Sonia Choquette Writer, Intuitive, and Healer
Upon landing an interview with Sonia Choquette, I am more excited than I have ever been. I notice this, because whether it was working with celebrities that I had admired, traveling through Europe, or touring America with Broadway musicals...I have had many exciting opportunities in my career. Yet my body is even more elated by the fact that I will be talking one on one with Sonia Choquette. I have learned to pay attention to this feeling, because it doesn't come along often.
Sonia's books have been favorites of mine for many years. I have read them over and over. At age nine, I began my studies on spirituality, religion, and personal growth. I was magnetized to the unseen, the holy, and the sacred. Sonia's writing is remarkably candid, easy to understand, direct, encouraging, and honest. Sonia is able to diagnose problems in the chakra system and to give a person clear- cut advice and direction. She is able to see their patterns, thoughts and actions, as well as the energetic dynamics of their relationships. She often sees what it is that clients are hiding from themselves. She teaches people to do the same work that she does in her workshops around the country.
One of her books, Trust Your Vibes, explains how the body will always tell us the truth. A jumpy sensation in the gut is our third chakra's way of saying "don't" or warning us that trouble lies ahead. In The Wise Child, Sonia discusses how in tune children are with the energetic emanations of the adults around them. They can accurately tell you who the real person is, behind the persona, just by being in their presence. In her book True Balance, Sonia discusses each chakra in depth, teaching us how to heal and balance our energy centers through what appear to be simple changes and approaches. I am struck by how everything she suggests makes so much sense. As I apply her insights, I see instant positive changes in my life. I always feel better and more on track after reading and applying the information from her books. Her practical advice has shifted the course of my life considerably... putting me on my path, artistically, and encouraging me to follow my intuition without question. Her books have also made me aware of self-destructive patterns and personal weaknesses that I hadn't previously acknowledged or addressed.
During our conversation, Sonia tells me that she was a jazz dancer and confides that being a professional dancer was her original dream. As we talk, the conversation takes curves that I hadn't expected. She hits on some things in my ballet training that mirror what I had felt all along. Sonia is very strong, has conviction, and I can feel that what she is saying is true. She tells me that when you dance your spirit descends into your body... unlike any other time. She explains that dancing balances your chakras... because of this she requires her students to dance as part of their training as intuitives and healers. I feel as if I have been studying long distance with Sonia for a long time, since I have repeatedly turned to her books, like a trusted friend. I even have started to see chakra energy, which is something new. I tell Sonia about my glimpses on the phone: "Last night I was teaching my adult ballet students a Vaganova exercise where we do eight rond de jambe en l'air on releve. While demonstrating, I was concentrating very hard on my alignment and staying up on releve. As I looked in the mirror, I saw a shining white light above my head, which I recognized as the crown chakra." "That's exciting!" she encourages me. I can feel her openness and enthusiasm.
Sonia teaches the importance of developing our talents, which in turn balances our first chakra. Since these are the skills that we will use in our work, they will in turn make us the money we need to live, eat, enjoy life and share with others what we have brought into the world. She points out that people who don't utilize their talents, and ride on the coattails of others end up feeling unhappy and resentful. When we spend time developing the gifts that come to us naturally, we feel excited, optimistic, and give off a healthy, vibrant vibration. For healing the first chakra she recommends creating order, showing up, and getting grounded through activities such as gardening, vigorous exercise, and establishing and maintaining organization in our lives. As a dancer and teacher, I see many studio owners and teachers struggle with this issue. If their lives fall into disarray, they suffer financially and lose business. I have had to leave so many dance studios because the doors were locked when the studio should have been opened, or the paychecks weren't there, or the parents and students were trying to run the studio. Often in these situations, the owners were very fine teachers and talented dancers...they just struggled with the business side, boundaries, and management. In my own life when my income has been low I can always trace it back to personal messiness and avoidance of structure and order. Once I fix the problem, I invariably attract more opportunities, income, and I feel a sense of relief and regaining of ground.
When it comes to the second chakra, Sonia's advice gives off a feeling of inspiration, love of beauty, creativity, passion, and joy of life. She advises us to enjoy good food, social gatherings, and all that bring to us pleasure and sensuality. So many people in America seem to spend money they don't have to fill a void inside themselves. Sonia teaches small ways to enjoy the simple things in life...whether it's taking a bath by candlelight, fixing a delicious meal, walking on the beach, or listening to our favorite music. She teaches us about flow... flow of money, feelings, passion, life, and opportunities.
Our phone conversation turns to the issues of dominance and patriarchy. This is something I feel is very much in the air right now. She feels that dominance doesn't work, and tells me "that period is kind of over now." I am relieved to hear it. I find when I read Sonia's books I get excited about change. I realize, through her, that I can make new choices and create new energy and outcomes. I am particularly interested in another point which she writes about on the first chakra. She explains that when people slack off, or cheat others, (sliding through) that this is an imbalance in the first chakra. I think about how many times I have worked with this type of personality, (the person who tries to get others to do their work for them.) Often these are the people who get hired because of family ties or friendship, rather than based on their talent, experience, and work ethic. So often in my life I've had this sort of person expect me to pull their weight for them. When I have refused, it has been met with an outburst of rage. From Sonia, I learn that these are first and third chakra issues. The first being taking responsibility for yourself and paying your own way, and the third being about commitment and will.
When I read Sonia's advice for the third chakra, I find the most help. She explains techniques for keeping your boundaries, so that people don't take advantage of you, disrespect you or your work, or invade your space. She tells a wonderful story about a woman who was being used by her massage clients as a doormat. Once this woman hired a secretary to set the rules and keep them in place, her business and income flourished. She was able to do her work without feeling cheated, taken advantage of, or emotionally abused.
Writing about the heart center, Sonia advises us to eat green vegetables, to laugh, and to enjoy our intimate connections with others. Another one of Sonia's books, "Your Heart's Desire," teaches people how to really get in touch with what it is that will bring them joy and fulfillment on a soul level. This is one of my favorite books. The results may surprise you. Mine did. Sometimes we run from our heart's longing without even realizing it. The heart usually wants something quite different from the head.
Although Sonia is married to her soul mate, Patrick Tully, and they have two daughters together, she still has the discipline and dedication to sit down and write inspiring books at a remarkable pace. Many women would wait until their children were raised to turn their creative juices to writing, but Sonia finds a way to combine both, keeping herself grounded, yet still fulfilling her creative needs and getting her inspiring words out into the world. Sonia can be reached at www.soniachoquette.com