indigenous

The Cottagecore Trend. Have We Come Full Circle?

Posted by Barbara Techel
My favorite Cottagecore space: Joyful Pause Cottage

Anything with the word “cottage” in it I am like a bee that flies headfirst with great delight into the face of a flower to drink up the sweet nectar.

Such was the case the other morning when I serendipitously came across a YouTube video titled, Cottagecore (books, movies, TV shows – to feel all the springtime vibes).

Down the rabbit hole I went with anticipated curiosity to see what this trend called Cottagecore was all about.

In short, from an article by HuffPost: it’s all about looking and living like you’re in some sort of pastoral painting— even if you live far, far away from a farm. I think the key point here is actually living in this way if this is what you feel called to, rather than just looking as if you live in this way.

The article goes on to share that it all started with quarantine during 2020. It’s the younger generation that seems to have come up with this trendy word because they felt called to go back to the roots of what home is all about.

I especially loved what writer, Katherine Livesey had to say in the article: “I would describe it as an aesthetic based upon a quiet, simple life filled with good, wholesome food, animals to care for, a garden to tend to, clothes that feel whimsical and a deep-rooted appreciation for nature and the natural world.”

I would add to this list as it is what I define Cottagecore as is enjoying any form of creativity, exploration of Self, and being open to how the world around guides us through signs and symbolism—and what can sometimes be defined as living a more shamanistic or indigenous way of life.

It also had me thinking about when I left the corporate world back in 1995 at the age of thirty-four. My heart was yearning for a simpler and quieter life and one where I could work from home. But I can’t tell you how long it took me to be okay with this. At times I felt guilty for not working a 9-5 job and bringing in the substantial income as I once had. I also felt odd that I didn’t have kids because you only stayed home if you had children, right? I thought about all the women who fought hard for the feminine movement and equal rights and pay (and in some ways are still working hard to make this happen).

When I left the corporate world I did work part-time for a few years doing bookwork for a general contractor, but eventually, I no longer was. And as you know if you’ve been with me a while, a purpose for my life was revealed with my turning to write about animals, and then five books later… and I continue to evolve.

But at the heart of who I am, I am a Cottagecore girl. I had to bold that statement because it is truly what makes my heart sing!

As I read more about this Cottagecore trend I had a few moments of feeling sad/mad about all the years I wasted worrying about why I felt odd/different. But I also thought about the challenges of last year and how in my heart I hoped more would go back to a simpler way of life—that this would be more accepted in our society. 

It gave me great hope to read that more of the younger generation has come to appreciate home life and that it has such value. I might add, I’m not knocking those (especially women) who want to be in the corporate world and who are leaders, etc., because we need them too! But it took me a long time to be okay with my feelings about the value I added to our home and our life by not working out in the corporate world.

The truth is I learned so much from that time. I learned what I did and didn’t want. I also came to learn over the years that even though I didn’t contribute directly to helping John in his business with some aspects, I contributed greatly in supporting him in other ways. He has done the same for me.

I’ve come to realize that I am a leader. My definition of a leader? Someone who lives from the truth of who they are and does not worry what others may think of their choices. We have to start to expand that definition of a leader because it isn’t just what society has necessarily always deemed it to be.

Perhaps I’m digressing a bit from the theme of Cottagecore, but I don’t think so. I guess because reading about this ‘trend’ brought up so many different feelings and thoughts for me. So it feels like this is all part of it.

In reality, the terms and definitions used to describe Cottagecore really aren’t all that new. Generations before us, and many today have lived in this way all along. But I’m grateful for the attention the word is helping to bring to the forefront that it is perfectly acceptable to live in this way. 

Will the trend stay? I hope in many ways it will. But if anything, for those that this appeals to, my wish is that they will not let society define how to live their life, and live from the heart of who they truly are. We need all hands on deck to live from the beat of their own drum – whether in the corporate world – or Cottagecore world.

And this Cottagecore girl plans to continue to do just that.

XO,

Barb

                     

The Question of Balance Has Been on My Mind Lately

Posted by Barbara Techel

The Question of Balance Has Been on My Mind Lately

The question of balance has been on my mind quite a bit lately. Spring is here, and with it, I’m wondering how I’ll balance all I wish to do.

With spring and warmer temps on the way I’m yearning to be outside more, spend time with friends, and yet, still wanting to pursue working on workshops I’m planning and facilitating, along with the many ideas for future workshops I have waiting in the tunnel for exploration. I’ve also immersed myself in a few classes the last couple of weeks to fine tune my facilitating skills. How do I do all of this along with all the other basic functions of life?

While in the planning stages of the next workshop I’ll be offering in my home studio (Animal Wisdom and SoulCollage®) with my friend and colleague, Rachel, this question of trying to balance it all came up for both of us. No matter one’s age, as she is twenty years younger than me, it seems that we are always trying to achieve some sort of balance – and maybe it’s just because I’m a woman, but this question of balance seems to be more of a challenge with women.

Just thinking about it as I write this I feel a shift happening of my mind racing and even feeling a little light-headed and anxious. It’s times like this that I also think about all the reading I’ve been doing about the indigenous culture and how their life ebbed and flowed more in balance like nature, following the energy of the moon, and flowing with more ease as nature does.

We’ve been so conditioned as a society to strive for the top, whatever the top is, and achieve material things, and to keep going at a pace that isn’t really possible to keep up with. And then when we try to slow down it can feel like we want to jump out of our skin!…and as if we aren’t doing enough or being enough!

I know that feeling having taken a two month sabbatical after feeling so burnt out in 2013. Initially that is what it felt like. It was so uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to do with myself. But after two weeks, that uneasy, jittery, feeling began to subside. And so I think about that now as I’m questioning this new sense of a shift again within myself as the season changes. And Lord, if that word trust does not come up again as I give thought to all of this.

And I’m reminded of what my friend and I talked about and how I shared that my energy and production level is so much higher in terms of fulling my works mission from mid-fall through the winter months. When I look back over the past six months I’ve accomplished so much!

This need to find more balance of work and play, instead of all work, is knocking at my door as spring slowly makes its way to Wisconsin. And this is perhaps the lesson of what balance looks like for me instead of losing myself in thinking how our culture defines it. How important it is that we each take the time to tune into our own energy patterns and work with them, instead of comparing ourselves others.

And this is why I love writing as I just worked this question of balance all out on the page and I feel so much better. Hope it was beneficial for you, too!

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

On Not Being Left Behind and into Awakening

Posted by Barbara Techel

On Not Being Left Behind and into Awakening

Late yesterday afternoon I saw an article on my friend’s facebook page titled, Humans are Waking Up: For First Time in Recorded History, Schumann Resonance Jumping to 36+

While I don’t completely get all the science or deep thought behind it (even though I consider myself to be a deep thinker!) what I do understand is how I relate it to how I’ve been feeling and so many others I know, too.

And this section of the article helped me too:  Scientist’s report that the Earth’s magnetic field, which can affect the Schumann Resonance, has been slowly weakening for the past 2,000 years and even more so in the last few years. No one really knows why. I was told by a wise old sage from India that the magnetic field of Earth was put in place by the Ancient Ones to block our primordial memories of our true heritage. This was so that souls could learn from the experience of free-will unhampered by memories of the past. He claimed that the magnetic field changes are now loosening those memory blocks and we are raising our consciousness to greater truth. The veil is lifting. The blinders are coming off. If true, it raises even more intriguing questions.”

What makes sense for me in reading this is that humanity is beginning to awaken – to what no longer works – to helping us to see what will work. Though this means we each have to do our own inner work. Something I’ve talked about a few times on my blog.

This sent me down a path last night of wanting to know more. While the speeding up of time feels frightening sometimes, I wanted to know how I could move through this rapid time of change in a way that will help me feel more grounded. I also wanted to know what does this really all mean?

That’s part of the mystery that is being slowly revealed to us – and only if we are willing to open to it. And I can say, even though I feel frightened at times, even anxious, I don’t want to be left behind. 

I also hope you don’t feel I’ve flipped my lid and gone all “woo-woo” on you. It’s always my wish that my blog is a soft place to land for those that aren’t always sure what to make of the world…because it is where I can find myself too if I don’t work to stay centered and grounded.

The more I explored last night, the more I began to feel at ease. I also realized that I’d been so worried about keeping up with the rapid change and worried how I was going to do that, I’d lost sight of how I can more easily move through this time.

Something I’d been preparing for all along – well, at least for the last thirteen years or so as I’ve walked my own spiritual path—moving more and more into who I authentically am— and how I am fascinated by the wisdom that animals hold for us, nature, and opening to our own intuition.

And that was it! I have the tools in place to guide me through these tumultuous times – not that it’s going to always be easy as I ‘m human and fall of the wagon now and then too. But it’s vital and important to keep my practices of ritual in place. Because when I do, I move through my days in a much more peaceful way, which positively affects those around me. And I’m really beginning to understand that my own vibration of peace and continuing the work of healing myself is what this awakening is about, and what we are all being called to do.

I went to sleep last night feeling less anxious than I have in a long time. This morning, I listened to Jocelyn Mercado of Sacred Planet talk about how she believes it’s the indigenous way of being we are moving back to. Something I’ve found a fascination with also the last few years.

It’s a way of living on this earth that does not need to be learned – we already know – we just must remember – and then we must begin to live in this way – one step at a time. But we must begin to move in that direction.

Jocelyn shared ideas of how we can begin to shift toward healing, peace and love talking about shamanic journeying, meditation, and understanding what Mother Earth is trying to convey to us. And I got so excited because I realized again that I’ve been walking this path for quite some time. It was a comfort to feel that I’m moving in the right direction.

One suggestion she had was creating altars, which is something I’ve done for quite some time too. But I loved her idea of bringing in the four elements of earth, wind, fire, and water. So before I moved into my yoga practice this morning, I created this altar:

The candle represents fire, the stones, pine cone, acorn and rocks, earth. The feathers represent sky and the small container of water. What I especially enjoyed was that having this small jar of water as part of your altar is a call to remember to just be in meditation with your altar as a practice. If you return to it after a few days and the water is gone it’s a gentle reminder of remembering to incorporate these moments of sacred and stillness into your everyday life.

I decided to pick at random an animal card to go with my altar for the day. And Swan couldn’t have been more perfect (taken from Animal Spirit Guides):

  • No matter what is happening your life right now, do whatever it takes to keep your faith strong.
  • It’s important to accept your life circumstances and surrender to the will of Spirit, trusting that all will work out.
  • You’ll soon find clarity and purpose in the confusion that you’re experiencing.
  • Focus on the fact that life is a precious and sacred gift, and express your gratitude and appreciation in as many ways as possible.
  • Whatever changes you’re going through, go with the flow.

And lastly from Animal Teachings: Swan is graceful and elegant. Swan brings our intuitive gifts to the surface, balancing insight with fair-mindedness. Swan reveals how to integrate inner beauty with our outward expression, teaching us to be clear and confident about our own personality.

As I moved through my yoga positions, standing in tree pose, my eyes locked on this bunch of pea pods hanging from our locust tree. They looked more alive than I’d ever noticed them before as if they came into a clearer view. I couldn’t help but think this is what we are being called to be – to see more fully and with greater depth the beauty around us.

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