meaningful life

Unfinished, Transition or Renovation – No Matter – It’s a Gift of Acceptance.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Unfinished, Transition or Renovation - No Matter - It's a Gift of Acceptance.

Author Joan Anderson, of The Second Journey, calls it “unfinished.” I’ve also heard it referred to as, and use the term often myself, as being in “transition.” On Saturday I heard a woman call it “renovation.”

Renovation was one I’d not heard before and it make me chuckle.  There are many stages of life as we all know and have experienced at some point. Some stages we go through time and time again.

And perhaps it’s because I’m a woman consciously working on my own little awakenings that these terms really speak to me. But call it what you want, we are all unfinished, in transition at one time or another, or busy renovating to welcome in new aspects of ourselves, and new manifestations that are trying to break through.

Listening to this woman who referred to herself as being in renovation, during the Spiritual Fun Fair I took part in on Saturday, was so refreshing. She was excited about being in this stage! Usually I encounter the opposite and that women fear not knowing what is next for them or try to push away or stuff down what they are feeling.

Then today my friend, Monica, who writes a newsletter for her beautiful website at Life is a Pretty Word wrote last month how she was side-lined with a health issue, which wasn’t easy for her.

But this month, now that she is better she is in total flow of manifesting some wonderful things for herself. While in that “not being able to do much stage” which was an inner battle at times, she now sees why it played out like it did.

These times of being in transition, no matter the amount of time, if we can see it as a gift, even though we can’t always understand why at the time, is the universes way of supporting us. It is preparing us for the next step, the next phase, the next path.

Thinking about the woman in renovation I met, and Monica now in a wonderful welcoming flow of exciting new revelations, turns out to be a gift to me during this time of my own transition as I am still awaiting the return of my manuscript from my editor.

I’m told by my editor it will be about another week. My new book, about my time taking a sabbatical and how difficult it felt at the time, I’m understanding more and more, is a pertinent message that I must share.

Monica and the dear woman in renovation are my messengers from the universe of the timing of how this is all unfolding. I have no control over it. My only job is to keep the faith and be open for the signs that are there and to know that each step and each phase is necessary to the process.

It’s in this acceptance of these stages that then, and only then, can the gift be revealed.

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I Imagine A World Someday with Art as the Way

Posted by Barbara Techel
I imagine a world someday with art as the way
Two Fish Gallery/Elkhart Lake, WI

The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art. -Junot Diaz

Last night I started reading, Art as a Way by Frederick Franck – A Return to the Spiritual Roots.

He talks about how it wasn’t that long ago that an artist did not rate high on the crew-cut scale of American values. That they were seen as long-haired hippie types and you needed to protect your daughter from them.

And I still see this in the world at times. Though I try to only surround myself with those that are striving toward the heart of their art.

I imagine a world someday where art is the way. No longer will it be considered something one may do on the “side” or thoughts that someone couldn’t get a “real” job so they took up art instead.

I imagine it as weaved into the very core of who we are, integrated into every aspect of our lives.

I imagine that others will value it greatly and want in on it, too.

When creativity is a big part of my days its as if minutes and hours don’t exist. I never see or feel them tick by. I am just in the flow. Rather like nature – just being as I’m meant to be. Like I am right now writing this post, eager to talk about something I’m passionate about.

Though, in our culture I sometimes feel as if I’m swimming against the tide, not keeping up with the materialistic world. But wanting less so it does not weigh me down and yearning for more authentic experiences that light up my soul.

But I keep at it. Making choices that are right for me. Pushing away the naysayers and silently blessing them with peace.

And the thing is, art comes in so many forms.  My husband, John, is a carpenter and a very good one at that, if I might add. But it is truly his art because it is weaved into the very nature of who he is. Most days he can hardly wait to get to his job site. This is a garden shed he built which is almost complete.

This morning I saw a photo that someone posted on a Facebook group I belong to called, Creative Group at Bedlam Farm. It is a group of people living creative lives with a wide range of artistic talents.

Justin Lynch, from the group, shared these pies he baked. Check out the decor on these! Now that is art!

And fiber artist, Maria Wulf from the group received a bag full of someone’s dresses and skirts they no longer want, and she is turning them into beautiful scarves.

When I see photos of someone’s art or listen to my husband talk about his art in the construction business, there is an undeniable feeling of joy that comes from the pictures and the thoughts being shared.

They are living from that place inside where peace and happiness reside – they are at the heart of their art.

And I imagine a world someday where more find that sweet, spiritual spot of existence and live from it so that it creates a wave of peace that washes over our world.

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What is Joy?

Posted by Barbara Techel

What is Joy?

There is much that brings me joy, but in this very moment, I am inhaling a breath of gratitude and giving thanks once again for this quiet spot of my own…my dear, lovely writing cottage, and I say…

On this spring morning, the sun is shining, the birds are sipping from the bird bath and feasting at the feeders as a light wind kisses the perennials reaching toward the sun, and my little dog, Gidget is curled up on the wicker chair softly snoring — indeed, it is the simple pleasures that make my heart swell with joy.

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