collage

The Art of the Pause

Posted by Barbara Techel

Mid-summer I began dabbling in mixed media collage. It’s a whole new way for me to embrace pausing in yet a different way. Like writing, when I’m in the flow, nothing else can enter my brain. I’m finding when choosing different layers to collage (papers, paint, and images) I’m not really thinking of anything, but just being with what is.

Yesterday I finished this collage on canvas to support the fact I recently renamed my writing cottage to Joyful Pause Cottage. This 10 x 12 space — a ‘room of my own’ and separate from my house —sits off the southeast corner of our deck. It was built in 2009 as a labor of love by my hubby as a place I could come to as I began my journey of writing two children’s books, three memoirs, and I don’t know how many blog posts I’ve written to date. But let’s just say LOTS!

But it’s become so much more than where I write, that I had been feeling this inner nudge to change its name for quite some time. Joyful pause is also about the joyful paws that have been part of my tribe in helping me evolve over the years — especially three special needs dachshunds. And if you look at the bottom of the collage you’ll see a paw print image to represent each one of them — Frankie, Joie, and Gidget. All three of their sweet and loving spirits remain here in this space with me.

Joyful Pause is now the space in which I collage, write, provide oracle readings via Zoom with clients and for my Youtube channel, meditate, dream of possibilities, and take joyful pause moments to glance out my windows to be inspired by my gardens or connect with the birds, bunnies, turkey, deer, or squirrels that I’ve been blessed to see here in my yard often.

xo,

Barbara

Want to receive notifications when I publish a new blog post? Subscribe here.

Stacking Wood, Collage, and a Mind that Wanders Back to Center

Posted by Barbara Techel

While the wren image – a photograph I took – dried on the collage piece I worked on earlier this week, I decided to stack some wood – wood we use for our chiminea.

Stacking wood, just like creating the collage is like an art form, I think. When we first got our chiminea I would get upset if John hadn’t stacked wood and we’d have to take time out to gather it before we could build a fire. But then one day I decided I’d stack it myself, and keep it stacked, even though I wasn’t too crazy about the idea at first.

But now I’ve really come to enjoy it. It makes me think about how sometimes we grumble about household chores, which I can still be guilty of at times. But when I remind myself to do them with mindfulness or view it as an art form, it feels centering and also makes me feel a sense of accomplishment.

Fitting the pieces of wood together to get as much as I can on the stand, is somewhat like doing a collage too – keeping an eye out for how everything fits together.

As I worked some more on the collage after I was done stacking wood I had the movie Bridges of Madison County playing in the background. 

That scene where Francesca and her husband are in their truck and behind the truck of Robert Kincaid, at the stop sign, the rain pouring down, and Francesca puts her hand on the handle of the door, torn between whether to stay with her husband or run off with Robert, is palpable.

Each time it makes me think how sometimes the grass can seem greener on the other side. But how often it does not turn out that way. It brings me back to thinking about how when things were getting difficult with health challenges with Gidget two years before she passed and how I felt like I was missing out on so much in life. There were times, I too wanted to run.

But in the end, as I wrote about in my new memoir, it was a wake-up call to do the inner work I’d been called to do to come back to what really mattered to me – that was the path I was meant to take. Even though it wasn’t easy, and at times I felt torn, the more I stayed with what I was feeling, the more that yearning subsided.

Over a year later since she’s been gone, this is what continues to deepen in my gratitude for her – that the last year of her life was so beautiful as our relationship grew exponentially. I’m so glad I didn’t miss out on that as it remains with me as some of my most fond and meaningful memories.

Going through the pandemic of the virus this year has also been a reminder to me of how much I love my home, my gardens, my time with John, seeing wildlife outside my windows, fires in the chiminea, etc. How often it is that all we need is right here in front of us and within us.

These are the moments of a mind wandering that bring me back to the center of my heart that I’m grateful for.

xo,

Barbara

 

 

 

Connecting with Gidget through SoulCollage® and Oracle Cards

Posted by Barbara Techel

I recently completed a SoulCollage® card in honor and memory of Gidget. It’s an intuitive process I’ve been trained in as a facilitator and have held workshops with different themes. Something I’m giving thought to for the future and facilitating some online classes.

Every one of my dogs has a card in honor of them and what it was they brought to my life. Central to the process after collaging on a 5 x 8 card is to journal with the prompt I Am One Who. 

It’s a sacred and beautiful way to connect with our dear animal friends who are no longer with us. I find it so soothing and healing.

Sometimes it takes me a while to put the images together and then journal. But allowing the process to unfold in a natural flow, I think, is all part of the beautiful teachings my dogs taught me – and to be in the present moment.

So I thought I’d share with you my recent connection with Gidget through the I Am One Who prompt and then working with oracle cards to gain some additional insight from her.

I Am One Who…

…sat quietly with you sharing my energy of truth as a way to guide you to yours.

…was content as who I am as a reflection for you to do the same.

…came into your life to hold your wounded heart as you found the courage to witness and accept your worthiness.

…resides within you always as the princess of your heart.

…sees deep into the soul of truth.

…took on your childhood pain, shook it loose for you to see and so you could set yourself free.

…watched your heart expand in compassion for yourself.

…provided unconditional love and support in your deepest, most excruciating moments of grief.

…loved you without judgment through it all.

…loved to entice the little girl within you to come out and play.

…rejoices and dances with you whenever you wish. Just think of me and I’m there.

…will always envelop you with the purest and deepest love as my everlasting gift to you.

…knows you will now carry the light of compassion within you and allow it to guide you through your remaining earthly journey.

I pulled an oracle card from the Wisdom of the Oracle asking Gidget what more she wanted me to know right now?

 

We are always connected. The key to being able to be with me is through quiet time and attention to the love we shared. That love is still here for you.

Our relationship has only changed form. I see you, I feel you, and I hear you. Rest sweetly in what you can’t see and know that it’s what you feel that matters. 

I’ll be your forever friend.

Thank you to Linda Su of ArtLin Creations for the beautiful and sweet gift of the memorial card in honor of Gidget. It’s such a lovely addition to my altar and I love how it looks next to the SoulCollage card of Gidget.

XO,

Barbara

Subscribe here to receive my bi-monthly newsletter which includes a digest of my blog posts, oracle readings, wisdom from the animal kingdom, first to know special offers and more

and/or…

Subscribe here to receive my blog posts as they are published.