Author Archives: Barbara Techel

Learn to Be Still. Can Butterfly Teach Us This?

8 x 8 Mixed Media Collage

It seemed contradictory. To name this Butterfly piece, Be Still.

A birthday gift for my sister’s 60th birthday I knew I wanted to create a butterfly, though when the message that kept coming was be still, I wasn’t so sure.

But animals have a way at times of making us work for our wisdom.

It’s oh-so-lovely to be a butterfly – owning your total beingness and those glorious gorgeous wings as they flutter out into the world enjoying the sweet and nourishing nectar of plants and flowers. How everyone marvels in awe when they see a butterfly!

But how do we get to this magnificent stage? Ah yes, I understand, dear Butterfly. We must embrace being still.

It’s reminding me of a conversation during a monthly astrology group I’m part of. Butterfly and the concept of transformation comes up often. How as a collective we are all going through a significant metamorphosis.

Though, how often it is that some get stuck being a caterpillar, as a member said in exasperation! Not that there is anything wrong with a caterpillar! And I’m not saying this is the case for my sister.

But we all can learn to be still in some aspect of our lives. Even though this was something I craved when I left the corporate world many moons ago, and in many ways wrapped stillness around me with great pleasure, there are times it being still can feel uncomfortable.

Something I continue to lean into is that when we resist stillness it’s is a clue. A very valuable clue. It’s niggling at us to go within, listen, and observe. What is needing your attention right now? What part of you really wants to become that butterfly? What part of you is in protection mode not wanting to expand our of fear?

I know for myself, coming into my sixties two years ago, I felt something changing within me. I wanted even more stillness. I wanted to really appreciate everything around me even more. I want to drop deeper into my being. Though a part of me was scared – and still is at times, because of all those years of doing, doing, doing can sometimes be hard to let go of.

I reflect on my parents, now in their early eighties, both with some health challenges. My husband inching his way toward not working as much. Each navigating stillness in their own way. And me observing this and taking the cues as lessons for myself.

To Be Still is a gift if we can change our perspective and look through a different lens. When we do, we just may find a part of ourself that wants to be seen and know it is loved, and that all is going to be okay.

xo

Barb

Animal Oracle Guide Intuitive Reading – MAY 2025

On a collective level this will be a much gentler month. Personally, I’m welcoming softer energies! You too?

Check out this month’s animal wisdom as a guide for the month of May. Two potent animals with healing medicine!

You can listen to this month’s message here.

Wishing you a beautiful May!

XO

Barb

    

A Card Read for New Moon in Taurus. When An Oracle Card Brings Tears to Your Eyes.

This morning I pulled cards for the New Moon in Taurus. Perhaps you also feel this expansion that is happening underneath and within ourselves, though you can’t quite name it or know what it all means? The word TRUST comes up for me time and time again when I feel this. And it was Grandmother Prickly Pear Cactus that brought tears to my eyes.

After pulling cards and writing out my thoughts I felt this a universal message for all of us. So I offer it as a guide for you if you are in need of it with this summary:

Trust in this life of yours that continues to expand and evolve. Stay in connection with your inner self, while also allowing yourself to open more to the truth of who you are at your core. This requires being present and embracing one moment at a time – one step at a time – as the way  to being here and now while also moving forward to continually building a stronger foundation underneath, above, and within you. Listen and trust in your own intuition while staying open to the bigger picture to reveal itself. This time and as always, is about valuing and appreciating all aspects of you. It’s no longer comfortable to go with the ‘in crowd’ or shrink away in shyness as a way to protect oneself, but to embrace and love the spectacular you that is you – and that there no one else like you!

Wishing you a beautiful day and being all that makes your heart shine!

Cards used in this reading: Wisdom of the Oracle by Colette Baron – Reid, Animal Reflections Healing Oracle by me, Healing the Inner Child by Nina Mongendre, Cosmic Animal Cards by Tanya Casteel, and Song of the Grandmothers by Kara Simons.

XO

Barb