Our people page on Shakti Gawain

More from and about
Shakti Gawain
(biographical info at bottom of page)

We all have within us a deep sense of what we need, and what is right
and true for us. To access this we need to pay attention to our feelings
and our intuition. We need to learn to listen deeply to ourselves and
to trust what we hear. And we need to risk acting on what we feel to be
true. Even if we make mistakes, we must do this in order to learn and grow.

One very important pair of contrasting energies within us is the active and receptive, or dynamic and magnetic aspects. I often refer to these as the fundamental masculine and feminine principles of the universe. Every one of us, whether man or woman, has both of these aspects within us. We need to develop both of these energies and allow them to work together rather than in conflict with each other. Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart truly desires must come to you.

The best way I have found to follow my true desires is to pay attention to my intuitive sense. We all have great wisdom within us, a part of us that knows exactly what we need at every moment. We are born with this intuitive sense, but most of us are quickly taught to distrust and ignore it. We have to relearn something that should come naturally.

We avoid the things that we're afraid of because we think there will be dire consequences if we confront them. But the truly dire consequences in our lives come from avoiding things that we need to learn about or discover. What we create within is mirrored outside of us.

My primary relationship is with myself- all others are mirrors of it. As I learn to love myself, I automatically receive the love and appreciation that I desire from others. If I am committed to myself and to living my truth, I will attract others with equal commitment. My willingness to be intimate with my own deep feelings creates the space for intimacy with another.

Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss
of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness.

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When we create something, we always create it first in a thought
form. If we are basically positive in attitude, expecting and envisioning
pleasure, satisfaction and happiness, we will attract and create people,
situations, and events which conform to our positive expectations.

We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we
stop trying to conform to our own or other people's models,
learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open.

We don't have in our culture a healthy understanding and respect
for the value of Being, which is simply being present in the moment,
not trying to go somewhere, not trying to accomplish anything,
but just being present.

Shakti Gawain is a pioneer in the field of personal growth and consciousness. Her many best-selling books have sold more than six million copies in thirty languages worldwide. For more than twenty years, Shakti has lead workshops internationally, and has facilitated thousands of individuals in developing greater awareness, balance, and wholeness in their lives.

She has appeared on such nationally syndicated shows as Oprah!, Good Morning America, Sonya Live, The Larry King Show, The Leeza Show, America's Talking and New Dimensions Radio, and she has been featured in Cosmopolitan, New Woman, New Age Journal, Body Mind & Spirit and Time magazine.

Shakti was brought up as the only child in a highly academic environment. Both parents were atheists. The mother, by way of her own belief system, demonstrated that there are no limits other than those we set ourselves; everything is possible! This created in Shakti an attitude of both openness and skepticism that lead to a great need for testing everything herself. For a while things went perfectly smooth until eventually a love relationship broke up which left Shakti in a deep existential crisis. What is it all about really? she wondered, and
thus took the first step on the long path to self-realization, in search for the true purpose of life.

"I read a lot and filled my head with psychology. And eventually I realized that it is not enough to stimulate only the mind, the intellect. Also the body needs to express itself. That's how I started dancing."

The next step in Shakti's journey came about through a trip to India where she became deeply impressed with the culture and the religious beliefs she encountered. All of a sudden she lost interest in all things material. "I gave away all my possessions and kept only what I could fit into a small canvas bag," she goes on. "I needed nothing more. I realized that, along the way, we will be given all the things we truly need. There is no sense in collecting more that you can use. By the way, the name Shakti is the name of the female aspect of the Hindu God Shiva."

"18 years ago I decided I wanted to write a book about my experiences," Shakti explains. "However, I doubted my capability, and for a long time I did nothing but fret about it. At the time I lived together with a very creative man. It was he who taught me to 'cut the shit and do the thing'. So I did, and that's how Creative Visualization came about."

According to herself, Shakti was once a workaholic. "This is what becomes of us when we allow ourselves to be influenced by outer authorities for whom, in order to give us their love and acceptance, we believe we need to perform constantly. Most of us lost touch with our intuition already as children. And now we are faced with the intricate question: how can I trust myself and my intuition? Make contact with your inner Child, your Mentor within," advises Shakti. "That teacher knows which fork in the road to follow. And you know when you have chosen right, because then you feel alive. Start exercising your intuition by letting it guide you on issues of less importance. For instance, shall I go to that party or not? What feels best? And then act on it, like if you never had a doubt in your mind."

"Nothing is predestined," she continues. "Everything is a creative process. Visualizations and affirmations are only tools to help in the process. Our own healing is the most important process taking place on Earth at the moment, because it influences the collective all or oneness. The greatest harm we inflict on Earth is our separation from nature. When we change, we also change the world around us. The Earth is undergoing a great transformation - and it happens very fast. Old values and patterns can no longer be followed. We must heal ourselves and find out own path. We must make use of our will, become valiant 'knights' on a crusade for positive thinking, positive acting. However, on this crusade we cannot become victorious unless we also recognise our shadow side; our fears, our denials, our negative thought-patterns. This side of ourselves must also be brought into the light in order to manifest wholeness."

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