self transformation

Wisdom of the Wild Ones – The Encyclopedia of Animal Spirit Guides

Posted by Barbara Techel

If you can’t get into the wild, well, the next best thing just might be this book with 699 pages of animals by Bernadette King. One, if not the only, most comprehensive book about the many creatures we share this planet with (as well as mythical ones too).

I remember as a kid having encyclopedias and this is exactly what this book is. Chockfull of information such as key powers and energies of animals, prayer, and intention for each animal, and also broken down into messages for each animal in the categories of spirit animal, totem animal, power animal, and animal dreams. Bernadette also includes insights on working with cardinal directions, seasons, elements, colors, and numerology. 

What I appreciate about animal medicine is that there is indeed a plethora of ways in which to work with their teachings. And they are just waiting to be your teacher and help you to live your best life. So all you have to do is just open the cover and begin your self-guided safari or walk in nature right from your living room sofa.

While this book may require a table all its own (I have mine sitting on a TV tray in Joyful Pause Cottage Studio) – I love having it nearby to open a page at random to see what guidance an animal offers or to intentionally sit down and learn more about a particular animal.

You can learn more about Bernadette’s book on her website here.

XO

Barb

To book a private oracle reading click here.

To book a private oracle reading for your pet click here.

    

Booklet Cover Reveal for My Animal Reflections Healing Oracle deck!

Posted by Barbara Techel

What a fun way to start my Monday morning by approving the cover for the 4 x 6 booklet that will accompany my animal-themed oracle card deck. So yes, it is similar to the cover on the box that holds the cards, but a slight difference with the placement of the title with a yellow banner backdrop and  also stating the booklet as the ‘Guidebook.’ 

This means that now the back cover can be created and the formatting of the booklet will begin. I can almost see the finish line now!

I’m trying to think about when this whole project began. However, many creative projects start long before they make it to the actual creating stage and finally into physical form. But this project has felt like it’s taken a long time to get to this point and that’s because it began as a seed a friend planted in my mind over eight-ish years ago. Having never considered myself an artist, it would take me many years of percolation to arrive at an idea and how I would create my cards. And that would be mixed media collage, which was such a fun process!

And here it is coming to life more and more every day! Feeling grateful and excited!

XO

Barb

To book a private reading just for you click here.

To book a private reading for your pet (and you) click here.

    

Honoring My Healing with Spider and in the book, “Shadow Animals” with a Special Trinket

Posted by Barbara Techel

Three adjectives I used to describe Spider were creepy, dirty, and sneaky. This is what I shared with my friend and fellow author, Dawn, when she invited me to take part in an exercise she created to help with the fear others may carry about a particular animal which is in her new book that launched yesterday called, Shadow Animals. 

What unfolded during that exercise is in chapter one of Dawn’s book. Like a Spider so beautifully and exquisitely spins a web, I’d come to realize that Spider and the adjectives I’d used were connected to my feelings from trauma as a young child.

I’d then recall how much I enjoyed the book and film as a child, Charlotte’s Web. It was Charlotte, the spider, who was so very kind to Wilbur the pig, reassuring him that everything was going to be okay. Watching that film around the time I’d gone through this exercise I’d realized how Spider had been an ally to me as a child assuring me that despite the trauma, I would be okay too.

When I received an advanced copy of Dawn’s book I realized I didn’t have a totem to honor the teaching I received from Spider. And so I set out to find something to do just that…

And I came upon this gorgeous beaded spider with a mandala as part of her body. She really spoke to me and she arrived today.

A mandala – a symbol in various spiritual traditions, often used for focusing attention and as a spiritual guidance tool to establish a sacred space or aid in meditation seemed so fitting for what Spider guided me in bringing to the surface as another layer of healing.

It’s when we can really be with that scared inner voice, listen with compassion, and allow ourselves to open to the insightful wisdom we carry within that we can shed layers of pain we either know are there or that may be hidden. Once recognized and acknowledged, how often we can set ourselves free from the angst that kept us bound too tight in a web that held us back from being our true self.

So this beautiful spider joins my Joyful Pause Cottage studio among the many other totem animals that have touched me in some shape or form. Welcome. I’m so glad you are here.

XO

Barb