What Lights You Up?: Reflections of a Modern Mystic

By Shaffali Miglani Taheri

Let go of the "Should Life" and free yourself.

The stories, experiences, and ultimately the discoveries shared in this book emanate from exploring the phenomenon of the 'should life'- an often insidious voice in our head that is planted by social, cultural, and familial conditi

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Degree Press
• Release date: Feb 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781641378741

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New Degree Press

Copyright © 2020 Shaffali Miglani Taheri

All rights reserved.

What Lights You Up?

Reflections of a Modern Mystic

ISBN

978-1-64137-983-0 Paperback

978-1-64137-873-4 Kindle Ebook

978-1-64137-874-1 Ebook

WHAT LIGHTS YOU UP?

Let’s begin by answering the question first, with anything that comes to mind—we will revisit this in Part 2.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Preface: Mata, Mother, Goddess, Guru

Chapter 1: Bali to Bangkok to Boston and The Scientist, 2001

Chapter 2: London, Love, and Loss, 2002

Chapter 3: Facials and Dusty Flowers, 2003

Chapter 4: Hollywood and The Healer, 2004

Chapter 5: Yogic Lifestyle, 2005

Chapter 6: Eva and Ecstatic Dance, 2006

Chapter 7: India and the Prophetic Dream, 2007

Chapter 8: New Business, Old Patterns, New Connections. New York, 2008–2012

Chapter 9: Spiritual Awakening and The Yellow Dream. California, December 2013

Chapter 10: New Patterns, New Opportunities, New Love. New York 2014–2018

Chapter 11: Magical Mahdad, Magical España

Chapter 12: The Mahdad and Shaffali Show

Chapter 13: Hypnotic Home Birth, Positive Pregnancy, Kundalini Conception, 2018–2019

Chapter 14: Birthing Death and Shamanic Healing, 2020

Part I.The Prism Principles: Your Journey Over the Rainbow into Higher Consciousness

Chapter 15: Prism Principles Methodology: Truth in Feelings and Rainbow Connections

Chapter 16: Colorful Cosmic Play Assessment and Mindset

Chapter 17: Principle 1: Spaciousness and Boundaries: The Red Prism

Chapter 18: Principle 2: Somatic Intelligence: The Orange Prism

Chapter 19: Principle 3: Drishti Power: The Yellow Prism

Chapter 20: Principle 4: Devotional Love: The Green Prism

Chapter 21: Principle 5: Truth: The Blue Prism

Chapter 22: Principle 6: Third Eye Vision: The Indigo Prism

Chapter 23: Principle 7: Crowned with Oneness Consciousness: The Violet Prism

Chapter 24: Create Your Iridescent Aura

Cultivate Prism Principle 1: Spaciousness and Boundaries

Cultivate Prism Principle 2: Somatic Intelligence

Prism Principle 3: Drishti Power

Prism Principle 4: Devotional Love

Prism Principle 5: Truth

Prism Principle 6: Third Eye Vision

Chapter 25: We Are Cosmic Mirrors

Further Resources

Appendix

Dedication

It is said that when we heal, we heal seven generations before us and seven generations after us. Thus, I bow down and pay my respects to my ancestors, grandparents, and parents. My dreams are possible because of your blessings and protection.

This book is written in honor of all the women in my lineage who came before me. This book is dedicated first to my mother and my grandmothers. I am because of you. I know you all speak to me, and it took me years to understand all the voices in my head. Thus, I decided to share my stories and knowledge, our stories, and our knowledge.

This book is written in honor of all women, past, present, and future, as a collective. The heart of a woman—who is connected to her femininity—is naturally fluid, whimsical, lyrical, creative, wild, loving, nurturing, and free. May we all be as free as possible, especially from the limitations we impose upon ourselves, perhaps passed down to us from our ancestors who yearn to be healed.

Mom, you are truly my Guru, Goddess, and Humdum.

This book is also dedicated to my son Bodhi; may you always live a life full of light, vividly in color, dancing along a path of flowers—or whatever floats your boat and makes your heart sing, my child.

Dad, thanks for being such a good friend my entire life.

This book is especially dedicated to my husband, Mahdad. You are my happy beginning. Your generosity, especially since we have become parents, never goes unnoticed. It is not easy to write a book with a toddler—that too in quarantine. You are My Superhero, My King, My Master of the Arts—and my favorite person to go on adventures with. I look forward to living even more of our shared visions together, and I appreciate all the beauty we have been blessed with in our love and life.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the Goddesses, especially Devi Shakti, the guru lineages (familial and yogic), as well as gurus in various forms, my spiritual council of angels, guides, and ancestors. To my grandmothers, Ishwar Devi Sehgal and Raj Dulari Miglani, and my grandfathers, Wasu Ram Sehgal and Payare Lal Miglani. To my parents, Rama Miglani and Narinder Kumar Miglani.

To my teachers, mentors, authors, dancers, yogis, yoginis, musicians, coaches, healers, and anyone else who ever held or created an elevated container for this sensitive light beam to shine as bright as she had always yearned to—you held me, understood me. You created the safe space I needed to get to the roots of the matters. Some of the most notable: Radha Masi, Mom, Baby Masi, all the Masis, Eva, Renu Didi, Neeta Aunty, Dad and his Halchal (the Indian community of 1990s Rhode Island), my childhood hometown of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Jyothi Didi, Alanis Morissette, Cornershop, Charlotta Oberg, Michael Chrichton, Amit (you are a great teacher and guide), Dusty Flowers, LB Iddings, Jo Cobbett, Jhumpa Lahiri, Mira Nair, Krishna Das and Nina Rao, Nitin Sawhney, Elizabeth and Bruce Bell, Sharon and David Gannon, Dechen Thurman, Joh Morris Benichou, Jon Rubenstein, Oprah, Deepak Chopra, Elaine Aron, Kufunya, Mama Gena a.k.a. Regina Thomashauer, Gabrielle Roth, Dr. Nomita Sonty, Brené Brown, Elizabeth Gilbert, Rupi Kaur, Lilly Singh, Joseph Aldo (it is an honor to have a healer like you as a friend—your presence brings healing and blessings), all the 5Rythyms teachers (especially the ones that teach on Sundays in NYC or LA <3, this dance has healed me and cracked me open the most), Marcus Whitwell, Francis Pullen, Brian Pinkney (thank you for being such a superb dance partner. I know we are connected from many lifetimes and I am so happy to dance in this one with you. Thank you for your advice on my creative process. I have applied it many times, and it has been immensely effective), Anodea Judith, Jane Alexander, Gurumukh, Louise Hay, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Elizabeth Purvis, Nisha Moodley, Jaya Lakshmi and Ananda (I was birthed as a mother to you, I danced in pregnancy with you, and I re-emerged after forty days of postpartum rest to your music—what a special connection to my motherhood journey, thank you), Universal Empress Nadine McNeil, Silfath Pinto and all the Goddesses from our women’s retreat in Bali 2019, Diana and Richard Daffner (into me you see and the loving gaze and listening in—lovely lessons from your tantra workshop), Mose and Suyana (I wrote a lot of the book thanks to how much your music opened me), Nico Allen (the dancing during quarantine that continued to help me stay in the flow to write), Michelle Obama and Carrie-Anne Moss (your advice about praying for whatever will serve the highest good stuck with me and reminded me of my mom’s words from childhood). Thank you also Carrie-Anne Moss for helping me tap into what it could feel like to write my story—the vivid visual of soothing my soul.

Thank you, my baby boy Bodhi—from the moment you were born, I was born as a Mother. Thank you for guiding me and for being such a bright light, a joyous being with a big presence. Thank you for motivating me. Thank you for your patience while Mama was writing. I hope that at some point you may appreciate this offering.

My husband Mahdad—you embody solid character. I love you with all of my life. This book would never have been possible if it wasn’t for you. I began writing it after I married you—something about that boldness of Mrs. Taheri…. and I was able to complete it because of how you have helped me grow simply by being you. You were a key piece in the puzzle of transforming my sensitivities into superpowers. Thank you for understanding me.

My mother, Rama Miglani, and Sarla Seghal—you taught me how to be a lady and a boss. Strong and sensitive. We elevate our crazy to wisdom and understanding past the veil. Thank you for embodying devotional love and showing me that devotional love is the answer.

My father, Narinder Miglani—you are one of the smartest people I know. Your sacrifices for your freedoms have never gone unnoticed. And you are actually as cool as you have always wanted to be.

My brother, Gaurav. You are the most generous person I know—you do anything for those you love, and I am lucky to be your little sister.

My brother, Amit. You are my favorite person—thank you for the telepathic connections, the music, the highs, the lows, the comics, the laughter—I love you like a mofo. It has been beautiful to see you on the twists, turns, and adventures of your journey ever since the day you were born. Thank you for being my #1 fan.

My sister-in-law, Minakshi: you are the perfect complement for Gaurav—the most open-hearted person I know (like an asli Punjaban, dil se na) and have bloomed beautifully in the fifteen years that I have known you.

My mother-in-law, Soosan Joon. You are a beautiful role model.

My sister-in-law, Mahsa—it is the Rupi Kaur book you had gifted me that soothed my heart on the journey to completing this book. You bring much comfort into my life like the big sis I never had. Thank you. And I admire how beautifully you are raising Xavi and Sofi.

My father-in-law, Ali Joon—I agree with your wisdom about relationships. Understand relationships and you will understand everything.

My father-in-law, Gary—I appreciate the walks, talks, and guidance.

My nephew, Xavi, and nieces, Trisha, Sofi, and Anika—I am so lucky to be Bua and Khale to such sweet children.

Thank you to my gem friends who I have not already named—the ones that sparkle and shine from the first moment they made eye contact with me: Heidi, Sapna, Kesu and Jeni Sykes

Thank you to my beta readers:

Soosan Joon, Laina, Salma, Tal, Roger, Carolyn, Mahdad, and Ben.

Thank you, Ben, for helping me peel back another layer into another lifetime, defying time and space. Thank you also for all the flower essence healing.

Thank you to my editors, Alaisha and Kristy; if it wasn’t for the encouragement from each of you (especially when I winced thinking the work was horrible and received such supportive feedback), this book would have been an unfinished dream.

Thank you to my publisher, New Degree Press, and especially Brian—for encouraging me along on the journey to the beat of Taylor Swift and the words and energy of Eminem.

Thank you to Eric Koester for the Creators Program—what a wonderful organization. And for helping me identify that I wanted to bring the LIGHT LIFE to life.

Thank you to Tanya for urging me to have my voice heard and to be seen in the ways I wanted to be seen in.

Thank you to The Scientist, The Healer, and all the others on this flower’s path. I appreciate you being a part of the journey, the love, and the lessons—and ask for forgiveness for anything I said or did that may have caused pain. It took me a long time to learn how to love.

To everyone who pre-purchased the book. Thank you for supporting me before it was actually complete. You made me feel supported, and that was everything.

Mahdad, Mom, Dad, Soosan Joon, Mahsa Taheri, Amit Miglani, Minakshi Miglani, Simone Drape, Stephanie Le Page, Jilsarah Moscowitz, Tanya Alvarez, Neha Aujla, Jeni Sykes, Matt Wyndowe, Cindy Filiatrault, Sapna Joshi, Danielle Antoniotti, Krishan Ramessur, Tal Nuriel, Swati Tuli and Vaibhav Mohan, Elizabeth Yamartino, Jill Vaughan, Rebecca Shomair, Vandana Duggal Patel, Kevin Kunkel, Parul Malik-Kuppili, Shariyf Clark, Amanda Griffith, Eric Koester, Neelou Malekpour, Shalini Vaid, Carolyn and Kesu James, James Moncarz, Marinda Hilton, Mahyar and Maryam Mohammadzadeh, Roger Perry, Baha Rudin, Laura Bolgiu, Eddy Malave, Ram Padmanabhan, Sanjay Sharma, Salma Allam, Samantha Gore, Erica Gaston, Jared Byer, Nancy Lee, Julie Garin, Mel Hadzovic, Christina Sander, Maryam Seilabi, Laina Kaffenberger, Bernie Eikenberg, Daniel Artenosi, Malaurie Barber, Monika Arora, Sangeeta Vallabhan, Kanwal Iqbal, and Treva Blumenfeld.

Mahdad, Amit, Salma, Tal, Ben, Maryam, Victor, and Eva: Your cheerleading was joyfully embraced. Thank you for holding me.

And for those of you who have supported me in various ways, especially with the light beams from your heart.

Fuck, I feel immensely supported.

I love you, everybody!

Om Decorative Symbol (Parfenova 2020)¹

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1 Om Decorative Symbol, ID 95926500 © Marina Parfenova | Dreamstime.com.

Introduction

Dear Reader,

Welcome, Namaste.

Namaste translates to the light inside of me honors and bows down to the light inside of you.

The word Namaste embodies my intention for this book: a place of connectedness and elevated consciousness—qualities that go hand in hand.

The Light Inside

It is the acknowledgment of this light in each of us, the seat of the soul, that fascinates me. This fascination has led me to teaching yoga, meditation, and healing. I am also an entrepreneur, the creator of an award-winning skincare line.

From a young age, I have been drawn to mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being—evident in my journal writings beginning from age nine, which have spanned thirty years and more than three thousand pages. In this journey thus far, I have found struggles, lessons, growth, and wisdom.

The Intention

My wish is to inspire you to connect to your uniqueness and use it to live a life that is not only deeply fulfilling but also one in which you can share your special gifts—we all have them—with the world. My wish is for all of us to live a life that is more connected to TRUTH—both the personal truth of what it means to live an authentic life and the collective truth of what it means to live in a world that is rooted in higher consciousness.

My greater wish for humanity is to rise as a collective, past race, religion, gender, sexual preference, and anything else that seemingly separates us.

At our deepest core, we are all connected. Our essence is the same.

Remove the illusion of separateness. Love IS the answer.

The Journey

There was a time in my life when I thought the person who I was to marry (there is already an assumption here of marriage) needed to be of a certain race, religion, and profession. You could call it conformity or a word more loaded with duty, tradition. After all, my parents, who are of Indian heritage, did have an arranged marriage in the late 1970s in India and believed it was their right to communicate their wishes for me, at the least. The problem was that their want was intense and loaded with immense expectations. Many second-generation Indians can attest to this pressure; it is an unfortunate and limiting cultural norm, in my opinion.

Cultural expectations (of which there were many) induced immense confusion for me. I love my parents very much, but my efforts to make them happy ultimately led to some really devastating and major heartaches for me.

My heartache also triggered mental imbalances, perhaps depression, which I found hard to identify or accept, especially given my belief that we can heal our lives holistically. Thus, I also set out to heal myself to find happiness.

I discovered that the narrative of the should life was painted not only by my family but also in culture, society, and especially media—rooted in and portrayed in values that sometimes did not align with my own.

My solution was to go on a journey of defining myself (a better term than finding oneself, as if it is outside of us!). As I went down the rabbit hole of understanding myself through various modalities—books, healers, therapists, courses, coaches—I discovered multiple deep layers I needed to peel back in order to live a more authentic life than the one that I thought I should be living.

Beauty Masks and Ugly Truths

In order to define my most authentic self, I had to shed ugly truths, shadows, and inauthenticities. I slowly started to unlock peace, passion, power, love, truth, intuition, and manifestation. But first, I had to let go of some ugly truths, which were buried under masks I didn’t even realize I was wearing—I was judgmental, manipulative, insecure, self-loathing, blocked, and in denial of reality. The key here was total awareness and honesty about various aspects of my life. When I became aware of that, I got to live in my beautiful truths.

One of the most important lessons I learned was to unearth how I thought things needed to be. That’s when I decided, I have to start living my life for me. Yes. I understand and love my family, and I appreciate them. But I have to create some boundaries and really own who I am.