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Ep. 228 The Art of Letting Go and Divine Surrender with Brett Larkin

This is a grphic that includes the text "Spirit Sessions" and pictures of Katie Silcox and Brett Larkin. It links to a podcast episode titled Ep 228 Letting Go and Divine Surrender with Brett Larkin.

Today Katie welcomes back the incredible Brett Larkin - author, teacher, and one of the most influential modern voices in yoga - for a heartfelt conversation about Ishvara Pranidhana, the art of surrender and devotion to a higher power. They explore what letting go truly means and share practices that you can use to release control and connect more deeply to spirit. They share wisdom from decades of energy work and study of the Yoga Sutras and other ancient Vedic teachings.

This episode is a reminder that enlightenment isn’t about detachment; it’s about expanding our capacity to feel, trust and love fully! Tune in for soulful insights, grounding practices and a deep invitation to surrender into the magic of life.

Craving a deeper connection to your feminine energy and spirit? Enrollment for our Divine Feminine Ayurveda School is open! Early Bird tuition pricing ends on October 31st, so click here to learn more and enroll today!

In this episode about letting go and surrender, you’ll hear:

~ Sign up for our free mini-course about Women’s Wisdom and Ayurveda!

~ What does surrendering to a higher power actually look like?

~ The concept of Ishvara Pranidhana

~ Why Katie loves using the word God

~ The important differences between Goddess and God

~ Why most of us are in a constant state of constriction

~ Releasing control and letting go as a pitta person

~ The most important thing we need to truly surrender

~ How to relinquish control more in your daily life

~ What's the difference between meditation and prayer?

~ Why we need both prayer and meditation

~ Powerful lessons from Brett’s recent somatic trauma trainings

~ Common misunderstandings about yoga and enlightenment

~ Our negativity bias AKA “what’s wrong attention”

~ Dr. Rick Hanson Taking in the Good meditation

~ Your golden shadow

~ A meditation practice to aid you in letting go

~ Katie’s recent, powerful insights into the chakra system

~ Brett and Katie walk you through their current favorite energy work practices

~ What to do when someone’s annoying you

Or Subscribe on iTunes

Connect with Brett Larkin and The Shakti School:

~ Book a free call to learn more about Ayurveda School!

~ Learn more about Brett Larkin’s Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training and Somatic Yoga Teacher Training on her website!

~ Read Brett’s new book Healing With Somatic Yoga

~ Connect with Brett Larkin on her YouTube and Instagram

~ Follow The Shakti School on Instagram and Facebook

~ 2026 Chakra Yoga Nidra Retreat: Deep dive into the chakras with Katie as your guide in the Bahamas in spring 2026!

~ Read Katie’s latest book, Glow-Worthy!

Related episodes:

~ Ep. 208 Awaken Your Feminine Energy Through Yoga & Ayurveda with Brett Larkin

~ Ep. 175 Channel Joy Amidst the Chaos with Brett Larkin

Help Us Spread Our Pod Wings!

I hope you loved this episode with Brett Larkin about divine surrender and letting go! This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you love the show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:

  1. Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
  2. Write us a review in iTunes or your podcast player of choice
  3. Share this show with a friend right now!

It seems simple, but you’d be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes’ algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.

Here’s the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.

From my heart to yours,

Katie

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Ep. 211 7 Steps to Deepen Your Meditation Practice

This is a picture of Katie Silcox. The text reads, "Spirit Sessions: Find your true spiritual home with Katie Silcox."

Here at The Shakti School we meditate a bit differently. In this episode, Katie shares seven important steps to establishing a feminine-form meditation practice that honors your unique, embodied experience and spirit. Whether you’re brand new to meditation or have an established meditation practice, learn how to take your practice to the next level. Listen to the end to hear a guided meditation for anxiety!

Want to meditate LIVE with Katie every month? Click here to learn more about our Spirit Sessions membership.

In this episode about deepening your meditation practice, you’ll hear:

~ Get our free mini-course about Women’s Wisdom and Ayurveda for Women!

~ What is feminine form meditation?

~ Why your mind is not the enemy

~ How to practice everyday magic

~ 7 steps to establishing a meditation practice

~ The benefits of meditation

~ Effects of meditation on the brain

~ Accessing the subconscious realm

~ Science-backed ways to rewire your brain

~ Why so many of us lack meaning and connection in our lives

~ Nesting the ego in something bigger than yourself

~ The ancient concept of Laya Yoga

~ A guided Laya Yoga meditation

~ What is a miracle moment?

~ Overthinking as a coping mechanism

~ Anxiety is not a feeling

~ When you should NOT meditate

~ The ancient breathing technique of Sama Vritti

~ A guided meditation practice for anxiety

Other resources related to this episode:

~ Learn more about our Ayurveda School

~ 2025 Chakra Yoga Nidra Workshop: Study with Katie and other luminary teachers this fall in the Bahamas!

~ 2026 Chakra Yoga Nidra Retreat: Deep dive into the chakras with Katie as your guide in the beautiful Bahamas in spring 2026!

~ Follow us on Instagram and Facebook

~ Katie’s latest book, Glow-Worthy

Related podcast episodes to deepen your meditation practice:

~ Ep. 32 The Ultimate Body Yantra Meditation

~ Ep. 133 Dragon Tiger Kriya: A Meditation

Or Subscribe on iTunes

Learn more:

Help Us Spread Our Pod Wings!

Has today's episode helped you deepen your meditation practice? This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you love show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:

  1. Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
  2. Write us a review in iTunes
  3. Share this show with one friend right now!

It seems simple, but you’d be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes’ algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.

Here’s the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.

From my heart to yours,

Katie

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Replacing Rules with Rituals and Learning To Truly Care for Myself

By Greer Christos

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I remember the first time I heard Katie say, "In Ayurveda, HOW we eat, is as, if not more important to what we eat.”

BOOM!

My entire body dropped knee length into the mud.

Held, supported... feeling like no matter how much I leaned to one side, mama earth’s wet, warm body had me. I would no longer be pushed over by external forces.

Of course, I wasn’t literally standing in a muddy pond, but I may as well have been.

I thought of alllllll of the times over all of the decades (3 in total!) I had been “battling” with what I should / shouldn’t eat, and “why” I should / shouldn’t be eating what I was.

I reflected on the synchronicities that had played out in the month prior to me going from “Ayur-whaaa?” to signing up to Shakti School Level 1 (& subsequently Level 2) & how the ease of what I was now receiving and truly ‘inner-standing’ (as opposed to ‘understanding) was one of those moments in time where everything shifts.

Despite thousands of hours of self-inquiry, talk-therapy, plant medicine, western-based psychology approaches, new-age/quantum activations, shamanic healings, (insert every healing modality you have heard of), I was still - STILL - struggling with letting go of the eternal-internal narrative of “why” am I STILL over eating and struggling with food addiction?

And whilst the above modalities & experiences had definitely helped with my chronic use of alcohol, drugs and general disassociation from my deeper needs & truth: the “food” thing still had me. And so, when Katie spoke those words in that sweet Southern accent of hers, it l a n d e d.

Yes in my mind, but more so in my body: and even more, in my Sacred heart.

It’s as if the burden of resisting food/bingeing (that I had become so used to carrying around and struggling to keep up above my head so I could continue searching for a way to be able to put it down), simply jumped out of my hands, arms & shoulders and vanished.

And so, for the next few months, I paid particular attention to HOW I was eating.
I stared to notice how I could rush my eating…
How I could hide…

How I could gobble & swallow almost whole…
How I would unconsciously tense my hands under the table when I was wanting a second serve but afraid of being judged…
How I would kid & shame myself about what I had eaten...
And on, and on, and on.

I also dived deeper back in to Geneen Roth’s work which was also really supportive, but what made it HEALING was the synergy of this increased awareness with my gradual, yet consistent and expanding devotion to practicing Dinacharya.

Up until being introduced to dinacharya, I had definitely gone through regular (but not necessarily consistent) waves of, what I had thought of was “self-care” but was actually a regime of exercise, meditation or other physical/mental/energetic practices. These periods had been helpful, activating, inspiring ~ for sure ~ but none of them lasting.

Yet something happened over the following two years, and I started to notice how as I cared for myself in this new way, I started to slow down, drop in, & gain a sense of ‘me’ on a day to day basis.

I would notice the days my skin was dryer, my tongue had more ama, my neti wouldn’t flow, and I would want to head straight to a cacao instead of my lemon-ginger water first thing.

I’d also notice the days I felt luscious, my tongue clear, my neti streamed effortlessly, and I’d embrace a full liter of warm fluids before anything else...

The practices were really great. They really were – and yet, after a while, I started to notice that even though these self-care practices were very nurturing, over time, they started to feel like “have-to’s”.

On the mornings I would have the time & space (I.e. when my 3 children would sleep in), it was wonderful. But sometimes they would wake early, or I would sleep in, & I would become subtly stressed that I wouldn’t have time to ‘get it all done’.

And I started to catch myself ‘rushing’ through my dinacharya. What had started as ritual, was gradually becoming a regime that, if I didn’t “tick off” would produce a subtle tension in my body & mind.
What started as an “ahhhhh” (insert relax tone of voice) was gradually becoming an “eeehhhhhhh” (insert rushed tone of voice).

And then it HIT me!!!

Just like food, HOW I practice my dinacharya is AS, if not MORE important than “what I do” for my dinacharya. And THAT, changed everything.

I suddenly realized that I don’t need to do it all. Sure, it’s great when I can. But if I find myself rushing, then I slow. If I find myself going on autopilot, I pause. I drop in to my body, & I open my heart, and ask,

“What is it I really need right this morning? In this moment?”

HOW could I love myself FULLY right, here, now?

Quite often, it’s just one or two practices done mindfully, heartfully.

S l o w l y.

And, perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s been since I’ve shifted HOW I self-care, that my relationship with food has truly healed.

Sure, sometimes I catch myself rushing, not fully chewing, etc. etc., but it happens so much less often. And when it does, I catch myself sooner, so there’s less fallout/casualties, and as I start my mornings in this slow & oh-so-yummy tempo,that echoes through my day which slows me down in all areas. And because I’m not rushing, I’ve got clarity of thought. I’m more patient with my kids. I can open more in my love-making.

And life, 
Once again,
Becomes Sacred.

About Greer

Greer is a Feminine Embodiment Guide, Conscious Relationship Coach, & Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor. Greer specializes in supporting women rise from depletion & overwhelm to reclaim their juicy, authentic self & cultivate sacred ritual as a way of life.

She currently resides in Tasmania, Australia where she’s raising her young family. She works alongside her husband Aaron in their business Tantra for Parents; offering a range of online & in-person workshops, Ceremonies, mentorships & retreats. You can find more info at her website at www.tantraforparents.com.

 

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What It Means to Get ‘Juicy’ and Why You Should Try It

By Crystal Hoshaw

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A few things might come to mind when you hear the word juicy, but I’m not talking about couture or the Notorious B.I.G. 

Getting juicy doesn’t have anything to do with squeezing into a velour tracksuit or sporting curves like the Kardashians. 

It’s an inside-out affair that has to do with every layer of the self, from the subtle to the most physical. In fact, being juicy is one of the telltale signs of radiant, whole-person health.

So what does it really mean? In simplified terms, being juicy refers to lubrication. 

So much of the body depends on lubrication for optimum health, from the joints to the mouth to the eyes to the sexual organs. 

On a more microscopic level, the skin relies on lubrication in the form of collagen—a protein—and ceramides, a fat necessary to protect the skin from the elements as well as pathogens.

Plus, there’s even an emotional element to lubrication, if metaphorical. Think bouncing back from difficult emotions, resilience in hard times, or letting things roll off you like a big rubber raincoat.

The best way to think about the type of lubrication I’m talking about is to picture a big, juicy grape. Then compare it to a raisin. The raisin is dried up and shriveled, and doesn’t contain nearly the same amount of water as the grape. 

When it comes to wellness, we’re going for the grape.

Giving juiciness a name: Ojas

While there’s no equivalent for this type of all-encompassing lubrication in Western medicine, there is a name for it in Ayurveda: ojas. 

Sometimes translated as “vital fluids,” ojas is the juicy quality that makes life feel abundant, insulates us from the cold, and acts as a pathway for pleasure. 

Without it, life is dull, dry, brittle, and tight. It not only lacks hydration—it lacks flexibility, adaptability, and that je ne sais quoi, in-the-flow vibe that brings about joy. 

The lubrication that ojas provides is also responsible for immunity, as ojas feeds the mucous membranes and ceramides layer that are integral in keeping out infection.

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Physical effects of low ojas

When it comes to the physical body, there are several physical symptoms that may point to a lack of ojas:

  • dry skin and lips
  • brittle hair and nails
  • scanty sweating
  • dry mucous membranes
  • premature wrinkles
  • reduced immunity
  • vaginal dryness

An extreme lack of ojas can actually affect the nervous system and the cerebrospinal fluid, which provides nutrients to and protects the brain and spine. 

The nerves themselves are wrapped in a layer of myelin, a plasma membrane that helps protect them and contains the electrical impulses they carry. 

Without myelin, the nerves can become like livewires, which can be the beginning of a number of neurodegenerative disorders. 

 

Psychological effects of low ojas

Since ojas impacts the nerves, brain, and spine, it may not come as a surprise that the juiciness of ojas—or lack thereof—can affect the emotions as well. 

Psychological effects of low ojas can include:

  • insecurity
  • anxiety
  • paranoia
  • feeling ungrounded
  • feeling unsafe, or like you don’t belong
  • fatigue and tiredness
  • brain fog and poor memory

Needless to say, ojas is a must on both a physical and psycho-emotional level. 

When it comes down to it, ojas could be considered the closest physiological correlate to self-love. As such, it’s the core as well as the byproduct of a healthy wellness routine that’s focused on deep well-being. 

In other words, ojas is the refined essence of life that makes us feel like we’re wrapped in a big, warm, protective hug.

How to get juicy from the inside out

Now you know how essential ojas is for feeling your best, inside and out. Here’s how to dive into juiciness in every aspect of life. 

Focus on the sweet

While diet culture so often tells us to shun sweet things, ojas relies on sweetness to grow and flourish. 

However, sweetness doesn’t just come from sugary foods like cookies and cake. There are a whole host of things that can bring sweetness into your life, like:

  • a tender hug from a loved one
  • giving yourself a slow, sensual massage
  • a heart-to-heart chat with a dear friend
  • a cozy cuddle-up with a warm blanket, a tea, and a good book
  • listening to uplifting, inspiring music
  • surrounding yourself with colors that energize you
  • placing fresh plants or flowers throughout your space
  • eating your favorite comfort foods (especially when cooked with love!)

When you reframe sweet to encompass more than just the tub of ice cream in the freezer, you can start to meet your craving for sweet from other places. 

It doesn’t mean you have to skip the sweet foods—it’s just a way to expand where you get your sweetness from. 

The bottom line is that when you crave sweet, it’s often a deeper craving than the desire for sugar. It often speaks to a more subconscious desire for:

  • rest
  • calm
  • love
  • affection
  • tenderness
  • softness
  • a sense that you’re safe, held, and belong

By regularly and intentionally giving yourself the sweetness you crave in a variety of ways, you can reduce your dependence on any single source. 

This can do wonders for the quality of your diet just as much as it can for the quality of your relationships! 

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Take hydration to the next level

If getting juicy is the opposite of feeling dried out, then hydration can help you get there. 

Hydration can happen on so many levels, from getting enough water to using your favorite moisturizer.

Here are some quick tips for getting deeply hydrated:

  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Add sea salt or trace minerals to your water.
  • Eat healthy fats like ghee and avocado oil.
  • Keep your skin barrier happy and protected with oils and moisturizers.

How much water is “plenty?” About half to one ounce per pound of body weight, according to Penn Medicine.

Salt and trace minerals can help add back important macro and micro minerals to the body. These are important for a number of reasons, including:

They also contain important electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium that support healthy hydration by affecting the amount of water your body retains.

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Make fat your friend

As mentioned above, healthy fat is one way to moisturize the body from the inside out. Adding healthy fats to your diet ensures your tissues are getting enough lubrication (read: juiciness). 

According to a 2021 review, omega−3 fatty acids can protect against metabolic disorders and chronic disease by increasing α-linolenic acid (ALA) in the diet. 

There are a number of great dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids, including:

  • walnuts
  • edamame
  • beans
  • chia seeds
  • hemp seeds
  • flax seeds
  • tofu
  • seaweed
  • fish like salmon, mackerel, and anchovies
  • MCT oil

Of course, you can always add an omega-3 supplement to your diet too. 

According to Ayurveda, ghee, or clarified butter, is considered an ideal healthy fat that’s used in cooking as well as body care. 

Along with being high in omega-3’s, ghee is a great source of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid that may help reduce inflammation and support digestive health. It’s also high in antioxidants and fat soluble vitamins.

Healthy fats are incredibly beneficial for the health of a number of body systems, but it’s still important to maintain balance in your fat intake.

Moisturizing 3.0

You may know that moisturizing is essential for skin health, but there’s so much more to moisturizing than just applying lotion or serum.

Ayurveda recommends self-massage with oil, also known as Abhyanga, on the daily. 

This practice is incredibly soothing and relaxing when done with patience, presence, and care. It also often involves medicated oils or ghees that are deeply nourishing to the skin. 

These oils may also include herbal blends for encouraging specific health outcomes, and can be warmed to help open the pores for increased absorption. 

Applying warm oil to the entire body from head to toe each day is a wonderful way to send a signal to your body that it’s loved, nourished, and cared for. 

It’s also a sure-fire way to up your juiciness. 

The takeaway

Getting juicy goes beyond the surface level. It’s about bringing on the ooey-gooey love into every aspect of your health, from your emotions to your diet to your skin. 

With a few simple lifestyle habits, you can be dripping with juiciness—in other words, glowing with self-love from the inside out.

Sources:

Ahmad R. (2015). How Much Water Do You Need Each Day?. https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2015/may/how-much-water-do-you-need-each-day

Bali S, et al. (2019). Ghee: the much maligned cooking medium, now slowly reclaiming its

therapeutic reputation. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sharadendu-Bali/publication/356498949_Ghee_-_The_Cooking_Medium_for_Good_Health/links/631d8079071ea12e3624b02a/Ghee-The-Cooking-Medium-for-Good-Health.pdf

Borycka-Kiciak K, et al. (2017). Butyric acid – a well-known molecule revisited. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5497138/

Chycki J, et al. (2017). The effect of mineral-based alkaline water on hydration status and the metabolic response to short-term anaerobic exercise. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5676322/

Gaffney-Stomberg E. (2018). The Impact of Trace Minerals on Bone Metabolism. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12011-018-1583-8

Han F, et al. (2019). Neuroinflammation and Myelin Status in Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Normal Aging Brains: A Small Sample Study. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/pd/2019/7975407/

Kumar Saini K, et al. (2021). Omega−3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs): Emerging Plant and Microbial Sources, Oxidative Stability, Bioavailability, and Health Benefits—A Review. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/10/1627

Mohammadifard N, et al. (2017). Trace minerals intake: Risks and benefits for cardiovascular health. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2017.1406332

Morell P, et al. (n.d.). The Myelin Sheath. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27954/

About Crystal

Crystal Hoshaw has been a student of yoga since 2004 and a student of Ayurveda since 2007. She earned her Ayurvedic Wellness Coach certification from The Shakti School after years of on-site study in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Thailand. She marries her knowledge of Ayurveda, mindfulness, and yogic philosophy through coaching and courses at www.simplewildfree.com. You can also find her on Instagram. 

 

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It’s Never Too Late: Honoring the Unlimited Power of the Wise Older Woman

By Christine Griggs

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I will never forget my first day of Shakti School.

I had signed up for Level 1 of the Ayurveda Training just two months before. It had caught my eye -and my soul- over a year ago, but I kept
finding reasons not to sign up.

~I was 58 years old. I already had my midlife crisis when I gave up my
translator career to become a yoga teacher thirteen years ago. Did I
really need to embark on something new? Wasn’t yoga enough?

~Wasn’t it too late to learn Ayurveda, The Science of Life, when over half
of my life was behind me?

~Wasn’t it too late to change my lifestyle with new Ayurveda practices?

~And, as some of my acquaintances felt the need to share: “I could do it
too, but it’s too much of a commitment.”

As I sat in our virtual classroom, seeing fresh young faces pop up in their Zoom boxes, I realized I was one of the oldest participants, and this question popped into my mind: “Do I belong here?”

I sat with the discomfort for a few minutes, I melted into it and let it carry me into our first class. As the class unfolded and Katie did her magic, I realized that YES I belonged here. And the commitment was a joy. Over the next 2 ½ years, those classmates became sisters, some are now dear friends. Age did not matter at all. I felt closer to those young women than I did to most women my age. It was not too late for me to enter this sisterhood. It was exactly the right time!

At 61, I just graduated from Level 2 as an Ayurveda counselor. Not joining Level 2 was not even an option! I couldn’t imagine a better container of love and support to enter my sixties than my family of sisters and this ancient knowledge that sustains me.

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The fear of getting older

Most women fear getting older. Our society does everything to drive that fear, bombarding us with images of what the ideal woman supposedly looks like: eternally smooth-skinned and flat-bellied. Once they’ve instilled that fear in us, we’re a captive audience to buy their stuff that will supposedly make us feel and look younger. It’s a billion-dollar industry.

My friend Debbie is 73 and has been letting her gray roots grow out. Her female acquaintances are pestering her with: “You should cover those grays, it ages you.” She started to doubt herself. Believe me, she looks vibrant and beautiful. And I keep reminding her of that. A woman should never submit to society’s pressure of what she should look like or do. What liberates her is what makes her beautiful.

Let’s encourage our sisters to be themselves instead of gnawing at their self-esteem with words that stunt their growth.

“The making of a woman who has continued to grow is a beautiful thing to behold.” –Naomi Wolf

Dare to be yourself

Like most of us, when I was younger, I thought 60 was super old: time to retire and pursue hobbies. But I find myself in my sixties feeling young and vibrant, with a growing business and more projects and ideas than I can handle. I’m pursuing the dreams I didn’t have time for as a householder working and taking care of my family.

My first love is writing and, growing up in France, I dreamed of being the youngest literary prodigy of the century. Well, it took me several decades to write my first book, not as a young prodigy, but as a 57-year-old woman who believed it’s never too late. Remember that your dreams take different shapes.

My friend Dede just launched her own brand at 62, combining her love of dancing and helping others. She tells me she’s never felt so alive: “It’s my time now.”

Carol has been my private yoga student for 10 years. She dared to start yoga at 69, because “some part of me was not whole. I could feel it in every part of my being. I had no idea what was in store for me…” It changed her life.

On the other hand, I know many women of my generation who are paralyzed by the fear of stepping out of the box society built for them. They’re so worried about doing the “right acceptable things” that they’re not doing the right thing for them. This box is comfortable, but it’s not fulfilling. Filling the box with more stuff does not fill their soul.

Sadly, most of the time, we’re the ones setting limitations for ourselves. For example, whenever people hear I’m French, they almost always tell me: “I always wanted to learn French, I dream to go to Paris and speak French with the locals.” My answer always is: “Why don’t you?” And they invariably answer: “Oh, it’s too late now!” And I reply: “No, it’s not too late! You could either start now and you will be ordering pastries in French in a Parisian patisserie next year or not start and be in the exact same place: wishing you were speaking French in Paris.”

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream another dream.” –C.S. Lewis.

Summer Blog

Wear the Crown of the Crone

Our society has been disparaging old age, especially in women, for too long. The meaning of Crone is not the derogatory term used in our society, that of the withered disheveled ragged old hag. The Crone is a majestic title to wear with pride, it means the One who wears the Crown.

Disrespecting the older woman means dishonoring the Sacred Feminine, a principle seriously lacking in our modern world. Our role as women is to put the Crone back on her throne. As we do this, we reclaim our Goddess status for ourselves and future generations.

I have made it my mission to demystify aging. I want my younger sisters to see passing years as a joy and privilege and something they can actually look forward to.

I also want to encourage my older sisters to see their mature years as an empowering opportunity to learn, grow and dream, and be a role model for younger generations. Not with their material possessions, but with their wealth of experience, wisdom and especially with their example. Young women look up to us to see what “getting older” looks like. They notice how we act and react. They notice if we still have a passion for life and if we care about the world. They notice if we are willing to take risks and go on adventures, learn and grow alongside them. Just as they are our hope, we are their hope for what’s awaiting them. Let’s show them that owning their aging journey is their superpower!

“This time belongs to the Crone. She’s arriving into the greatest time of her life. Creativity is blossoming, even exploding within her. She’s never felt more free and she’s never felt more empowered than now to be all of herself.” –Sukhvinder Sircar

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The Wise Older Woman’s Empowerment Journey through her Chakras energy centers

As we become older, we become what the Vedic teachings call The Forest- Dweller. While still playing our part in the world, we’re able to detach ourselves from mundane attachments and spend more time attuning to the deepest parts of our being. We become our own best friend. I have noticed a deeper relationship and dialogue with my energy centers and I’d like to share the lessons they have taught me about becoming a wise older woman.

1. I am Grounded in the Roots of my ancestors and my culture. I honor my heritage, but I do not let my history limit me. I am not stuck in the drama of the past. My roots are my strength, not my burden.

2. The power of my womb is not limited to its physical ability to create human life. It is an unlimited fountain of spiritual and sensual creativity. It is a fertile ground for the awakening and flow of the Goddess energy all around me. I Feel and I Flow.

3. I am Worthy. I am exactly who I want to be and I am becoming who I want to become. I truly don’t care what people say or whisper about me. I do not judge myself or others. I have no time for gossip and limitations. I keep company with souls who uplift and support me. I am Strong and I Can do anything.

4. I give myself the greatest gift of all: Forgiveness. I stop keeping tabs on who didn’t love me enough and who hurt me. I forgive, but I am careful about whom I allow into the sacred space of my heart. I focus on gratitude for the love that I have. I know that I Love and that I Am Loved unconditionally.

5. I speak my spiritual Truth and what I believe in. I surround myself with the voices of teachers and soul companions who inspire me. I use my Voice for good. The world needs to hear my Voice.

6. I Trust my Inner Guidance. I know how to find it in stillness and meditation. The merging of my Intuition with my life experience is a magical formula that guides my decisions and every step I take.

7. I know that I am Connected to Source and never alone. I let go of anything that causes separation and honor my community of Souls who share my journey. Together we are stronger.

Women helping women

One of my greatest teachers was Frau Ursula Redeppening. I was her au pair while studying in Munich. I was 21, she was in her early forties. She
was a formidable woman, divorced mother of two teenagers, the youngest woman ever elected to the Bavarian parliament. She was a prodigy! One evening, as we sat together sipping wine, she gave me one of the greatest lessons one can give to a young woman. She told me that her perfect life was not one she had chosen for herself, she had followed others’ vision of her: her deepest desire was not to be a famous politician, but to help the world and reduce hunger and poverty. And then she said the words that guided my life: “When my children are raised, I will follow my own vision. It’s never too late.”

It is now my turn to pass along the wisdom I was given. Whatever age you are, know that it’s never too late. Write that book, take that course, learn a new language, a new dance, train for a marathon, travel, move to your dream city or country, make brand new friends, have a love affair, start your business, and most importantly, let your Spirit shine. The world needs your Light!

“You playing small doesn’t serve the world… As you let your own light shine, you indirectly give others permission to do the same.” –Marianne
Williamson

About Christine

Growing up in France, Christine always felt a deep longing for the spiritual and the powerful resonance of words and stories, accompanied with a passionate desire to explore the world. After years of globetrotting, this multilingual translator Mama of 3 and her family settled down in Coastal Virginia, where she discovered yoga. She instantly knew she had found the universal language that would help her empower others to find their own voice and share it with the world. She is an ERYT-500 Yoga and Meditation Teacher and Trainer, and an Ayurveda Health Counselor. Yoga helped her reconnect with her love of writing and write her first book: “Yoga with a French Twist: A Journey through the Chakras” as well as create her business: Yin Traveler. Her love of learning, Nature, and Spiritual Activism led her to Shakti School and the integration of Ayurveda into her teachings. Her new projects include a new book and planning spiritual retreats. You can find more info at her website at Yintraveler.com

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She’s The First

She's The First Summit

Today I'm super excited to share with you something that's lightening up our hearts.

We are now honored to announce that in addition to our regular scholarship program, Shakti School is collaborating with one of the world's foremost organizations for supporting women in education and gender equality - She’s the First. 

It is our hope to advance the cause of educating girls in South Asia specifically, given our love for ancient Indian medicine and our longing to give back to a culture whose rich history has given so much to humanity.

Now, when you invest in your health and your future through signing up for our Ayurveda programs, you're also helping create meaningful change in the world for other women.

ShesTheFirst
She's The First 2

She’s the First teams up with grassroots, women-led organizations worldwide to make sure girls are educated, respected, and heard.

Like Shakti School, She's the First believes in a world where every girl has access to education and can choose her own future. She's the First fights gender inequality through education by supporting the following local organizations: Shanti Bhavan in India and Blink Now in Nepal.

See some of their inspiring stories below:

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How to Find Purpose In Your Life

Making Lasting Change
For More Joy + Fulfillment

How to Find Purpose

We often go through life fishing, only to realize it’s not fish we were after.

-Thoreau

The Buddha said that the whole world lives on the tip of intention. How aware are you of your intention? At the end of it all the outer world fades and we are only left with our inner world. How is your inner world serving you? What is the intention that is driving your daily habits? Are you living from your heart’s deepest aspirations? Or, are you living from a place of fear, worry, or regret? If we want to live a life of true purpose, to feel freedom, and flow with the natural rhythms of this world, it is absolutely essential that we start being intentional with how we shape our daily life. It is only when we are fulfilling our heart’s deepest longings that we will feel free.

So, how do we become free? 

It starts with thought. Many of the great ancient teachings (including the Upanishads) highlight the importance of your thoughts, and more specifically, watching your thoughts. Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. Therefore, it is your thoughts that determines your destiny. Again: Your thoughts determine your destiny, your freedom, and your purpose.

As we go through life, slowly we start forgetting why we are here. Our purpose fades away and it is in the forgetting that we suffer. Studies on the world’s blue zones (regions of the world where it is claimed that a higher than usual number of people live much longer than average) have shown that waking up with purpose can extend your life up to seven years! In a world where distractions are easy and at an all-time high, it is becoming increasingly difficult to hold onto the soul’s purpose and so we naturally forget. The ancient teachings say that this is the human condition. We don’t examine our life, we forget what our gifts are and how to use them. The Buddha said that everyone is gifted, but most people never open their gift. This life is precious. Your gifts are precious. Don’t waste another minute of your life not opening your gift.

How do you discover (or rediscover) what the heart truly wants? 

I will admit, relearning how to follow the heart and rediscover your spiritual purpose is not easy, but as an essential ingredient to the success and happiness of your life, it is worth the sometimes difficult start. And that start happens the minute you open your eyes every morning. Setting aside time for spiritual discovery can quickly get moved to the backburner, especially when your task plate is already so full, but it’s important that you do not sacrifice short term gain for the longer vision of who you want to be.

Steps for Uncovering the Soul’s Purpose: 

Meditation

Reclaim the Mental Narrative. What makes up your daily mental narrative? Are you having trouble getting out of a toxic mindset (a spiral of negative mind chatter)? This is an indicator that you are not living in alignment with your soul’s purpose. Find a meditation practice that works for you and stick to it. Whether it is 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 30 minutes, set aside the same time every day for intentional stillness and contemplation. Essential soul time.

Daily Prayer or Affirmations

Proverbs 23:7 says, As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Another powerful way to shift the mental narrative is to actually start retraining the brain for what you want. This can be achieved through daily thanksgiving, prayer, or self proclaimed affirmations that are in alignment with what you want more of. Include this in your daily essential soul time.

Invest In Your health

What are you doing to sustain your own physical health? And are you taking mental stock of that? It doesn’t have to be a new strict diet plan that you follow, but simply begin to notice what you put into your body and how it makes you feel. The physical and mental bodies are intricately connected. Nurture your body, give yourself permission to feel pleasure from food, and stay connected to the wisdom of the body that knows what and how much of something it truly needs. If the mind is chaotic, make your plate simple.

Writing Exercises

Free form writing can be extremely beneficial when it comes to making space in the mind. Working with certain prompts can help answer some heavy hearted questions. Here are some examples to get you going that are specifically designed to target your soul’s purpose:

  • What did you want to do when you were a little kid? 
  • What is the core part of you that you want folks to talk about at your funeral?
  • What gets you completely in the flow or in the zone? 
  • What naturally comes easy to you? 
  • What do you fear most when it comes to internal growth?
  • What is essential to your long term health? Your success?
  • What is meaningful to you? How do you feed your soul? 

Try following up your meditation with this writing exercise and I am positive that you will uncover some answers.

Learn and Explore 

For some people, there can be immense spiritual value in exploration and learning something new. If you find yourself in an unshakable funk, try visiting somewhere new. I know we are currently living through a pandemic, but it doesn’t have to be a faraway land. Even going on a drive to a different neighborhood, or a nearby town and walking around can help shift the inner workings of the brain. When we see things for the first time our creativity is stimulated, our dopamine increases, and our soul can get a little wake up call. Or, sign up for a class! There are so many virtual offerings available these days and learning can be a powerful tool to stimulate the mind and reinvigorate the heart. Our Ayurveda Program is the fast track to finding inner wisdom and purpose: More on that here.

Find Your Supporters

Who are your strong supporters? Your spiritual cheerleaders? Lean into the people that help lift you up. Community helps build spiritual resilience. Find the people you trust the most and work together to encourage and uplift one another. You do not have to be alone on this journey.

Remember, this is a journey. Be gentle with yourself. Learn how to trust your instincts and be willing to invest in yourself. Caring for your soul is one of the most important jobs you have in this lifetime. And, once you rediscover your soul’s purpose, the job then becomes how to share your unique skills with others. As your skills become a service to your community, it will inspire others to do this very necessary soul work.  The work that leads to more joy, more openness, and more fulfillment in life.

Two books to take you deeper down this journey of self-discovery and purpose:

  1. From a more Western tradition: Designing Your Life
  2. From a more Eastern tradition: The Four Desires

And if you want to spend a WHOLE YEAR learning about yourself and potentially launch a new career, join us in Ayurveda School. We start in January!

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The Physical Body, Social Media & Your Brain

Social Media & Your Brain

It’s understood in the Yoga Tradition, and has even been scientifically proven, that simply moving and stretching the body with breath awareness as an anchor can begin to shift the habitual patterns of our brain. Therefore, the state of our brain can be directly related to so much of what is ailing our physical body. But a new variable in this equation is the link between social media and how it’s forming habitual patterns that we may or may not be in control of.

How we perceive the world and what makes up our daily mental chatter has a direct relationship to the physical condition of the body.

If your mental space is caught up in a spiral of negative thoughts, this in turn will likely lead you to feel depressed, agitated, anxious, or dull. How you digest your thoughts can also have a tremendous effect on how you digest your food. How many times have you scrolled through your phone, email, instagram, or any other form of social media and felt really good and energized afterwards? Do you find yourself reaching for a device when you’re not feeling your best? Unfortunately, social media platforms, which were originally created in an effort to connect us, are now seeking to keep us addicted and caught in a dangerous loop of distraction and dissatisfaction. Which in turn leads us towards more and more disconnect with ourselves, with those around us, and the environment in which we live.

One of the core teachings behind the Tantrik Yoga Tradition is that our Prana (energy) follows our focus and what we choose to focus our attention on will also direct our energy. 

When our energy goes into mental processing in a push towards personal perfection, more possessions, or fame, it becomes a never-ending process that can lead to a deep sense that we can never be fulfilled, that life is never enough, and a deep insecurity and fear begin to set it. According to the wisdom of Ayurveda and Tantra, it happens because we are confused (or experiencing avidya – mis-knowing) and we have forgotten that the continual processing towards perfection, a quest to avoid pain, disappointment and gain things that feel good, leads us to the false belief that we are not good enough already.

It is in this confusion that we forget that, deep within, lies a bottomless well of support and freedom, and it is this light that will bridge the gap of freedom from the duality of good and bad, as well as a gateway into peace. Therefore, it is essential that we take recognition of this interplay happening within our internet communities. It is time to take charge in order to intentionally use such platforms for a source of good and constructive education (like they were initially intended to be). This will limit the power that it has over our physical and mental wellbeing.

How To Take Back Control

 

Work with the Brain

What are the negative beliefs about yourself that you tell yourself? The story you repeat to yourself?

How has it affected you? Your relationships? Your ability to be intimate? Your creativity? Gratification? Or, your ability to enjoy life? 

Whatever your answer may be, most likely these are FEAR-based beliefs. We create beliefs steeped in fear when we are trying to protect ourselves from failing or falling short. We start to believe that a negative belief is better than being steeped in uncertainty, or failing. Then, we look for anything that supports our belief, so the lean towards the negative gets amplified. (This is what happens with endless scrolling, or fill in the blank with your negative addiction).

We must learn how to step out of this prison of fears and turn them into a source for healing and growth. When we live from love and awareness our whole world view becomes more focused. Neurologists have found this to be true. When studying the brain it was found that when we are feeling negative thoughts our learning centers shut down, which directly affects our body and our ability to respond to life.

First Step

Become aware of your thoughts.

This is the process of metacognition. Once we become mindful of our thoughts, we’ll have a better chance at not believing our thoughts. Your thoughts are a mental representation of reality. They are real and are happening, but they are NOT reality itself. You cannot always trust what you think as truth.

Whatever the tantrika focuses on, that will become the inclination of her mind. 

If you know the difference between your a) thoughts, and b) reality, you can change how you respond and be less reactive. Start by making time for a daily practice that cultivates more objectivity (observer/Shiva consciousness) to wake you up out of your thoughts and allow stillness.

Start simple. This practice does not have to be difficult. It's about setting consistent intentions and finding time for silence.

Close your eyes, place one hand on your belly, and the other on your heart, skin to skin.

Take a few deep breaths into your own belly, your own heart. Keep breathing equal parts inhale into exhale until you taste a tiny drop of silence. Continue this practice daily until gradually your taste of silence becomes longer and longer. You can also pause throughout the day and come back to this morning's intention.

Second Step

Make changes towards more of what you want

Environment

Where we live has a huge impact on our health and wellbeing. It’s important to feel supported by your environment and to love where you live. If you love where you are living you will be inspired and motivated to show up as the best version of yourself. Get clear on your living environment in order to fully thrive. And, if you feel like a change is necessary, make a practical timeline for change in order to gather the resources you need. If switching up your environment is somehow out of your control, really focus in on the other factors below.

Community

Love the ones you're with. Being surrounded by like-minded people and loved ones elevates our serotonin and dopamine which helps combat the symptoms associated with times of high stress or fight-or-flight. This is especially important for women. We are biologically hard-wired to tend and befriend. If you are feeling low, unable to concentrate, or stuck in a negative spiral, make sure that you are getting in adequate time for friendship. And, it doesn’t have to be about you! Helping others (tend) also has a huge impact when it comes to enhancing your mood and the health of your brain.

Social Media Engagement

This is a big topic and perhaps the largest factor when it comes to society’s declining mental stability. We have become so dependent on these little devices. We are letting devices run the show and it is imperative that we take back the reins of our mental health. Start by setting guidelines on how often you allow yourself to use social media. This includes instagram, facebook, youtube, email, podcasts, etc. Maybe even designate certain days throughout the week where you completely eliminate your usage. (Keep a lookout for our ongoing community digital detoxes, including the #ShaktiShutDown in a couple of weeks). Be selective about accounts you follow. Are they helping to lift you up? Look through who you follow and delete accounts/people who are not positive or do not bring you joy. Only you can determine your personal healthy boundaries. Make a plan, stay consistent, and perhaps have an accountability buddy to keep you on track. This is your brain we’re talking about! The iPhone now has a Screen Time function that allows you to put a limit on how long you spend on certain apps and when you use them. Set up your preference. There’s a version of this app in the Google Play store for Android users.

Check out this new documentary: The Social Dilemma (2020)

And these studies:

Exercise

Of course it’s important to do some form of exercise every day. This doesn’t have to be a HIIT class every day, but even a daily walk will help stimulate and regulate the mind in a positive way. Pay attention to what your body needs. Some days you will need to sweat and some days you will need to create space for rest. (Don’t forget that deep rest is just, if not more, important than being active). It’s also helpful to maintain low levels of exercise throughout the day. This can help to stabilize your mind and will allow for you to come back to that morning intention. If you work at a desk, set a timer on the hour for every hour you sit. Get up and do 10 air squats, 10 lunges, 10 windmills of your arms. Draw your shoulders back and open your chest. This will help to relieve stress and stagnation. You can also do this throughout the day even if you do not have a desk job.

Purpose

Are you living out your life’s purpose? Are you being lit up by what you do? That might be mothering your child, bagging groceries, or slinging that CEO life, but whatever it is you should be doing it with JOY and feeling inspired on a regular basis. Our working life makes up so much of our daily lives, so it’s important that we love what we are doing. And, of course every job (dream job or not) will have dull moments. That is normal and healthy. It’s important to face challenges for growth and renewal. Overall your job should give you a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, week, or month. And, if it’s constantly causing you more stress. Change it up! I know it’s scary to make big changes, especially when they have financial consequences, but if you are truly unhappy with what you are doing, I promise you that by listening to your passions combined with your unique skills, success is sure to follow. And, if you are really struggling to find just what that purpose is, our flagship one-year Ayurveda training might be the container you need to open your eyes to your soul’s deepest longing 🙂

Food

Notice how this is last on the list? If you are reading this blog post chances are you already have a pretty good start when it comes to what you are feeding your body. And if not, we have plenty of good resources for you in The Shakti School Blog. But when it comes to brain health and dealing with stubborn negative thought patterns, often we cannot clean-eat our way out of it. Of course research shows us that high doses of vitamin D, upping our omega 3’s, and getting enough high quality oils can boost our brain health; but it is still essential to work through the other obstacles that are keeping you from your ultimate freedom. It’s always smart to eat whole foods that are nutrient dense, lightly cooked, and spiced according to the season and to your constitution. Eat in a calm atmosphere, give gratitude before meals, and eat until you are 75% full. To put it simply, when your life feels chaotic, simplify your plate.

Freedom Hands
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