Faith, Freedom & Finding Your Own Truth: Sovereignty in Spirituality (Episode 28)

Today, I’m pouring a hot cup of truth and inviting you to sip with me on one of the most personal journeys I’ve taken: the winding, wild, and wonderfully sacred road to spiritual sovereignty.

Let’s start here: spirituality isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s not a set of rules. It’s not shame, fire, or fear. And it’s definitely not a performance. It’s connection—real, raw, heart-led connection to something greater than yourself. And it’s yours to define.

I was lucky to be surrounded by a variety of spiritual influences growing up. My Grandma Pansy was Protestant, but she took us to a Church of Religious Science—a more expansive, spiritual space where God wasn’t boxed in by fear. She also showed me what it meant to pray in nature, barefoot in the dirt, with the wind whispering wisdom. That stuck with me.

In grade school, a teacher brought us to a Methodist church. One of my best friends was Jewish, and I’d go to temple with her—I loved the singing, the stories, the way it felt like community. But when my mom remarried, we became Catholic, and I stepped into something completely different. The ritual was beautiful, but the energy was heavy. There was fear. Fire and brimstone. I almost got baptized and confirmed, but something in me always questioned: why does love have so many consequences here?

As I got older and started traveling, everything shifted. I experienced Buddhism and Hinduism through yoga, reconnected with Jewish rituals through a partner, and stood in awe in Turkey watching Muslims, Christians, and Jews pray side by side. I studied the major religions and realized that they all started with the same seed—love, compassion, community—but over time, systems of control, hierarchy, colonization, and shame layered on top of them. It became clear to me that religion has been used not just to connect—but to dominate. To erase indigenous wisdom. To justify wars. To silence women. To keep us small, obedient, and afraid.

But here’s the truth I landed on: the divine doesn’t need domination. Spirit doesn’t need performance. Your soul doesn’t need a gatekeeper.

Spiritual sovereignty means you get to choose what you believe in, how you connect, and what rituals matter to you.

Whether that’s chanting in a temple, meditating on a mountaintop, or laughing with your girlfriends under a full moon.

For me, travel has been one of the most profound spiritual teachers. It cracked me open. Every culture, every ceremony, every sacred site reminded me that divinity is everywhere—in the rituals of others, yes, but also in my own breath, my own body, my own rhythm. I’ve danced barefoot in Tulum, prayed to the many Gods in Bali, cried in Spanish cathedrals, and felt more spiritual drinking tea with Turkish strangers than I ever did in some churches.

What I see now is a growing trend of spiritual aesthetics. Perfect altars. Curated routines. Instagrammable mantras. And while I love a good ritual, let’s not confuse performance with embodiment. Sovereignty is about truth—not appearances. Your spiritual path doesn’t have to look good. It just has to feel real.

That’s why I’m so passionate about helping you remember that your spiritual journey is valid. You don’t have to follow a timeline. You don’t have to please your family, your culture, or your past. You just have to listen inward. What lights you up? What feels like truth?

And if you’re wondering where to begin—that’s where the magic of community comes in. That’s why we created La Vida Sagrada, our sacred Dia de los Muertos retreat in Mexico, October 31 to November 6, 2025. It’s a place where you can breathe, reset, and reclaim what’s sacred for you. No dogma. No judgment. Just soul, ceremony, and connection.

I created this episode to remind you: you are free to believe in your own beautiful way. And the more you do, the more the world heals.

So now, let’s get personal:

What were you taught to believe about God, spirituality, or truth?

What parts of those beliefs feel real—and what parts feel heavy or hollow?

Where do you feel the most spiritually alive?

What would it look like to create your own sacred path?

Say these with me:

I trust my own connection to the divine.

I release shame and reclaim my spiritual power.

I honor all paths that come from love.

I am free to choose what feels true for me.

If this stirred something in you, head to www.lisaschoenthal.com to download your free Journal for Transformation and Self-Discovery, explore upcoming retreats, and join the community.

And if your soul said “hell yes”—then come dance, play and celebrate life and sisterhood with us at La Vida Sagrada. This isn’t just a getaway. It’s a homecoming.

Only 5 spots left!!! ~ Special Code "SipTea" for $400 discount as a thank you for pulling up a seat at my table!

With love from,

Lis xo