joyful pause studio

Intuitive Guiding Messages

Posted by Barbara Techel
Intuitive Guiding Images
My 2017 SoulCollage card

Last year I was introduced to using twelve images, picked at random, from twelve different magazines to intuitively help create my New Year.

Initially, I was intimidated. While I enjoyed going through the meditation process for each month that led me to choosing twelve different images, when it came time to get all those images onto one 5 x 8 card fear set in. I thought there was no way I’d be able to do it.

In the “normal” process of doing SoulCollage(r) we work with an average of 2-5 images per card. I say “normal” as there is no right or wrong way to do this process, just helpful hints and suggestions. But twelve images on a card? That really did seem impossible.

But I’m happy to report I did it!!…and was quite pleased and ecstatic that I did.

Well, then I was hooked, and repeated the process again this year, which I then also facilitated a workshop at my Joyful Pause studio this past Saturday on this very process which I learned from SoulCollage(r) facilitator, Andrea Thuler who lives in Switzerland.

Above is my card I put together for 2017, which I did a few days before I taught it to seven other wise and wonderful ladies. I have to be honest and humble here…I am in love with my card!  I look at it and I can hear and see my soul with clarity, which is such a beautiful thing.

It speaks to me of my uniqueness in who I am, how I want to continue to dance more fully into who I am, how I find strength and courage from my rituals of meditation, yoga, and listening to my inner voice, how I feel the light inside me burning bright again, how my inner compass is my true guidance, and how I want to live more and more from that wild and wise person that I know I am.

But what lit me up even more was watching the participants in my workshop, half of which were new to SoulCollage(r) as they went through this process…and the revelations that it presented for them.

To watch as many began the process of letting go of what no longer serves them and finding the strength to step into who they really want to be….well, let’s just say, it was magical, priceless, and left my heart with a very good feeling, which still vibrates within me today.

I’ve walked the journey of letting go, and continue to… as like everyone else, I am a work in progress….which is perfectly OKAY…we are unfinished women, with so much more to give, finding our way to shine in this world.

One woman said of the experience, “My soul gained a little serenity today.” I wanted to weep with joy from that statement as this is the calling I’ve felt drawn to for quite some time now…

to help and encourage others to open to their own souls whispers and wisdom.

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

Message from Hippo. Welcome Home to Who You Are.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Message from Hippo. Welcome Home to Who You Are.

For over three years I’ve been giving thought to forming a women’s circle, which I’m in the process of preparing for, and gearing up to do, in the new year. I’m also collaborating with another young woman to offer a workshop on a Native American tradition about Talking Sticks. It will be December 21st, on the Winter Solstice.

As I move into this new space in my life I’ve been asking for guidance from the deck of Animal Wisdom Tarot cards and also from my deck of SoulCollage(r) cards I’ve created the past two years.

My question is simple as I shuffle the animal cards and my SoulCollage(r) deck: Please provide guidance for me around facilitating workshops for women.

Shivers ran up down and my spine when Hippo is the card that has revealed itself on three separate occasions in the past seven days when I’ve posed my question and Hippos wise message of Welcome home to who you are. Each time I think of this message it just makes me so happy.

And the SoulCollage(r) cards I’ve been drawing which have not been the same, but they have revolved around what I feel are reminders to follow my heart and are about the lessons I’ve learned around keeping myself grounded, going within often, and trusting in my intuition.

The first time I posed my question for guidance around doing workshops, the SoulCollage(r) card that came up was one of my spirit animals – the animal that came to me during a guided meditation in 2014 – Wolf.  The message I received at that time was to continue to open my heart and follow the fire within.

The other two cards that surfaced during two different occasions are reminders for me that no matter what I may do going forward, it is important to take time each day to refill my own well with time for reflection and meditation in some form.

And so it is. And I’m recalling when I decided to write my first children’s book – how I had feelings of fear and excitement all at the same time – and not sure where it would take me. And how I went on to write another children’s book and now two memoirs. I can’t say as I ever saw that coming or really ever planned it – but followed what felt right.  And oh, what a journey it has been!

And in many ways, I feel like it has led me to where I am today – venturing into somewhat new territory as I give thought to doing more workshops in my studio, Joyful Pause. I don’t know how it will all unfold, but trusting that if it is meant to be, I will continue to be guided.

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

A Peek Inside Joyful Pause Studio – SoulCollage® Workshops for Women

Posted by Barbara Techel
A Peek Inside Joyful Pause Studio - SoulCollage® Workshops for Women
Entrance to Joyful Pause Studio. Artwork by Shannon Winter.

Over two years ago I began giving thought to offering workshops for women in the lower level of my home. But I wasn’t quite sure what they would exactly be.

But I knew I wanted to encourage women to pause, listen, capture, and open to the many facets of themselves.

And then I discovered the process of SoulCollage® in November 2014. I jumped in and took the training in hopes of making this dream come true.

And little by little it did with workshops I held at a local art studio and through friends. And then I held my first workshop in my home studio on January 16th, 2016 for five wonderful women.

Eventually I do hope to expand with different types of workshops, too and have also been offering some online workshops.

I see myself sort of like an Intuitive Guide… I love the idea of “holding the space” for women– gently encouraging them to tap into their own wisdom and open the petals to their own beautiful flower and what they discover about themselves.

So my studio is just about complete. My dear, sweet, supportive husband, John, is finishing up soon with the spare room which will have a new drop ceiling and lighting also.

John almost threw this piece of wood in the woodstove — but I saw it as a lovely place for a bird to perch upon to welcome visitors to my studio.
This is where tea and water are available and a bathroom to the left.
One view of the almost 1,000 square feet in my studio.
Canvas panels along the wall are paintings I’m working on for the long wall – Tree Goddesses is what I hope the end result will be!
Window to let in some natural light with lots of good overhead lighting.
I can accommodate up to 10 people for workshops.

What was once a family room for John and I and a craft space for me, to then a space we opened to a young woman in need of somewhere to live during a transition, to now Joyful Pause Studio…. I can’t wait to welcome you!

It’s my hope it will be a serene place for women to come be among other kindred-spirits and will serve as a way in which women can take time to create, listen to their hearts, and just be.

I’m so excited about this new venture!

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