Two To Go. Update on My Animal Reflections Oracle Deck.

Posted by Barbara Techel

I’m near the end of my  Animal Reflections Oracle Deck project. Well, sort of, as I’m almost done with the completion of this phase. First was creating the deck which I did collage and mixed media style. Then began phase two and writing a message for each card.

Each afternoon I’d randomly pull a card and have it waiting for me on my writing desk for the next day. I didn’t always write each day if I felt I needed more time with that animal that was up next or if other things needed my attention.

But there I was at the end of last week with two cards left to write the first draft for. I appreciated how it was Wolf and Firefly as the last two. I smiled at how it fell into place. I intuitively knew that Wolf would be the next message I wrote, which I did today. White Wolf came to me years ago during a guided visualization and then again when I asked her name one evening before drifting off to sleep.

She came to me at a time when my heart was in a great deal of pain. It was a time when I wanted to close my heart down for fear of being hurt again. But White Wolf reminded me that this is what stretches the heart and to close it down would shut me off from experiencing love again. This is the journey we walk having this human experience of feelings and emotions which helps expand our compassion and empathy not only for ourselves but for others too.

The last card left to write a message for – Firefly – is the culmination of the theme of the deck with each animal offering wisdom encouraging the importance of inner work – that each time we move through an experience of growth we emerge with a more confident sense of being and shine our light out into the world.

I’d been pondering whether or not to add one more animal to my deck, but now everything feels as if it has clicked into place so I won’t be doing that.

It’s time to complete phase two before I go onto phase three which will be going back through each message I’ve written and fine-tuning things. Then phase three will be sending the text off to my editor. Once that happens I will begin to scan and digitally add a word to each that represents that card/animal, while also exploring how I wish to publish the deck with two possibilities I’m giving thought to.

It’s fun to stop and look at how far I’ve come with this project. And I thought it would be fun to give you an update as many of you have expressed support for my deck, which I really appreciate! Thank you!

XO

Barb

                  

Can You See in the Shadow of the Tree What I See?

Posted by Barbara Techel

After a stretch of cold and damp weather, the warm sun streaming through the east window of my Joyful Pause Cottage studio as I sat at my writing desk this morning felt absolutely magnificent.

Pausing for a moment after doing some writing for a project I’m working on, I looked out the west window to catch the shadow from our locust tree. Something called me to get up, walk out onto the deck and take a picture.

When I brought the photo up on my phone I stared at it for a few moments. It was then that I saw the woman. Her arms stretched out wide as she bowed to the sun. Do you see her too?

I recognized the shadow was reflecting me. It was exactly how I was feeling as I was soaking up the energy of the sun coming in through my window. The warmth and energy of the sun went all the way into the marrow of my bones and all the way down to my toes and I was in a state of gratefulness for it.

And it was then that I was gifted with the image of what I saw in the shadow of this tree and why I felt called to walk outside and take a picture. This just added another layer of gratitude for the enriching essence and magic that nature provides when we are open to seeing.

XO

Barb

                  

Delight (and wise advice) from Little Red Squirrel

Posted by Barbara Techel
Red Squirrel from my upcoming Animal Reflections Oracle Deck

Red Squirrel may find it confusing this mid-April morning thinking it’s spring, yet, there is a little over two inches of snow on the ground, and it’s still falling as I write this. Red Squirrel may also be wondering if he came out of hibernation too soon.

I felt the same as Red Squirrel as the morning light began to fill my bedroom and a quick peek out the window from my warm bed revealed a fresh blanket of snow. I wanted to stay nestled under the cozy blankets too.

But I knew the oracle card next up on my writing desk to write a message for was that of Red Squirrel. Just like it seems with every card I’ve pulled the day before and have waiting for me, Red Squirrel seemed fitting for what I needed to hear for the day.

One would have to be hard-pressed not to smile when thinking of Red Squirrel. Every time I do and even more when see one I’m energized with a welcome infusion of joy and delight.

They are like little sprites that have an endless well of curiosity that takes them on many an adventure!

Okay, Red Squirrel, I thought, I will embrace your infectious adventure of spirit and get on with the day. There’s no telling where it will take me, what I will learn, or what new thing I may discover.

While the calendar does say it’s spring we must trust that this snowfall is short-lived. Before we know it, it will have melted. The flowers and buds will then continue their journey of sprouting toward the sun and will gift us an abundance of blooms and color along with a lushness of endless green leaves.

Red Squirrel reminded me to take advantage of this quick hit of snow as a way to pause before the spring brings with it a rush of new creative and adventurous energy that will fill my days.

Thank you, Red Squirrel, for the gift of your wisdom. I’ve taken heed and my spirit is filled with joy for your sage and delightful advice.

XO

Barb