transformation

What Scares You Can Transform You and the Animal Guides that Provide Helpful Wisdom

Posted by Barbara Techel

How often I’ve found comfort and guidance through the wisdom of animals through challenging times. And such was the case again…

The last eight weeks or so have been about navigating a health scare with my husband, John. At the beginning we each went down the rabbit holes of fear and the unknown and the what if’s, but then spiraling back to the center again with reminders to stay in the present moment and allow life to unfold as it was meant to be.

I’m happy to say John is doing well and healing from two surgeries last week to remove and then stitch back together again an aggressive form of skin cancer he had on the top of his head.

During this time of uncertainty I leaned even more into my meditation and breathing practice, pulling oracle and animal cards, journaling, and taking time to be in nature. While also consciously allowing myself to be with all my emotions – especially those that really scared me in order that they wouldn’t get stuck and create a cyclone of anxiety. While I still had some intense moments, I’d remind myself to breathe deep and slowly into my belly, and I’d reflect on the many times in the past when I’ve allowed my fear to be acknowledged and then felt so they could move through me.

Three animals presented themselves on a consistent basis while John and I navigated different doctors to understand what would all be involved with the process of healing. While I know there are many going through far more difficult than this, I believe it’s important to not dismiss our fears and pain of individual circumstances. This brings to mind a quote (unknown author) I appreciate:

“No pain is greater or less, it is simply different.”

And it was Buffalo, Nuthatch, and Grasshopper that presented themselves during this time that I found not only comfort, but timely and welcome reminders. While Buffalo and Nuthatch came up often and are cards from my Animal Reflections Healing Oracle deck, Grasshopper cleverly showed itself once on our front door and then on our kitchen window.

Buffalo a powerful teaching and one we are called to at different times throughout our lives – to stand and face the storm – and trust that all will work out for the highest good.

Excerpts from the guidebook:

“Buffalo can often be observed facing an incoming storm. They don’t try to outrun it or struggle against it. Instead, they stand firm and without fear while the storm roars forward and then rages around them until it eventually dissipates and moves on.

Remember that forcing or pushing will bring struggle, but having faith and trust will make your path much easier to navigate.”

It’s during times of intense uncertainty (that feel like a raging storm) to lean into the energy of Buffalo and reminds us to stay grounded in the here and now and not project into the future. There is nothing to do, but be with what is coming up in order for the feelings to eventually dissipate.

Nuthatch with its keen teaching of perspective not only also presented itself often when I pulled a card for the day, but also the sounds and sightings of nuthatch outside my windows, that there is always, always, always different ways in which to not only observe life, but your reactions to it. I said always three times to emphasize this as I understand it an be challenging!

Excerpts from the guidebook:

Has your mind felt muddled or fuzzy about something you are trying to understand on a deeper level? While having faith in a power higher than yourself is important to your growth, it’s also about bringing that focused awareness from a higher realm down into your physical being. This will allow a new, welcome perspective to more easily flow into your consciousness.”

Grasshopper first presenting itself on the outside of the front storm door and then again on the outside of the kitchen window was a welcome sign of their overall symbolism of good luck. But also fearlessness, longevity, and peacefulness, that I saw this as once again a teaching of not looking to the outside world as a way to offer a distraction from those things that cause us fear, but rather to stay connected to our inner world in order to arrive back to a more peaceful state.

So with the help of these animal guides not only do I feel changed in perspective in many ways within myself, but that as a couple too as John and I navigated and grew through this experience together.

XO

Barb

    

Patience and Uncertainty Leads to Beauty In More Ways Than One

Posted by Barbara Techel

I think many of us can say that patience and uncertainty are two of those things that take some time to become more comfortable with. I wonder if age and life experience have something to do with it as I find I’m more patient than in my younger years. Though I can still have my moments.  And uncertainty? Well, I can say that going through the last three years and so much change on this planet, I believe, that yes, I’ve come to a bit more acceptance with that one too.

It was October when I foraged in my garden and on my daily walks for dried flowers and leaves for future art projects. After each foraging escapade, I’d carefully place the newly picked petals and leaves in my flower press. Saying goodbye to summer with the vibrant colors the season brought in the foliage and flowers and now putting into practice patience and being open to the uncertainty to waiting to see how they would transform.

This all ran through my mind as over the weekend I finally revealed the foliage and petals that had gone into the darkness of that flower press to work their magic in a new way.

While I love all the vibrant colors of the warmer months in the blooms and full trees there was a new beauty that swept me up in awe as I opened my flower press and saw the transformation of what I’d so carefully tended to during the fall to preserve.

This May it will be four years since my dachshund, Gidget, passed away. At the time, I couldn’t imagine not bringing another dog into my life sooner, rather than later. Though I wasn’t even sure if there would be another dog in our family, because John and I agreed to take a break, and because he just wasn’t ready.

Little did I know at the time also the beauty patience and uncertainty would bring to this area of my life. While I had pangs of missing the companionship of a dog the last few years, I also opened myself to learning to just be with me.

At times I’ve felt lonely when John is gone, but there were also times that I enjoyed this freedom I’d not had for a very long time. I’m also grateful for how the relationship between John and I blossomed in a deeper and more enriching way too. So much beauty and expansion came over these (almost) last four years.

I’d say for about the last year the idea of bringing another dog into our lives, on both our parts, has become stronger with each passing day. To now, that John and I have agreed that spring or summer is when we will begin our search for a dog in rescue to adopt. Though truth be told, I have, at times, been known to wander over to rescue group sites in the area to take a peek.

But spring or summer feels right for us as we’ve planned to be gone for six weeks later this winter and travel which is a maiden voyage trip in our new-to-us motorcoach. But both John and I look forward to welcoming a dog into our lives again and having a dog come with us on future travel adventures.

And this has all been a new experience for me, as in the past, the idea of having dogs in our lives was something I wanted. Though John has loved all our dogs, it was more for him about honoring my needs. But now, together, we’ve made the decision, which came from patience – more so on my part – and again, more so on my part – learning to be with uncertainty – should he had not wanted another dog. 

This beauty of growing and evolving together in our relationship and expressing our feelings and needs as we move forward in creating more memories. This indeed feels pretty sweet which came about because of two things we so often resist which are patience and uncertainty. But I can now say I’ve experienced in a new and deepening way.

XO

Barb

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Our Alchemist Eyes

Posted by Barbara Techel

We wait, starving for moments of high magic to inspire us, but life is a banquet of common enchantment waiting for our alchemists’ eyes to notice. ~Jacob Nordby

Sometimes it can feel like it takes a long time to go through a transformational process. How often we dismiss the sacred time within the bud. This is where all the magic happens. The changes that occur during metamorphic times are usually those that leave a lasting impact on our lives.

I couldn’t help but think of this on Saturday as I noticed the buds on my Weeping Cherry Tree. By Saturday, many of the buds had opened into sweet, small blossoms.

Each stage holds its own beauty and wisdom. I want to continue to see life in this way.

XO

Barb

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