Stay Connected to Yourself and Spirit Guides throughout the Year

Posted by Barbara Techel

As I’ve done for many years now, and if this calls to you, you can join in with this yearly practice too.

New this year is I added a twist and picked a card to serve as my theme for the year. I must admit I grumbled under my breath when the Thinker card presented itself. Not my favorite card. But it was also a wonderful opportunity to observe and contemplate why. And as I’ve learned from experience it’s what I needed to hear and will serve my best interest.

And then I got excited when I remembered my intention for the year – to deepen my connection even more with Spirit and my spirit guides. The card then made perfect sense to me!

Our mind serves a purpose in regards to logical decisions we need to make, but can also feel like we are spinning in an endless loop when we can’t get out of our own way and find ourselves in fear or analysis paralysis.

So the Thinker card makes perfect sense with my intention – that when I find myself in overdrive of trying to think my way out of something – to drop down into my heart and connect with Spirit and my spirit guides as my allies for my highest good.

The animals will serve as a monthly contemplation point around the theme of Thinker and a reminder when I lose my way, which lets face it, we are all human, and this happens! But more importantly is staying more in awareness that when these times happen we can find our way again sooner rather than later.

At first glance, I can already see how each animal will provide guidance around the Thinker theme as I move through each month of the year.

Interesting Hyena and message of Critic begins this month of January! It’s something I’ve been shifting away from in my personal journey over the years with being kinder to myself.

It’s time to let go of blame and shame we carry within ourselves. These are old patterns that need to go now. Time to be kind and graceful with ourselves. We can do it! And every time we practice rituals like this or tend to our inner selves we are doing it!

Now it’s your turn!

  • First, ground and center yourself. Meditation, walk in nature, etc.
  • Allow an intention to bubble up from your heart of something you wish to explore or expand on in the year ahead.
  • Chose two oracle decks of your choice for picking cards.
  • Pick from one of the decks a card that will serve as your theme.
  • Pick from the other deck twelve cards – one for each month – that will serve as reminders and reflection of how the theme is playing out for the month.

I like to place the monthly card on my desk in my studio where I will see it every day. And this year I’ve printed out the theme card to serve as my backdrop.

After pulling my theme and monthly animal guides I happened across this quote:

“The more fearful a person is, the more he uses his mind. The more fearless a person is, the more he uses his heart.” – author unknown

This is the Universe in supportive action!

If you wish to give this practice a try, and want to share your theme and cards, feel free to reply to this post! I’d love to hear.

And if you’d like some extra support around a challenge you wish to find more peace about, please feel free to reach out for a personal reading.

Cards: Animal Reflections Healing Oracle created by me and Wisdom of the Oracle by Colette Baron Reid

XO

Barb

    

Animal Wisdom for 2025

Posted by Barbara Techel

The animals inspired me to draw three cards this morning from my Animal Reflections Healing Oracle deck and share with you their wisdom for the coming year. It’s a message you’ve no doubt heard before, but it’s one that many of us need reminding of as we continue to heal what needs healing within ourselves. And this, I believe, helps us shift the planet, one-by-one to a more peaceful place.

Animal Wisdom for 2025

Hippo reminds us that our true HOME is within and gently embracing all aspects of who we are.

And when those sneaky doubts slink back in, Hummingbird swoops in and flutters before us with excitement, encouraging us again to BELIEVE in the magical gifts that reside in each of us.

Kingfisher, so bright with its magnificent colors, lovingly calls out to us in its beautiful song as a reminder to never stop SEEKING the wonder of it all – the stars, the planets, the Universe! Everything is alive and here supporting us!

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I also recently completed this custom 8 x 8 3D mixed media collage Animal Art (thank you, Connie!) and felt the additional message from Mountain Goat is a great one for the New Year also.

When Connie asked me to create this custom piece I asked her what it is about Mountain Goat she liked. She shared with me that it was during a spirit animal workshop I co-facilitated a few years ago that Mountain Goat came to her during the meditation portion of the workshop. At first she was disappointed.  But then she learned how they can traverse any surface without falling and appreciated their teaching for her of perseverance, grit, and grace.

Don’t you just love grit and grace together? I do!

Animals have this amazing ability to show up at just the right time with just the message we need. So it’s best not to question what animal may appear and keep your heart open to exploring what you can learn. You just may be pleasantly surprised!

Our perseverance has certainly been tested these past few years, but I do hope you are feeling a shift of the energy and one of grace as we move into 2025.

Happy New Year!

P.S. I am available for a limited amount of custom pieces. So if you are interested, let me know!

P.P.S Could you please let me know if you received this blog post?? I’ve had to update this part of my website and want to be sure you are receiving my blog posts. Thanks so much!

XO

Barb