animal human bond

Sweet Time in Meditation with Robin

Posted by Barbara Techel
Photo credit: Daniel Roberts

This morning I was listening to a video of one of my favorite mentors as I got ready for the day. As I was listening I noticed two robins outside my window. They were hopping along in the grass, their beaks full of dried grasses. Before I realized it, I found myself drifting into their space.

They are now in the season of building their nests and will soon be welcoming new life with a brood of baby birds. This made me think about how important home is to me, which I wrote about earlier this week.  

I couldn’t help but link it to what is transpiring in our world right now as so many more of us are gathered at home. The teachings we are receiving as we learn to live in a new way right now and what we will perhaps give birth to that we’d not considered before.

As I was in this sweet space of connecting with the robins I was suddenly brought back to where I was, sitting at my vanity in my bedroom, listening to my mentor, as I heard her say how meditation does not mean having to just sit with your eyes closed. It can be in many moments during the day. It can be looking at a feather and when your mind drifts away to something else, it’s just about bringing your mind gently back to the feather.

I smiled as I realized I was meditating with the robins and how they brought me to this precious peace by just pausing to be with them.

Adding another layer of connecting with Robin I then pulled an oracle card from the Animal Kin Oracle by Sarah Wilder asking what else it is we may all need to know right now?

I pulled the unicorn with the word on the card of miracles. The symbolism above the unicorn image is that of the element of Spirit.

I see this as Robin inviting us to see the miracles in the things we perhaps may have taken for granted. How nature provides if we treat mother earth with respect. While some may see the unicorns as doing battle with their horns crossed, I sense it as being united, sort of like, X marks the (sweet) spot. That, together, we can make the changes necessary to appreciate all of life. And how the robins outside my window were working side-by-side gathering materials to build a nest that will support new life.

And every day when we can appreciate this larger force that is at work supporting and guiding us, the more we will be inviting in miracles that help us to acknowledge more deeply this one precious life.

Then reading the guidebook this line resonated: “Since this mythical being is not of this world, we can link it to our ability to travel astrally, reminding us of our own ability to see and visit other worlds outside of the one we are born into.”

Let us not dismiss or forget that each of us can truly do this, just like what happened for me in how I was transported to being with those robins and how that connected me back to how important home is. It’s where it all begins.

Isn’t it beautiful how we are all connected? That is one of the gifts for me right now and how I’m feeling this connection on yet an even deeper level.

I hope you are too.

Much love and peace to you.

xo,

Barbara

 

Sweet Connection Outside My Window. The Animal Human Bond Never Ends.

Posted by Barbara Techel

I’d not even noticed until this afternoon. But after running errands and returning to my writing cottage I felt this nudge to look outside my window— the one next to my writing desk.

Gidget passed away May 11, 2019 and when the first snowfall came I felt some grief when it snowed enough to cover the stone heart marker of where we laid her to rest.

But I remember reminding myself that even though I couldn’t see the marker that she was, and will always be, in my heart.

Yesterday I made an announcement on my Facebook and Instagram pages of the release of my latest memoir, I’m Fine Just the Way I Am. The minute I hit the publish button I felt tears rush to the surface.

As I’ve said often along the way, I’ve learned that we are always releasing, integrating and healing. This book has felt vulnerable for me to share in many ways. But my tears were a mixture of just another sweet release and celebration that I did it.

It has been a full week and last night I had to remind myself to take a deep breath. I was tired and so I honored that I really needed to rest and went to bed early.

After rushing around again today I was looking forward to returning to my writing cottage to chill out. And that’s when I felt the nudge to look outside the window.

I smiled when I realized why I was feeling called to do so. The stone heart marker is almost visible once again. And then I knew it was Gidget who had been nudging me. 

I said out loud, “Oh Gidge girl, I love you.”

And when I looked a bit closer I noticed a dried leaf that took on the shape of a heart. You can see it within the stone marker on the bottom left of the photo above.

To me, this was symbolic of Gidget, the protector of my heart as she was in life and now in spirit. My heart within hers and hers within mine for infinity.

Oh, how I love when the universe presents us with these precious gifts.

xo,

Barbara

 

My New Book, “I’m Fine Just the Way I Am” is Now Available to Order with Bonus Gifts (limited time)

Posted by Barbara Techel

I’m so excited to share with you that my new memoir, I’m Fine Just the Way I Am – Healing Emotional Pain through the Wisdom of Animals and Oracles is now available to order! 
 
The official launch date is April 22, 2020, but I’m offering this limited window of opportunity between now and then for you to order a copy of my book which includes bonus gifts (ordering and details below).
 
The thought to write another book happened one morning two years ago driving down a country road. It flashed quite quickly across my mind but then as quickly I tucked it away.
 
At the time, I was deep in the muck of going through a dark time and finding it difficult to cope with taking care of my special needs dog, Gidget.
 
I had no idea at that point how things were going to unfold, but somewhere in the deepest part of my heart, I thought maybe, just maybe, my story could help other women.
 
A few weeks later during an animal reading with friend and animal communicator, Dawn Brunke, I’d learn that Gidget was fine just as she was despite her health issues even though I was feeling challenged by it all. Her invitation to me was to see subtle perspectives I wasn’t considering and to see life sideways.
 
She also encouraged me to understand inner focus and details and how she really wanted me to get this. She said it was her final teaching to me.
 
While I didn’t at first fully grasp what she meant by seeing life sideways, I was open to exploring what insight this could bring me.
 
During that reading, Dawn also mentioned that perhaps I’d write a book about this someday even though she hadn’t known I’d just had that thought two weeks before.
 
She said that maybe a great title would be I’m Fine Just the Way I Am.
 
I still recall how my hand immediately flew to rest upon my heart. It struck a chord deep within me. Though, I wouldn’t know the full extent of its meaning until I embarked on the deep inner work that I was being called to do.

Little did I know I’d be taken on a journey to explore a significant and painful recurring vision that has plagued me for over two decades.
 
I wanted more than anything to be the best I could be for Gidget and also for myself. I was so very tired of suffering and the endless inward berating I’d done to myself for years.
 
After that reading with Gidget, I’d embark on an inward journey and employ a myriad of tools — each serving as a building block to self-knowledge and healing. 

  • I learned to trust my intuition and trust in the process.
  • I learned to dance with the wisdom of not only my dog, Gidget, but with a snake, a wolf and a horse. Each had a poignant message to help me heal different parts of myself.
  • I gained insight I’d not have considered by incorporating oracle cards and identified patterns that no longer served me. I also discovered ways in which I could course-correct when I fell into old patterning and repeated my never-ending story.
  • I paid attention to my dreams and worked with a dream analyst to understand how my dreams were guiding me to believe in the wounded little girl within me.
  • I incorporated the power of forgiveness and ceremonial work.
  • I accepted help from others who were beacons of light guiding me to listen to those parts of myself that felt shame and guilt.
  • I took part in life-enhancing breath work that took me to feeling the core of my wounding and healed me on a level of understanding that I was never alone, always loved, and most importantly, that I was worthy.

I’d come to understand that the turmoil in my life wasn’t happening to me, but rather for me.
 
All of this was integral in helping me transform my pain and accept it both as a gift and the path I was meant to walk in order to finally understand that I’m worthy just as I am. 
 
Bonus gifts included with pre-orders (until 4/21/20): 

  • Animals as Oracles – Oracle cards and messages from four of the animals I write about in the book that helped guide me in profound and powerful ways. This is a PDF that you can print and cut out the photo of each animal and use them as oracle cards if you wish. Plus pages to journal your thoughts on what each animal is personally offering to you to help guide you.
  • An inspirational 5 x 7 graphic to encourage you to embrace your worthiness and know that you too, are fine just the way you are. This is a PDF you can print, cut out, and put in a favorite frame. Place it where you will see it every day to remind you that you are worthy just as you are…and that you matter.
  • Coupon with a special discount toward one oracle reading and guidance session with me.
  • Special drawing: Your name will be entered in for a chance to win one of five oracle reading and guidance sessions I’ll be giving away.

**After you’ve placed your book order send an email to Imfinebookgifts@gmail.com with your name and order # for your bonus gifts.

Please note that bonus gifts will be emailed on or around April 22, 2020, along with notification of winners of the five oracle reading giveaways.

In closing… to my Gidge girl, I can never thank you enough for being you and walking so lovingly beside me. I miss you. But I’m so honored to carry you in my heart and the beautiful teaching you instilled within me.

xo,

Barbara

P.S. The e-book version will be available sometime in May.