From Raves to Rituals: Finding the Divine in Unexpected Places – An Interview with Sianna Sherman

What happens when a deep inner calling leads you away from a conventional path and into the transformative world of spirituality and healing? 

For Sianna Sherman, this powerful journey began with a deep spiritual longing that sparked during a candlelight vigil for Nelson Mandela, awakening a profound realization about her own inner freedom. Raised in a devout Catholic family, Sianna’s spiritual journey took many twists—from a pre-med path to the streets of New York, where a serendipitous encounter with a life-changing book set her on a new trajectory. Immersed in the practices of yoga, shamanism, and deep self-exploration, Sianna eventually became a teacher and healer, sharing her gifts with others through her yoga school, Rasa Yoga, and her work as a certified hypnotherapist.

Today, Sianna shares how her journey has led her to serve others through transformative workshops, yoga, breathwork, and hypnotherapy. She discusses how deep spiritual practices and trust in inner guidance have shaped her life’s work, as well as how to navigate pushback from others while staying true to one’s path. With a focus on how to find one’s unique magic and follow the soul’s calling, Sianna’s story offers inspiration for anyone feeling a pull toward spiritual awakening. Continue reading or listen in by subscribing for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or YouTube to discover how you can embrace your own gifts and walk the path of transformation with authenticity and courage.

It’s great to be with you. I’d love to hear about your story of awakening to consciousness, mindfulness, or spirituality. Did you grow up in a home with some kind of faith, or did that come later?

Sianna Sherman: I grew up in Kentucky in a deeply devotional Catholic family. I was raised in a very prayerful environment, and I always loved the feeling of devotion—but I didn’t resonate with the institution of the Church itself, so I left pretty early.

In my teens, I had a major experience while working with Amnesty International on a campaign to free Nelson Mandela. We were holding a massive candlelight vigil at the University of Cincinnati—thousands of people gathered, holding candles in silence. I was in a deep meditative state, holding a candle, when a camera clicked loudly near me. That sound snapped something open in me. I burst into tears. In that moment, I realized that while I was working so hard for Nelson Mandela’s freedom, I myself was still living in an inner prison. It was a moment of profound awakening.

Not long after that, the Berlin Wall came down. I remember thinking, I have to chip away at the wall in my own heart. Around that same time, I was on a pre-med path, but everything shifted.

I ended up in New York, dancing in the rave and club scenes. One night, I got locked out of my friend’s apartment and wandered the streets until I found a bookstore that was open all night. I asked the person working there if I could stay inside until my friends woke up, and they said yes. I made a little game out of it—told myself, Whatever book jumps off the shelf, that’s the one I’ll read. And sure enough, a book literally fell off the shelf and hit me.

It was The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy. I sat down and read it all night. That book was the final nudge. I left the medical path and began traveling—through Europe, India, and Ireland. I studied with shamans, gurus, priestesses, and druids. I never turned back.

At what point did you feel called to use your gifts to serve others in this space?

Sianna Sherman: It happened quickly. I’d always wanted to help people—that’s what drew me to medicine in the first place. But as I started immersing myself in these spiritual and healing practices, I began to realize that each of us carries a kind of magic. We all have unique gifts to offer.

For me, the message was clear: Bring your magic to the world. And not just when it feels safe or validated. Especially when it feels counter to what others expect from you—that’s often when the soul is speaking the loudest. I started to trust that deeper feeling, the inner guidance that moved through me, even if it didn’t make logical sense. I followed it and shared what I could—whether with one person or many.

For someone feeling that same pull—a soul calling—but who’s anxious or unsure, what advice would you offer?

Sianna Sherman: First and foremost, trust. Trust the intelligence of your body—it’s your greatest divination tool. Your body is always speaking the language of your soul.

Find ways to quiet the noise and tune into yourself. Go be with a tree. Sit in your favorite place in nature. Open your dream journal. Ask your own being, What’s my truest guidance right now? What do I most need to hear? And then ask for a sign. Stay open, and trust that guidance will come—sometimes in mysterious, unexpected ways.

Invite support. Ask the universe to show you the way. And when it does, practice trusting it—again and again.

What about pushback from family or friends? That can be such a big hurdle.

Sianna Sherman: Oh, I experienced so much of that. My family, because of their deep devotion, became very concerned. They thought I’d joined a cult or fallen into something dark. There were fears about hell, about me straying from faith. In the early days, when I visited home, I’d share what I was learning—but it didn’t land.

Then I had a dream that shifted everything. In the dream, the message was: Just be it. You don’t need to teach anything. So I stopped trying to explain and instead focused on living the path authentically.

Years later, we were all driving somewhere—my dad was at the wheel, my mom in the passenger seat. My dad looked at me through the rearview mirror and said, “We’ve all talked about it. Your sister, your mom, and I… we’re so glad you started yoga and kept with it.” I asked why, and he smiled and said, “Because you’re just so much happier now. That’s what matters to us—your joy.”

That moment was deeply healing. It taught me that when we live our truth with presence and integrity, even those who once feared it can feel its truth.

That’s so powerful. I think a lot of people, especially when they first discover a new way of being—whether it’s spiritual, political, or even dietary—feel a strong urge to convince others. I know I did, but what I hear you saying is that it’s not about convincing—it’s about living it, embodying it.

Sianna Sherman: Exactly. Just be it. Embody the practice. Let your presence invite curiosity rather than resistance. When we genuinely live in alignment, we become living examples—not preachers. We all want each other to thrive in our joy, but that joy doesn’t have to look the same. We can inspire each other without needing to match each other.

How are you currently serving people? How are your gifts showing up in the world?

Sianna Sherman: I travel the world sharing retreats and trainings through my yoga school, Rasa Yoga. I teach what I call the alchemy of yoga—a holistic fusion of asana, breathwork, mantra, mudra, philosophy, shadow work, and deep soul exploration.

I recently became a certified hypnotherapist as well, and I’m guiding people through inner journeys that help unlock their deepest selves. I call it exploring the shimmer and glimmer—the radiant inner psyche and heart. I’m especially interested in the vastness of the mind, the quantum field, and the neuroscience behind transformation. I weave all of that into the practices.

Are you available for one-on-one hypnotherapy sessions?

Sianna Sherman: These days, I mostly work with groups, but the depth of the work continues to grow.

What is your sense of what’s happening in the world right now? There’s so much unfolding, so much tension and change. Given your long journey of service, how do you see this moment?

Sianna Sherman: What I feel deeply is that in times of great fracturing—when there’s so much division, animosity, and heartbreak—there’s also a profound opportunity for transformation. Crises like these can become catalysts for awakening. They shake us out of complacency and call us to remember what truly matters.

Right now, I sense so much sorrow and disillusionment. Friends from around the world have reached out, expressing their concern—even apologizing—for what’s happening here in the U.S. And I understand. At times, it feels overwhelming. But this is exactly the kind of moment that can inspire real change.

It matters how we show up. It matters that we use our voices, that we don’t silence them. It matters that we find ways to connect, collaborate, and act for the benefit of all beings. That’s the root of so many spiritual traditions—uniting our efforts in service to the whole.

My call to action is this: come together. Stay awake. Evolve. This is not a time to shut down or look away. It’s a time to rise, grow, and meet the world with compassion and courage. As simple or cliché as it might sound, we truly can make this world better—but only if we do it together.

We’re here at The Yoga Expo in Southern California. What have you appreciated most about this event?

Sianna Sherman: There’s such a beautiful energy here. First, I have so much love and appreciation for Ariana, Sandra, and the whole Yoga Expo team. Their hearts are in the right place, and their vision is clear—they’re creating something aligned and expansive.

What I love most is the diversity of offerings. I just attended a hypnosis class, then taught a backbend and breathwork session. There’s multidimensional meditation, music, movement—it’s all woven together with intention. That kind of weaving is powerful. It allows for a rich, multifaceted experience that still holds unity at its core. You can feel the vibrancy, the connection, the presence. It’s alive here.

For those who want to connect with you and explore your work, where’s the best place to find you online?

Sianna Sherman: The best place is my website siannasherman.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook—just my name, Sianna Sherman. Everything I offer is shared there.

I’m sensing a theme here—easy to remember! Sianna, thank you so much. It’s been a true joy to speak with you.

Sianna Sherman: Thank you. I’m so grateful. It’s been a blessing to share this space together.