animal communication

Being with Animals – A Film Bringing Awareness to Interspecies Communication

Posted by Barbara Techel

I watched this film over the summer and was so glad I did. At times I felt like I was in this beautiful space of dreaming and meditation. They are now offering three special viewings of it beginning October 17, along with the chance to ask questions at the end of the film, and also the chance to win many different prizes.

From their website:

Follow a Swiss filmmaker as she seeks answers from experts across the globe to help her dog, ultimately leading her to discover animal communication — and something deeper and more profound than she ever imagined. 

If you love animals and wish to understand them, and yourself better you just might want to support this special cause!

Details and to register here.

xo,

Barbara

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Max the Yellow Labrador Mirrors a Beautiful Teaching on Aging

Posted by Barbara Techel

It’s animals and nature that I continue to lean into for comfort during these uncertain times. So today I want to share with you a tender story about Jessica and her dog, Max. I hope it will touch your heart as much as it did mine.

It was during a reading session I facilitated for Jessica and her dog that Jessica shared with me that the sight of her aging yellow Labrador, Max, and his legs giving out often unnerved her.

I could certainly empathize with this as it was over fourteen years ago when my dachshund became paralyzed in her back legs from a fall and a diagnosis of Intervertebral Disc Disease. Watching her scoot and pull herself along the floor was heart-wrenching to witness. But in time I’d come to understand this as a reflection of what I needed to heal within myself.

Jessica was seeking guidance on how she could help Max with aging gracefully and how she could best support him. I was more than happy to see what I could do to help to mutually benefit both her and Max.

Using the ancient wisdom of oracle cards to gain insight into what would serve as a road map for both her and Max, I pulled four cards from the Wisdom of the Oracle.

The first card was about helping Jessica with her internal challenges and navigating the daily tasks of caring for an aging dog. The card pulled was inviting her to be with going the distance even when she didn’t think she could and about embracing uncertainty even when it felt difficult.

Next, we looked at where Max was at this stage of life. No surprise here really, as animals often adapt with much more ease than we humans do. His card was ‘Serendipity’ and it fits perfectly with his easy going and sometimes goofy personality. It was also a beautiful reflection for Jessica to not only embrace being more in the present moment but to also go with the flow.

Next, we looked at the relationship between both of them. I felt a tug on my heart when the card pulled was ‘Yin.’ This is all about embracing the feminine and again, about being fluid – not forcing anything – but just allowing what is unfolding at the moment and being open to the gifts of it all.

The next two cards pulled we looked at what could help Jessica move forward and how she could stay connected with Max. This revealed they still had much joy to take part in and this time of Max slowing down would present more opportunities for just this— a pivotal time for them to deepen in their relationship, to just be with each other, and to celebrate the road they’ve traveled together instead of wishing things could be different.

It was a palpable moment when Jessica had the realization that Max was mirroring the struggles she was personally having with her aging process. She’d been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease the previous year and was learning to move through her days in new and mindful ways that best support her well-being. This is something that can feel challenging at times as she is raising a young family and is also running her own small business.

As I do with my reading sessions, the last card I pull is one that has a message specifically from your animal friend. And Max had the most meaningful message to share with Jessica. The card drawn was from the Divine Dog Wisdom Cards and read, “Acceptance – Loving What Is.”

While this was so touching to both Jessica and me and we took a moment to let it seep into our hearts, it was a few moments later that we also chuckled and echoed, “You can’t make this stuff up, right?”

Leave it to our animal friends to sum it up into something so poignant you feel it vibrate throughout your whole being!

It was recently that I received another touching note from Jessica that prompted me to ask for permission to share her and Max’s story with you today.

It read:

“I just wanted to send you a note. Your session (for her and Max) helped so much. Max’s health issues have been ebbing and flowing for the last two weeks and honestly, this is the most relaxed I’ve been about them. I realized there isn’t any fear and I don’t see him as struggling. I’m sure this shift is a relief to him as well. Thank you so much for the gift of peace.”

While I’m honored to have held space for both Jessica and Max to arrive at this new place within their relationship, I also tip my hat to Jessica for being open to what she couldn’t at first see, but now understood about her fears that helped her arrive at this new space of peace within.

And I, of course, continue to be in awe of the wisdom of animals and their gift of walking selflessly beside their human friends as a way in which they serve to help us heal. Way to go, Max!

P.S. I think the smiles on both of their faces says it all, don’t you?!

xo,

Barbara

A Magical Morning of Hearts and Dragonflies

Posted by Barbara Techel

Near the end of my morning walk today I was mulling over in my mind the interview I’ll be doing this afternoon with Dr. Cara Gubbins for the Animal Wisdom World Summit, which she has hosted for several years now. 

This year’s summit is all about connecting and healing with our animal friends. My talk is titled, “Healing with Our Pets.” I’ll also be doing a bonus interview on how oracle cards can guide healing and talking about my signature Wisdom in the Paws readings for people and their pets.

So onto the magic of my morning! As I gave thought to what I wish to share in the interview today, I was revisiting the many teachings I’ve received from dogs and other animals in the wild. As I glanced down, I saw this stone in the shape of a heart. This is something that happens on occasion for me and I now have a small collection of them.

And it never gets old. It always sends goosebumps up my spine. I know it’s a wink from the universe that I’m on the right path and a lovely reminder that following one’s heart is truly the way to live authentically. Besides the fact, I was thinking about animals which always fills my heart with pure love!

I almost left the stone behind. But then I said silently, “What are you doing Barb?! You need to take the stone home.” I saw in my mind’s eye how lovely it will be to have it sitting on my desk next to my computer as I do the interview today. And so I carried it home.

Stepping onto the front stoop and just as I reached out to grab the handle to the front door a dragonfly landed on my hand. It sat there for a few moments as I experienced goosebumps go up my spine again. It then fluttered away, but only to return when I tried to grab the handle of the door again. It was as if it was asking me to just stop a moment and appreciate what had unfolded with my discovering the heart-shaped stone that had happened just a short five minutes before.

After it flew away a few moments later, I was called to revisit a postcard I have on my bulletin board in my writing cottage. It’s about Dragonfly and I received it from my friend, Dawn a few Christmas seasons ago.

I was drawn to this line: “Dragonflies connect us to other dimensions, open communication with nature spirits and help us recall our dreams…Dragonfly teaches us to see beyond the ordinary…”

The stone in a shape of a heart on the ground being there at that moment I was revisiting all the teachings from my animal friends, was no doubt a nod from each of them that they heard me and are supporting me from the other side.

Dragonfly showed up to reinforce this teaching for me and its persistence to be still so I could take that into my being what had unfolded during the last part of my walk. How often we are in that moment of magic, but quickly dismiss it as we make plans for the day. But dragonfly was encouraging me to linger in the connection of nature and the animals that now reside in another dimension.

And to remember this is our true nature – these encounters out in the world that you can’t possibly make happen – but that flow in abundance when we stay open to all the possibilities.

xo,

Barbara