The Women of TTB: Indira Grace

My mother taught me to always seek first to understand, and then to be understood. She said that all religions were valid, all belief systems necessary for people to know themselves and that which created them. She said that no one religion gets to have the “goods on God.” She encouraged me to learn as much about each of them, so I could honor another’s beliefs, that I could have compassion and empathy for them.

The Women of TTB is a series where we focus on some of the women who helped get The Tattooed Buddha off and running and also continue to keep it growing! We sent out a few interview questions to some of these writers and artists so that we could find out more about them and highlight their many talents!

Tell me a little about yourself. Where do you live? What is your living arrangement like?

I live in a suburb of Kansas City called Lee’s Summit. I currently live with my best friend and my 8-year-old Cavalier King Charles/Cocker Spaniel mix named Alexander.

How did you get into the arts/writing? 

I have always written. As a little girl, I loved putting words together to create images, feelings, and messages. As a small child, I wrote stories about Susie Blue. My Susie Blue stories continued throughout my elementary school years, so much so that my classmates would wait for the next installment of Susie Blue’s life. When I was in the 5th grade, I won the Daughters of the American Revolution historical writing award. In the 6th grade, I made “history” when I won it again.

These were defining moments for me. I realized that I had a voice and I had things to say. I wrote for my high school yearbook, college organizations, and professional newsletters. Basically, anywhere I landed, I became the writer for that organization or position. I have never stopped writing and I never plan to.

Do you meditate? What is your practice like? 

I do. I take time each day to sit in the silence. Some days, I can get very quiet and really sink in and sync up. Other days, not so much. I guess that is why we call it a practice.

How did you get into meditation?

I was a junior in college when I learned that a buddy of mine practiced meditation. I walked into his room and saw him sitting in half lotus, eyes closed, hands in a simple mudra. I was intrigued. We talked about it, he showed me the ropes, and I started from there. When I joined the Rime Buddhist Center in Kansas City in 1998, I took my practice much deeper. I took their meditation teacher certification course when it was offered. Now, I teach others to spend time in the quiet, as a way of moving into one’s power.

Do you identify with any specific spirituality? If so, how did that happen for you? What spirituality were you raised in?

In truth, I identify with all of them. My mother taught me to always seek first to understand, and then to be understood. She said that all religions were valid, all belief systems necessary for people to know themselves and that which created them. She said that no one religion gets to have the “goods on God.” She encouraged me to learn as much about each of them, so I could honor another’s beliefs, that I could have compassion and empathy for them. She said that in order to really understand a person, we have to know what makes them tick, and their religious beliefs tells us a lot about that. So, I have spent my life visiting sanghas and ashrams, churches and mosques, temples, Gurdwara’s, and forests, feeling the same sense of peace and love in each place.

When I tell people what I practice, I tell them that I am a practicing Buddhist and a Unity Christian, with some yogic Hindu thrown in for good measure. The interesting thing about being a Buddhist and a Unity Christian is that neither truly has a Holy book. They both have dharma, writings from many teachers, even the founders, which are supposed to help you have a deeper knowing of your wholeness, your power.

What are your goals in life? What do you hope to do some day? Do you have a bucket list?

My goals: there are many. I am actively completing my ordination with the Institute for Leadership and Lifelong Learning and will be ordained on August 1. I want to get my 500 yoga teacher training hours; I have my 200 now. I am in the process of creating my ministry (which I am calling an ashram because of the personal feelings I have about the missionaries and the spread of Christianity throughout history) and a school within it that helps people step into their natural psychic abilities and personal power.

I have some books and stories that I would love to write. I am also looking to become a death doula. But most importantly, I want to empower people to live their most authentic, love filled lives. I am pretty open to the experience’s life wants me to have right now. It hasn’t steered me wrong yet. And yes, I also have a bucket list, which is different than my goals. I have many places I want to travel to, many places that I want to experience, many people that I want to meet, and many languages that I want to learn.

What do you do for a living? 

I am a prayer associate for a Unity-based prayer room, so I pray with people for a living. I am also a professional psychic and medium, which I do at spirit fairs, as well as by private appointment. I run my own psychic training and personal empowerment school. I am a massage therapist, yoga teacher, Reiki Master, and Shamanic healer.

How long have you done that?

Prayer associate-about 16 months this time. I had done it for a year, about 9 years ago.
Professional psychic-about 20 years. Medium—I just added that within the last few years. I started my school a year ago. Massage therapist-18 years. Yoga teacher-4 years. Reiki Master-10 years. Shamanic healer-15 years.

What is your most favorite memory? 

Oh gosh. This is really tough. It is hard to choose just one. I have 49 years of an amazingly beautiful life, but I will use one in the last 3 years. I took a week-long vacation. On the first day, I traveled to Wichita, Kansas, where I took an intimate tour of a Frank Lloyd Wright house and then went swimming with the penguins at a local wildlife park. Afterwards, I traveled to Colorado where I glamped and then went white water rafting down the Arkansas River. It was the most amazing trip of the last few years. So many things checked off my bucket list that week.

If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be?

That is a toss-up. Either His Holiness the Dalai Lama or John Lennon.

How did you get involved with TTB?

I don’t really remember. Maybe I saw an ad for writers wanted?

How long have you been involved with TTB?

About a year and a half.

What would you like to see TTB do in the future?

TTB is the vision and dream of those who created it. I am thrilled to be a contributor, but I do not have a stake in the design. I only want to be a support to this beautiful community.

Anything else you would like to add about yourself?

I don’t know. What else do you want to know? I’m feel like I am an open book.

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