Welcome everyone, to part two of my interview with Shakti Gawain.

IT: You have a strong dance background. Can you relate how art has fed your spirituality or how art can tap into a different place in our consciousness?

SG: I think anything we’re drawn to first of all we need to trust that there’s a reason why we feel a pull in that direction. To really trust and allow our creative energy to come through in whatever way it’s trying to do. I know sometimes I get messages from my inner guidance to do things and I think, "How can I do that?" It’s like the singing thing. I’m not that accomplished as a singer so how could I put myself out there in front of people? But it’s so much fun! And for me to go for the fun because I’ve mostly been a fairly serious person, it’s like, you know, I’ve had the weight of the world on my shoulders here trying to make as much of a difference as I can.

IT: Well, I hope you continue to have more fun.

SG: Definitely. That’s why we say these disowned parts of ourselves, or the shadow side, doesn’t necessarily mean they are negative. The shadow part of me could be the part of me that didn’t get to have a lot of fun because I was always so serious. You see what I mean?

IT: So allowing yourself to have fun is reclaiming a disconnected part of yourself that being serious didn’t allow?

SG: When it comes to owning our shadow side, that's what we’ve repressed because we can’t do something or we think it’s bad or that we should be a certain way. Really, it’s about claiming all of who we are. Because each part has a function and if we aren’t actively in touch with that and letting it have a place in our lives, we’re missing out on something important. Your disowned selves are always the best medicine. They are the medicine we need right now. They’re the prescription life is giving us. Often it comes in the form of actual illness. Sometimes it takes something like that to process some patterns that aren’t working. Breaking a pattern of pushing too hard, for example.

IT: What one piece of simple advice would you offer someone who is just beginning their spiritual journey?

SG: Well, I want to say I’d tell them to read Creative Visualization. And after that to read Living in the Light and... really I’m joking, but I frequently run into people or have them tell me your books were among the first along this line they’ve read, or that they helped them get started. Creative Visualization is written in a very simple style and has a lot of exercises that are easy to do. It’s easy to understand and learn from it, a good starting place. Other than that I would say there are a lot of resources available today on the spiritual and psychological level and if you feel drawn toward a teacher or a workshop, check it out and see if it feels right to you. But know that what feels right for you now may not feel right at another time. I think we get involved in things and we learn and grow from them but then it’s time to move on to the next thing but we don’t always know that. Essentially, trust your gut feeling about what might help you and be of value. We all have an inner guidance and I try to encourage people to listen to that.

IT: What about a teacher or guru versus listening to ourselves or being our own guru? And how you know when it’s time to let go of the teacher and move on?

SG: It’s kind of like the process of being a child and growing up. First of all you don’t need to have a person as a teacher. Most of us generally find teachers, whether they are spiritual teachers or therapists or books. We all have sources of learning. But it’s not necessary to have a teacher that you look up to or put on a pedestal, although it is natural when we’re new at this. It can be very helpful but it can also be destructive if you hang on too long. The Eastern and Western spiritual traditions can be helpful but they can also be dangerous. So I try to support people in paying attention to their own gut feelings about things and their own inner sense or wisdom of what’s true. Often that takes us to a teacher who has something to offer us for a while. But we have to know when to move on and often, that’s not easy.

IT: What surprises you in life?

SG: I have to say honestly what comes up for me, and there’ve been lots of things that have surprised me in life, but I think I’ve been surprised at the degree of challenge life brings. Creative Visualization, my first book, was my personal entrance into the world of personal growth. I was just discovering so many interesting things and a lot of it seemed to come pretty easily. It wasn’t until later that I found out how challenging it can really be. In my later books you see a real difference in the content. They are all valuable but Creative Visualization takes the simplicity of the process and presents it in a way that is easy for people to do. I feel like when I write a book it’s my way of completing that stage of my growth and moving onto whatever is next. The material has gotten more complex. I think it’s still pretty easy to read but I think I realized that life is more challenging than I expected.

IT: Do you hear from people who are impacted, affected and inspired by Creative Visualization?

SG: I do and especially about Creative Visualization. I get letters and emails from people all over the world who have been helped somewhat by my work. It’s very gratifying to me and makes me very happy because I certainly didn’t plan that or know that was going to happen. It all just kind of unfolded in a rather magical way.

IT: From a spiritual perspective when we talk about doing our ego work and realizing that we’re not separate, that we are all connected and that sense of oneness – I would think Creative Visualization must give you a real sense of how that connectedness works. To have reached so many people.

SG: Yes, as I said, I’m so grateful. I feel like I was granted this opportunity in this life to be able to learn and share what I learn in a way that’s been meaningful to people. I feel very blessed that I have had that opportunity. It hasn’t always been easy but it definitely felt very worthwhile. As many times as it’s happened that people have come up to me and said, "I love your books" – it still feels really good.

Even though I know it’s all just coming through me. Most of the time I had no idea really what I was doing. I was taking it a step at a time but the fact that in the process it’s helped other people makes me really happy and fulfilled, in that aspect of my life. And it’s really a surprise, I really wouldn’t have known. Although, I did have the experience as a kid that I loved to read. I was a total bookworm. I used to love going to the library and I used to imagine that someday there would be a shelf full of books written by me. I didn’t realize until much later in my adulthood, after I’d written a couple of books, that I was actually living out in my child fantasy. I mean, as a kid I was always reading about horses and dogs. I never would have known I would have this content. But I really was creatively visualizing my books being read and published and I didn’t even realize until later that it was in my childhood visualization. It’s all been like a shock in a way. I never in a million years would have thought I would have written a best-selling book. Actually, it’s never been out of print in 30 years and has sold really well and is in all different languages all over the world.

Visit Shakti Gawain online at www.shaktigawain.com or get information on her books at www.newworldlibrary.com.

Teresa Piccari is a writer and teacher living in coastal Maine. She is the proprietor of The Village Scribe, a writing and editing business located at The Wellness Center, 71 Elm, in Camden. She runs The Ducktrap Writers Roundtable. She teaches writing workshops including Creative Writing, Mythic Structure, Writing & Healing and Memoir. Correspond with her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 207.344.7070.