Sharada Devi

My life has been about breaking free—from cults, conventions, and the cages we build in our minds. From the confines of an apocalyptic sect to spiritual seeking in India, my journey reads like a novel. So I wrote one.

I’m an artist, writer, and mystic, shaped by a unique path. As a child, my talents led me to a school for gifted kids, where I thrived in art and writing. Though an honor student, even academic success couldn’t free me from the cult’s restrictions. At 17, I chose early marriage as my escape route.

Life then spiraled through unexpected turns. I explored music in Los Angeles, collaborating with award-winning musicians before my path veered again. For twelve years, I was married to Bhagavan Das, the infamous American sadhu from Ram Dass’s “Be Here Now.” We traveled the world, leading kirtans, yoga retreats, and teaching tantra. During this time, I produced, sang, and played percussion on three albums: “Love Songs to the Dark Lord,” “The Howler at Dawn,” and “Mother Light.”

Over twenty years of teaching various forms of yoga and my time living in India have deepened my spiritual practice. My experiences at various ashrams profoundly influenced my understanding, sparking a process of inclusion, leading me to weave tantra and Buddhist teachings into my approach. Through this process, I’ve come to see the underlying unity in all spiritual teachings.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I practice devotion, presence, and surrender. My intention is to be the yoga, not just do it. I live by three simple lines: “Don’t straddle. Sharpen daily. Use your mouth in the right way.”

My spirituality is grounded in personal knowing, not dogma. On my YouTube channel, I encourage authentic self-transformation, often challenging conventional yoga views with fresh perspectives on tantra and personal growth.

My writing draws from my experiences with cult trauma and breaking cycles of abuse, but also explores finding light, humor, and beauty in embracing human totality—including fear. Years of public speaking and leading retreats have honed my ability to help others empower their voice through courage and vulnerability.

To me, creative expression is the highest form of yoga next to divine union. While I’ve received spiritual transmissions from great yogic masters, enabling me to channel their grace in my work, I’m not religious and have no rules to uphold.

And I’m nobody’s mother—except to my chihuahuas.