personal evolution

A Fresh New Start in My Writing Cottage

Posted by Barbara Techel

I woke up Sunday morning with the niggle to clean up my writing cottage. So I spent the day decluttering, dusting, re-arranging, discarding and sweeping. I could hardly wait to come out to my writing cottage Monday morning as the new, refreshing energy was calling to me.

Walking through the door I was giddy with the light and airy feeling that embraced me. I just sat in my chair and took a moment to slowly look all around the room. It felt like I was floating on a feather that was ever so gently drifting in the wind.

I thought about how my latest book is complete. I have a clean slate and another opportunity at a fresh new start.

Looking at my altar(the photo above) which takes on different objects throughout the seasons, I thought about Gidget. In May it will be one year since she moved on. Her photo had been on my altar since then. I can’t tell you how often I looked at it, talked to her, and stroked the body and ears of the photo.

I also knew yesterday as I cleaned and re-arranged that it was time to move her from the altar. My altar—a space where I go for my inward work— pulling oracle cards, journaling my thoughts, connecting with my heart, and one that supports my continued healing journey.

While there are times I still miss her physical presence these last nine months have also been filled with what I find so difficult to put into words— it’s been a time of what I can only describe as a deepening of my love and gratitude for her and how she walked so very lovingly beside me as I went through a very dark time.

I’ve often said, and will continue to say because it’s what I believe, is that we are all a work in progress and we are always in some phase of healing. Gidget’s teaching continues to be such a blessing and I’ve found myself expanding on it even though she is gone. I welcome being in this new space of relationship with her. I feel also like I’ve moved into a new space of healing and why I felt called to move her photo from the altar. 

I placed the photo on my writing desk and to the right of my computer. This feels symbolic to me. She was the one that patiently and with such devotion stood by me through it all – knowing and believing I could find my way out of the darkness. She is the one that helped me finally accept that I am worthy – just as I am. I know and feel this now.

Having her photo on my desk where I can see her and she is looking back at me is a nod to her wise, healer self, and her beautiful teaching to me that I’ve learned to embody that says, this is me and I’m Fine Just the Way I Am.

My writing cottage has a fresh new start, my heart one too, and my relationship with Gidget that continues to evolve and is my beacon of guiding light I feel so remarkably blessed to have.

xo,

Barbara

 

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

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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.

 

 

A Little Something Different Today for Some Oracle Guidance

Posted by Barbara Techel

A little something different today as my energy isn’t there to do a recorded reading on Youtube like I’d normally do. If you’d like you can pick card one, two or three (left to right) from the photo above. Take a moment to look at the cards, take a deep breath, and then choose which one speaks to you first. The card you chose will be your specific message for the week. Once you’ve chosen the card, just scroll down for the reveal and the message…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Card 1 (left) The Fates #17

What area of your life are you resisting against what is? The Fates in protection (reverse) asks you to look at this and surrender to that which you cannot change. While there are certain things we can control, like how we choose our attitude moving through something that feels challenging, we also have to accept that some things or situations are destined to play out as they are meant to. The sooner you can surrender into this, the sooner you will experience more peace.

Card 2 (middle) A Change in the Wind #12

You are either sensing a shift or know that change is on the way, but you may feel uncertain of what it is exactly all about or how it will all shake out. This can leave you feeling shaky or on uneasy ground. The Zebra invites you to be in the space of the unknown and that things aren’t always black and white, but to trust that this feeling of imminent change will result in something that will serve a higher purpose, even though it may not feel this way in the moment. The one thing we do know is constant is in fact, change. Learning to accept this can guide us to flow with more ease during times of uncertainty.

Card 3 (right) Orphaned #5

Orphaned in protection (reverse) asks you to look at where are you perhaps isolating yourself? Where is it you are feeling challenged to show up as who you authentically are but are afraid to do so out of fear of abandonment, rejection or judgment? When we are in fear, which can feel very real, our perspective can be that we either feel all alone or that we will be left alone. But orphaned in protection is encouraging you to step into who you are, even when afraid, and most importantly, to not abandon yourself. It begins with you – taking that first step – and when you can recognize this, you can then begin to shift those unwanted patterns of fear. As you begin to do this you will start to notice how the universe supports you and those you truly connect with will begin to show up in your life.

If you’d like to go deeper and explore more about a challenge you are working through I’d be honored to support you. You can learn more about my one-to-one oracle guidance sessions here.

xo,

Barbara

Cards used: Wisdom of the Oracle by Colette Baron-Reid