animal oracle deck

Two To Go. Update on My Animal Reflections Oracle Deck.

Posted by Barbara Techel

I’m near the end of my  Animal Reflections Oracle Deck project. Well, sort of, as I’m almost done with the completion of this phase. First was creating the deck which I did collage and mixed media style. Then began phase two and writing a message for each card.

Each afternoon I’d randomly pull a card and have it waiting for me on my writing desk for the next day. I didn’t always write each day if I felt I needed more time with that animal that was up next or if other things needed my attention.

But there I was at the end of last week with two cards left to write the first draft for. I appreciated how it was Wolf and Firefly as the last two. I smiled at how it fell into place. I intuitively knew that Wolf would be the next message I wrote, which I did today. White Wolf came to me years ago during a guided visualization and then again when I asked her name one evening before drifting off to sleep.

She came to me at a time when my heart was in a great deal of pain. It was a time when I wanted to close my heart down for fear of being hurt again. But White Wolf reminded me that this is what stretches the heart and to close it down would shut me off from experiencing love again. This is the journey we walk having this human experience of feelings and emotions which helps expand our compassion and empathy not only for ourselves but for others too.

The last card left to write a message for – Firefly – is the culmination of the theme of the deck with each animal offering wisdom encouraging the importance of inner work – that each time we move through an experience of growth we emerge with a more confident sense of being and shine our light out into the world.

I’d been pondering whether or not to add one more animal to my deck, but now everything feels as if it has clicked into place so I won’t be doing that.

It’s time to complete phase two before I go onto phase three which will be going back through each message I’ve written and fine-tuning things. Then phase three will be sending the text off to my editor. Once that happens I will begin to scan and digitally add a word to each that represents that card/animal, while also exploring how I wish to publish the deck with two possibilities I’m giving thought to.

It’s fun to stop and look at how far I’ve come with this project. And I thought it would be fun to give you an update as many of you have expressed support for my deck, which I really appreciate! Thank you!

XO

Barb

                  

Staying on the Well Worn Path with Donkey

Posted by Barbara Techel
 
The writing of a message for each animal in my Animal Reflections Oracle Deck continues. So far I’ve written a message for Kingfisher, Horse, Fox, Rabbit, Eagle, Elephant, Penguins, and Buffalo. I’ve posted a few of the cards along the way on my Facebook and Instagram pages.
 
Sometimes I feel nervous as I begin to write a message for one of the animals. In part because I want to do them justice in sharing their messages.
 
It’s how I’m feeling about Donkey today because – well – if you know me, you know how I adore this sweet creature so much.
 
Not many animal oracle decks (or books) I have as part of my collection have Donkey represented, so I’m honored to have Donkey as part of my deck.
 
Three of my inspirations for Donkey are the ones who live on Bedlam Farm. There was Simon – a special needs Donkey who passed a few years ago (and I loved the book about him), plus two current donkeys on the farm, Fanny and Lulu.
 
One thing I noticed about the donkeys at Bedlam Farm from the videos Maria Wulf shares about them is the same path they walk day in and day out. It’s a very well-worn path!
 
Observing them do this is like a meditation to me. I appreciate the teaching of how often we humans can get caught in the trap of thinking we have to create a new path. What about the path we walk consistently and with mindful intention? That one seems to be the one that flows with more ease than one of forcing or trying to make happen.
 
I’m thinking of that now as each morning I sit down to write 1-3 messages for the animals in my deck. It’s this setting out each day, on the same path, doing the same thing, until all 52 messages are written instead of thinking about the whole big task and picture of it. But trusting each day writing what feels in flow and before I know it, all the messages will be written as they are exactly meant to be.
 
UPDATE: After I wrote this post and then wrote the message for Donkey I was reminded by this thought that ran across my mind – that the cool thing about sharing the message of each animal is that each person that wishes to purchase the deck will also have their own personal message and connection with each animal. How beautiful is that?! I really appreciated this reminder I was given!
 
XO
Barb

                  

I’ve Created My Own Animal Oracle Deck!

Posted by Barbara Techel

It was about eight years ago when a friend planted a seed by nudging me toward something I wanted to do but didn’t think I could. And yes, I can still have my own self-doubts!

Perhaps you have something you think is beyond your reach? Well, I’m here to assure you to never say never. 

I’m so excited to share with you that for the past fourteen months I’ve been working on creating my own animal-themed oracle deck! Just this week I put the finishing touches on the artwork for each card. Woo hoo! 

I’ll be sharing more card images soon in future blog posts and on my Facebook & Instagram pages. But for now, I’m so thrilled to give you this sneak peek with these three below.

Kingfisher on the left in my deck begins the excitement mixed with a bit of trepidation of any path we embark on that is new, Snake invites us to shed what we no longer need, and Lion invites us to stand in our strengths and share our roar in our own unique way.


There is still much creating to do as I now begin the process of writing the 52 messages for the guidebook to accompany the cards.

But what began as something I thought I couldn’t do and then the nudge of a friend who planted the seed to the seed that then began to germinate into possibilities. It then emerged from the soil, reached for the light, and bloomed into an idea that became my own unique way of creating my own deck.

I can’t wait to share more with you soon!

XO

Barb