Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Karagulian.
Hi Tina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I support your empowerment and transformation, through many creative paths: sound healing, yoga, art, collage, and truth-telling clarity sessions. I began as a young and very sensitive empath, an Armenian girl who loved nature, music, and art. I would draw for hours on end and feel an immense peace come over me. This was my first meditative practice. I also loved to climb trees and connect with the birds, caterpillars, flowers and trees. I could sense the presence of angelic beings at an early age, and was deeply connected to the spirit realms. The love I had for my family and culture was so big that I was not able to see or fully understand the darker aspects that my soul was yet to transform (genocide history that my grandparents endured, gender inequalities, injustices I witnessed). In my early twenties, just as I finished my Master’s degree in Social Work, with an emphasis on counseling, I began having flashbacks of sexual abuse memories from my own past. My education could not fully prepare me for the transformation and spiritual healing journey I began 30 years ago. It was the first of many spiritual awakenings along the way!
During my own journey, I learned how to be witness to my inner child and saw three parts of me that would integrate over time: my body, my inner child, and my soul. My soul was the anchor that could reparent my inner child, and my body holding memories and physical pain was beginning to release itself so it could allow my soul to be full present and happy. I learned that my voice, long held back because it was often misunderstood or not welcome, was a key to my teaching and my ability to hold space for others. I had to practice speaking aloud, being seen, and allow for the bumps and imperfections of the delivery of my voice to smooth out over time. It has been an important growth. Witnessing and holding a safe space for myself has been the foundation for doing so for others. For 20 years, I counseled women with art therapy (collage specifically) to make sense of their memories, family history, and past trauma, to reparent themselves, and find peace or acceptance with their soul’s path in this lifetime.
Then in 2009, a dark night of the soul hit for me that lasted ten years. My soul was asking me to be more authentic, to see more of the blind spots in my own growth. You cannot rush a process such as this, for it affects your body, your mind, your emotions, and your spirit. I had a prophetic dream that began that process. A man pointed a gun at my heart, and I stopped the nightmare at that point, just before he shot me and demanded to change course. I knew I had to be there for my son and I was not ready to die of a broken heart. I woke up in a sweat. Only after many years could I begin to fully understand that it was my soul that wanted me to follow my path once more, or I would die unfulfilled. I had to stop settling, pushing away my voice, and open my heart more fully. There was no turning back. I had to choose my soul once more.
I stopped counseling others because I felt it did not change beliefs or the brain for those with trauma histories and stressed nervous systems. I knew there was a missing piece to the puzzle. Though collage had always been a tool of healing in my counseling practice, and I didn’t abandon it, collage shifted into a deep dive practice of inner flow and life. I felt led to facilitate a meditation before each collage creation, so others can meet their soul in a direct way, and from that interaction, visual clues would appear on paper of what their soul guidance would like them to see. Collage also opened creativity valves that had been long shut down for others. One woman who had been through the trauma of a tornado, told me after just one group collage activity, “Tina, I think I healed some of the tornado today.”
However, I wanted to include more physical help for those who went through awakening, too. During my own dark night, I had had foggy brain and adrenal fatigue and a racing heart as physical manifestations of my transformation, and I looked for tools to support me. I had been a yoga student of vinyasa flow for 12 years, yet it did not help these symptoms. Many times I lay unable to move on my yoga mat, and would say to my teacher when she would check on me, “At least I showed up on the mat.” When I discovered Kundalini Yoga, a yoga that incorporated more meditation and mantra to change the brain and relax the body to find inner stillness, something finally clicked. I found myself more peaceful and full of vitality once again. I felt alert once more. I knew I had to teach this yoga, that it was part of my calling. I knew that if I could feel more empowered in my body, able to pinpoint an organ of the body, activate my inner glands, and calm my own nervous system, then this was the missing link to the puzzle in my offering to others. As part of the yoga, I learned sound healing with a gong, crystal bowl, and Tibetan bowls. I discovered that an individual or group sound session could integrate deep emotions in a way that counseling could not. The depth and speed with which one could let go of emotions and beliefs happened in a short amount of time due to the yoga and sound combination. It kept my vibration or energy high so I could handle massive changes in my life and stay focused and grounded within myself, which supported my own empowerment. Given all these discoveries, I now felt that I could help women who were perimenopausal or menopausal or anyone going through a major spiritual awakening or transformation or dark night of the soul. With collage, they could awaken their creativity, and hear messages from their soul, and all together, feel alive, vibrant, and empowered. I wanted to share all of that support with others.
And finally, I have always known that speaking hard truths in safe spaces can allow them to leave the body, free the throat, and connect you to the deeper Truth, who you are at your core. Anything we keep hidden for survival cannot remain hidden for long. By speaking truths aloud, the brain can rewire, and you can release the emotional charge over time. Given my own history and my 20 years of holding space for women in my counseling practice, I knew that the impact of the #metoo movement was an opening for women to really find and express their voices. What we consent to, or how we ask for consent from others, how we gaslight ourselves and have been gaslighted, are all powerful topics to explore as we heal patterns of codependency and ways we may have given over our energy out of obligation or sacrifice, yet not because we were led by an inner guidance. Deeply feeding our hearts and souls first, and being witnessed and heard within community–both are crucial for healing and living authentically. The soul longs to be healed and free.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Some struggles were not being heard or understood by some family and relationships along the way. I had a deep awareness and connection to the Divine, yet often did not have that support in ways that could strengthen my innate gifts. I learned to hold back and not share what I knew, and if I did share, some would gaslight my words. This became a huge part of my journey to heal, to find places and relationships that could hear my truth and support my forward soul movement. I learned to look at the red flags I overlooked and the wishful thinking that prevented me from seeing the limitations in myself and others. I grew immensely and learned not to settle for what was not supportive of my voice and my growth. I also knew that if I had the support I needed as a child, I would not have left home, which I needed to do to grow, and to venture out on adventures and be who I am today. I would have been deeply content at home or near my family, and I would not have had any reason to challenge myself. I know this to be true, just as I had to grieve leaving behind many communities. I had to reconcile my wish with what was my soul path. This has been a life-long challenge and growth, and I have had to make peace with my path looking as it has and staying true to it.
I also learned that blame and judgment are also at the heart of suffering. I grew up with a difficult genocide history that made it hard to say what truly happened as fact, yet knew that my judging others, even if something was true, would only keep me trapped. Speaking truth about something was definitely needed, as is discernment. Yet judgment would steal my energy from what gave me life, and I had to learn to redirect that focus.
As part of my path to truth, healing from my own wounding would offer a clearer view of more truths and a bigger perspective. I also had to learn to see things as they are, not as I wished them to be. These two areas have helped me to open my heart to allow for others’ journeys without expectation of resolution or outcome. Compassion for myself has helped me to see things as they are, not as anything to judge, but to grieve and heal within me only. So I learned not to judge myself, someone else, or the process I am going through, yet to allow for more room to be myself and more loving. A new and more spacious way to love was trying to teach me.
Loving meant not to shrink or make myself small. Humility was good in the service of others, yet at times I had to deconstruct it, if too much humility made me invisible to how my soul wanted to express itself. Knowing the difference helped me to grow my discernment and empowerment. I know many, like me, hid their gifts at a certain time in their lives just to survive, until a time comes when you are strong enough to allow yourself to shine more. Being loving includes myself in the equation, and this is one of the many beliefs I had to untangle and unravel as I became fully here, fully authentic, and truly me.
These are just some of the lessons I am learning through the obstacles of my life. However, I have always felt the guiding hand of a deep and loving Divine presence with me, through the kindness of others, the sweet call of birds, the warmth of the sun, and the foundation of being a mother to my son. These moments keep me grounded to what is real and behind everything: the sweet small steps we can take each day, and the bigger huge movement of many moving parts behind the healing and growth we as a planet are experiencing. I have also learned that whatever makes me happy, laugh, silly, dance, and smile, all are to be treasured and continued. I deserve these moments of joy and self-care, and by daily prayer and gratitude practices, I make space for more awareness of all types of abundant moments to come. My heart, in its widening and expansive movement, keeps showing me so many more ways that Love wants to teach us.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am here to support others as they awaken, transform, and find their voice. I am known for Health and Creativity through yoga, sound healing, and collage. I am also a seeker of Divine Wisdom and Truth and offer journal prompts to awaken the truth within others. For others to speak their truth, they must go on a journey, at their own pace, to discover and live the truths that will bring them not just joy but soul joy. That is the joy that comes after a dark night of the soul and transformation. It is such a part of you that doing those actions deeply satisfy your heart and soul.
When I read the testimonials that I have received over the last 30 years (see some of the testimonials here: www.tinakaragulian.com), I am able to piece together how people have received my work. In the art I create, or the sessions and classes I hold for others, many people report experience feeling safe and peaceful. There is a depth of deep healing they experience that helps them with past trauma, and there is a lightness that comes after a sound healing, collage session, or yoga set. This is what spurs me on. I know that I have a gift of holding space for this deep healing to happen in sessions, and in my art, for the Divine to work through my paintbrush when I paint. I deeply trust the Divine that lives within each person and our spirit teams that accompany us in this lifetime, and in my collaborations with others, I invite that healing in and I watch the magic unfold and integrate. I am always blown away and pleasantly surprised by the ahas that come to others after sessions. I feel as if I get a front seat to watch this transformation occur, and I am deeply honored to do what I am here to do.
Each and every person on this planet deserves to be fully alive. How we live now, how we communicate with one another, and how we listen to one another is key. Below are some areas I feel I am supporting others:
Voice
Consent
Boundaries
Joy
Empowerment
Intuition
Discernment
Truth
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are so many I cannot name them all, yet thank them all now. My family has always loved me, even those who could not understand my path fully. I know on a deep soul level, they are incredibly supportive, and I am grateful for them. I am appreciative of their role at different moments of my life.
Some of my teachers taught me hard lessons so I could grow. I am grateful for them and the role they played in my process. They were part of the empowerment I mentioned earlier. I know that they agreed to play that role so I could break free of old patterns once and for all. I know before this lifetime, they agreed to do this, and trusted that I could eventually see beyond the painful earth moments to what it would grow in me.
I also have had many wonderful teachers who have supported me during my life. Those who taught me art, yoga, and spiritual healing modalities helped me to find myself. I am particularly grateful to those who have developed a balanced wisdom and were able to hear my truth-telling voice and honor my learning as I spoke it aloud. These teachers could see what others could not, and their vision helped me. My high school history teacher was one such teacher who taught history in ways that went beyond the textbook. My professors at Bryn Mawr College who introduced me to women and their voices in ways I could only imagine as a young girl. Some of my yoga teachers and mentors helped me to hone my teaching, bring balance to my mind, ground neutrality to my heart. There have been many women who have helped me and supported my work, yet also taught me how to soften and to receive love and kindness. My yoga students who have been students with me during COVID have helped me to fulfill my role and be part of my community. One yoga student for two years has asked me to teach series after series so I could develop my craft, stay focused, and she often has said it has been life-changing experience for her. Our relationship is mutually supportive.
My son has been one of my favorite teachers. He is an amazing artist and teacher in his own right, and his loving support has been a rock for me as I continue to expand my business in the world.
And finally, I thank my spirit team, as well as ancestors, particularly Zarman, are ever with me. They are my family from the other side, and they have been ever present in their guidance and love, and I am so grateful for their guiding hand in each moment.
They all contribute to my offerings, and I am truly grateful.
Over 20 years ago, I was an instructor at a university for a semiconductor company here in Austin. I loved teaching engineers the technical courses I taught them. Yet one day, my soul spoke loudly to me. I wanted to teach science in a new way. I heard myself say, “I want to teach people how to live.” And that is why I am here. To live my life as fully as I can and have others discover how to do that in their own way, with their own wisdom and timing, and rhythm.
Pricing:
- $25 for single yoga class
- $250 for 10-week yoga series
- $175 hour sound, truth/clarity, collage, yoga session
- $222 hour and a half sound, truth/clarity, collage, yoga session
- $5,000 for 12-week Transformational Package
Contact Info:
- Email: info@tinakaragulian.com
- Website: www.tinakaragulian.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackroseartsandpress/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackRoseArtsandPress
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV1KnNQqMDlSAJhq86OFEhg
- Other: https://square.site/book/81K7MPPV7P6YD/black-rose-arts-press
Image Credits:
Luminous photograph by Ron Johanningsmaier. Photograph of Tina Karagulian by Tiffany Asha. Sound Healing photograph on Molokai by Barbara Williams. Photograph of feet on beach retreat by Michele Garza. Photograph of yoga class by Victoria Trevino.
