animal messengers

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

Posted by Barbara Techel
Through the Eyes of Gidget: It's An Inside Job
Gidget

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

Critters Crack Me Up!

Posted by Barbara Techel
Critters Crack Me Up!

While I’ve shared often my belief that animals often have messages for us, as I’ve experienced, whether in the wild, that live in our home, or we see in images, sometimes they just are. Meaning, there’s not always a message or insight to be gleaned from them.

Such as this morning. I was brushing my teeth, wandering around the house. I can’t stand still and often move about for the two minutes my electric toothbrush does its job. Today I found myself gravitating to the front door. Upon glancing at my flowers, the sun shining brightly, my eye landed on Mr. Tree Frog in the most unusual spot.

There he was, his tiny derriere hanging over the pole, while he seemed to be surveying the neighborhood atop the pole that holds my decorative flag. This flag, a new one I just purchased on Sunday. The other one I had for quite a few years which was now faded from the sunlight. 

As the toothbrush whirled in my mouth I chuckled out loud. It was just too cute! While I took it as Mr. Tree Frog approved of the new flag, it was such a delightful sight that just made my morning.

No message really. Or perhaps just the universe’s way via Mr. Tree Frog, letting me know to not take life too seriously and have some fun. Maybe a message for you too?

Whatever the case may be, I’ve been smiling all morning long and I hope this brought a smile to you, too.

Happy Day to you!

XO,

Barbara

On Being Strong. From Lion, Mouse and Me. (blog edition)

Posted by Barbara Techel
On Being Strong - From Lion, Mouse and Me.
Big Cat Wisdom comes shining thru the cut out heart on my deck.

As each generation comes into their wisdom we have the opportunity to expand more than those before us. When I think about the many who walked before me – my parents and grandparents – and those before them- each did the best they knew how given what they knew at the time and the tools available then.

Being strong for many older than me was about not talking about their emotions and just “dealing” with them as I’d often heard growing up. This often meant not allowing feelings to come to the surface, really feeling them, openly looking for the lessons in hurts and wounds, and/or discussing challenges or grief.

Having just gone through the work of feeling many emotions I kept buried, facing a childhood wound that was lodged in my psyche for many years, I can say I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt before. 

I’ve come to realize that being strong is about embracing and feeling every single emotion – even resentment and anger. Even though “good girl” conditioning part of me fought doing so. 

In reviewing an animal reading I had done as a gift to myself this past January, it’s Lion who came in with me at birth, who has been walking beside me since my last birthday, and will depart next month when Owl swoops in.  Lion is also the animal with me for the month of June.

A page from my Bullet Journal. Something creatively new I’m playing with!

I’m in deep gratitude for what I now understand having just walked through the fire of my own fears and find myself in this new space of strength.

Being strong isn’t about burying uncomfortable emotions, but being gentle and compassionate with ourselves as we work with, and move through them.

Being strong is about answering the call of our souls by honoring the sacredness of going inward to sift through the details with great care and kindness.

Being strong is about not worrying how others may perceive you.

Being strong means reaching out to those you feel safe with so that you can be heard.

Being strong is about taking your new awareness into the world as you choose – whether shouting it from a roof top – or softly moving through your days with the new version of yourself as a vibration that floats out to touch those that need it.

Being strong means that you recognize your need for self-care is at the heart of what matters more than anything.

Being strong is about letting go. Something I let go of last week was National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day. While bittersweet, I knew in my heart it was time. 

Being strong is about soaking in all the joy of this precious moment knowing it will never come again – but this…this is the gift that opens a channel for more gifts to come into our lives.

Turning to the Oracle I asked the cards, What do we need to know about being strong?


Poised #48 is from the Wisdom of the Oracle. For me this card speaks to the necessity of going inward during a challenging time, honoring everything I’m feeling, accepting, practicing self-care with gentleness toward myself and incorporating healing modalities that call to me. To me, this is what strong is about. When I honor this process for myself, it leads me to being more poised for the next step in my life’s journey, now stronger than before with a new awareness and deeper wisdom to share.

Mouse from Messages from Your Animal Spirit Guides reminds me that during dark and challenging times, it’s easy to overlook the details since we tend to want to be through our pain sooner, rather than later. But it’s in the details our thoughts, patterns, and feelings which are clues – and if we follow the bread crumb trail – and pay attention – we eventually gain access to clarity we couldn’t see or feel before.

To being gentle and strong.

XO,

Barbara

Want a personal reading? You can learn more and book a reading with me here.