19. Mia Taninaka on Expanding Beyond What You Think is Possible.

Today we enter into the wise and mystical world of Mia Taninaka, a multidisciplinary artist whose work invites us to peer beyond the veil into the heart of the imaginative consciousness. 

In this conversation, Mia opens up about navigating the internal battle between creating for yourself and creating for others—a struggle familiar to so many artists. We explore the archetype of the "starving artist" and how it blocks our reclamation of the artist’s role as a conduit of something greater. Mia shares her wisdom on trusting your own creative flavour, the power of saying no, and surrendering to the process—especially when self-doubt creeps in.

We delve into the alchemical nature of art-making, where even the darkest moments of frustration with a piece can be transmuted into breakthroughs, offering a richer depth to both the work and the artist. Mia’s practice of Vedic meditation and kriya yoga has deepened her connection to her creative process, allowing her to channel energy from her lineage-based spiritual practices directly into her work. Through her spiritual practices she has learned to cultivate and trust the energy that fuels her artistic evolution.

Mia reminds us that part of this process is embracing the chaos and dialogue that unfolds between the artist and the canvas, even when it feels like you might have to burn the piece. It's about surrendering, taking space, and returning with new eyes. 

This episode is an invitation to dance with the unseen forces that shape our creative lives, to trust, to surrender, and to level up as we lean into our deepest artistic selves. 

The key juicy ideas we deepen into today are:

- How to unveil the depths of imaginative consciousness

- Overcoming the starving artist stereotype

- Balancing personal creativity with external expectations

- Cultivating the confidence to say no and embrace your unique essence

- Emphasizing trust and surrender within the creative journey

- Redefining self-doubt as an inherent aspect of artistic growth

- Incorporating dark times into the creative process

- Understanding how ancient spiritual practices unlock imaginative potential

- Enhancing creative expression through Vedic meditation

- Leveraging ancestral myths to enrich artistic pursuits

- Inviting your inner genius into your creative space

- Utilising different spiritual practices at different stages of the creative process

- Catapulting your evolution through Kriya and Himalayan breath-work 

KEY EPISODE LINKS:
Learn more about Rachael's 1:1 Creative Partnership 2025
Explore Mia's website
Explore Mia's instagram
Elizabeth Gilbert's Ted Talk

You can follow The World Needs Creatives on Instagram HERE.

Explore working or collaborating with Rachael at rachael@rachaelsardelich.com and learn more about her work HERE.

You can join the wider conversation and our community over on Substack via THIS LINK.

The original painted work in the show design was hand painted by artist Sarah Darling.

The creation of our original musical score was created by Camilla Rose Sullivan.