oracle reading

The Final Page and Canary Spirit’s Perfect Message

Posted by Barbara Techel

The editing and the cover of my book, I’m Fine Just the Way I Am have been completed for a few weeks now and the manuscript is in the hands of those I reached out to for endorsements. It’s the final tidbits of book publishing I need to yet complete before it goes off to the design team who will put together the interior layout.

The past few days I’ve been working on the very last page of my memoir. The page I’m working on? The acknowledgments. I’ve been writing a little each day. Trying to find the most appreciative and heartfelt words to express to those who have walked this journey with me.

I’ve done this so many times before and yet again I find myself in this stuck place. I know it’s because I feel a depth of gratitude for those that have supported me, but then how do I truly convey that in words?

And so I did what I often do when I’m feeling stuck. I pulled some tarot and oracle cards. I received Guardian of Water (from Gaian Tarot – Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves by Joanna Powell Colbert) and Canary Spirit (from The Spirit Animals Oracle by Colette Baron-Reid). 

Guardian of Water was part of a New Moon reading I did for myself on Sunday and Canary Spirit is my animal for the month of December from a year-long spread I did for myself at the beginning of 2019. Interesting their appearance again.

Right away I understand these cards as reminding me to continue to go with the flow and not against the current. The turtle on the card symbolic of the fact I can’t rush this, and the fish swimming upstream I see as trusting my own flow. I can’t force this, but allow it to unfold naturally. Water is symbolic of emotions and I’m swimming in them right now, though not quite sure how to express them. The shell I see as if holding to my ear, and to listen and tune in to my heart, and then let it flow.  Flow seems to be the theme here, now doesn’t it?

Canary Spirit reminds me that no matter what, this whole journey of writing this book has been about singing my own song. Tears actually pooled in my eyes when I pulled the Canary card as it is packed with so much meaning for me. The writing of this book has set me free in boundless ways – and no doubt will continue to as it goes out into the world.

And in the end, no matter what, I know I put my heart and soul into this and grew in ways I never imagined I would. This allowing and not forcing has been something I continue to hone. And so what a lovely reminder from these two cards to come forth as the needed reminder to allow the flow with gentleness and graciousness…and trust that it will all come together, just as it always has.

And so with this message of truth, I now sign off and head out for a walk, which always proves good medicine too…

xo,

Barbara

Remembering We Are Part of Nature – Animal Wisdom Oracle Reading and Guidance

Posted by Barbara Techel

This reading is inviting us to remember that we are part of nature, not separate, and when we come back to this space of remembrance, it has the potential to enhance our lives in powerful and boundless ways.

I hope this animal wisdom oracle reading is helpful for you as we move through the last week of October!

XO,

Barbara

To learn more and/or book a private oracle reading and guidance session with me just click here. I gently guide women on inward quests to embrace and nurture a loving relationship of Self and live a more balanced, gracious and peaceful life.

A Clear Mind Leads to Peace of Mind

Posted by Barbara Techel

Last night I had a dream which I remembered when I awoke. It was bothering me even though my initial response was that I didn’t want to look at the dream deeper and what it perhaps may mean. But I’ve learned that our dreams can guide us in a positive way.

So I first meditated to allow myself to move into a more neutral space. I then pulled three oracle cards and journaled the insight I received. I acknowledged my fear and witnessed the part of me that can still revisit that wounding of abandonment and that can invoke certain emotions within me. I then realized the thoughts I was having about my dream weren’t rational or ‘real’ in the sense I thought they were. 

I then rolled out my yoga mat as I continued to simmer in the meaning of the dream for me and what the oracle cards revealed. As I moved through my practice it was at one point I heard, “A clear mind leads to peace of mind.” In order to clear my mind, I had to be willing to look into my heart, though it felt awfully vulnerable, because what if the way I was interpreting the dream was ‘real?’

But when I let go and felt my way into my heart, I realized there wasn’t anything concrete about the dream – but rather it was a projection of an old story of my own insecurities from my past. I knew this and the cards reflected this for me also.

So on this theme, I asked for all of us, from The Wisdom of the Oracle what is the first step we need to take in order to clear our mind and find peace of mind?

The card I pulled is Between Worlds – #3

I see this card as inviting us to walk without fear between the worlds of our waking and dreaming lives. Something my sweet dog, Gidget taught me was to see life sideways – meaning that not making something so mental that it drives us crazy with suffering.

The willingness to be with our fears can help us look beyond and guide us to what needs to be acknowledged and witnessed in order that we can heal pain from our past. Instead of staying stuck in the past, if we can open to understanding it as a teaching, we can walk with more peace and clarity in our everyday lives.

It really is by moving into the heart and deeply listening that we can find our way to ease our minds and experience more peace.

The number three is about evolving in our well-being which requires looking at what needs to be healed in order that we can experience more wholeness.

When I look at the flamingo on the card I’m reminded of living a life with grace – being kind and gentle with ourselves when we lose our way and find ourselves drowning in fear – to forgive ourselves – and to move ahead slowly and trust that Spirit has our backs – which will lead us back to being in balance.

It’s hard to see, but there is also a hummingbird hovering above the flamingo, facing toward the dark side of the card. I see this as facing the dark as necessary in order to bring more joy and light into one’s life. It’s in understanding the darkness that we shed light on what needs healing and we are able to move through life with more ease.

Lastly, I picked a card from the Spirit Animal Oracle asking what animal guides us as we lean into working our way toward more peace of mind and I pulled Rhino Spirit. I see Rhino as a reminder that we are stronger and more resilient than we often realize. See the crown on the first horn of the Rhino? We have the power to transform our lives by being open to all it has to offer us. And when we feel empowered, we feel safe and experience more peace of mind. 

Lastly, I turned to the guidebook and this line stood out: “We always have the choice to press ahead.”

Looking at the cards side-by-side I noticed the toughness of rhino, but also the gracefulness of flamingo as a reminder that both are necessary for moving through this one precious life.

XO,

Barbara

Oracle cards used: The Wisdom of the Oracle and Spirit Animal Oracle by Colette Baron-Reid