barbara techel

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

Posted January 14, 2014 by Barbara Techel

I’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!Do 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?Dawn 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:

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.

A Day of Joy & Unexpected Surprises at RCS. Great Way to (almost) Close Out 2013.

Posted December 31, 2013 by Barbara Techel

“Frankie’s” made my clients at RCS

On and off for quite some time we’ve been trying to make it happen that I would visit RCS. They are a private nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower individuals with disabilities and special needs so that they may work, live and function with dignity and respect. Originally, we had a time set up for me to visit with Frankie in July 2012. But then Frankie passed away June 21, 2012.

As they put their holiday programming together earlier this year, and with the help of my friend, Mary who works there, we finally set a date for Dec. 30th. We agreed I would read one or two of my Frankie children’s book to the clients. I had also sent them leftover posters and magnet sets I had of Joie after she passed away. I felt they would inspire their clients. We decided with my visit for the holiday programming it would be extra special if we handed them out then.

As it would also turn out, as many of you know, I also adopted Gidget mid-November. I didn’t promise anything because I wanted to be sure Gidget would be up for the visit. But I said if I felt she was, I’d bring her along to meet the clients.

She was such a good little dog. I held her in my Take-a-Long bag as I read Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dot to the clients. I also brought Frankie and Joie’s wheelchair along so everyone could see what a dog wheelchair looks like and how it works. I then shared with them Gidget’s story.

After we were done with that, Gidget “helped” me sign posters and magnet sets as each client came up and chose which they would like. They also got to take a moment to pat Gidget on the head. The whole time she was calm and relaxed.

My heart and world is always in awe and opens even more when I experience the lives of those living more challenged lives than most of us. To see the staff in action nurturing and taking care of those with special needs is something I define as grace. It takes very special hearts to do this line of work. It truly is with deep gratitude that I am thankful for what they do.

My heart was full of joy as everyone made their way to the tables set up for lunch. It was also then that two unexpected surprises came my way.

Mary asked if I had a few moments because they had some gifts for me. As I sat with Gidget in my lap, Mary presented me with a large bag. Inside was a big fleece blanket with a dachshund pattern on it. Mary and another co-worker, Emily, made it for me. I just love it! As you can see in the photo below, Gidget made herself right at home on it when we got home later that morning. She could barely keep her little eyes open from all the excitement of the morning.

After opening the blanket, Laura, the art therapist, who also brings her therapy dog, Shayla to RCS, said she had a gift for me, too.

She reached inside the bag and slowly pulled out items that were bubble wrapped. One by one she presented me with sketches she drew of Gidget, Joie, and Frankie.

I was moved to tears as Mary said, “Now you have all three of your girls together.” No words can truly describe what this gift means to me from one dog lover to another. Laura also knows the depth of working with our beloved dogs as therapy dogs, and the impact that has forever on our hearts.

Laura’s work is simply amazing. She really captured the spirit of each of my girls. A gift I will treasure always.

As I drove home yesterday I was reminded of the magic when we live from the center of our hearts. About giving without expecting anything in return,and giving for the pure joy of wanting to.

My time at RCS is also a reminder to me of all the good I have in what I define as my simple and meaningful life. I’m grateful for quiet moments reading or writing, time talking with John in front of our woodstove during the winter, or in front of our chiminea on the deck in summer. Walks with Kylie and Gidget, as well as plenty of snuggle time…. and the list of my simple pleasures goes on and on.

Mary, me and Laura

But I leave you this last day of 2013 with the one thing I wish for everyone… and that is to sit in the silence of your heart and listen to what it is you really want. Then begin today to take steps, whether large or small, to live from that desire of your hearts whispers.

**I invite you to learn more about Laura Griffin’s art work on her website at Griffin Animals Graffics.**

Thank You to My Local Media, The Sheboygan Press for Story in Series, “A Reason to Celebrate.” Gidget Makes the Front Page!

Posted December 12, 2013 by Barbara Techel

Video and article credit, The Sheboygan Press, reporter , Kali Thiel

Wagging tales: Local author finds meaning after pet’s passing

This is one in an occasional series of stories to be published during the holiday season about Sheboygan-area residents who have “A Reason to Celebrate.”

It’ll be the second Christmas Barbara Techel will celebrate without her beloved wheelchair-bound dachshund, Frankie, and the first without Joie, another disabled dog she adopted after Frankie died. But the Elkhart Lake author says she still has plenty to be thankful for this holiday season.

Techel and Frankie were well-known for years through her children’s books, including “Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog,” as well as her web site and newsletters. She also had Frankie certified to be a therapy dog and regularly paid visits to people living in hospice care or stopped at area schools for speaking engagements.

But Frankie died in the summer of 2012. In February she memorialized Frankie in a new book, “Through Frankie’s Eyes: One Woman’s Journey To Her Authentic Self and the Dog on Wheels Who Led the Way,” which recently won the Royal Dragonfly Book Award for literary excellence.

The book tells the story of Frankie and the lessons Techel learned from her dog.

“I was so afraid that people would judge me that I put my dog in a wheelchair,” Techel said. “But it really taught me, because I would watch her and she didn’t realize she had a wheelchair. It was her tool to live her best life.

“And I can remember, I can still see it in my head, she was rolling around on the grass and I just looked at her and I thought, ‘Oh my god, the lesson for me is to be proud of who I am and live by how I want to live my life and not how society might determine that or others might think my life should be,’” she said.

When Frankie died, Techel decided to adopt another special needs dachshund, Joie, who had the same intervertebral disc disease as Frankie, which caused her to need a dog wheelchair as well.

Little did Techel know that Joie’s time with her would be so short-lived. She adopted Joie on Oct. 13, 2012 and she died a little less than a year later in August.

“It was really hard for me to lose Joie so quickly after Frankie and I really kind of went into myself and I thought, ‘What the heck? I don’t understand why that happened,’” Techel said.

What helped her come out of her grief was the realization that there were other dogs she could help. Just a few weeks ago, Techel adopted Gidget, another special needs dachshund.

Photo credit Kali Thiel of The Sheboygan Press

read rest of the story on line here!

For complete gallery of photos taken during interview visit here.