inner journey

It’s the Small Things, Really, That Give Us the Biggest Perspective

There isn’t a cloud in the sky this morning and it is as blue as blue can be. We have a fresh blanket of snow covering the ground, trees, and everywhere in between after a Sunday snowstorm. The calm and breathtaking beauty is all around me as I sit in my writing cottage. Gazing out the windows now and then I catch a glimpse of a chunk of snow that falls from a branch as the sun is beginning to be more potent each passing day.

Today I’m sharing some wisdom from hummingbird. But before I do I just wanted to say that I continue to experiment with how to bring messages to you each Monday from oracles and animals from various oracle and tarot decks I enjoy.

While I have used YouTube it requires more prep work as well as recording the video, (not to mention being personally presentable) and then finally uploading it. Depending on the length it can take quite some time. Doing it just as audio is a bit easier and quicker which I upload to SoundCloud. Then today I recorded and uploaded from my phone, though I discovered that has to be short and sweet. It also means I can only upload to my Facebook and Instagram page, but not here on my blog (at least that I’m aware of).

The other thing is that I also enjoy writing and sharing the message in this way too. So while I don’t yet know if I’ll find a ‘one and done’ way in which to do this, or just follow the flow of what feels right for me each Monday,  or will do a combo of things, I  just wanted to share that this is where I’m at – and still experimenting. 🙂

So onto today’s animal wisdom from the delicate but dynamic hummingbird. This card is from a deck by my friend, Dawn Brunke, called The Animal Wisdom Tarot. It’s one of the first decks I ever bought years ago as I continued to find ways to go deeper into my inner journey.

Hummingbird is my favorite bird. It has such deep meaning for me personally, which you may recall if you’ve read my first memoir, Through Frankie’s Eyes.

I can’t help but think of the word joy every time I see a hummingbird whether on a card, in a magazine, or the best place, in nature. Each spring, I look forward to hanging feeders right outside my writing cottage to attract them.

I feel hummingbird, being that they are so symbolic of joy, is inviting us to give thought to the small moments of life. So often it seems we prepare and work hard for the big moments, which we sometimes put so much expectation on, that we don’t feel the happiness we thought we would and then we feel let down.

I also feel that hummingbird is asking us to revisit how we define or accomplish success (which does not necessarily mean career). Is it something we are forcing? Or are we remembering to first take time each day and ground ourselves and remember our connection with spirit, source, the universe, God (however you define it) and then move from that space. I know in my own life when I do this, my life flows more organically. Then when I do bring about a realized intention I had set, it feels more natural and comes from a space of true joy.

It really is remarkable also that this tiny creature is the only one that can fly backward, forward, and up and down – no other bird can do that.

I see this as a metaphor to open ourselves to other perspectives – not just one we are familiar with and perhaps feel most comfortable with. While I can be stubborn at times of how I perceive something (and it has at times caused me great angst and struggle), I also am someone who is willing to look at things in a different way and enjoy hearing how others perceive something too. Oh, the times it has expanded me in a way I’d never considered and my life is richer because of it!

So often, when we do allow other aspects to come into play, we open ourselves to something far greater than we could have even imagined. And it’s those moments when we are flooded with more insight and more joy and I’ve found it also tends to really stick with me.

So hummingbird is inviting us to see life from all its different angles this week. And not get stuck in our comfortable or rigid way of thinking that this is how ‘it’s always done.’ Then watch as the magic unfolds and how life brings you something quite unexpected that elicits happiness you’d not anticipated.

xo,

Barbara

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Interview with Author Lori Helke Inside Her Vintage Writing Retreat Camper

As promised earlier this week, here is the inspiring and uplifting interview to share with you with my friend and new author, Lori Helke.

The interview took place inside Lori’s Paris themed vintage camper named Beatrice (see photos of the inside below!). We discuss Lori’s love of travel and how it fulfills a special space in her heart, overcoming fear, the inner journey, mid-life, the power of an oracle reading, and her children’s book (about Beatrice!), plus a sneak peek at what she is working on writing next.

Lori now invites you inside for a tour of Beatrice!…

Lori’s sweet pup, Zoe loves to hang out in Beatrice. This table is headquarters for Lori’s writing projects and her blog on travel.
Folds down into a bed

And heeeeeeeeeere’s Beatrice with her own children’s book, the first in a series, written by Lori!

I smiled the whole way through reading this sweet book! It’s endearing, touching, funny, and heartwarming.

About Lori Helke:

Lori is an Author/Travel Writer from Wisconsin whose mission it is to inspire women to conquer their fears through travel. She just published her first children’s book Beatrice The Little Camper Gets Rescued about her little vintage camper named Beatrice and is looking forward to writing a whole series based on Beatrice’s adventures. Currently, along with writing about her travels on her blog, she has begun writing a memoir based on her first trip to Paris and how it changed her life. Learn more about Lori at:

www.lorilovesparis.com and/or www.lorihelke.com

Thank you so much, Lori, for spending time talking with me inside your adorable, sweet, special space! I’m so happy for you and enjoy watching you continue to follow your heart!

XO,

Barbara

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Vintage Camper, Inspiring New Author & Sweet Zoe the Dog Makes for A Heart Fulfilled Day

Me and Zoe

On Monday I spent part of the day inside a fixed up vintage camper named Beatrice. It’s a quaint and delightful writing retreat that rests on the property of my friend Lori Helke. It was her dream to have a space of her own and with the help of her husband, they renovated the camper which now has a book about her story!

Beatrice will be traveling this summer in Wisconsin as Lori will be doing some book signing events with her newly published children’s book.

I spent the morning interviewing Lori inside her Paris themed camper. I’ll be sharing the interview, plus photos of Beatrice this Sunday in my newsletter and right here on my blog. So stay tuned!

We had so much fun! I think you’ll find the interview inspiring and insightful. We talked about Lori’s love of travel and how it fulfills a special space in her heart, overcoming fear, the inner journey, mid-life, the power of an oracle reading, and her children’s book, plus a sneak peek at what she is working on writing next.

It really made my day that Lori’s dog, Zoe wanted to be with us inside Beatrice. She even jumped up on the bench next to me and let me hug and pet her all I wanted. I think she knew my heart needed it.

Here’s a sneak peek of Lori’s children’s book. I smiled the whole way through reading it when I got home yesterday. It’s endearing, touching, funny, and heartwarming. And Zoe is on the cover!

You can get a signed copy on Lori’s website here.

I can’t wait to share the interview with you soon!

XO,

Barbara

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