animal teachings

Wednesdays with the Wisdom of Dog: Mirrors to Our Souls.

Posted by Barbara Techel

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I love when this happens.

As I was doing my yoga practice today, which yes, I should be concentrating on my poses, I got lost in thinking about what I wanted to share today for this weekly dog wisdom series.

What lesson or piece of wisdom of dog did I want to share? As I glanced down at Gidget lying in her bed, I smiled. Each dog I’ve had, in some way, shape, or form has been a mirror for me—reflecting parts of myself back of issues or areas I need to work on, improve, or heal.

That was it! I’d share this message today, dogs as mirrors for us that help us to understand ourselves better.

After I was done with my yoga practice I heard my inner voice urging me to pick a Grace card.  I shuffled the deck and decided on picking a card somewhere in the middle. You’ll never believe which card I chose. Okay, maybe you will. It was mirror!  There you have it – an absolute confirmation.

That confirmation led me to the thought of a book I read a little over a year ago called, My Animal, My Self by animal communicator, Marta Williams. If you’ve not read the book, I highly recommend it. I took it down off my book shelf to revisit some of the spots I had earmarked.

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In the book Marta talks about how we are deeply and inextricably connected – that dogs (and animals) pick up on our emotions, physical, mental and spiritual levels.

I have come to deeply believe this as it has been the case for me with each one of my dogs. So much so that when something is not right with one of my dogs, I will also think about myself and what may be off balance in my own life.

I love this paragraph in Marta’s book about animals helping us on our path and stories she shares of people and their animals:

It is clear to me from these stories that the animals involved were leading their humans down the intuitive path. That this path of your heart, the path from which your inner voice speaks. It can be really hard to follow that path. It means you have to pay attention to what you truly need, not everyone else’s needs. You have to listen to your own counsel even with it is contrary to whatever everyone else is telling you. This is one of the hardest things to do in life. Is it any surprise that our animals are right there helping us learn how?

Reading and typing this just now brings tears to my eyes. Partly of joy, but partly because of agreeing, that yes, following your own path can feel so hard and sometimes lonely. But I’ve also experienced such a liberation with it too.

For that, I keep going and try to heed my own advice to others to pause often, to listen to my heart, and let it guide me. And when I falter or lose my way, I turn to the dogs in my life, who are beautiful mirrors to what my soul truly needs and wants.

How has your dog or animal friend been a mirror in your life? Leave a comment below.

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This is part of a weekly series of lessons I’ve learned from my dogs, and/or something I feel they are trying to teach us. I welcome your thoughts on any of the lessons or teachings that resonate with you.

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Should you enjoy the writing you find here, you may wish to subscribe to my newsletter (on right hand side of post) or my RSS Feed. I’d love it if you would also share through your favorite social media network. Thanks for visiting!

Wednesdays With the Wisdom of Dog: Just Be.

Posted by Barbara Techel

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This is part of a weekly series of lessons I’ve learned from my dogs, and/or something I feel they are trying to teach us. I welcome your thoughts on any of the lessons or teachings that resonate with you.

Dog has the answer for we humans who can sometimes become so obsessed with doing, striving, and achieving. They are witness to how oftentimes this leaves human exhausted and looking like they are lost.

Find a quiet place to sit. Perhaps under a tree. Now just be. There is nothing to do and it’s okay. Feel that? A slowing down of your heart beat? A wave of calm wash over your frazzled nerves?

You are a human being. So just be. Practice at least once a day for 5-10 minutes and you will understand the secret of Dog. I double dog dare you.

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Should you enjoy the writing you find here, you may wish to subscribe to my newsletter (on right hand side of post) or my RSS Feed. I’d love it if you would also share through your favorite social media network. Thanks for visiting!

Wednesdays with the Wisdom of Dog: Beauty

Posted by Barbara Techel

kylie looking out

“Wednesdays with the Wisdom of Dog.” This is part of a weekly series of lessons I’ve learned from my dogs, and/or something I feel they are trying to teach us. I welcome your thoughts on any of the lessons or teachings that resonate with you.

It happens just about every time. Kylie will be gazing contently out the front door. I’ll be drawn to sit beside her.

It’s through her eyes and the whisper of Spirit that calls to me to capture what my eyes can’t always see in my busy day-to-day flurry.

The beauty of seasons that ebb and flow. I stop to be still and in the rhythm of Dogs meditative heartbeat.

Winter with snowflakes that fall ever so gently covering the earth in a quiet hush. Trees so stark with their bare branches extending to the sky. Faithful to the sun knowing that their friends, the leaves, will soon become one with their branches once again.

Spring with Goldfinches flitting from branch to branch. A Robin, ear to the ground, listening and waiting for her next meal. The wind gently blowing through the tiny leaves on the birch tree—nature’s own wind chime. Tiny blades of grass kissed with the dew of the morning. Rain that washes away the old and brings in the new. A rainbow that presents itself as a reminder of hope and all the good in the world.

Summer with hummingbirds zooming in and out, landing but for a brief power sip of nectar from the feeder hanging above. Fresh new spurts of growth emerging from the flower bed next to the garage. Lightning that streaks across the sky in an orchestrated concert with Mother Nature as the conductor. Butterflies floating on the waves of summer breezes.

Fall with the leaves turning brilliant orange, yellow and red. Leaves ever so slowly gliding down from the branches, dancing across the front yard as if to the beat of their own drum.Squirrels hustling from tree to tree gathering their winter feast.

Almost nightly a star twinkling in the sky that catches my eye if I sit in the moment long enough. The moon that casts a warm glow over the earth, into my heart, and down to my toes.

Dog reminds us there is beauty everywhere. We don’t have to look far. It is right here, right now, straight ahead, all around, and within.

What has your animal friend taught you about appreciating beauty?

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Should you enjoy the writing you find here, you may wish to subscribe to my newsletter (on right hand side of post) or my RSS Feed. I’d love it if you would also share through your favorite social media network. Thanks for visiting!