Shakti Sutriasa
The Doorway to Freedom

On the spiritual path, we’re often told that we are light, that we are love, that this light and love are always here and available to us. And yet often we don’t experience that!

In March of 2020, just as the entire world was going into lockdown because of Covid-19, I was getting ready to move in with Tom Carpenter and his wife Linda, who had been Course in Miracles teachers and mentors for decades. They needed support and my husband and I had volunteered.

The Doorway to Freedom
Shakti Sutriasa
Your Theme for 2025

A few years ago, my daughter turned me onto the idea that there's a Major Arcana Tarot card that informs the overarching energy for the year on a global scale. She now has a business offering astrology and Tarot card readings! (​click here to learn more​)

One way to think about this is that the card sets a tone for the year on a world-wide level.

To determine which card is being activated is simple. Add the numbers of the year together. So, for this year it would be: 2+0+2+5=9

Your Theme for 2025
Shakti Sutriasa
What is Your Soul’s Vision for 2025?

Ready for a New Year’s exercise?

It’s to make a vison board – but with a twist.

I’m sure you know that I LOVE making vision boards. Perhaps you’ve even made one with me in the past!

**If you’re new to vision boards, click here to get my how-to download.**

Making a traditional vision board is fun, inspiring, & a wonderful exercise in intentionality. It gets you thinking about every aspect of your life – from your health, wealth, learning, fun… 

What is Your Soul’s Vision for 2025?
Shakti Sutriasa
An Invitation from the Darkness

Have you noticed that certain times of year evoke different feelings or orientations?

What does December ask of you?

For me, it’s about LIGHT, about opening to it and receiving it.

How do you define light?

Perhaps you think about it as: inspiration, healing, divinity, truth, love- or something else. 

Whatever your definition of light, the dark days of December seem to call for a kindling of that spark, a nourishing of our inner light.

How about A practice to help you connect more deeply to that light?  

Here’s a simple one: How would you complete this sentence? 

An Invitation from the Darkness
Shakti Sutriasa
Death of Normal: Embarking on a Hero Journey

Last week I began an online class focused on the arc known as the Hero’s Journey. If you’re at all familiar with the mythologist, Joseph Campbell and his work, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about!

Essentially, the idea is that we are all the hero of our own story, and within our lifetimes are invited, encouraged, urged, and sometimes dragged onto a journey of self-transformation.

It all begins with the death of normal.

Death of Normal: Embarking on a Hero Journey

The Never Ending Search: Anthony Bourdain & Me

The Never Ending Search: Anthony Bourdain & Me

I went to the movie theater for the first time since 2019 and saw Roadrunner, the documentary about Anthony Bourdain!

It wasn’t a thriller. We all know how it ended. 😭😭😭

Honestly, the movie made me sad all over again. Anthony Bourdain was such a radiant light in our world.

(Quick PSA -If you are feeling suicidal – please contact the suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255)

After seeing the film, I found myself really trying to understand Bourdain’s thinking. I kept returning to a line one of his friend's said to describe him, “Tony was a searcher.”

Best Tool For Staying Present & Safe

Best Tool For Staying Present & Safe

Not sure what the weather’s been like where you live, but in my neck of the woods, it has been scarily HOT!

When I experience these clear signs from the earth that things are not right, it can throw me into a panic. You too?

So how do we manage that?

A tool I come back to again and again is a breath that I was taught by my guru twenty years ago. It’s called the Chidakash, the heart space over the head.

Access the Heart of Acceptance

Access the Heart of Acceptance

I used to fight all the time.

Not physical altercations. Mine was more internal.

I fought against the injustices of the world, the ways that institutions and people were hurting others…

I was one of those kids who would say, “it’s not fair!”

At some point, I stopped fighting. It was SO tiring!

What I began to do instead, was accept.

Accept myself.

Accept others.

Accept the world. (Ugh, I know that sounds hard, bear with me.)

Awaken Your Real Power

Awaken Your Real Power

Last week I was interviewed by a colleague on the subject of power. She wanted to know, what is power and how do we access our personal power?

We can experience power in different ways. Two of those are internal and external power.

External Power

Think about external power as the authority we wield in the world. Typically, this kind of power comes from a role we might play. A role as parent, executive, teacher, administrator, boss, customer, politician, police officer…

This kind of power gives us agency, sometimes freedom. We often have responsibility as well as the ability to create or affect change.

Fire Up Your Imagination - 3 Tips

Fire Up Your Imagination - 3 Tips

When you were a child, did you have an imaginary friend? Did you play dress up or fantasize you lived on a spaceship?

Remember how free you once were?

What happened?

Life. Responsibilities. Being a “grown up.”

It happens to ALL of us, even the artists and the creators. Because how we believe we are supposed to live in the world, often shuts down our imagination. The good news, however, is that your imagination is fully intact! It may be a little dormant, but it’s tucked away in the attic of your mind ready to come out and play.

So what do you say? Ready to feel more inspired? Awake? Alive?

We can dismiss imagination as child’s play but the truth is that EVERY aspect of what we do is fueled by imagination, and not just for the artists either.

How to Really Solve Your Problems

How to Really Solve Your Problems

I know we think the idea of life is to not have any problems. But seriously, when has that ever been true for you?

I used to believe that, though. My continuous thought pattern went something like this: “okay when this (insert specific challenge) ends, life will be smooth and easy.”

Until finally one day I realized that thinking was an utter and complete fallacy!

Because here was how I actually lived my life: Once one issue was resolved, another sprung to take its place!

Right? Isn’t it always something?

Lessons from a Dog's Life

Lessons from a Dog's Life

Later today I have to let my dog, Rudy, go with the help of the mobile vet who is coming to our house. Rudy’s been suffering from degenerative spinal issues since May and last week was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

He’s told me it’s time but it still feels weird and hard. Unlike a person, Rudy can’t actually say the words to me, although we did have a heart to heart a few days ago and he conveyed his intention to me. But then he felt bad and looked away. I knew he doesn’t want to leave us.

An Antidote to Frustration

An Antidote to Frustration

Have you ever had the experience that no matter how hard you work at something, you just don't seem to move the needle?

Maybe you're trying to have a breakthrough with work or school. Or striving to get to the next level with your art or sport. Maybe it's a block that simply feels insurmountable.

We've all been there - so rest assured, you are not alone.