so we can cleanse them and live with more peace within.

Raccoons are also curious by nature inviting us to invite curiosity on our healing journey instead of always living in fear. The fact that it looks like they wear a mask is another invitation to begin to look at why we wear certain masks and how we can begin to take steps to reveal more of who we are.

Fox is a creature we only see in the dawn and dusk and they too are also nocturnal. I see this as speaking to getting more comfortable with the space “in-between” and also trying not to worry so much about what is ahead – but trusting in the unknown.

Lastly, turning to the guidebook the line, “forgiveness is the healer of the soul” jumped out at me. It’s about forgiveness not only of other’s and the role they may have played in our wounding, but also forgiveness of ourselves for those times we thought we “should’ve or could’ve” and instead, begin to be gentle and kind toward ourselves as we continue to walk our path of healing.

And as always, if I can be of support to you and an area of your life you may be feeling stuck, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. In my one-to-one oracle reading and guidance sessions (link below to learn more), I always pull an animal card at the end of the reading as your personal guide to help you move forward so you don’t feel alone. I’m always inspired by the animals that present themselves!

Enjoy your week!

XO,

Barbara

Click here to learn more and book a private oracle reading with me.

The Perfect Message to the End of Our Vacation

Posted by Barbara Techel
Patricia Lake Campground in Minocqua, WI

Driving back home on Sunday after vacationing for seven days in Mackinaw City, Michigan, and Minocqua, Wisconsin we came across a billboard that read: 

Live More. Worry Less.

That really struck a chord in me. I couldn’t remember a vacation where I didn’t worry about a pet, my home, or work. I realized as I read the sign that I’d pretty much let go and enjoyed our time away. I do admit though that it was easier to not worry about a pet as we currently don’t have one.

As far as work goes, I’m just finishing up the last of the edits from my editor for my next memoir with about half of the manuscript to go through yet. But I realized I never once thought about it until we were close to home yesterday.

There were a few times I had tears well up in my eyes thinking about Gidget who passed away in May. We saw many dogs (and dachshunds!) at the campgrounds as well as on Mackinac Island which we visited on Thursday. While I sometimes feel a tug on my heart and miss the companionship of an animal, I’m still not ready for that commitment.

I really enjoyed having my focus on John, celebrating his 60th birthday, and our time together, and the places we explored.

Happy 60th, John! I forgot birthday candles so had to use a tea lite on top of John’s piece of cake. LOL!

This time away was our maiden voyage in our R.pod camper!

At Mackinaw City, MI KOA Campground

After reading the billboard, taking in the wisdom of those words, I found myself thinking back to 2018 and how frazzled and stressed I felt for most of that year. At one point I felt at the end of my rope and just didn’t think I could cope anymore. But this breaking point, or rather a call to evolve and rise above the pain I was feeling was a gift from my sweet Gidget. That journey with Gidget as my guide, along with a few other animals, is what I wrote about in my next memoir.

So when I read that sign, live more, worry less, I thought of Gidget. Even though a difficult time last year this was what she was helping me to understand. I thought back to other vacations where I’d worried about the weather, a pet we left behind at a kennel or with a dog sitter, work that I needed to complete, or arriving at our destination at a certain time, or that everything would go as planned, etc.

But this one was different. I enjoyed every moment and didn’t worry. I let go and trusted all was unfolding just as it was meant to be.

There was a part of me that didn’t want our vacation to end. But as we drove down the highway and with about two hours left before we arrived home I felt a welcome shift in my energy and looked forward to my own bed and our cozy home. And I felt grateful to have had time away and also have something to return to that makes my heart happy.

And that message on the billboard. The perfect message as we move back into our work and our everyday lives.

Live More. Worry Less.

P.S. I posted photos and short videos of our vacation on Facebook if that interests you to take a peek.

XO,

Barbara