No Empire to Build

Founder of Yogadelics, Taryn Mook, a smiling woman , with dark, wavy hair wearing a white sleeveless top with shell embellishments and colorful bead necklaces, standing in front of a wall decorated with metal leaf art and surrounded by green plants.

I loved art when I was young, but it wasn’t a vocation I pursued as an adult. Art didn’t feel practical for someone who grew up in a messy single-parent household steeped in poverty. When I left home at sixteen, working different jobs to support myself through school, the whimsy and free-flowing prospects of being an artist felt incompatible with a body wired for survival.

It took me a good two decades to get here, where my soul now feels free to express itself in free-flowing doodles and writings, without performance or commercial pressure.

A line drawing of a woman with curly hair sitting on a yoga mat with two cats, one lying on her lap and one stretching beside her. Surrounding her are jars, a coffee mug labeled 'Overnight Chilled Coffee', a remote, and a box of matches. Text above reads 'My soul chose a beautiful life...' and a handwritten note at the bottom says 'P.S. Don't you think this leopard look wonderful?' The woman is pointing with her right hand, and there is a speech bubble saying 'Don't forget the immense love we already have in our life' with a heart symbol.

Why I Draw & Write

Doodling, writing, and publishing my work as a transmission of joyful wisdom makes so much sense now, after decades of exploring my own multidimensional identity, inner world, and inner child, and finding a voice that’s authentically mine. I want to doodle whatever comes through and write whatever is true, for everyone and no one; to rest without earning it and to create only when inspired. There’s no logical reason for Yogadelics - no empire to build, and no need to be a bossy girl or a new-age channeller.

My cats are my biggest creative muses as you will see soon enough! They are in almost every drawing. I hope these doodles and little ruminations will bring a little smile or insightful reflection during your moments of pauses.

“A season to be lost and a season to be found..”

A woman with curly hair is standing at a kitchen sink, drinking from a mug labeled "Overnight Chilled Coffee." There are two cats relaxing nearby; one sitting on a chair and the other lying on a mat on the floor. The scene includes a potted plant, paper towels, a small table with a container and remote, and a framed picture on a stool.

The doodles here may speak to you, or they may not. It won’t matter in the big scheme of this earth where we’ve come to learn. But I know it gives me joy that my creations will touch those who need to be reached that way.

Yogadelics was officially started in 2025, but in truth, it’s always been in the process of creation inside. I truly believe that what’s meant to be will always come through. You cannot hasten the process before it is ready. There is a season to be lost and a season to be found. And this is the season where I found my doodling spirit!

When I came back from Mexico this year, I experienced such profound soul reset that I inadvertently unblocked everything that has been holding back my creative energy.

I went into deep creative flows for a few maddening months of sleeplessness where I was doodling and writing non-stop.

I even lost my voice for a month or two. In those months, I channelled my evenings and weekends into creating the Self Medicine Path Oracle. It was the most challenging time at my day job and also a deeply fecund creative season. It was as if decades of suppressed grief, joy, and remembrance suddenly erupted.

Though not a designer by training, I picked up enough Adobe skills in Fresco, InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator to transform hand-drawn designs into print-ready working files.

I’m really glad I released this valve of creative flow. It was a much needed healing process for me.

A woman is sitting on a bed with her eyes closed, surrounded by cats and books. She has dark curly hair tied up and is wearing earrings. One cat is sleeping, another is sitting near her, and a third is stretching with a speech bubble that says 'meow.' There are various notes around her, like 'submit cover design,' 'edit chapter two,' and 'deadlines,' indicating busy planning or work. Items like a remote, a tablet, an open book, and snacks are on the bed.
Line drawing of two women sitting on the floor with a cat, surrounded by objects such as a basket of rolled papers, a mug with the words 'You are the world,' a steaming candle, a smoking incense holder, and a shelf with a steaming incense holder and some folded papers. One woman has curly hair and is sitting with her legs extended, the other has braided hair and is smiling.
Line drawing of a desk decorated with tarot cards, books, crystals, candles, plants, and incense. A cat sits on a stool to the left, and another cat's picture is displayed behind the desk.
Founder of Yogadelics, Taryn Mook, with wavy black hair smiling and resting her chin on her hands, lying on a fluffy white towel or pillow. In the background, there is a wall chart with illustrations of yoga poses.

Now that I’ve had some time to decompress and reflect, I see I was going through a deep process of transmutation, where I channeled the grief and shadows I’d been holding inside into creations of light.

I’m currently writing a book with illustrated, accessible chapters. In those pages I share my process for living a more embodied life. It will be a longer, more personal version of my blog here, filled with anecdotes, lived experiences, and many more doodles!

The book is targeted for launch in December, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.

In the meantime, follow us on Instagram @Yogadelics_life for updates and sneak peeks into the doodles and chapters.

With ever wonderment & gratitude,
Taryn Mook

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