Fly Free. An Important Message from Our Dog Friends.

Posted July 18, 2018 by Barbara Techel

This morning I was listening to a podcast called Freedom Seeker Chronicles. At the end of each episode the host says, “Fly free my friends!” as a way to encourage her listeners to follow their hearts.

As I celebrate my 55th birthday today, I’m reflecting on the past twelve months as I get ready to orbit yet another year around the sun.

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about Gidget and my new book I’m writing. With it on my mind so much, I often have what I think are my best thoughts, early in the morning, as I sit at my vanity getting ready for the day.

Today when the host said “Fly free my friends!” it occurred to me to the real teaching of dogs related to this saying. How often when a pet (or person) passes we say, “fly free.” With well meaning of course, as we believe that when a being has passed they are free of pain and struggle. No more constraints of worry or burden must they carry any longer.

As I reflect on this half-way point in 2018, I could have never predicted it being as pivotal as it was in my personal growth. Gidget was so poignant in helping me take a leap of faith I never thought I would. And as I simmered in “fly free” I realized that for me, the true teaching from our dear dog friends, is to learn to fly free while we still walk this earth.

We have a choice as to how we will work with what we perceive as a burden. Is there a teaching within that burden that we aren’t seeing? Could it be that by understanding this we could be set free while living in this human body?

While perhaps we may not always be 100% free as we are human after all, Gidget did help me understand that every time we are willing to look deep within ourselves, and dig to the root of what may be causing our pain, that we can more often than not, find clarity in a perspective we may not have otherwise known had we only lingered on the surface of our feelings.

And when we do, we are able to set ourselves free just a little more.

Fly free my friends from me and G!

XO,

Barbara

Guidance from the Oracle and Otter on Feeling Understood

Posted July 16, 2018 by Barbara Techel

Whether or not someone understands me no longer takes up the energy or inner space it once did is something I’m reflecting on as I get ready to celebrate my 55th birthday this Wednesday, July 18th.

It’s certainly been a journey of consciously living a self-examined life that I stand today more grounded in who I am.

I’m thinking about the extraordinary coaches who have guided me over the years, the many inspiring books I’ve read, surrounding myself with supportive and like-minded friends and colleagues, and taking part in many a workshop, plus the dogs and animals who have been pivotal to my ever evolving personal growth.

It takes a village to help us step fully into who we are meant to be. And it’s something I truly wish for everyone – to be comfortable in their own skin – and to embrace the gifts that the ebb and flow of life brings us.

I’m currently in the middle of reading another profoundly moving book that is “speaking my language” called, The Seeker’s Guide – Making Your Life A Spiritual Adventure by Elizabeth Lesser. Every time I pick it up my heart feels home.

In August I will complete my six month intensive studying with Intuitive Counselor and Oracle Expert, Colette Baron-Reid. Being in Oracle School among many incredible peers I’ve come to understand even more how letting go of my old story and not getting stuck there, is how we set ourselves free.

It’s something I continue to be thrilled to be of service and witnessing women discover that they too can choose to live the life they choose.

I believe to feel understood, we must first and foremost go within and love ourselves. Often times this takes support and many paths we must walk – the journey sometimes tenacious – but oh, so worth it.

And why I want to encourage you, my dear readers, when you feel alone or unsure, to go within and listen with gentle kindness, because your soul will always love and guide you.

I asked for some insight also from the Wisdom of the Oracle and the Power Animal Oracle:

What do we most need to know right now to support our highest good and let go of times we don’t feel understood?

Wisdom of the Oracle: Round and Round was in protection (reverse) when I pulled it, but I’m showing it upright so you can see it. When in protection it means to pay extra close attention.

When we feel other’s don’t understand us we tend to think that if we could just convince someone of this or that, then they’d understand. And we can tend to go round and round with asking the “why’s” instead of keeping the focus on ourselves. But the truth is we can’t control what other’s think. We can only trust what our heart knows. If we feel strongly about a belief, then we must own it and live from that space in order to be truly happy.

Power Animal Oracle: I love that Otter presented himself in this reading in conjunction with Round and Round. It couldn’t be more perfect. While it’s good to survey the landscape around you before heading out into the world, just as Otter does, it’s remembering once again that the only control you have is in your own reactions and trusting in who you are.

Wishing you a beautiful week!

XO,

Barbara

Through the Eyes of Gidget: It’s An Inside Job

Posted July 1, 2018 by Barbara Techel

I continue to make progress on my new memoir. Yay! So far, about 15,000 words written. I’ll share the title with you soon! I’m still contemplating a sub-title.

So often lately, it’s been such a joy to really see Gidget as the wise soul she is. Though it really is a feeling and something I feel on a deeper level than I did before. I continue to grapple with words for this as there does not seem to be adequate words to express the transformation within me that has occurred.

It happened again this morning as I walked onto the deck, to see Gidget lying here, and captured this photo. While yes, she is adorable (in my humble opinion), it is so much more than that. There is this deep respect for her as this sentient being with a purpose just as valuable as the purpose of you and me. The fact that she has walked beside me through the depths of my soul working through some pretty tough pain, speaks to the extent of love animals have for us. There are times when it feels so very palpable, like it did in this moment and getting this picture.

Gidget’s vital teaching for me, to really understand that I too, am a wise soul, and that it’s perfectly fine to own this. It took deep, personal work on my part, letting go of a past story, and a time of incubating in integration, to get to this new space of understanding. But truly, it’s an inside job to finding more peace and happiness for one’s life is what I believe.

Through the eyes of Gidget (and no, this isn’t the title of my book, as someone else gets that solely as her own 🙂 ), and understanding she was serving as a loving mirror for me, that I was able to peel back another crucial layer of truth. Shedding that layer has me not only seeing Gidget in a deeper scope of love for who she is, but also the reflection I now see of myself when I look in the mirror. And one that I am worthy and I’m…. well… oops…almost revealed the title. Stay tuned! 🙂

Speaking of this being an inside job to happiness…Dr. Joe Dispenza explains it beautifully in this short talk. Very worth the listen.

Happy Sunday!

XO,

Barbara