soul

Soul Tending Tools in my Toolbox

Posted by Barbara Techel

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It seems that many of us want that one thing that will be it. That one thing that will be the answer to our souls calling or help us when we sometimes feel stressed, lost, or alone.

I can say this, as it is how I’ve felt before (and sometimes still do!). But then I realized over the years I’ve actually put together a pretty nice toolbox to help me through some of life’s tougher moments — or simply just to inspire me. Of course, I visualize my toolbox as periwinkle and chartreuse green—my favorite colors together.

So I wanted to share some of my “tools” with you today as maybe you will like them, too. We have so much more available to us these days than we ever have before.

My Soul Tending Toolbox:

IMG_2130**Walks in nature with my dogs.

**Reading books that encourage and inspire, such as Joan Anderson’s many books about being an unfinished woman. Her newest, a collection of essays, “Stretch Marks” which I enjoyed very much. FYI- being an “unfinished” woman is a good thing.61YfflDyolL._AA160_

**Daily Yoga practice.

**Doreen Virtue’s Angel cards, Dawn Brunke’s The Animal Wisdom Tarot cards and Cheryl Richardson’s acGrace and Self-Care cards.

**Meditating. I like Calm, Oprah and Deepak Chopra (they offer free 21 day meditations quite often) and Brain Wave Altered State app.

**I’ve also turned to life coaches when I feel stuck, such as Diane at Lead Your Life, and Pam at Meaningful Life Counseling and Coaching.

**Reiki is another tool that I became trained in a few years ago. I especially love practicing this with Gidget right now. When I do, I feel this deepening with her, which lights up my soul.

**Recently I’ve been reading more about EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or also called Tapping. I’ve tried it a few times and definitely felt a shift when I do this simple and quick method.

**Something new I did this year during the month of January was to createll a mandala with my desires and conditions for the year using the book by Janet Conner, The Lotus and the Lily. Seeing my mandala every day hanging on the wall in my writing cottage is a reminder that I can live the life I want.

**Hay House Radio, radio for your soul (some of my favorite hosts, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Christiane Northrup and Cheryl Richardson).

facilitator_logo-slogan_H2v1_1**Last, but not least, something I’m really excited about is having discovered SoulCollage®. A unique way of strengthening your intuition and listening to your soul using images. I became a facilitator because I’m so intrigued by it and wish to share this powerful and fun soul tending process with others. I’ll be teaching my first workshop in April!

Do I do all of these every day? No, but I have them in my “toolbox” and choose what feels right for me on any given day, moment or time.

Do you have a particular resource or “tool” that you especially like? Please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear!

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Intrigued about SoulCollage®? Learn more about the introduction workshop I am teaching and register here.

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Following My Curiosity – Sharing My New Adventure with You.

Posted by Barbara Techel

soulcollage eQuite a few weeks ago I shared with you that I am looking into a new adventure. But I wasn’t quite ready to share exactly what it is at that time. You may recall that I shared that I’ve put my book I was working on, on hold –my heart being called in a new direction.

I wasn’t ready to share yet in part because I had to work through my own process of trying to understand why this is something I’m being called to explore.

The old feelings crept back in of why is it that I find myself drawn to so many things, but can’t seem to “settle” on just one thing that I like to do. Sometimes society can look at this as a negative and at times I can tend to let that drown out what my heart is trying to tell me to follow.

A big part of me likes that I’m an explorer, a seeker, a thinker and one who wishes to continue to evolve. But the little girl in me can sometimes feel scared to try something new. The questions, “What if this is a mistake?” “What if I spend this chunk of money and it’s not for me?” “Will others think I’m too woo-woo?”

And then I heard author Elizabeth Gilbert’s short video on following ones curiosity and how that in itself can be such a beautiful life. It really resonates with me. Then the Universe sent me another message as I heard about Barbara Sher’s book, “Refuse to Choose.” I’ve not read the book yet, but she talks about those who are scanners – who love to do many things.

As I’ve taken my “think tank” time and worked through each step of my process, I know that this is something I want to do — no matter what the outcome. I’m not sure where it will take me, but that is okay. I’m open to all the possibilities…and honestly, I think there will be many. But I also want to let it unfold as it is meant to be.

So today I made the final payment for this adventure I’m about to embark on.

The above photo is a hint. You will see a a 5 x 8 collage of two images I put together representing a part of who I am — the woman who loves yoga, trees, nature, and animals (look closely to see the duck in the far left of image)–representing the part of me that relishes in this practice that centers me. This process, created by psychologist, Seena M. Frost, after studying with one of the founding founders of the Human Potential Movement, Jean Houston, is called SoulCollage.

The definition from the website is, “a creative and satisfying collage process. You make your own deck of cards – each collage card representing one aspect of your personality or Soul. Use the cards intuitively to answer life’s questions and participate in self-discovery. Joyfully deepen your understanding of the relationships between your personality parts, you and your family/community/world, and you and your dreams, symbols, and Spirit.”

November 7-9, I will be taking the facilitator training for this process. It is my hope to use the gifts I already have and incorporated with the SoulCollage process, to offer workshops online and locally. I hope it will also serve as another springboard for my writing and last but not least, to serve as discovering and embracing all the parts of who I am.

So part of the next step of this journey for me is “putting it out there” and sharing with you, the faithful readers of my blog.  Stay tuned and thank you for being a part of my life as I continue to explore and evolve.