inner journey

The Women’s Well – A Transformational Podcast for Women

Posted by Barbara Techel

Today I’m sharing with you a new podcast hosted by my friend—an ordinary extraordinary woman herself as she calls her guests—Lisa Morris Miller. It’s called The Women’s Well.

As she shares on her website she says, “Each has a story of perseverance, and in the telling, they shine a light on others.”

What I first noticed about Lisa when I met her online after reading her book, The Heart of Leadership for Women – Cultivating a Sacred Space, is that she has this exquisite talent for shining a light on others. She knows how to bring women together and truly sees the beauty, inside and out, of each woman that crosses her path. 

She understands well that when one woman transforms and others are witness to this, it gives them permission to do the same – and thus we can all be transformed and live the meaningful lives we are meant to live.

The Women’s Well features leaders, artists, writers, humanitarians, teachers, and community builders.

I’m honored to share that Lisa and I sat down a few months ago to record the conversation we had together. Our theme and mutual love — animals — and how they’ve helped us in a myriad of ways become who we are. It will air on March 20th. I’ll be sure to let you know on my blog again when it is available.

In the meantime, you don’t want to miss Lisa’s first guest and how she describes her:

Colleen Haggerty is the extraordinary bad-ass inspirer featured in episode 1 of the Women’s Well. I never use “bad-ass” without meaning it fully.
 
If you want to feel uplifted, and good, and motivated today, listen.
 
If you want to feel the strength of your own story—even though your details are different—listen.

Below is a list of links to listen to via audio, plus a video clip of their conversation.

But first, here’s what I had to share on Lisa’s Facebook page after hearing Colleen:

I listened to you and Colleen this morning – wow – what a way to come out the gate! I identified with so much of what Colleen shared. That pain and vulnerability part and trauma – indeed – those two things we all share in common no matter our trauma. And the grief – yes – I found myself tearing up over that as I remember when I finally faced my own trauma and how I was taken aback – almost dumbfounded really, at the fact I had to grieve what I’d lost as a little girl. That had never occurred to me until I dug into the healing work. Thank you, for such a raw, beautiful, and deeply impactful wisdom shared on this your first episode! 

P.S. And Colleen had me swirling with emotion when she talked about accepting our aging bodies… and how I admire a woman who can speak the truth of how challenging this can feel at times…but being honest about it sure is a welcome thing to hear.

So onto the links where you can listen and/or watch:

Apple Podcast site for I-phone users:
 
Google Podcast site for non I-phone, non I-Pad users:
 
Finally, here’s my website where a brief video clip will be posted each week (so you can actually see the featured guests) alongside the Podcast listening link:
 
Here’s us on YouTube:
 
Enjoy!
 
XO
Barb

 

Listening to the Little One Within – Animal Oracle Reading – Week of March 7th

Posted by Barbara Techel

Spirit was having fun with me this week! I have no idea why there are over 13 minutes of dark space at the end of my video this week. So heads up the reading portion is only 13 minutes long in total – not almost 27 minutes as it shows. The funny thing is a teacher I listen to had a similar thing happen to her recently – but her dark space was at the beginning of her video!

Last week I connected with a lovely lady from Holland. It was Owl totem that brought us together and it was magical. Owl represents for me listening to our wise inner self.

That nourishing and uplifting call inspired me to use a deck of cards I don’t often use for this week’s reading.

I hope you will enjoy it!  XO, Barb

Click here or on the graphic below to hear this week’s message!

Helping others connect more deeply to themselves and the animal kingdom is my labor of love. If you love what I’m doing and my work has impacted you in a beneficial way I hope you’ll consider supporting me. So grateful!

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The Animals Inspired Me with My Word for the Year

Posted by Barbara Techel

I believe this is either the third or fourth year that I’ve picked twelve animal oracle cards for my year – one for each month. In the collage above you can see the animals that represent my year. As I continue to enjoy learning more about what wisdom the animals have for us, this is one way in which I enjoy playing and discovering more. Plus it’s a wonderful way to do inner exploration!

This year I worked with the Spirit Animal Awareness cards by Ona Christie. On each of her cards, she has positive and shadow aspects of each animal.

For the month of January, my card is Bee. After pondering it for a few moments the word that jumped out at me on the card is productivity. I began a project in late 2020 and am gaining momentum with it so productivity feels right for where my energy level and enthusiasm are at for this. It also feels sweet to be in this space of creativity that is filling me with much joy.

I have a spot on my wall next to my writing desk where I will post a photo of the card along with the word (s) that resonates from that particular card for the month. It will be something I can reflect on when I feel called to. At the end of the month, I’ll take a few moments to observe how that particular animal card played out in my life and what I learned.

I’d also been pondering what my word of the year would be for the last few days though nothing was really coming to me.

After pulling an animal card for each month of the year it occurred to me last evening that I should turn to the animals for their help.

This morning as I looked over the complete spread of twelve cards the word that came to me is devotion. My whole body felt it and it made me come alive with inspiration.

So far this is what devotion is representing for me for my year ahead:

  • Devotion to my creativity and more exploration of mixed media collage.
  • Devotion to learning more from the animal kingdom world.
  • Devotion to appreciating the sweetness of life.
  • Devotion to living by the flow of my own authentic being.
  • Devotion to living life with much more zest.
  • Devotion to listening to my inner guidance.
  • Devotion to affirming life through doing things that make me happy.

I’m also reflecting on a quote by John Cage that I shared during the weekly oracle reading I did and posted on Monday. The quote is below and in bold are the sentences that stood out to me. They add to the reason why the word devotion fits for me this year.

Our intention is to affirm this life, not bring order out of chaos nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply to wake to the very life we’re living, which is so excellent once one gets one’s mind and desires out of its way and lets it act of its own accord.  ~John Cage

Next, I’ll print out a copy of the above collage I made in Canva and post that on my wall next to my writing desk as a sweet reminder of my intention for this year of 2021.

Just doing this simple exercise of pulling animal cards, pondering each month, and then discovering my word for the year opens up this path before me that I’m looking forward to sauntering down and what it is I’ll discover.

Do you have a word for the year? If so, let me know. I’d love to hear!

xo,

Barbara

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