animal wisdom world summit

Coming Home to Our Inner Leader

Posted by Barbara Techel

I think St. Francis embodied the value of the inner journey and inner leader… 

For most of my life, I feared the word leadership because I didn’t feel like a leader and it conjured up ideas of materialism and doing what you had to do at all costs to reach the ‘top of the ladder.’ Quite opposite of the simple life I truly love.

During the recent Animal Wisdom World Summit host, Dr. Cara Gubbins asked each speaker their thoughts on being a leader and what it is we need in terms of leadership for our world today.

It’s definitely a subject that conjures up many of us things we wish to see changed. But it’s also a call to look at ways in which we can become our own leader within. 

Some thoughts that came from some of the speakers about leadership were:

  • Embrace our own inner leader and remember we aren’t alone. ~Tammy Billups
  • There are different kinds of leaders and this is what we need, along with understanding that not all leaders need to be human. ~Nancy Windheart
  • We need to embrace nature as part of our team. ~Maia Kincaid

I was especially touched by Nancy sharing that not all leaders need to be human. In my life, it’s been dogs and animals in the wild that have been some of my greatest teachers encouraging me to trust my inner leader.

Being a leader can indeed at times feel like we are alone because when we begin to step into who we are others may not like it.

But I’ve found that the more I embrace my inner leader, the more like-minded souls come into my world. This strengthens my well-being and gives me the courage to keep being who I am.

I enjoyed Maia sharing that we need to embrace nature as part of our team. Nature is such a perfect example of leadership that does not force but follows the rhythm of natural laws and a way of being that is kinder and gentler to body, mind, and spirit.

During my interview with Cara, she asked me if I saw myself as a leader. It took me a few moments to answer because many emotions overcame me.

It took me until 55 years old to finally see myself in this way, which was only two short years ago. At times it can still feel fresh and surreal as I continue to embody this way of being. 

But I know now that being a leader is about being who I authentically am. Whether in a ‘big’ or ‘small’  way it’s about living from my true self for the sake of being that vibration in a world that so desperately needs for each of us to truly embrace who we are.

I paused before answering Cara’s question as I thought about all those that still don’t yet feel worthy and those that doubt their own inner leader. I know how painful and vulnerable this can feel. It was with great joy to declare that I AM a leader!

Despite any wounding from our past which can keep us stuck in believing we can’t be a leader, I hope I was able to instill in others through my voice and story, that they are worthy and can indeed live by the beat of their own drum.

Can you imagine the world if we all embraced our inner leader? It sends chill bumps up and down my spine just thinking about it. What a beautiful world it would be! This time we are going through, on our way to a New Earth, is one in which I hope we can continue to build upon the fact that we now more than ever is the time to embrace your inner leader.

So how do we begin to do this? 

I believe it’s by doing the inner work, just as I’ve so often shared over the years here in my letters, my blog, and in my memoirs.

I believe it’s about understanding our pain and opening to the gifts in what we’ve gone through as that which has given us a strength we’d not possibly have had.

It’s about reaching out for support in working through those things we feel fear around so we can rest in a more peaceful space within ourselves.

The more I continue to do my own inner work, the more I’m able to stay rooted in who I know I am. The more I do this the more I have compassion for myself and for those around me. The more I love and respect myself, the more I want to continue to be the leader of my life.

I also believe that being the leader of our lives is about feeling all of life – even when it’s hard. Do I do this 100% all the time? No, I don’t. But being a leader I believe,  also means not judging ourselves and trusting we will take what we’ve learned and do better next time.

And as speaker Dawn Brunke shared, “Everything is going to be okay. This is about evolution.”

Evolution individually, and as a collective, for a more peaceful world.

xo,

Barbara 

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Joyful Pause Moment Outside My Cottage. Plus Last Call for a Free Ticket to Animal Wisdom World Summit.

Posted by Barbara Techel

In case you missed it and a recent video I did…
 
I recently renamed this place of my own from my Writing Cottage to Joyful Pause Cottage. While it began as a space (outside my house) to support my writing adventure that began in 2007, it has evolved into supporting me in an abundance of many other ways, which of recent has included exploring mixed media art more. So hence the change in name as this captures it all and what this space means to me.
 
We are at peak color here in Wisconsin and my eyes are on a happy overload sensory of such beauty!
 
Also, last call to get your free ticket for the 2020 Animal Wisdom World Summit! This is a two-day event that begins Monday, October 12th. It features experts in the world of animals that host Dr. Cara Gubbins has brought together with a variety of topics from soul contracts with our animals, letting animals lead, partnering with nature, and my talk about healing with our pets, plus so much more!
 
 
Hope to see you there and hear from you in the private Facebook group that Dr. Cara has created where we can all connect.
 
                    
 
xo,
Barbara
 
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A Magical Morning of Hearts and Dragonflies

Posted by Barbara Techel

Near the end of my morning walk today I was mulling over in my mind the interview I’ll be doing this afternoon with Dr. Cara Gubbins for the Animal Wisdom World Summit, which she has hosted for several years now. 

This year’s summit is all about connecting and healing with our animal friends. My talk is titled, “Healing with Our Pets.” I’ll also be doing a bonus interview on how oracle cards can guide healing and talking about my signature Wisdom in the Paws readings for people and their pets.

So onto the magic of my morning! As I gave thought to what I wish to share in the interview today, I was revisiting the many teachings I’ve received from dogs and other animals in the wild. As I glanced down, I saw this stone in the shape of a heart. This is something that happens on occasion for me and I now have a small collection of them.

And it never gets old. It always sends goosebumps up my spine. I know it’s a wink from the universe that I’m on the right path and a lovely reminder that following one’s heart is truly the way to live authentically. Besides the fact, I was thinking about animals which always fills my heart with pure love!

I almost left the stone behind. But then I said silently, “What are you doing Barb?! You need to take the stone home.” I saw in my mind’s eye how lovely it will be to have it sitting on my desk next to my computer as I do the interview today. And so I carried it home.

Stepping onto the front stoop and just as I reached out to grab the handle to the front door a dragonfly landed on my hand. It sat there for a few moments as I experienced goosebumps go up my spine again. It then fluttered away, but only to return when I tried to grab the handle of the door again. It was as if it was asking me to just stop a moment and appreciate what had unfolded with my discovering the heart-shaped stone that had happened just a short five minutes before.

After it flew away a few moments later, I was called to revisit a postcard I have on my bulletin board in my writing cottage. It’s about Dragonfly and I received it from my friend, Dawn a few Christmas seasons ago.

I was drawn to this line: “Dragonflies connect us to other dimensions, open communication with nature spirits and help us recall our dreams…Dragonfly teaches us to see beyond the ordinary…”

The stone in a shape of a heart on the ground being there at that moment I was revisiting all the teachings from my animal friends, was no doubt a nod from each of them that they heard me and are supporting me from the other side.

Dragonfly showed up to reinforce this teaching for me and its persistence to be still so I could take that into my being what had unfolded during the last part of my walk. How often we are in that moment of magic, but quickly dismiss it as we make plans for the day. But dragonfly was encouraging me to linger in the connection of nature and the animals that now reside in another dimension.

And to remember this is our true nature – these encounters out in the world that you can’t possibly make happen – but that flow in abundance when we stay open to all the possibilities.

xo,

Barbara