Sherly’s Mission
To guide people towards self-mastery, empowering them to realise their fullest potential.
My Journey so Far...
From humble beginnings ...
I was born in a small town called Bandung in Indonesia. This photo captures a simple moment of joy between my mum and me; one of the few we had from those early years. It was also around this time that my family began calling me 'Elly' instead of my birth name, Sherly. Apparently, I gave myself the nickname because I couldn't quite pronounce 'Sherly.' Little did I know that the name would stay with me for life, eventually becoming part of the work that would shape my future.
This photo was taken just weeks after the fight that changed everything. My mum had left, though I didn't know it would be another eighteen years before I saw her again.
I was only five years old, but I sensed that I would have to learn to take care of myself. If you look closely, you'll notice my uneven fringe — the result of my first attempt at cutting my own hair (thankfully, I didn't poke my eyes out). Notice the Band-Aid under my chin? I watched my dad shave every morning and thought it must be an important part of becoming a grown-up, so I decided to shave too. Even then, I was always endlessly curious and wanted to find new ways to improve.
I immigrated to Australia, a country that felt completely unfamiliar. It was the 1980s, and I didn't look or sound like anyone around me. My dad remained in Jakarta for work, and in what felt like a very short space of time, I had lost my mum, her side of the family, and now the daily presence of my dad as well. I would soon face another loss too — the brother I knew, as anger and violence gradually changed our relationship.
This was the beginning of what I call the dark childhood of my soul. It was also the start of my struggle with situational depression.
It was around this chapter that I experienced my moment of awakened clarity, the seeds of what would later become the ABC of Trance-formation. It marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of exploration, healing, self-improvement and self-love. And yes, it was also the '80s ... hence the perm.
After graduating from University of Wollongong, with a double major in Communications and Sociology, I decided to explore something fun, creative and unexpected: acting. I appeared in various television series including All Saints, Echo Point, Pizza and independent film, Feed and numerous plays. It was the first time I gave myself permission to do something that I wanted to do, not expected or obliged to do.
Beneath my interest in acting was an even deeper fascination with human behaviour: what shapes us, moves us and why we become who we are. In hindsight, acting also became an unlikely training ground for my work that followed, teaching me how to connect with an audience and honour my body as a sacred vehicle for expression.
And, of course, no acting chapter would be complete without a couple of gloriously cheesy photographs from a film set.
My curiosity continued to deepen towards the body, mind and spirit. I was drawn to various forms of yoga, meditation, martial arts and a wide range of spiritual practices. What began as a search for understanding gradually became a way of life.
However, like most aspiring actors, I also did what was needed to pay the bills: commercials, athletic, bikini and lingerie modelling, waitressing, retail, cocktail-waitressing and stripping. Just kidding! I never did cocktail-waitressing.
A Global virtual calling
In 2006, I began my professional practice as a clinical hypnotherapist. What had started years earlier as a deeply personal search for understanding and meaning had grown into a calling. My first practice was in Alexandria, before moving into an office in Surry Hills, in Sydney. In 2011, I expanded my practice and relocated to Los Angeles, where I continued to grow my practice, first in Culver City and later in Santa Monica. Today, my practice is entirely virtual, allowing me to support people wherever they are in the world. Looking back, this freedom had been my dream all along: to create a fulfilling life doing meaningful work that isn't limited by geography.
Devi and Oscar
I brought my Maltese dog, Oscar, from Australia, and later rescued Devi from a shelter in LA. Watching her transform from fearful and skittish into a calm and loving companion was testament to how patience, commitment, compassion and love can transcend fears, whether you have two or four legs.
Reunion and Healing
These photographs were taken years apart. The first (me with short hair) was our initial reunion after 18 years of separation. Through finding my way back to my mother, I realized it was always about finding my way back to myself. The second photo, more than a decade later, reminds me that healing isn't about a single moment. Relationships can be rebuilt, one year or one laughter at a time.
Service in India & Nepal
Volunteer and service work with children and orphans in India and Nepal reminded me of how fulfillment doesn't just come from what we achieve but from how we serve. These values continue to shape both my work and my life.
Yoga & Meditation in LA
Teaching meditation and yoga had already been part of my life for more than a decade before I moved to Los Angeles. I spent the next ten years sharing these practices through workshops, retreats, wellness centres, and regular classes, including at Unplug Meditation in Santa Monica.
The sacred practice
Speaking of yoga, I always make sure I keep up my practice. Returning to the mat is like returning to me, again and again, regardless of what obstacles may be weighing me down ... especially with a little help from friends for more flair and fun.
Flair, Fun & Burning Man
Speaking of flair and fun ... nothing like Burning Man to unleash our inner wild and creativity. It's a special place where self-expression, community and play are not mere indulgences; they're part of being fully alive.
Spiritual Home: Hawaii
One of my spiritual homes is Hawaii. Some say it's the land of dinosaurs ... fighting our demons never seems to end.
From humble beginnings ...
I was born in a small town called Bandung in Indonesia. This photo captures a simple moment of joy between my mum and me; one of the few we had from those early years. It was also around this time that my family began calling me 'Elly' instead of my birth name, Sherly. Apparently, I gave myself the nickname because I couldn't quite pronounce 'Sherly.' Little did I know that the name would stay with me for life, eventually becoming part of the work that would shape my future.
This photo was taken just weeks after the fight that changed everything. My mum had left, though I didn't know it would be another eighteen years before I saw her again.
I was only five years old, but I sensed that I would have to learn to take care of myself. If you look closely, you'll notice my uneven fringe — the result of my first attempt at cutting my own hair (thankfully, I didn't poke my eyes out). Notice the Band-Aid under my chin? I watched my dad shave every morning and thought it must be an important part of becoming a grown-up, so I decided to shave too. Even then, I was always endlessly curious and wanted to find new ways to improve.
I immigrated to Australia, a country that felt completely unfamiliar. It was the 1980s, and I didn't look or sound like anyone around me. My dad remained in Jakarta for work, and in what felt like a very short space of time, I had lost my mum, her side of the family, and now the daily presence of my dad as well. I would soon face another loss too — the brother I knew, as anger and violence gradually changed our relationship.
This was the beginning of what I call the dark childhood of my soul. It was also the start of my struggle with situational depression.
It was around this chapter that I experienced my moment of awakened clarity, the seeds of what would later become the ABC of Trance-formation. It marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of exploration, healing, self-improvement and self-love. And yes, it was also the '80s ... hence the perm.
After graduating from University of Wollongong, with a double major in Communications and Sociology, I decided to explore something fun, creative and unexpected: acting. I appeared in various television series including All Saints, Echo Point, Pizza and independent film, Feed and numerous plays. It was the first time I gave myself permission to do something that I wanted to do, not expected or obliged to do.
Beneath my interest in acting was an even deeper fascination with human behaviour: what shapes us, moves us and why we become who we are. In hindsight, acting also became an unlikely training ground for my work that followed, teaching me how to connect with an audience and honour my body as a sacred vehicle for expression.
And, of course, no acting chapter would be complete without a couple of gloriously cheesy photographs from a film set.
However, like most aspiring actors, I also did what was needed to pay the bills: commercials, athletic, bikini and lingerie modelling, waitressing, retail, cocktail-waitressing and stripping. Just kidding! I never did cocktail-waitressing.
My curiosity continued to deepen towards the body, mind and spirit. I was drawn to various forms of yoga, meditation, martial arts and a wide range of spiritual practices. What began as a search for understanding gradually became a way of life.
A Global virtual calling
My curiosity continued to deepen towards the body, mind and spirit. I was drawn to various forms of yoga, meditation, martial arts and a wide range of spiritual practices. What began as a search for understanding gradually became a way of life.
Devi and Oscar
I brought my Maltese dog, Oscar, from Australia, and later rescued Devi from a shelter in LA. Watching her transform from fearful and skittish into a calm and loving companion was testament to how patience, commitment, compassion and love can transcend fears, whether you have two or four legs.
Reunion and Healing
These photographs were taken years apart. The first (me with short hair) was our initial reunion after 18 years of separation. Through finding my way back to my mother, I realized it was always about finding my way back to myself. The second photo, more than a decade later, reminds me that healing isn't about a single moment. Relationships can be rebuilt, one year or one laughter at a time.
Service in India & Nepal
Volunteer and service work with children and orphans in India and Nepal reminded me of how fulfillment doesn't just come from what we achieve but from how we serve. These values continue to shape both my work and my life.
Yoga & Meditation in LA
Teaching meditation and yoga had already been part of my life for more than a decade before I moved to Los Angeles. I spent the next ten years sharing these practices through workshops, retreats, wellness centres, and regular classes, including at Unplug Meditation in Santa Monica.
The sacred practice
Speaking of yoga, I always make sure I keep up my practice. Returning to the mat is like returning to me, again and again, regardless of what obstacles may be weighing me down ... especially with a little help from friends for more flair and fun.
Flair, Fun & Burning Man
Speaking of flair and fun ... nothing like Burning Man to unleash our inner wild and creativity. It's a special place where self-expression, community and play are not mere indulgences; they're part of being fully alive.
Spiritual Home: Hawaii
One of my spiritual homes is Hawaii. Some say it's the land of dinosaurs ... fighting our demons never seems to end.
The Foundation of Everything
Love is the foundation of everything I do. It's the calm force behind my work, the heart of my teachings, the spirit of my service, and the purpose of my life. Love in all its form and formlessness, and especially the love I'm blessed to share with my husband; my partner in life, purpose, and now, in bringing Elly and I into the world. Two photos from our special wedding in Byron Bay, Australia.
The "family portrait" was themed Your Secret Inner self, shot by our dear friend @petelongworth
