I’m so honored to share this interview with you! Just click on graphic above to listen.
Three Dachshunds I’ve shared my life with have been pivotal in helping shape me into who I am today – each one serving as a reflection of the inner work I needed to do at different phases in my life in order to grow and evolve.
It was an honor to share some of the insight I’ve gleaned from each of them with host Lori Smashnuk Ludec of the Wiener Dog Lover Podcast.
It’s an honest inside look at some of my struggles this past year, that with a dedicated inner focus and guidance from a short-legged dog with a big personality and wise soul I was able to expand in awareness and shift in perspective in ways I never imagined.
Because of Gidget, and my two doxie’s before her, I now do the work I do today as an Oracle Guide, guiding women to look within and discover for themselves what truly matters- so they can get on with living a life that is meaningful as they wish to define it.
I hope you enjoy the interview!
XO,
Barb
P.S. I was truly honored and the discussion that unfolded during this interview that I’m offering a special discount on my Oracle Guidance Sessions. Normally $75 for one hour, they are now $60. You can learn more and book a session here: https://joyfulpaws.com/intuitive-oracle-guidance-sessions/Good through December 21st, 2018.
P.P.S. You don’t have to be a dachshund lover to enjoy this interview! 🙂
After a meeting via a video call with a friend/colleague discussing a potential collaboration on a future workshop, it was time to take a break.
In the past I’ve driven myself to the point of burning out a few times. It’s not a place I wish to find myself again. While I still have tendencies to push myself, I’m much more aware, and realize it sooner rather than later more often than not.
I remind myself that not everything needs to be done in one day…that pausing and moving away from the computer will benefit my work when I return to it again. See? I too am truly a work in progress and continue to practice what it is that I guide and empower other women to do…and the importance of pausing, listening and capturing what matters.
What matters isn’t only in the big things of life. But it’s in the small things too. It’s recognizing that time away from the computer screen is vital to my well-being. While I’m not a fan of the word balance, I often gravitate to the word flow. For me, it feels in alignment with following the flow of your souls wishes for the big things, and for the small.
I enjoyed myself immensely in my discussion with my friend/colleague this morning, but also recognized it was time to move away to something that didn’t require so much of my mental energy.
With the sun shining I decided to work on the high-top table on my deck. I gathered together my bullet journal, some pens, gelatos (not the Italian ice cream – though that would have been yummy (!) – but rather a creamy crayon for creative projects), scissors, glue, and an image of an owl. It was time to create my calendar for July.
A few months ago I set the intention to have more creative outlets that take me away from the screen of my computer. I remember hearing someone via a podcast talk about how she has a separate digital desk and analog desk. I liked that idea! So after a writing session or other work tasks I’ve completed, I’ll sometimes turn my chair around now and work on an art journal page, or as in today’s case, create my July spread for my bullet journal.
As I got lost in cutting out the owl for July, which by the way is the animal that swoops in as my ally for the month from a reading I had done in January, I glanced down to notice Gidget lying peacefully next to me.
As I was lost in my bliss of this creative spot in my day, so was Gidget, lost in her bliss enjoying the summer breeze and the warm sun, I had a moment of lovely reflection. It’s something that has been coming up for me often the last few weeks and how sweet this summer has been with her. Different, in a beautiful way- more expanded – in many ways than summers before.
It’s in large part due to me, I know, as I worked through some deep inner work late winter/early Spring. While that inner work was painful and difficult in many ways, I’m continually reminded now of how grateful I am that I opened to doing the work that needed to be done. Gidget was so often a reflection for me, even though I couldn’t quite grasp it in the thick of the emotional downpour.
There is a new depth to our bond that may have not otherwise made itself known had I not heeded the messages I was receiving from her, or the signs all around me. So while I got lost in the bliss of creativity this afternoon, I also melted into the bliss that this one said little dog has opened in me, too.
Big Cat Wisdom comes shining thru the cut out heart on my deck.
As each generation comes into their wisdom we have the opportunity to expand more than those before us. When I think about the many who walked before me – my parents and grandparents – and those before them- each did the best they knew how given what they knew at the time and the tools available then.
Being strong for many older than me was about not talking about their emotions and just “dealing” with them as I’d often heard growing up. This often meant not allowing feelings to come to the surface, really feeling them, openly looking for the lessons in hurts and wounds, and/or discussing challenges or grief.
Having just gone through the work of feeling many emotions I kept buried, facing a childhood wound that was lodged in my psyche for many years, I can say I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt before.
I’ve come to realize that being strong is about embracing and feeling every single emotion – even resentment and anger. Even though “good girl” conditioning part of me fought doing so.
In reviewing an animal reading I had done as a gift to myself this past January, it’s Lion who came in with me at birth, who has been walking beside me since my last birthday, and will depart next month when Owl swoops in. Lion is also the animal with me for the month of June.
A page from my Bullet Journal. Something creatively new I’m playing with!
I’m in deep gratitude for what I now understand having just walked through the fire of my own fears and find myself in this new space of strength.
Being strong isn’t about burying uncomfortable emotions, but being gentle and compassionate with ourselves as we work with, and move through them.
Being strong is about answering the call of our souls by honoring the sacredness of going inward to sift through the details with great care and kindness.
Being strong is about not worrying how others may perceive you.
Being strong means reaching out to those you feel safe with so that you can be heard.
Being strong is about taking your new awareness into the world as you choose – whether shouting it from a roof top – or softly moving through your days with the new version of yourself as a vibration that floats out to touch those that need it.
Being strong means that you recognize your need for self-care is at the heart of what matters more than anything.
Being strong is about letting go. Something I let go of last week was National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day. While bittersweet, I knew in my heart it was time.
Being strong is about soaking in all the joy of this precious moment knowing it will never come again – but this…this is the gift that opens a channel for more gifts to come into our lives.
Turning to the Oracle I asked the cards, What do we need to know about being strong?
Poised #48 is from the Wisdom of the Oracle. For me this card speaks to the necessity of going inward during a challenging time, honoring everything I’m feeling, accepting, practicing self-care with gentleness toward myself and incorporating healing modalities that call to me. To me, this is what strong is about. When I honor this process for myself, it leads me to being more poised for the next step in my life’s journey, now stronger than before with a new awareness and deeper wisdom to share.
Mouse from Messages from Your Animal Spirit Guides reminds me that during dark and challenging times, it’s easy to overlook the details since we tend to want to be through our pain sooner, rather than later. But it’s in the details our thoughts, patterns, and feelings which are clues – and if we follow the bread crumb trail – and pay attention – we eventually gain access to clarity we couldn’t see or feel before.
As I got lost in cutting out the owl for July, which by the way is the animal that swoops in as my ally for the month from a reading I had done in January, I glanced down to notice Gidget lying peacefully next to me.
