Honoring the Domestic Goddess Within

Posted October 12, 2015 by Barbara Techel

Fall brings out the domestic Goddess in me.

And so does a new vacuum.

Seriously, I love to vacuum.

Friday I bought a middle-of-the-line Hoover. My other vacuum (not a Hoover) was fed up with the dog hair and rigorous workouts that I tend to put my vacuums through.

So off to the vacuum heaven my tired, old one went.

And in its place a shiny new red one with exciting new accessories to explore. Yesterday was the day to take it for a test drive and I don’t think my house and car knew what hit them. It was as if I was in a vacuum cleaning trance!

I don’t think there is an inch of my house that wasn’t touched and now I have this driving itch to take it for a whirl through my writing cottage.

But Kylie scattered to her kennel as she does when the “naughty” vacuum comes out. And Gidget, well, she goes from room to room. Wherever IT is, she is not.

The whirring sound echoed throughout our house and outside for a good part of the morning. And I noticed after vacuuming the screen door, my last place of attack for the day, that Gidget was in her bed only inches away.

She didn’t take off this time as she usually does with a “don’t come near me” look at the vacuum. Perhaps this vacuum and her will be friends…. or she was lulled to sleep from all that humming…or perhaps she was exhausted from trying to keep up with my vacuuming frenzy.

At any rate, I don’t know what exactly it is about Fall, but I love honoring the domestic Goddess in me.

Snuggling in close to my own surroundings, being with John and the dogs, making delicious dinners, fires in the woodstove, and tackling home projects… it is all very grounding.

A great sense of accomplishment and pride in home- maybe that’s what it is.

Home has always been so important to me. It’s where I feel most centered and where I welcome the domestic Goddess when she wishes to come out and play.

Each Goddess within us, so necessary to explore and honor when she presents herself.

And I do think that Vacuum Goddess is calling out again, so I best sign off and take her for a whirl through the walls of my writing cottage.

Thank you for subscribing to my journal posts.

Skunk Dream. What Could It Mean?

Posted October 9, 2015 by Barbara Techel

Skunk Dream. Would Could it Mean? — Photo credit: kids.britannica.com

If only I could remember all the parts of my dreams.

I try really hard, but it seems I can only manage to remember one small tidbit of them. Maybe I’m trying too hard?!

The only thing I recall of my dream last night was that I encountered a skunk. And then he sprayed me right in the face!

Upon awakening, I thought, “What in the world could that mean?”

I’m increasingly becoming more and more fascinated with what our animal world is trying to teach us, not just dogs, which I’ve learned so much from in the past ten years. I can’t help but think they’ve led the way for me to now become more interested and open to other animal teachings.

For a long time I always thought you had to actually encounter an animal to receive a message. But I now understand to pay attention by patterns of animals that show up whether in images or on TV, or in person too, as well as in dreams.

When one shows up in my dreams, I get excited and intrigued about what it is I’m supposed to understand that perhaps I’m not getting.

One thing I’ve learned to do because of my animal communicator friend, Dawn, whose written lots of books on the subject, is to think deeper into their meanings and listen to my own intuition to how that animal is trying to speak to me.

It’s often called animal medicine which is the Native American practice of embracing an awareness that reveals itself when a certain animal crosses our path.

It’s “the custom of animal medicine refers to the healing aspects that a particular animal brings to our consciousness. This would mean anything that supports, strengthens, restores, empowers, or revives the spiritual body, as well as the physical body.”

So what could skunk mean appearing in my dream? I went to a popular book by Ted Andrews called, Animal Speak, for guidance.

One paragraph jumped out at me:

“The skunk does not get out of the way of any animal. It moves along at its own speed, with its own mind. It is self-assured and confident in itself. It skunk has shown up, it can be to help you with this particular aspect. It can teach you how to be more self-assured and how to assert yourself.”

I asked myself, “How does this relate to where I’m at right now?”

As I thought about it, I knew exactly what it meant.

I’m adventuring into offering workshops out of my home teaching the SoulCollage(r) process. I have this fear that no one will sign up. That people won’t want to see how this process can help them. That perhaps they aren’t ready.

For about three nights in a row this is exactly what I’ve been worrying about in my dreams.

But this time skunk showed up to encourage me to be confident in myself and to trust that all is going to work out.

So okay, Mr. Skunk, I guess you had to spray me in the face to get my attention to stop worrying so much. I’m taking your message into my heart and trusting it….

and if you don’t mind me adding, without any offense what-so-ever, I’m really glad you were in my dream and not reality when it took spraying me in the face to get my attention!

Thank you for subscribing to my journal posts.

Talking Animal Love with Author Peggy Frezon. Plus Enter to Win Her New Book, Faithfully Yours.

Posted October 8, 2015 by Barbara Techel

We are two animal loving friends who’ve never met in person, but share a kinship for the powerful and profound lessons the animals in our lives have taught us.

It’s an honor to share with you this interview today with author, Peggy Frezon and her new book, Faithfully Yours – The Amazing Bond Between Us and the Animals We Love.

Honored and Grateful Disclaimer: I do have to share with you, my dear readers that my late, dachshund, Frankie’s story is included in Peggy’s book in the chapter about acceptance. It’s so lovely to know Frankie’s story continues to weave its way organically out into the world. I am honored.

Welcome to Joyful Paws, Peggy!

Barbara: I want to start right away by saying I was most interested in the fact that you included in your book, not only stories about dogs and cats, but of other animals too such as a calf, snake, birds, and many more.

The timing for me is perfect because in the last year or so I’ve made it a point to be more conscious about being open to all animal wisdom…even when they aren’t cuddly or cute.

Can you share with us why you chose to include so many species of animals in this book, and not just cats and dogs?

Peggy: Like you, I usually write about dogs. And sometimes a cat or two. For the book, I spoke to people about their bonds with horses, cows, birds, rabbits and other animals. I included these different animals in the book because it helps us see that so many creatures are capable of emotions some people might not give them credit for.

When I learned about the calf who pushed his owner away from a poisonous snake, I don’t think it was just a meaningless reaction. I think that calf really cared about his human enough to want to protect her.

Barbara: What was your inspiration for writing this book?

Peggy: I was doing some research for Guideposts magazine, and I was interested in why we love animals so much, and why animals love us. I wanted to share true stories of the remarkable ways animals comfort, accept, heal, and love us, as well as stories of so many remarkable people who comfort, accept, heal and love animals.

Barbara: One story that I was especially drawn to is “Nature Walk Discovery” and how a naturalist at Trails Carolina provides therapeutic help for troubled boys and girls. The fact that a snake taught a young many an important lesson was fascinating. I had something similar happen to me over the summer. Can you share more about why you felt it important to share this story?

Peggy: I love the story about Trails Carolina program, because I love that the teacher, Steve, helps kids look at animals in a new way. He shows them that snakes, rats, and bugs aren’t disgusting. He told me that it’s always a rewarding moment when that light bulb goes off, and a child is willing to touch, or even hold, the snake that it once feared. I have to tell you that I also fear snakes, and I think of this story whenever I encounter one in my yard or on a walk with the dogs. I’m not quite to the point where I want to hold them, but I don’t run away screaming anymore!

Barbara: You also share a story about how a woman helped a tarantula cross the road. I had a big shiver run through my body reading this story. As much as I want to stay open to what all animals can teach me, I admit I would have a hard time going anywhere near a tarantula. What do you want readers to take away from sharing stories about animals we may fear?

Peggy: I hope readers take away that the animals they may fear are just there doing what they were put here on earth to do. If we leave them alone and let them go about their business, it’s usually best for all of us. We might even come to appreciate them as beautiful and amazing creatures

Barbara: Do you think there is one, overriding lesson that all animals can teach us? If so, what do you feel that is?

Peggy: Wow good question. Every animal has a varying capacity to love or to rescue or to comfort humans. I think the overriding lesson animals can teach us is to treat animals–and each other–with compassion. Treat others the way your most beloved pet treats you.

Animals have feelings. I’m not saying they experience the entire range of emotions as humans, but many animals experience joy, fear and pain. And love. They deserve to be treated with understanding and dignity. And one cool thing about the book is that there are dozens of stories about people who are doing amazing things to care for animals.

Barbara: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us today?

Peggy: Some stories are of everyday pets in common situations that many of us relate to…while others are stories of heroic rescues and amazing feats. Some of the stories are funny, while others are spiritual, because I feel that animals often display traits that reflect God’s love for us.

Thank you, Peggy for being here today as part of your blog book tour and sharing your new book and love of all God’s creatures with us.

Enter to Win a Copy of FaithFully Yours!

For a chance to win a copy of Peggy’s new book just leave a comment below. If you’d like more chances to win, feel free to visit the other blog tour stops from last week and yet tomorrow, and leave a comment for more chances to win! But do so by the end of the day of October 9th!

Tues 9/29- Earl’s World

Wed 9/30- Cindy Lu’s Muse

Thur 10/1- Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries and Meows

Fri 10/2- Pet Product Review

Sat 10/3- Talent Hounds

Sun 10/4- The Writer’s Dog

Mon 10/5- Pooch Smooches

Tues 10/6- Heart Like a Dog

Wed 10/7- Champion of my Heart

Thurs 10/8- Joyful Paws and Talking Dogs

Fri 10/9- Fire Safety Rocks and Five Sibes

Thank you for subscribing to my journal posts.