animal teachings

Smiling Buddha Dog. You Made My Heart Smile Just When I Needed it Most.

2014-03-06 15.10.57 eA big part of me is still struggling with the blog post I shared yesterday. I wanted to be honest and tell you this. It has weighed heavily on me since sharing Daisy’s story yesterday.

While I wanted to help Daisy by sharing her story to help raise medical funds, I realize how much it personally affects me. I’m a highly sensitive person so acts of violence are hard for me to hear, see, or read about. It is rare I will read stories of violence against animals, because it just cuts right through me.

I rarely watch the news either because of the negativity. It affects my psyche and has too much of a negative affect on me, so for my own health, I try to stay away from it as much as possible, as well as cruel things that happen to animals.

I may have likely not even come across Daisy’s story, but someone had personally sent it to me. It’s not the first one I’ve gotten sent to me and usually I won’t read them. While I’m not upset with the person who sent it, I realize again how stories like this affect me deeply.

It was also a reminder to me that I want my blog and Facebook page a place where people can come to for something positive to their day. While sharing Daisy’s story was positive in that I wanted to help her new owner raise some funds, unfortunately the comments that followed on Facebook really disturbed me.

Going through photos on my camera today, I found this photo I had taken of Gidget last week. It said to me that yes, peace and light is how I want to be in this world. I also believe that by being so it does spread that energy of vibration out into the universe affecting others in a positive way. I may never know who is affected in a good way from it, but I have faith it does.

I trust and know that Daisy will be fine and will get the help that she needs– with or without me. I also hope the very disturbed person who did what they did will get the help they need. But because these stories seem to swim in hatred, I can’t share them in the future. The issues around them are just so huge and it overwhelms me.

So while I’m not ignorant to what goes on in our world, I also know  there is much good that goes on too. That is what I want to share and be a part of.

I want to be Joyful Paws and continue to share all the amazing lessons our animals teach us. In doing so, I believe this will lead to less violence. I absolutely believe without a doubt that animals are here to teach us peace, compassion and understanding.  We have a long way to go at times, but I have hope we will get there.  And I want to continue to do my part in this way through my blog in sharing the good stories.

I have my smiling buddha dog, Gidget to remind me of that, as well as my sweet girl, Kylie too, who centers me when I need it most.

Introduction to Animal Communication: Two-Day Workshop with Dawn Baumann Brunke & Hosted by Barbara Techel

talk_to_animal_communicationI’m super excited to announce that I am hosting animal communicator and author, Dawn Baumann Brunke, for a two-day workshop on Animal Communication! I’ve personally experienced some profound connections with my own animals through personal readings I’ve had Dawn do with me and my dogs, Frankie and Joie. These experiences left me the lasting gift of a sense of peace, as well as opened my heart in awe of how we truly are one with our friends in the animal world, whether they are here with us on earth or have crossed over.

It is with the deepest of admiration and respect that I am so honored to be hosting this workshop.  Come join us!shapeimage_4Do you wonder what it would be like to communicate with animals — to actually know what your dog or cat or horse or rabbit is thinking? Are you interested in opening yourself to new ways of seeing, feeling, sensing and knowing the world? Would you like to form a closer relationship with animals and, by so doing, learn more about yourself?

In this two-day workshop, animal communicator and author, Dawn Baumann Brunke, will teach you how to  focus on deepening your connection with animals, nature, self and spirit, and remembering how to communicate with all life.

We will explore how animals communicate with us and how we can awaken and engage our inherent abilities to listen and respond. We will play with a variety of techniques to feel, see, hear, sense and know at deeper levels. And we will practice simple, powerful ways to center ourselves, clear our thoughts, and open our hearts and mind to access the Universal Language of all being.

The class includes all the basics of “how to” communicate with animals through sharing real-life examples, group discussion, questions and answers, and lots of practice, feedback and fun. This is a very hands-on, active workshop! You will not be bored.

Two Day- Workshop

March 8th and 9th, 2014

Each day will consist of:

10:00 am – Noon:  morning session

Noon-12:45 pm- lunch (please bring your own. Tea, coffee and water will be provided)

12:45 -2:15 pm- afternoon session

2:15 – 2:30 pm – break 2:30 – 4:00 pm- afternoon session

It is recommended that you read some of  Animal Voices, Animal Guides:Discover Your Deeper Self through Communication with Animals prior to class. The book is available onAmazon and other online stores. If you are unable to get a copy, please have a look at some of the articles on my website.

Who is Dawn?shapeimage_2Dawn is the author of five books about exploring our connections with the animal world. The books

— Animal Voices

— Animal Guides, Animal Guides

—Shapeshifting with Our Animal Companions

—Animal Teachings

—The Animal Wisdom Tarot

All of the books explore different facets of how communicating with animals expands our conscious awareness, deepens our relationship with all beings, and helps us to discover more about ourselves. I offer animal communication phone readings and workshops. And, I am a former massage therapist, bodywork teacher, and editor of Alaska Wellness Magazine. For more, you are invited to explore my website, Animal Voices.

This class is limited to 12 participants to allow lots of personalized feedback and attention.  Location will be Barbara’s home in Elkhart Lake, WI.

Ready to join us in deeper exploration with our animal friends?  The total cost is $300 for the two-day workshop:

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If you prefer to pay by check, please email me, barb@joyfulpaws.com.

Registration deadline is February 12th, 2014.

Cancellation Notice:  Due to the fact Dawn will be flying in from her home state of Alaska to do this workshop, the cost is nonrefundable. The exception will be if we have a waiting list that we can fill your spot, or if you have someone who can take your place. Refunds will be issued if we have less than 10 registered for the workshop.