creative process

End of an Era

Posted by Barbara Techel

Striving – Eventually the individual ego’s drive to “make things happen” falls away, replaced with a relaxed, trusting openness to answers as they arise. Thank you, Divine, for letting me move with the Flow!” The Wild Offering Oracle by Tosha Silver

This keyboard. It has seen me through the writing of two children’s books, three memoirs, countless blog posts, and the creation of an oracle deck. Plus just the general administration tasks of one’s life. 

As I cleared the clutter and organized Joyful Pause Cottage studio last week, I realized it was time to say goodbye to my keyboard. Many of the letters are worn away. The “foot” on the right side that helps to prop it up had broken about a year ago and a box was placed underneath to help keep it in place.

I’d wondered why I put up with the fact that it often caused me a bit of angst when I’d have to yet again adjust the box after the keyboard fell off it. Those little annoying things can eat away at our energy.

And just like that. It was time. Time to bid it farewell. While I’m typing this one last blog post on it, the new one will arrive today.

With that came all these emotions of what this keyboard has seen me through!

Yesterday in the monthly animal wisdom oracle reading I recorded for Youtube, I shared how I’m in this space of no new projects on my plate as we move into 2023. For about the last 15 years I was either in the middle of finishing a book or beginning one and the same with my oracle deck project I’d been working on the last two years.

But nothing has surfaced into my mind’s eye of what it is I may want to create next.

It feels odd, yet nice, though at moments, uncomfortable. Shouldn’t I be doing something?

Diann, a reader of my blog left this comment on Youtube: “I too for the first time since I can remember am in the same place and I am working through all the feelings around that. I many times instinctually feel like I should jump into something and then get this friendly intuitive reminder to just be…and be ok with just being for right now. This is so foreign to me but I am trying to remain mindful to be patient as I await what is to come next. Very vulnerable place!!” 

She hit the nail on the head by sharing how it is a vulnerable place. Because our culture places so much attention and almost a stamp of honor when one is busy and striving. But this vulnerable space is also an invitation to be with all those uncomfortable feelings because as I’ve experienced time and time again when one comes out the other side, you see and understand the growth in learning to just be in those feelings.

And while I, or Diann, or perhaps you too, may not have a new project on our plates, perhaps this is the project – of allowing this wide open space and just being in it.

It was after I’d read Diann’s comment that I pulled a card from The Wild Offering Oracle. This is a deck I keep on my table in my bathroom and pull a card for the week. I’d realized I’d not done that since about a month ago when I’d pulled the last card.

How perfectly the card pulled with just the right message which I shared above. A stamp of confirmation to let the ego’s drive fall to the side and in its place, a more relaxed and trusting openness to come in. Not something many of us are used to.

But a call to just take it for a test drive and see what comes of it. As I’m learning to once again be with at this time. And as I say goodbye to an end of an era with my worn-out keyboard and await the new one to arrive…and the possibilities of what may come.

XO

Barb

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“Wisdom Found in the Pause – Joie’s Gift.” The Rewards of Book Editing.

Posted by Barbara Techel

"Wisdom Found in the Pause - Joie's Gift." The Rewards of Book Editing.

Just as it began to storm this afternoon, I finished the editing of the printed version of my manuscript. My first task when I got it back from my editor recently was to go through and read the changes and accept or reject them. I also had to clean up some areas where more clarification was needed.

When that was done, I had the manuscript printed out at my local printers. You’d be amazed at looking at it on paper how you find mistakes you might not have otherwise on the computer. But that is what I’ve been working on this week. And now that task is complete. Next I will make the changes on my file in the computer.  I also came up with chapter titles as I edited the paper version. So now I will let those marinate in my mind and sleep on them for a few nights.

Lastly, I will write the Afterword. I’m sure that will begin to form words and begin to wake me the next few early mornings. That is typically what happens for me. But I’m looking forward to it and welcoming the writing of it.

The rewards of editing have been seeing it come closer to a finished product. And one of the nicest rewards was sitting on my over-sized wicker chair in my writing cottage with Miss Gidget nestled next to me. She has been wonderful moral support.

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And today after I finished the paper edited version, I sat down and s-l-o-w-l-y ate a Ghirardelli dark chocolate and mint square. One must have a special treat when one has worked so hard!

Another reward is feeling more at peace with this book. The book cover is in the process of being designed which is exciting. I can’t wait to share it with you!

And lastly, I’m ready now more than ever to finally let this book go and out into the world to find its way. It’s been a long journey but one I’ve come to understand had to unfold as it did.

I hope you will stay tuned friends and join me in the celebration of the creative process!

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Waiting for My Goddess Painting to Reveal Her Name

Posted by Barbara Techel
Waiting for My Goddess Painting to Reveal Her Name
Waiting for My Goddess Painting to Reveal Her Name

Never did I think I’d paint. And more than that, I never thought I’d say I actually finished a painting!

But I finished this first Goddess in a series of three that I’m working on. They will hang on the long wall in my Joyful Pause Studio where I recently began teaching SoulCollage(r) workshops.

My painting teacher is someone I love dearly…my mom. When I emailed her the photo of my first complete Goddess, I also told her I’d started on the second one. She wrote back and said I should listen very closely and the Goddesses may share their names with me.

I loved it! It actually reminds me much about the SoulCollage(r) process which is also about listening intuitively and collaging images together that speak to you–which, in turn, helps us to better understand ourselves.

I shared with my mom that I’m taking her advice awaiting to hear what my Goddesses names may be. But all I got yesterday after painting for two hours on my second Goddess was hearing this from her:  My arms are too fat and I don’t like the color of my mid-section.

And then I heard my mom’s voice in my head:  It’s only paint and you can paint over it!

And I really wasn’t frustrated that I didn’t have it “right” yet. But it was an interesting thought because I wondered why I get so frustrated with my writing at times. Yet, I’ve not been with painting.

While it was initially scary to put paint to canvas in fear of making a “mistake” I feel better about knowing now I can just go over it with paint if I don’t like what I do.

And aha! Just like I can also delete sentences in my writing that don’t jive right either.

So, indeed, these dear Goddesses are talking to me… boy, are they ever! But, I do hope they will properly introduce themselves soon with their first names.

And ah, once again, a reminder that this is all part of the process. Just add in a bit of patience and perseverance and it all shall come together… just like writing a book or short story.

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