animal communication

Animal Wisdom Oracle Guidance – Your True Nature – Week of Jan. 10, 2021

Posted by Barbara Techel

Hey Friends!  So today, besides your animal wisdom oracle guidance for the week, I share a new-to-me animal wisdom oracle deck I just received. The creator of the deck is Dr. Cara Gubbins and I pulled a card from this deck to share with you and feel it’s a good one. Well, I do suppose all messages from animals are good now, aren’t they?  😉

I hope you’ll enjoy getting the reading for the week a day earlier from now on.

As usual click here or on the graphic below to give a listen!

XO,

Barbara

Cards: Animal Wisdom Oracle Cards by Dr. Cara Gubbins

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For a private one-to-one session:  Click here to learn more about my Wisdom in the Pause readings (just for you) or click here to learn more about my Wisdom in the Paws readings (for you and your animal friend).

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Teaching from a Squirrel without a Tail

Posted by Barbara Techel

Photo courtesy of: Nuts about Squirrels

On my morning walk on Wednesday, I saw two squirrels chasing each other in the park. One appeared to not have a tail – just a bushy short stub. But I wasn’t quite sure as I was quite a few feet away from them.

Then on Thursday, I saw what I believed was that same squirrel as he scurried up a telephone pole. Sure enough, he didn’t have a tail!

I love to watch their tails flick back and forth, which means they are either sending a warning or will do this to let predators know they see the danger – sort of like a spoiler alert! Squirrels are so clever and sly, aren’t they?

But I thought about that tail missing on the squirrel as I walked to the library Thursday afternoon. It’s not something I’ve seen before and wondered if there was a teaching in this.

As our world continues to shift on its axel in many ways we didn’t see coming (though I know many of us felt something was coming for a long time), I see this as a message that we are all weaving a new tale. I was reminded of my friend Dawn’s experience with a dream she had about a snake missing its tail – and she’d go on to write a whole book about Snake and some powerful and profound lessons.

Doing a bit of research when I got home, I read that squirrels can survive just fine without a  tail. They adapt. Just like we are having to do in this year of 2020!

I’ve learned over the years to not immediately drop into feeling sorry for an animal missing a limb, or limbs that don’t work quite right, (thanks to my three special needs dachshunds!) or whatever perceived ‘handicap’ they may have. That squirrel was so busy having fun being a squirrel and I was enjoying watching him persevere.

He was making the best of life despite a tail that was no longer there. Perhaps he does things in a different way because of his missing tail – I don’t know for sure – but a key for me was that he adapted – and perhaps he has different experiences than a squirrel with a tail.

We don’t know what the future holds right now as we teeter on so many unknowns, but one thing is for sure, a new tale is in the making and on the way – and we just have to trust that it is going to be even better than we imagine.

Yet again, this morning, out on my walk, having gotten pulled into something that upset me on the news, I was trying to ‘figure it out’ and saw the squirrel yet again without a tail. Oh my, I had to chuckle how fast I can lose sight! And I heard once again that this is part of the new tale we are creating!

P.S. I did a short little video yesterday inspired to share blessings, giggles, and gratitude (plus a sweet little book about teachings from Sloth) if you want to check it out here.

xo,

Barbara

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Coming Home to Our Inner Leader

Posted by Barbara Techel

I think St. Francis embodied the value of the inner journey and inner leader… 

For most of my life, I feared the word leadership because I didn’t feel like a leader and it conjured up ideas of materialism and doing what you had to do at all costs to reach the ‘top of the ladder.’ Quite opposite of the simple life I truly love.

During the recent Animal Wisdom World Summit host, Dr. Cara Gubbins asked each speaker their thoughts on being a leader and what it is we need in terms of leadership for our world today.

It’s definitely a subject that conjures up many of us things we wish to see changed. But it’s also a call to look at ways in which we can become our own leader within. 

Some thoughts that came from some of the speakers about leadership were:

  • Embrace our own inner leader and remember we aren’t alone. ~Tammy Billups
  • There are different kinds of leaders and this is what we need, along with understanding that not all leaders need to be human. ~Nancy Windheart
  • We need to embrace nature as part of our team. ~Maia Kincaid

I was especially touched by Nancy sharing that not all leaders need to be human. In my life, it’s been dogs and animals in the wild that have been some of my greatest teachers encouraging me to trust my inner leader.

Being a leader can indeed at times feel like we are alone because when we begin to step into who we are others may not like it.

But I’ve found that the more I embrace my inner leader, the more like-minded souls come into my world. This strengthens my well-being and gives me the courage to keep being who I am.

I enjoyed Maia sharing that we need to embrace nature as part of our team. Nature is such a perfect example of leadership that does not force but follows the rhythm of natural laws and a way of being that is kinder and gentler to body, mind, and spirit.

During my interview with Cara, she asked me if I saw myself as a leader. It took me a few moments to answer because many emotions overcame me.

It took me until 55 years old to finally see myself in this way, which was only two short years ago. At times it can still feel fresh and surreal as I continue to embody this way of being. 

But I know now that being a leader is about being who I authentically am. Whether in a ‘big’ or ‘small’  way it’s about living from my true self for the sake of being that vibration in a world that so desperately needs for each of us to truly embrace who we are.

I paused before answering Cara’s question as I thought about all those that still don’t yet feel worthy and those that doubt their own inner leader. I know how painful and vulnerable this can feel. It was with great joy to declare that I AM a leader!

Despite any wounding from our past which can keep us stuck in believing we can’t be a leader, I hope I was able to instill in others through my voice and story, that they are worthy and can indeed live by the beat of their own drum.

Can you imagine the world if we all embraced our inner leader? It sends chill bumps up and down my spine just thinking about it. What a beautiful world it would be! This time we are going through, on our way to a New Earth, is one in which I hope we can continue to build upon the fact that we now more than ever is the time to embrace your inner leader.

So how do we begin to do this? 

I believe it’s by doing the inner work, just as I’ve so often shared over the years here in my letters, my blog, and in my memoirs.

I believe it’s about understanding our pain and opening to the gifts in what we’ve gone through as that which has given us a strength we’d not possibly have had.

It’s about reaching out for support in working through those things we feel fear around so we can rest in a more peaceful space within ourselves.

The more I continue to do my own inner work, the more I’m able to stay rooted in who I know I am. The more I do this the more I have compassion for myself and for those around me. The more I love and respect myself, the more I want to continue to be the leader of my life.

I also believe that being the leader of our lives is about feeling all of life – even when it’s hard. Do I do this 100% all the time? No, I don’t. But being a leader I believe,  also means not judging ourselves and trusting we will take what we’ve learned and do better next time.

And as speaker Dawn Brunke shared, “Everything is going to be okay. This is about evolution.”

Evolution individually, and as a collective, for a more peaceful world.

xo,

Barbara 

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