It’s the First of the Month: Say Rabbit! Rabbit!

Posted by Barbara Techel

rabbitPhoto credit:  Animal Wisdom Tarot cards by Dawn Brunke, illustrated by Ola Liola

I remember the first time I heard someone say “Rabbit! Rabbit!” and it happened to also be the first day of the month. It was Robin Roberts from Good Morning America. She said it was an old wives tale that when you say “Rabbit! Rabbit!” on the first of the month it is supposed to bring you good luck for the rest of the month. She said she does this faithfully.

I don’t always remember to say it, nor do I know if it truly works, but who knows. And what has one got to lose, right?

I remembered today to say it though and thought, hey, this is a good reason to look up the wisdom of Rabbit and share with you today. And any time I can learn more about our animals friends, well, I welcome that with open arms and heart.

So I share with you Rabbit from The Animal Wisdom Tarot cards. I hope you enjoy. And isn’t that just the sweetest photo of Rabbit? I think so!

Rabbit—skilled, shapeshifter, elusive guide to fairy kingdoms, symbol of good luck, fertility, and longevity—leaps between worlds. Popping from the magician’s hat, scampering down the hold to wonderland, resting in the full moon’s luminous glow. Rabbit links us with dreams, lunar mysteries, and the far reaches of our imagination. Clever, quick, and agile, Rabbit leads us to hidden knowledge, although following may require a leap of faith.

While this wild card suggests enhanced insights and intuitive illuminations, it can also entail bewilderment. Enchanted by the unfamiliar beauty of secret realms, we may lose ourselves in fascination and wonder. Find your center and stay grounded to avoid confusion and emotional turbulence. Express creative visions and inspired experiences through the arts—dance, write, paint, sing.

Accomplished guide to shadow worlds, Rabbit helps to identify underlying fears birthed by self-deception. With Rabbit, you gain greater awareness of yourself, and learn to see clearly. Rabbit teaches how to recognize illusion, accept paradox, and embrace the deep, primal powers of your moonlit intuition.

MESSAGE:  Be open to mystical marvels, but keep an eye on your path.

Connecting with Artists, the Earth, and Something Bigger Than Myself

Posted by Barbara Techel

wearable earth jewelryWearable Earth Jewelry by artist, Kathleen Nohe

I love supporting artists. My heart just soars when I get the opportunity to do so. Maybe being a writer and others supporting me reading my work, and purchasing my books, might have something to do with it—I know how our hearts and souls go into our work. And I know how vulnerable that can be to put ourselves “out there.”

But it is something bigger for me too. Recently I saw a stone necklace that an artist, Maria Wulf was featuring on her site for another artist, Kathleen Nohe of Wearable Earth Jewelry – that alone I think, is so cool how so many artists support each other in this way.

I knew I had to have one of these necklaces. The fact that she uses different stones that are connected with different energies was intriguing to me. The longer I am alive, the more and more I want to connect with nature, the earth and animals as often as possible.

Having a custom made necklace by Kathleen (Hi Kathleen!) was something that called out to me. So I contacted her through her Etsy shop and told her what colors I’d like.

I was so thrilled my necklace arrived today (with a set of matching earrings!). I had no idea what energy this stone represented, but got goosebumps when I read Kathleen’s note she included:  “The stone you picked is Sodalite – it’s energy properties are to help unite logic with intuition.” Oh my gosh, that is me right now – working on more of my intuition and following it’s guidance. It couldn’t be more perfect.

To top it off, I just “happened” to be wearing the beautiful knit vest today, my dear friend Victoria, made for me – notice the colors? Could they match any better to my necklace?  I don’t know about you, but when synchronicity like this happens, my whole insides light up. Talk about feeling the energy!

The other part I love is that Kathleen took the time to include a personal note. We had connected via email when I ordered the necklace and also found out how we both love special needs animals, which was so cool. But she also said in her note that she feels like she made a new friend. I feel the same way and am grateful.

Our world so big in many ways, but yet when connections like these are made, you can’t help but just know there is something way bigger at work here. Way bigger.

A Writer’s Life is Not Always Sweet

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_2239Rainbow Tree artwork done by my friend, Shannon

I think there is sometimes this misconception that writers have it easy. They live happily in their little quiet world, and words just flow out of them, making their way out into the world, and having a positive impact.

I can say this as I’ve found myself, at times, envious of the life of other writers as I perceive them to be in my own mind—that their life is gloriously beautiful and they never struggle to write.

But I’ve realized something big for me lately. When I’m in the flow of writing, my life feels incredibly delicious. It is where I am right now, and the sweetness of this place is somewhere I wish I could live forever.

I can hardly wait to jump out of bed and get to my keyboard lately. Words flying around in my head, waiting to be spilled out through the end of my fingers. They come so fast, I don’t know how I will catch them all.

In fact, as I brushed my teeth this morning, this post was doing laps around my brain. I knew what I wanted to write about in my journal today. I thought about abandoning brushing my teeth – but luckily my toothbrush won the battle.

But a writers life is not always that sweet. I’ve really taken notice lately the ease of how I’ve been able to write lately. I can’t get enough. It fills me up and makes me feel so alive.

But just last summer I abandoned the book I was working on and I did plenty of beating myself up inside about that. But the lesson I see clearly now is that I was forcing it. I also didn’t have the strength for it as my energy was directed in another avenue giving of my time and myself to help a friend.

The outcome of that didn’t end well. It felt like a death to me. I’ve been working through that. And each day I understand more and more why I had to go through what I did. I gave a huge part of my own sense of self away.

You know how hard that is to say that? Me, who is always encouraging others to take care of themselves first? I didn’t heed my own advice. But I also know the time and energy I spent in helping this friend was something I did from the very deepest part of my heart. I’d never change that.

And I’ve come out stronger on the other end. I’m making my way back to me — that inner self who loves to let her light shine. Because when I do, I am truly in the heart of who I am. My life flows and isn’t forced.

This has led me also to a better understanding of what “trust the process” means. This phrase was used often when I took my training to become a SoulCollage Facilitator this past November. Creator of this process, Seena Frost says, “SoulCollage® reminds us in many different ways to trust that everything is happening exactly as it should.”

Isn’t this what life is all about? And this is what I’m really “getting” as someone who loves to write, but isn’t always in the sweet flow of it, and then find myself scratching my head wondering why I can’t always write even though I love it. This. is. normal. I am normal, or whatever normal means. Because in reality I really don’t want to be normal. I want to be me!

It isn’t always going to be easy. How can it? If it was, how would we move to deeper depths to share more the view of our inner world and how we see the world around us? How would we grow?

So I feel like a butterfly lately, awakening from yet another cocoon, excited to spread my newly improved wings.

A writers life, just like life, isn’t always so sweet — but when we can find the blessings in looking back, then, I think, that is what makes life all the more sweeter.

And what a wonderful reminder to take in this lesson, store it in a safe place, and call upon it once again, when we come to a place where we must be patient, and trust the process to unfold yet again.

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I forgot to mention in yesterday’s post that I was interviewed by Nutschell of “The Writing Nut” blog (and yes, that really is her name!) I was her featured writer for her Wednesday Writers Workspace. Take a peek if you wish! It was a fun interview.