top of page

Deepen Your Intuitive Journey with AWAKEN INNER MAGIC: A TAROT & YOGA WEEKEND with Sasha Graham & Alison DeNicola

Writer's picture: Sasha GrahamSasha Graham

AWAKEN INNER MAGIC: A TAROT & YOGA WEEKEND at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health with Sasha Graham & Alison DeNicola
AWAKEN INNER MAGIC: A TAROT & YOGA WEEKEND at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health with Sasha Graham & Alison DeNicola

Is it my imagination or has January flown by?

 

January is one of my favorite months. I love nothing more than to rest and reset after the holiday hustle. 2024 was intense!

 

Last summer, wine guzzling me quit drinking (if you are thinking of doing the same, consider this a sign from the universe, your brain and body will thank you for it - I've never felt better), had 3 indie horror flicks come out (SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY, SCREAMWALKERS & TRIVIAL - they are all streaming if you dig horror) and, most profoundly, my sister and I midwifed our mother through her death.

 




I have always believed that the Death card can teach us how to live but after moving through my mother's end-of-life experience I realized that the Death card also shows us how to die. Pema Chödrön wrote the marvelous HOW WE LIVE IS HOW WE DIE and Chödrön isn't wrong.


Death Card from Vampire Tarot from Sasha Graham & Abigail Larson '2026                    Llewellyn Worldwide
Death Card from Vampire Tarot from Sasha Graham & Abigail Larson '2026 Llewellyn Worldwide

Every ounce of my mother's personality emerged as she wrestled and fought tooth-and-nail with her death process. It was surprising (though it shouldn't have been) to observe deep yogic connections in her breathing and physicality. I found myself engaging in yogic practices such as staying grounded, giving up all sense of control and showing up even when I wanted to run away screaming.

 

Not long after my mother's passing, a friend checked in on me with a text. She wrote:

"We never get over our mothers, do we? We wouldn't want to really."

 

I love her sentiment because grief isn't grounded in sadness. Agonizing despair and shattering heartbreak are grief's side effects. Grief itself is grounded in love.

 

Which is why we should think about what we deeply love and pursue it with every ounce of energy we have.

 

Love will tear us apart, make no mistake. And love often doesn't look or feel the way we want it to appear (that's a trick of the egoic mind who thinks things "should" be a certain way). Love expands us precisely because it breaks us. This is heart opening. It hurts but it hurts so good.

 

Love's expansion breaks us physically, emotionally, spiritually because it challenges what is familiar. That's why in the Celtic Cross Spread's 9th card reflect our HOPES & FEARS. Love and fear are two sides of the same card.

 

Knowing this, you can always lean into your fear or resistance and know you are moving in the right direction.

 

My January reset has included a deep winter writing retreat at my home in the Catskills and a return to my Ashtanga yoga practice. I promised myself at the beginning of 2025 that I'd get to 2 out of 3 things every day that make me feel good:

 

  1. Eat healthy, high protein and whole food. (Sun card)

  2. Get to a yoga or dance class. (World Card)

  3. Write something meaningful. (Queen of Swords)

 

Because I really like doing these 3 things, I was able to hit 3 out of 3 most days. It made me feel great. I began adding more "little" things to my list that would make me feel good such as:

 

  1. Work a daily tarot practice with Nancy Hendrickson's ANCESTRAL GRIMOIRE (Hierophant)

  2. Read a physical book for at minimum of one hour every day. (Page of Pentacles)

  3. Focus on rich, profound sleep. (4 of Swords)

 

These practices have kept me grounded during January's unexpected challenges. We can't control the world around us but we can control where we place our attention and energy (drishti in a yogic practice).

 

What we focus in has a direct effect on how we move through our world.

 

I don't always succeed but I'm trying to supersede that pesky monkey brain and move through my heart. Why suffer through grief's angst (3 of Swords) if we don't take advantage of all that new, tender, vulnerable space?

 

Grief allows us to feel new things.

 

What are 3 small things you'd like to do every day?

 

Speaking of heart opening and moving in the world, it is that time of year again...

 

Alison DeNicola and I are leading a 2-night transformative tarot/yoga retreat nestled in the gorgeous Berkshire mountains. Escape your daily hustle and bustle of daily life and immerse yourself in an intuitive tarot/yoga experience.

 

Awaken Inner Magic happens at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Kripalu inspires a deep sense of peace and connection with the natural world where you are surrounded by crisp mountain air and breathtaking panoramic views.



AWAKEN INNER MAGIC: A TAROT & YOGA WEEKEND at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health with Sasha Graham & Alison DeNicola

You'll be warmly welcomed by friendly staff and fellow participants who share a common desire for self-care and inner exploration. Awaken Your Inner Magic is carefully designed as a harmonious blend of yoga, intuitive tarot reading and journaling, archetypal meditation, relaxation, and mindful activities.

 

Each morning, you begin your day with an optional staff led yoga session. These sessions


Awaken Inner Magic with Sasha Graham & Alison DeNicola at Kripalu
Awaken Inner Magic with Sasha Graham & Alison DeNicola at Kripalu

incorporate a variety of yoga styles, catering to all levels of experience. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced practitioner, the classes offer a perfect balance of physical postures, breathework, and meditation techniques to deepen your practice and foster inner peace.

 

After the optional morning yoga session, enjoy a wholesome and nourishing, silent breakfast from Kripalu's world famous kitchens. The retreat's dining options emphasize healthy, organic, and locally sourced ingredients, providing you with delicious meals that support your well-being.

 

Morning sessions with Alison and Sasha include partner tarot reading practice, archetypal flows, journaling, meditation and mind-expanding exercises. You'll also have ample time to explore the surroundings. The mountains offer numerous opportunities for hiking, guided nature walks, or simply pouring a cup of tea immersing yourself in meditation or journaling.



Awaken Inner Magic with Sasha Graham & Alison DeNicola at Kripalu.
Awaken Inner Magic with Sasha Graham & Alison DeNicola at Kripalu.

 

In the afternoon, after a tasty lunch, you reconvene for additional yoga/tarot session with Sasha and Alison. You'll focus on specific aspects of intuition and magic such as alignment, elemental flows and pranayama(breathing exercises). These sessions encourage self-reflection, personal growth, and the cultivation of mindfulness.

 

Evenings are reserved for relaxation and self-care. You may choose to indulge in a soothing spa treatment, join a guided meditation session, or participate in group activities such as stargazing or sharing circles.

 

As the sun sets behind the mountains, you retreat to your cozy accommodation. The peaceful surroundings and the day's activities ensure that you drift off into a deep slumber, feeling rejuvenated and ready for another day of destiny crafting.

 

Reconnect with yourself, recharge your energy, and cultivate a sense of inner peace. Experience the healing power of nature, the wisdom of yoga, the magic of tarot and the support of a nurturing community, leaving you with lasting memories and a renewed sense of well-being.

 

 


Cast your cards wisely, my friend.

Ask questions of your cards like your life depends on it because it does...


Sasha Graham in Mysore, India
Sasha Graham in Mysore, India

14 views

CONNECT

  • Pinterest
  • Black Facebook Icon
  • Black Twitter Icon
  • Black Instagram Icon
  • Black YouTube Icon

Thanks for submitting!

 Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page