Shannon Tato: A Heroine's Journey On the Yellow Brick Road by Helen Rutledge

Shannon Tato’s demeanor suggests nothing of adolescent Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. But don’t let appearances fool you, she is on a heroine’s journey. Shannon’s search to reclaim the pieces of herself and find her real home started many years ago at a lecture by Sue Monk Kidd’s at St Stevens Church, sponsored by TSI. The discussion, especially Carolyn Rivers’ words about the emerging feminine consciousness, bowled Shannon over. “To me, those were very strong and frank concepts to be spoken about in public.” Something in her heart leapt with recognition, and inspired her to attend Carolyn’s “Heart Callings” that same weekend. Here she uncovered a deep seeded passion and declared, “My calling is to be a writer.”  And, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, down the yellow brick road Shannon traveled to find her home through writing. 

Shannon returned to The Sophia Institute for a writing sabbatical where she could be nourished with the wealth of inspiring programs TSI offers. “It is so clear to me now. Everything I need to do --anything in life -- is within me. I am my own home.” This Aha moment came in a synchronistic series of allusions to The Wizard of Oz during an Erica Fox retreat on conflict resolution. Erica used the story to demonstrate the major archetypes we all share. Immediately after the seminar, Shannon turned on the television and The Wizard of Oz was playing. The following day Shannon picked up the book “Sacred Contracts” by Carolyn Myss and on a whim flipped to an unmarked page -- to a discussion of the archetypes of The Wizard of Oz. As if talking to the great wizard of Sophia she declared, “I got it. Everything I need is within me”. 

I ask her if writing has helped her spiritual path or has her spiritual path helped her writing? She says “Both.” the technique taught to her by Natalie Goldberg (also at TSI) of just letting your pen keep writing and not judging what is being written helped her move through writers block “This is the technique that has finally resonated with me in spiritual life. I now understand that I don’t need to question what is happening I just flow with it and through it just like in writing. My creative life and my spiritual life are becoming one and I just click my heels and I am home and at peace.”