Today we’d like to introduce you to Akasha J. Smith, PhD.
Hi Akasha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was ten years old, I decided to start changing the world, or at least our little corner of it.
The song “We Are the World” had just swept across the globe. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and performed by an all-star lineup, it raised money for people in Africa struggling with famine. The song was everywhere, a call for unity, compassion, and hope. I wanted to be a part of it.
So I gathered a group of friends on my front lawn, convinced them we had to sing it in the school talent show, and somehow ended up organizing rehearsals and even solos. We practiced until we could sing it by heart, our voices full of joy and nervousness. “We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones to make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.”
Something must have landed, because our school decided to make We Are the World the theme of the entire event. For one bright night, our cafeteria stage became a space filled with love and possibility. The school honored me for bringing it all together.
That moment, though I could not have named it then, planted the seed for everything that came after.
At nineteen, my life took another turn when my father died just six months after being diagnosed with cancer. Grief cracked me open and led me through a deep transformation. It was the beginning of my healing and awakening journey, fueled by the desire to understand life, death, and the energy that connects us all. That loss became the doorway to my calling as a healer, teacher, and spiritual guide.
I followed that calling across continents, studying in temples in Bali, ashrams in India, and on sacred lands in Thailand and Hawaii. Along the way, I earned degrees in Contemplative and Transpersonal Psychology, including a PhD in East-West Psychology, becoming the first in my family to do so. My greatest education, though, has always come from listening deeply within and following my inner guidance wherever it led.
Over the past 20 years, I have guided more than 10,000 healing sessions. Since 2004, I’ve taught mindfulness, psychology, intuitive healing, and the arts here locally and throughout the United States. In recent years, I have begun teaching in Bali, Greece, and now worldwide through my School of Awakened Living. Our Professional Intuitive Healer Certification Program helps people trust their intuition, heal old patterns, and create soul-aligned work that is refects their true calling. I am deeply grateful to witness how profoundly this work changes people’s lives.
When I look back, I see the thread clearly now.
From that little girl who gathered her friends to sing about changing the world,
to the woman who now gathers hearts from around the globe to remember their light,
the message is the same: We are the world. We heal together.
And in times like these, when so many are awakening and searching for meaning, that truth feels more alive than ever.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My biggest challenge has been learning to trust my own path, especially when it did not fit into traditional definitions of success or how most people were living. There were not many examples of how to bridge ancient wisdom, multidimensional healing, and practical teaching, so I had to find my own way.
There were moments of doubt, fear, and financial uncertainty, and times when I felt misunderstood or alone but those challenges became the catalyst for the work I teach today. Obstacles became initiations that deepened my compassion and ultimately my ability to hold strong space for others’ to heal and grow. They also taught me that I can get to the other side of the challenges. Over time I began to see, how connected I am to something greater than myself no matter how tough things can feel in a moment. When I can trust that, I can trust how my life and reality are unfolding a lot more.
Now, I teach that the healing path is about presence, self-trust and remembering who you really are. When we’re living this way, fear is not running the show so much of the time. My mission is to help empower people to live how they really want to be living and help make the world a better place through doing it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our work is about guiding people home to themselves. We offer personalized one-to-one healing and mentoring programs, immersive spiritual group trainings, and transformational retreats in breathtaking destinations like Costa Rica, Bali, and Greece. What sets us apart is the depth of our approach. We blend intuitive guidance, somatic healing, and soul-centered mentorship to create experiences that are as grounded as they are mystical.
Each offering is designed to help you release what holds you back, remember your true essence, and embody the life your soul is calling for. We are most proud of the life-changing results our clients experience. The positive shifts are evident in all areas of their lives. At its core, our work is not about escaping the world but coming fully home to yourself to shine within it.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The field of intuitive healing is expanding rapidly and is an essential part of humanity’s evolution. Over the past two decades, I have watched it grow in ways I could never have imagined. People are beginning to understand that healing is not only physical or emotional, but also deeply energetic. It only takes one experience to shift what a person believes is possible. Witnessing these moments of awakening with the people I work with is one of my greatest joys.
The next generation of healers is being called to do this work with integrity, skill, and clear energetic boundaries. It is vital that healers stay grounded, ethical, and heart-centered. It is also very important that they take good care of themselves while doing this work. The more we embody our own light, the more we elevate the collective, which is so needed right now. This leads to more people genuinely caring about each other, our world and ultimately a better quality of life for all. We are all deeply interconnected.
That’s why I’m so passionate about training professional intuitive healers. Every time a new healer is trained, they go out into the world and help others by bringing their hearts and presence. That is how the change happens. The kindness, love and healing keep multiplying through the ripple effect. That is truly the heart and outcome of this work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.schoolofawakenedliving.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakened_living_with_akasha/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awakenedlivingjoywithakasha/
