Wise Women

Cardinal’s Supportive Message

Posted December 11, 2023 by Barbara Techel

Listening to a gathering of wise women a few days ago, the theme of the event hosted by Martha Hines, astrologer, was about how we can each be a lighthouse in the world.

I was struck and moved by one woman in particular, galactic astrologer, Julia Balaz, and what she shared.

Speaking in large part to those who are introverts and doing their inner work to help shift the planet into one with more love, compassion, and peace can seem at times like it’s not helping. I can certainly identify with this feeling sometimes.

But I was inspired all over again to keep following the path that is in alignment for me, as that is how I indeed do shine my light, and to remember that it is making a difference. Though, at times it may not be visible or tangible to others in a conscious way or even to myself at times. But just knowing that by being ourselves we plant seeds of inspiration along the way.

Julia shared a practice she does to help others, especially those she loves where she has witnessed this simple but profound affect it can have. Her daughter, now 12-years old, shared that especially when a young child of four or five, when words wouldn’t help, Julia would shift her awareness inward to support her daughter who was going through an emotional time. There she would imagine pink sparkly light flowing through her and extended to her sweet little girl. This would often help shift the energy for her daughter to bring her back into a more peaceful state.

Hearing this, tears came to my eyes and emotions stirred within me. How it is that we can sometimes get bogged down by wishing we could have been seen or heard by a parent when we were troubled as a young child. While it’s important to acknowledge those feelings, how can we then shift out of this space when need be?

As thoughts tumbled through my mind from what Julia had just shared and I related to my own feelings, I looked out my window to see a female cardinal landing on my deck. Immediately my body relaxed, and I let go of thoughts that were spiraling downward.

I thought about how I’m more drawn to the female cardinal than the male. As I sat with this, I realized it is her quiet presence, along with a gentleness and softness she exudes that I was reminded again of the importance of acknowledging and loving our inner child. And as an adult, I am responsible for my needs and doing my inner work which helps the little one within me to be seen and heard…and in turn guides me to be my best self.

One of the symbolic messages of a female cardinal is that of brighter days ahead. That certainly feels fitting given that when we continue to work on the emotional aspects of ourselves that need most healing we indeed find ourselves in a happier place…and shining that lighthouse beam out into the world.

Barb

When Truth Explodes to the Surface

Posted August 14, 2017 by Barbara Techel

Have you had those moments when a truth full of raw emotion comes flooding to the surface?

Though they can still catch me off guard when they happen, it’s when I allow myself to sit with the vast and raw mix of feelings, which can sometimes feel like an out of body experience, I can see it as part of an important process of the evolution of moving more deeply into the heart of who I am.

This summer, while it has felt intense at times, riding waves of certainty and then not, has me recognizing, and embracing, a new expansion of personal growth.

While I try not to fall into having regrets, I have moments of reflection that can sometimes take my breath away.

One such unexpected flash occurred this week – a truth that had been slowly eating away at me below the surface…and finally exploded into reality—a truth that was hard to look at, but would ultimately serve as another level of healing.

It had been buried so deep, afraid to be voiced out loud, because it still carried so much shame and one in which I thought I had worked through.

Connecting with some amazing women from around the globe this summer in a 22-week online program I’ve been taking part in, I’ve had the honor of getting to know a dear woman, native to India, but now lives in Texas, and is a mid-wife, Jumana.

Her calling to women as stated on her website: “Wise women your body holds the wisdom and the innate knowing to birth your child. Discover the raw untapped power held in your womb, and let the magic unfold.”

Jumana’s gift of bringing babies into this world in such a gentle, sacred, and natural way, opened a place within me that I came to realize still needed healing.

While I wrote in my first memoir, Through Frankie’s Eyes, that my husband, John and I made the choice to not have children, it’s in this stage of our lives – now in our mid and late 50s, we have moments of reflection of what might have been. Though not in regret, but rather in a healing way of how this is part of the journey we have walked together, yet alone.

For me, what exploded to the surface was my admitting that a part of me carried a deep seated fear of carrying a baby in my body.

But more so, how that baby at the end of nine months would have to birth its way out into the world through me. For all these years the fear so real, that it became part of one of the many reasons why I would choose not to have children.

While initially it was very hard for me to look at and accept, simmering in this truth, now out from within that dark trapped place of shame, I welcome it. I feel lighter and freer. I see it for the gift it gave me.

I understand it as a part of my path. For had I had children, I wouldn’t be who I am today in many ways – I couldn’t have been there for others like I’ve been able to – I likely couldn’t have given all of myself to what is my mission to fulfill.

And I have come to understand that as a woman, there is more than one way in which we give birth, and we do it often, in so many different ways throughout our lives.

And my belief…that the reason we are here on this earth at this particular time, is to set ourselves free from those raw truths that we can carry like chains which can hold us back from being fully who we are.

We each have a divine and beautiful purpose to being on this planet right now.

And I belief we are being called to see that truth within…and allow it to bubble to the surface without harsh judgement.

But to just be with it, see it for the gift it is, and embrace it and let it integrate fully into who we are, while gently letting the rest fall away that no longer serves us.

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

Welcoming the Light. Gathered in Wise Women Circle.

Posted December 23, 2016 by Barbara Techel

Last weekend I was putting the finishes touches on preparing for a Talking Sticks workshop which I held at my studio, Joyful Pause, this past Wednesday on the Winter Solstice.

The drum, loaned to me by my co-facilitator, Rachel, lay on the ottoman in my writing cottage with the Talking Stick on top which I’d created with Rachel a few weeks before.

My heart intention for 2017 is to focus on offering more workshops to provide moments of stillness, sacred wisdom and reflection for women . It’s something I’m feeling called to do, even when fear tries to take over.

When I saw the light cascading over the drum and my Talking Stick, well, I couldn’t help but feel this as confirmation.

The early evening sky an hour before the workshop was glorious in it’s shades of pink, coral, and purple as only a winter sky can be. So much promise in that sky, I thought.

As six dear, wise, soulful women gathered in a circle for meditation and drumming, the light within my inner world ignited.

Afterwards, as each took a spot at a table with sticks, beads, string, stones, and totem jewels before them, I found myself in a meditative trance watching them, as if I was wrapped in a sacred cocoon.

As everyone worked on their Talking Sticks, I took a moment to place my stick, along with Rachel’s, on the altar and lit the candles. When I stood back to look, everything coming into full view with the backdrop of one of my tree Goddess paintings, and I suddenly felt very moved.

It was then that I realized that within the darkness where the roots of a tree lie, there is also light that comes in from above, nourishing them. Just as it is for each of us when we pause in moments of reflection and open to it.

After journaling with our Talking Sticks, we gathered back in circle to talk about the experience. As each person held their Talking Stick it was a practice in our intention of speaking, while others practiced attention in listening…really listening.

For the closing ceremony we each laid our Talking Stick beside the drum in the center, paying tribute to silently witnessing each other where we were in the moment, and what we hope to move toward…each of us wanting to be a divine spark of light that contributes to this world in a healing way.

It was palpable and I was quite moved.

Closing with a Cherokee prayer I read, we then all mindfully began to shift our awareness to saying goodbye for the evening.

But not before taking a picture of the altar we had created as one with the spirit of each of us infused within it.

It was then I was struck again, seeing the altar through the lens of my camera, that I realized our altar with drum and Talking Sticks resembled the sun… a reminder that the light is always there.

It is always there.

The world will be saved by the Western Woman. ~Dalai Lama

*The next Talking Sticks workshop will be on Saturday, March 4th. Time TBD (mid-morning). If you wish to be notified when registration opens, you can sign up here.