inner work

Courage On My Altar

Posted by Barbara Techel

This is an altar in my bathroom. Normally I pull an oracle card each Sunday from The Wild Offering by Tosha Silver. It’s guidance for the week of which I’m reminded every time I have to sit for a few moments.

I love having these altars and reminders around my house as a way of keeping me grounded in what matters. But ever since the virus crisis began I’ve not changed out the card. This card just feels too fitting to let go of it quite yet.

COURAGE

“Divine courage is not the absence of fear but a nudge that says, “Keep going. Do it. Don’t worry. All will be well.” You have to get quiet enough to hear it. Dear Divine, may I feel your courage and Your will.”

We have all been tested to walk with our fear for quite a few weeks now. I appreciate this card as reminding us of our human spirit and the resilience we truly have within us if we face the fear and still continue to move forward, albeit with more deliberate thought and consideration.

It’s been my experience that in the quiet is when I’ve heard wisdom bubble to the surface that I needed at the time. Within those moments of stillness is when hope has shown itself to me and gave me the courage to take another step forward.

I’m reminding of how my mind can race to a conclusion because I don’t want to look at what is causing me fear or pain. And I’m reminded how this takes courage to stop the cycle because as a society we haven’t put enough value on slowing down and just being with what is in the moment. Not to mention we have been taught to run from those feelings.

But here we are, all discovering new courage within us as we’ve collectively had to slow down and listen, ponder and percolate in how we will move forward not only individually, but together as one.

I don’t know about you, but that feels so good in my bones and soul. And so it’s my wish that we all be blessed with this courage as we continue to learn to live in a new way.

xo,

Barbara

 

Boosting Our Confidence During Times of Fear – Lion Energy

Posted by Barbara Techel

This week’s animal wisdom comes from Lion and the question I asked for us all of is “What is it we need to know to stay grounded this week?” 

With so much being reported in the news that can have us sink into doom if we let it, I felt this is such an important question to work with as we move through our week.

This card comes from a new-to-me deck by Sarah Wilder called Animal Kin Oracle. I say new-to-me because a friend gifted it to me as she no longer needed it (thank you, Connie!).

The Lion holds a special place in my heart because two years ago I gave myself the gift of a reading that was based on my birthdate. The reader started off the reading by sharing with me what animal came in with me at birth and it was Lion.

I remember being surprised, while at the same time I felt a welcome positive shift of determination within me. While I didn’t fully feel the strength and confidence of this powerful animal, I knew this is what I wanted to embody within myself and was working on that.

The lion is all about leadership and while many have shared with me they see me as a leader, I didn’t always feel that way. But I can say today I feel so much more confident in who I am than I have ever felt before. Yay!

So when I think about the question for all of us in staying grounded this week amidst all the news that can feel scary and chaotic Lion is perfect for us to lean into and work to embody.

Lion is about the masculine and the deck creator also included the elements with each card of water, fire, earth, air, and spirit. Lion is the element of fire and fire is all about movement.

WhenI think about staying grounded and lion and fire as our symbols I see this as taking charge of what we believe in, tapping into that space within each of us that knows what is truth and what isn’t. It’s about being the leader of our own lives and not following the fear of what the media may have us wanting to believe.

I’m thinking about my own situation and applying this as John and I have been getting our R-pod camper ready for our next excursion. Last night we had a discussion if we should really leave on vacation considering what is being shared in the news in regards to the Corona virus.

But like many, we believe we aren’t being given all the facts. While yes, it’s important to be cautious and take precautions, we feel confident we will be fine. 

So for all of us, I believe Lion is inviting us to move forward with confidence no matter our fears. Each time we take a stand in what we believe we build a new strength within ourselves. The more we then see this play out in a positive way and it helps build our self-confidence. This, in turn, is what helps us move through these times of uncertainty with less stress and fear.

Right after I got done writing this post came more confirmation of Lion. I saw this quote and photo on Facebook and feel it goes right along with what I just shared.

“Whatever the struggle, continue the climb. It may be only one more step to the summit.”~Diane Westlake

Artwork by Jody Bergsma

So we lions need to stick together— and walk forward united in strength, conviction, and determination that we will get through this and we do it by tending to the nurturing of ourselves and those we love and taking pride in who we are and what we know in our hearts to be true.

Have a good week everyone!

xo,

Barbara

HAPPY TO HELP
It is an honor to serve as an intuitive guide and oracle reader for women who wish to embark on an inner expedition and evolve into living in alignment with what matters most to their soul and live a more balanced, gracious and peaceful life. I’m happy to help so feel free to reach out or learn more by clicking on the banner.

 

 

Time to Break Out of the Cage and Sing Our Songs

Posted by Barbara Techel

This week it is Canary that is our animal guide.

It’s time to break out of that cage you perhaps have kept yourself in for far too long. It’s time to sing that song that has been wanting to burst forth from your heart. It’s the one that has been calling to you, consistently nudging at you, to let it out because it is the one of truth. It’s time to set it free.

The canary on the card sits on a flute. I played flute in high school. I no longer have mine, but now have a Native American flute which I pick up from time to time. There is something so soothing and haunting all at the same time about the sound that when I play it often brings me to this space that feels sacred and real.

It can feel scary to let our true selves be seen. But I find it symbolic in thinking about the haunting sound a flute can make—and how we live in this stage of angst and ‘what if’s’ if we don’t live from more of that true space within us. Isn’t it more difficult to hold our song in than to let it out? I’ve definitely realized, especially the last few years, that to let it out has set me free in ways I never even imagined for myself.

That is what Canary is inviting us to be with this week. How can we be who we are and in a way that feels safe? It’s little steps really. One note at a time. Being with others in a like-minded flock that supports us— that’s what helps us to spread our wings just a bit more and more each day.

At the beginning of 2019, I pulled an oracle card from The Spirit Animal Oracle deck for each month of the year. I did the same this year but with a different oracle deck. Each month the animal card I pulled serves as my guide and teaching for that particular time. When I looked back over 2019 and each animal that had presented itself over those twelve months I definitely saw the teachings and what I needed to work on, as well as, where I was being supported. It told a story of how my life unfolded that year.

It’s interesting to note that the canary was my card for December 2019. And in this New Year, I’ve been feeling the nudge to make a SoulCollage® card of canary. So I think not only is this message for all of you, it is for me too. So I best heed the advice. I do know that the canary is quite symbolic for me personally as I’m on the cusp of releasing my new book soon – and one that shares my journey of finally giving voice to a childhood wound that haunted me for twenty-five plus years.

While a small part of me can still feel a bit of fear around this, I’m more ready than I’ve ever been before. I’ve experienced what it feels like to have worked through what needed to be looked at and acknowledged. The freedom that has come with that has made it easier for me as I now embark on sharing my song with others.

We all have a special song to sing and it’s what brings so much beauty to this world. As I write this, in my mind’s eye I’m seeing a sky filled full of birds and in a wide variety of brilliant colors! Let’s light up the world like a rainbow, plus a multitude of colors we’ve never even imagined— and let’s listen to the melody of songs being sung by each of us —and know that this will transform us, heal us, and set us all free.

xo,

Barbara

HAPPY TO HELP
It is an honor to serve as an intuitive guide and oracle reader for women who wish to embark on an inner expedition and evolve into living in alignment with what matters most to their soul and live a more balanced, gracious and peaceful life. I’m happy to help so feel free to reach out or learn more by clicking on the banner.