Carly Ko on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Carly Ko. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Carly, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Every morning, I wake up and reflect on all the things I’m grateful for. Then I choose 1 of the 430 workout videos based on my mood to sweat to for 20 minutes, I run outside naked and shower off under the garden hose. I make my hot chocolate, (which I like to convince myself that it is healthy due to the Maka, mushroom, cashew butter, with a Chile pepper additions) and then I sit down at my desk thrilled to start my day doing exactly the thing I feel most excited about. 
Luckily every day after my hot chocolate is a bit different, but once I have lit a candle, blessed myself with palo Santo, dabbed on some vanilla oil on my skin and taken 3 deep breaths. I open my computer, look out the window at the expansive ocean horizon complete with swaying palm trees and crowing chickens. I begin the exhilarating life fulfilling journey into the lives of each one of my clients. 
Even though I can brag that I live in Hawaii, can descend to 100 ft below the ocean surface on one breath and climb a 14,000 foot volcano across broken lava shards, the thing that brings the most meaning to me right now is my work as a somatic therapist.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I like to work with people who are outside of the box, the HSP’s, neurodivergents, rebels, artists and people who just don’t quite fit in. Let’s say like attracts like, but because we are all so insanely different, our difference is the attraction.
I consider myself a creative, I love novelty and I like to do things in a way that is only my way. Meaning, when I work with my clients with somatic Therapy, I can pull up my magic box of tools based on what would most support them, channeling, IFS parts work, NVC, theater, somatic experiencing, shamanism, energy healing, spiritual guidance, travel and multi-cultural support. I love to delve into the complex worlds of each client and source their inner wisdom to allow them to shine.
I work with my clients on line and in-person, from Japan, Australia, Ireland, Hawaii and California. I have been a world traveller and now I get to travel the world with each one of them. I also hold 1:1 retreats in the sacred land of Hawaii where I currently call home. I have finally been given permission from the land spirits to hold a group retreat here which is happening for New Years where I will be teaching others to read their own Akashic Records and that of others. It is a calling to support others to step into their channeling capacities and access higher wisdom for the benefit of the world.
I am currently writing a self-help/ memoir for all the “I don’t belongers” out there. My tribe. Second draft is almost finished and will be published next year…

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Of course,I don’t want anyone to ever think that I’m a carbon copy of anyone else. I used to believe that I simply don’t belong in this f’d up world. I didn’t believe in the principles, the politics, the business is business model, planetary destruction, greed, etc. I thought I was better and was drawn to the people who thought like me.
But then I started realizing that even though I thought I was superior in some way, I had faults. I spent years trying to heal, work on my inner perfection until I finally conceded. I will never be perfect so I might as well start loving all the parts of myself, even the ones that I would hate for anyone to see.
Once I could start loving my shadows, I could start seeing our common needs behind our actions. I acted like an A-hole because underneath I just wanted you to love me and I was disappointed that you ignored me.
After going through the list of core essential needs, everyone fit into the box. We all have the same core needs, but we use different strategies to meet them!
We all experience a range of emotion and our mirror neurons can empathically connect with others through the recognition of their emotion within ourselves.
Suddenly people just became a bunch of hurt humans trying to get their needs fulfilled, like love, compassion, belonging, safety, being understood, seen, etc. the problem is that we don’t come from a place of vulnerability most of the time, but end up demanding our needs, coercing or manipulating or forcing others to meet them.
Once I could see the underlying common denominator, I could open my heart to all humans and see them beneath the presenting action. Once this viewpoint is established, understanding begets the possibility for care, compassion and love.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
I used to believe that I will never, I say never conform to the status quo. In this case, it meant having a normal job with a normal house.
I was a nomad for 10 years, lived in vans, gypsy caravans, large lofts, big ocean side houses, crazy architectural dream homes, but an apartment, never.
I was convinced that I must be different. I had a 9-5 job once in my life, testing alarms when I was 15, I got fired after 2 days.
I have gone beyond my idea that I will never be a slave to rent and have decided to join the non-owner system by paying rent the last 6 years. And I love not having the responsibility of fixing sh*t when it breaks. It’s the landlords job. I can focus on my work in the world instead of focusing on building, tending land, or fixing my camper’s tires.
Now, I have decided to buy an apartment. Ok, it’s not a modern apartment in some boring town in the suburbs. I would like an apartment in the historic center of a little town in France near the dordogne river. I want to be able to walk outside to the market, go jogging along the river and now have to tend to a garden or to the walls of my home. And of course, I’ll just be there a few months a year because my son lives in France and I live in Hawaii, but this is a giant step.
I know, it still sounds romantic, I refuse to give up on the romanticism but I am ready to invest in something so proper as an apartment where I am not a wild free bird on the outskirts of society, I might even buy a little basket to go down to the market and say hello to all the vendors as if I really lived there full time.
The reality, it’s just about shifting identity. The identity I held on to, rebel, artist, misfit, creative, is saying, it’s ok, you don’t have to prove that anymore, you can also let yourself enjoy the comforts of a semi normal living, it won’t take away your identity or your love for freedom. This is a growth step and you are not stuck there, just like you are not stuck to being nomad in a van. I can still be free and pay my yearly HOA.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I channel the Akashic Records. Huh?
I access wisdom from your higher self, receive it into my little brain and exude the words from my mouth.
I am supposedly tapping into the collective consciousness, accessing your soul’s higher wisdom and even get information from your ancestors, past lives and can even tap into your ex- boyfriend if you give me his full name.
How does this happen? According to Blavatsky the originator of the Akashic Records, there is an energetic field where all things are imprinted and it’s like we simply go up into this giant library and pull out the book.
But I don’t see any guy with long flow hair and a golden robe. I just feel pressure at the top of my head when I’m receiving information and I can tell the difference when it’s my thoughts because then I feel pressure on my forehead in my prefrontal cortex instead.
I ask things for myself, like should I buy this house? It shows me a leak under the house and my body gets crazy heavy and I see dark shadows in my mind. I was really excited about this house. I get it inspected, sure enough, leak under the house, mushrooms and mold everywhere, very bad fit.
The other day I accessed someones dead mother who came through me with all these regrets and words she didn’t say when she was still alive. I found myself sobbing hysterically and saying I’m sorry to her daughter.
And in the same tone and words her mother would use.
So yes, it’s true. The information that comes through is nearly always precise. I know I did an energetic attunement from my mentor to open up my channel, I know the led me into some internal little journey where I go through a hole in the sky and down under the ocean and then swim towards a pool light and boom, I’m in the akashic space.
Some things I can’t prove, because it’s just a knowing and who’s going to take you to court against a knowing?

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I close my eyes, I’m laying on the surface of 80 degree clear water. I’m in the waters of South Kona, staring through my snorkel at the abysss below me.
I slowly breathe for minutes, I repeat, there is nowhere else to be but here.
It is my turn, I think at worst, I will pass out and someone will bring me to safety.
I signal to my dive buddy the plan, 20 – 30 meters, constant weight, meet me at 10.
I take my last breath, bringing it up to my lungs, my upper chest and all the way up to my collar bones as I expand my upper back, release my snorkel, grab the line and dive straight down.
I stare at the cord in front of me, there is nowhere else to be but here. If I think, it takes up energy, which diminishes oxygen. Stay present.
10 meters, 20 meters, a hint of panic arises, no panic Carly, stay present. I keep diving down, my weight below 10 meters propels me down. The free fall, a divers luxury, I barely kick and let the fall pull me down, the weight is set at 30 meters (100 feet).
I touch it, made it.
I begin the long journey back up.
I let my eyes tilt upwards, there is nothing but immense blue above me, the rays of the sun stream through like golden rainbows of light. There is nothing but me and this moment. I am aware that I am kicking, that I am rising, yet the surface is so far away. I take a moment to look around, there is pure peace, deep silence, and the only solution in this moment is complete and Total acceptance.
I rise kicking, I feel contractions in my lungs, my body is signaling for air, but my mind resists. You have all the air you need, just stay with the moment.
Finally, the surface is only 30 feet away, a diver comes down to meet me and stares me in the eyes, their eyes hold me present as we ascend together, I exhale the last of my air before the surface and at the top I breathe in. 3 deep breaths, I look at my partner and signal with my thumb and index finger together, I voice. I’m ok.
And smile.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carlykocreation.com
• Instagram: @ko_creation
• Linkedin: carlyko
• Facebook: carlyko
• Youtube: carlyko1

Image Credits
Jaimin Fitting