friendship

Synchronicity, Saint Barbara & a Blossoming Friendship

Posted by Barbara Techel

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Synchronicity is such a gift. Though I know not everyone realizes when it happens, as it is something you have to open yourself to – to be open for those moments that come when you know there is something larger at work.

Today I met with my friend, Marie again for tea. Our friendship is beginning to blossom into such a beautiful thing. She was always the mysterious older woman who lived in the big white house on the corner. I’ve written about her before here on my blog.

She is very artistic and you can tell when you meet her as she has this flare about her. It is part of what was so mysterious to me. I wanted to know more about her.

Through a series of events that have happened over the past two years, we decided to meet for coffee and tea at a local cafe this summer. That has led to us meeting twice more since then.

Today was one of those mornings we met. She was eager to hear about my SoulCollage (R) Facilitator training I recently completed.

Before we got deep into conversation she gave me a small square package. She told me it was something she had at her house that she forgot about until she came across it recently. She knew I had to have it.

When I unwrapped the paper, inside I found a vintage ornament of St. Barbara. I got goosebumps!  Marie told me she researched information about St. Barbara but nothing was feeling right at first with what she wanted to share with me. And then she found it! A line from a Spanish play in 1936 that says: “Your story is written in the sky with paper and holy water.”

I was so very touched.

I said, “Well, wait until you hear this. I can’t even believe you just gave me this St. Barbara ornament, as I’d never even known there was a St. Barbara until I went to my SoulCollage (R) training.”

As I shared in a previous post about this also, I told Marie how out of 22 women at the SoulCollage (R) training, four of us were Barbara’s. And it was interesting how when we sat in a circle that first night in the training, a Barbara anchored each quarter of the circle.

At breakfast Saturday morning, the Barbara’s magically found there way to one of the tables, taking up one corner. Audrey, our trainer, took note and got goosebumps when she said it made her think of St. Barbara.  Until then I didn’t even know there was a St. Barbara.

As I sat with my friend Marie today and thought about the synchronicity of all of this, my heart filled with gratefulness of all the welcome signs around us that are proof of a bigger plan in the works.

Time with Marie the last few times has been such a gift for me. She is a woman who knows what she wants for her life. Very artistic and going after doing more of her art, we are hoping to collaborate in a few ways down the road — or at the very least, will be supporting each other as we embark on some artistic paths. I’m so grateful for our blossoming friendship.

When I got home today I had to find just the right spot to hang my St. Barbara ornament.

Each morning before yoga I’ve been starting my day lately by picking an animal wisdom tarot card, angel card, Archangel Michael card, Grace card, and also one of my SoulCollage (R) cards. They are a way in which to center myself and ask for guidance for my day or whatever it is I’m feeling challenged with.

As I entered my writing cottage when I returned home today, seeing the cards lying on the table I had picked this morning, I knew just where my St. Barbara ornament should go.

How lovely it is to see it overlooking my cards. Another beautiful blessing to start my days… and a sweet reminder of my new and evolving friendship with Marie.

To Think It All Began with a Phone Call.

Posted by Barbara Techel

flowerIt all began with a phone call.

The day before I was going to help Frankie transition and become a dog angel in heaven.

My friend Mary, bless her heart forever, for suggesting I call her friend, Dawn.

Dawn is an animal communicator.

I knew of her, but didn’t know her.

I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do.

My hands shaking, I picked up the phone and punched her number into my key pad.

My heart was beating wildly.

The kindest voice answered.

I explained who I was and the gut wrenching decision I was in the process of making.

She was in the middle of a hectic day of book publishing with last minute details.

But she dropped everything for me and Frankie.

She said, “It was in your voice. I knew you needed help.”

The gift of having her communicate with Frankie solidified for me that I was making the right decision.

Frankie and I had come to the end of our beautiful journey here on earth together. She was ready to move on.

Dawn helped me to trust in my heart that this was right. That I’d be okay and so would Frankie.

I’ll never, ever forget that day. Dawn’s serene and calm words of wisdom that made me know the journey with Frankie would not end. But it would evolve into a new level. We’d always be together. There was nothing to fear.

A year later I met Dawn for coffee when she visited Wisconsin. I didn’t want my time to end with her because I felt so connected in a special way to her.

She returned again this past week as I hosted an animal communication workshop in my home that she taught.

We met today to say goodbye before she heads back home to Alaska tomorrow. She is a gift.

I drove home floating on a cloud for the friendship I have with Dawn. Her spirit that is larger than life. Her heart that is open and shares freely.

It’s her secure knowing in herself as a woman that shines so brightly that makes me feel grounded and happy in her company.

She is a wise role model for me. A mentor. A dear friend.

Brought together by a phone call two years ago. Thank you Universe (and Mary) for bringing us together.

My soul having evolved just a bit more because of her.

And I know when she reads this she will be ever so humble. But it’s all true. And I wanted her to know.

Love you, dear friend!

The Mysterious Lady in the Big, White House on the Corner.

Posted by Barbara Techel

marie and me 12Me and Marie

For years I wondered who the lady is that lives in the big, old white house downtown on the corner, one block from the post office. Now and then I’d see her walking to or from her house to get her mail.

Always dressed in an artistic way, with her funky glasses and salt and pepper hair my curiosity got the best of me whenever I’d catch a glimpse of her.

Did she live in the big house all by herself? Was she widowed? How long did she live there? Where does she work? Does she work? What’s her story?

Her yard not like all the others, neat and trim with green plush grass free of weeds. But of a unique, purposeful design of sorts with flowers growing here and there. A black arched trellis that leads to the front door that never seems to be open, while the back of her house more alive and the place to approach and knock if one wanted to know more about the mystery lady. There is also the little wooden shed off to the back that catches my eye, decorated on the north side with geraniums that hang in pots each tucked in its own circular sphere on what looks to be a wrought iron trellis of sorts.

Who lives in this house that speaks of such character? And then I met her. Two September’s ago when I signed up to take the Artist’s Way workshop in the town next to mine held at the Arts Center, where I would also come to find that she worked part-time.

I’ve always been drawn to, for the most part, well, let’s say, to more mature people of age. Maybe it’s the wisdom gained of  years they’ve lived that I wish to draw upon for my own life, but whatever the reason, I’m so glad to have finally met Marie.

Often times we’d sit next to each other in the workshop and I found myself listening intently each time she spoke. I would come to find she loves art. She is a talented artist in her own right, finally venturing out into our corner of the world with her beautiful and exquisite hand-made fabric pillows and bags. She found the courage and inspiration after our workshop ended to finally take this leap. I’m so glad she did.

After our workshop ended, and I was feeling lost wondering where I wanted to go next in my life, I felt called to reach out to Marie during my sabbatical last fall. We met for tea at a local diner. The conversation flowed and I took to heart her advice to just let happen what needs to happen, and don’t force it.

Though I’ve had ups and downs with taking her advice now and then, today when met again for tea, I find myself in a more accepting place with this. We met at my favorite cafe in town, Off the Rail, right alongside the railroad tracks. We both had earrings on with the same vintage yellow floral bead, yet each a different design.

We both realize how the Artist’s Workshop brought us together and has brought us to the place we each are in our current day to day creative spaces. She doing her fabric art and attending theology classes, and I with my writing and new volunteer mentor role, plus a few other things up my sleeve.

Marie commented to me how our conversation just flowed with ease. We weren’t straining to make conversation, but one thing moved effortlessly into the next. It was refreshing, energizing and inspiring.

What I love about Marie is that she is in a simple word, authentic. She lives within the boundaries of what is right for her and her everyday life. I’m attracted to that as I see myself more and more comfortable in doing more of the same. She lives by the beat of her own drum and I want my life to continue to unfold in that same beat of which is right for me.

Though she is no longer the mysterious lady to me who lives in the big, white house and I miss the perplexity of that, I’m finding the greatest delight in the unveiling of our friendship as we continue to get to know each other. So much so, we both wonder why it is we wait so long to see each other, because we both felt so good after being together. So we shall work on seeing each other more often.

For now, I relish in the beauty and wisdom of my friend Marie, and give a grateful thank you to have her in my life.