inner work

A Poignant Message from Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin Movie

Posted by Barbara Techel

A Poignant Message from Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin Movie

When my dear friend shared with me the movie trailer for Christopher Robin as we celebrated our birthdays a few weeks ago, I just knew I’d have to see it.  And lucky me, she wanted to see it also.

I’m still relishing in the sweetness and fun we shared together which included a big bucket of popcorn between us as we gently and willingly tumbled back to our childhoods as Christopher Robin and the gang came onto the big screen.

How can one not love a yellow bear in a red mid-drift sweater, the gloom and doom of the oh-so-lovable Eeyore, the adorable Piglet, and the enthusiasm of Tigger?  I can never say Tigger without spelling it out and hearing it in my mind just like Tigger actually says it when introducing himself, T-I-double Ga-er!

The movie begins with a bit of background of the young Christopher Robin playing with his friends in the place many of us came to love, Hundred Acre Woods. I loved how the film depicted the flipping of pages of a book and a timeline of Christopher Robin’s life to the present, all grown up now, married, and with a young daughter named Madeline.

As often happens we all grow up and leave behind our childhood days too, the pivotal moments and memories that take a back seat to a world of demands from life and work. And how often we lose our way and lose sight of what matters. Christopher Robin, even though we’d like to believe he didn’t lose his way, is no different, as the film plays out showing him in a demanding job and missing out on spending time with his family.

While his wife and daughter go off to spend the weekend at their cottage, Christopher must stay behind because of the demands of work. Madeline leaves behind a drawing on the kitchen table of Pooh and the gang she found tucked in her father’s things, along with a note for her dad…. with of course, a jar of honey.

And wouldn’t you know it as his wife and daughter are away, and Christopher home alone… Pooh shows up just in time to help Christopher Robin and guide him back to his inner child.

The poignant message from Pooh hits early on in the movie once Christopher accepts his reality as being pulled back to the place he needs to be now in order to reclaim what he knew all along, but had forgotten.

It’s Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh on the bridge, throwing sticks once again into the water, watching them float under the bridge and back out again, when Pooh says, Doing nothing often leads to the best something.

How often as adults and in a world that spins faster and faster, we forget that pushing, pushing, pushing isn’t the way. The more we push, the less we feel, the less we feel, the more we spin our wheels, and lose sight of what’s important.

The theatre was packed that afternoon, with many giggles from children that could be heard. For me, this lent itself beautifully to reminiscing about the favorite parts of my childhood that I can recall – the stories I loved, such as Winnin-the-Pooh, and the many stuffed animals I had as friends that comforted me often.

While sometimes I think these movies are more for adults with some of the messages kids may not yet understand, I found myself hoping that even if the kids didn’t yet fully understand the message, that it stays with them as they too someday become adults…and my hope that they will bring to this world the importance and value of doing nothing on a regular basis, which really is something, that keeps us in alignment with who we truly are.

XO,

Barbara

The Art of Blissful Breaks. Gidget Needs No Reminder.

Posted by Barbara Techel
The Art of Blissful Breaks. Gidget Needs No Reminder.
Blissful Gidget

After a meeting via a video call with a friend/colleague discussing a potential collaboration on a future workshop, it was time to take a break.

In the past I’ve driven myself to the point of burning out a few times. It’s not a place I wish to find myself again. While I still have tendencies to push myself, I’m much more aware, and realize it sooner rather than later more often than not.

I remind myself that not everything needs to be done in one day…that pausing and moving away from the computer will benefit my work when I return to it again. See? I too am truly a work in progress and continue to practice what it is that I guide and empower other women to do…and the importance of pausing, listening and capturing what matters.

What matters isn’t only in the big things of life. But it’s in the small things too. It’s recognizing that time away from the computer screen is vital to my well-being. While I’m not a fan of the word balance, I often gravitate to the word flow. For me, it feels in alignment with following the flow of your souls wishes for the big things, and for the small.

I enjoyed myself immensely in my discussion with my friend/colleague this morning, but also recognized it was time to move away to something that didn’t require so much of my mental energy.

With the sun shining I decided to work on the high-top table on my deck. I gathered together my bullet journal, some pens, gelatos (not the Italian ice cream – though that would have been yummy (!) – but rather a creamy crayon for creative projects), scissors, glue, and an image of an owl. It was time to create my calendar for July. 

A few months ago I set the intention to have more creative outlets that take me away from the screen of my computer. I remember hearing someone via a podcast talk about how she has a separate digital desk and analog desk. I liked that idea! So after a writing session or other work tasks I’ve completed, I’ll sometimes turn my chair around now and work on an art journal page, or as in today’s case, create my July spread for my bullet journal.

As I got lost in cutting out the owl for July, which by the way is the animal that swoops in as my ally for the month from a reading I had done in January, I glanced down to notice Gidget lying peacefully next to me.

As I was lost in my bliss of this creative spot in my day, so was Gidget, lost in her bliss enjoying the summer breeze and the warm sun, I had a moment of lovely reflection. It’s something that has been coming up for me often the last few weeks and how sweet this summer has been with her. Different, in a beautiful way- more expanded – in many ways than summers before.

It’s in large part due to me, I know, as I worked through some deep inner work late winter/early Spring. While that inner work was painful and difficult in many ways, I’m continually reminded now of how grateful I am that I opened to doing the work that needed to be done. Gidget was so often a reflection for me, even though I couldn’t quite grasp it in the thick of the emotional downpour.

There is a new depth to our bond that may have not otherwise made itself known had I not heeded the messages I was receiving from her, or the signs all around me. So while I got lost in the bliss of creativity this afternoon, I also melted into the bliss that this one said little dog has opened in me, too.

Wishing you many blissful moments, too!

XO,

Barbara

Opening New Channels of Awareness through Art Journaling

Posted by Barbara Techel
Opening New Channels of Awareness through Art Journaling
My first art journal page

My friend and fellow blogger, Lori, with her great post on Finding a New Creative Outlet and Finding Your Passion After 50 reminded me I wanted to share my new creative adventure with you.

While I believe what Lori shared in that trying something creative may help guide us to our passion, I also believe creativity opens channels of awareness and can bring about a new perspective we’d not have considered. If that leads to a purpose, that is wonderful. But if it also helps us to pause and learn more about ourselves for the sake of gaining strength in who we are, or wish to be, then how cool is this?

I really can’t explain it, but about two months ago I felt this calling to play with art journaling. It began when I came across something called blackout poetry.

I love words and the first time I tried blackout poetry I was surprised what came from it. It definitely was a way in which to put words and sentences together I’d not thought to do. I also believe what I wrote was speaking to a part of myself that had insight to offer. This is when the idea of art journaling entered the picture as I wanted to combine what I’d written through blackout poetry with collage, which led to opening to the idea of art journaling.

I also like the idea of art journaling, because it oftentimes combines collage with other mixed media such as paint, paper, stencils, you name it, it can be put on an art journal page. I enjoy putting different images together, which often speak to the subconscious parts of myself. This is something I stumbled upon during a time of seeking and then felt called to become trained in a process called SoulCollage® in 2014. Collaging on 5 x 8 cards, my SoulCollage® cards have definitely helped me along my life’s path, often serving as an insightful guide as I’ve worked through different transitional times in my life. My love of using oracle cards as a self-discovery tool, no doubt plays a part in this also.

So many of us sense life in a visual way and art journaling, SoulCollage®, oracle cards, etc. can guide us to see our stories in motion and how it is playing out, and how we can best move forward when we are feeling challenged or stuck. And it helps to strengthen our intuition muscle.

Combining my love of all of this and writing too, well, art journaling feels like a natural fit for me right now. It’s helping me step out of my comfort zone in working with paints, inks, etc. When I made this first page I’m sharing with you today, it was two hours later, and a half hour past Gidget’s dinner time, that I hadn’t even realized how much time had gone by. I was in another world and my soul was full of abundance! And luckily, Gidget forgave me for her late supper.  🙂

The quote that came through the blackout poetry I wrote is meaningful for me as it speaks of letting Spirit do its work through me, but in partnership with, so that I may remember the importance of inner work as necessary to free my heart when I feel fear or overwhelmed, and expressing it, whether through my writing or some other creative outlet such as art journaling.

Do you do art journaling? If so, I’d love to hear about resources that have inspired you, or if you wish to share a page from your art journal, I’d love to see it. I’ve been addicted to watching videos on others doing the process of art journaling also – so meditative!

Here’s to creativity for opening us in beautiful ways,

XO

Barbara