Howdy-Do!
I hope you and yours are enjoying a great start to 2018. I wanted to touch bases with you to give you an idea of all the exciting opportunities I have to offer you this year, and fill you in on what I’m up to personally as well.
Painting & Meditation Workshops 
I am choosing to continue my personal education for much of this year. I am striving to become a better teacher and I have found both confidence and inspiration through my studies and classes in Art, Shamanism and Geology. It’s been interesting how much more in-depth my meditations and journeys have become after opening myself to new teaching.
I am in the process of learning how to manage a virtual classroom so that I can teach to anyone anywhere in the world. How cool is that?! I have been talking about his for a few years now, and I am DOING IT!! I’m SO excited and ready for this, and I can’t wait for you to see and experience all of the wonderful lessons I will be sharing with you. Lessons that are fun and full of color, but also deep spiritually and emotionally. Peace, Self-Love, Freedom, Happiness, Beauty, Balance, Unity and Clarity are just some of the gems you will find via these fun lessons. You can expect to see lessons beginning this Spring. Woohoo!!!
I will also be offering in-person workshops from my home and other locations this Spring. Last year I really enjoyed doing private painting parties and private workshops, so I am leaving time open in my schedule to allow for private bookings, so if you are interested just let me know…. All you need is a minimum of 5 people to book a private workshop. Sounds fun, right?! I have really enjoyed working with groups of friends, coworkers, families, and folks of all ages during these events.
Whitney Freya Is Coming To Town!
Whitney Freya is one of my AWESOME teachers. She is more than a teacher to me… she is my friend, my muse and my medicine. I am so excited that she will be here in San Jose on Feb 16th and 17th.
Whitney Freya is visiting San Jose after her East Coast book tour in Washington DC and New York City. She lives in the wildness of NE Oregon, where she regularly connects to many of her “animal allies.” Learn more and join in her current FREE online program, The Life Artist Master Class at http://whitneyfreya.teachable.com/
Friday Feb 16th, 5:00pm – 7:00pm Rise Above Book Talk at the School of Visual Philosophy in San Jose
Whitney Freya’s new book, Rise Above, Free Your Mind One Brush Stroke at a Time is where painting and spirituality, painting and meditation, painting and The Law Of Attraction…all come together. In this interactive presentation, learn more from Whitney about her creative journey; how she wants you to open up to living as a LIFE ARTIST and how you are truly free in each moment to CREATE more of what you most desire. Event is FREE and space is limited. https://www.facebook.com/events/1845377258808913/
Saturday Feb 17th, 10:00am – 4:00pm Rise Above Painting Workshop: Animal Totems at the School of Visual Philosophy in San Jose
Immerse yourself in painting as meditation, painting as energy work and painting as a personal journey. In this one day workshop, Whitney Freya will shower you in vibration (through sound journeys and guided meditations), color and magic. How are you being called to Rise Above? And which animal will serve as your guide. https://www.facebook.com/events/275280299668062/
Crystals, Crystals and MORE Crystals 
My husband, Dave, and I have been busy with our online crystal store, BlueMoonShadow on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueMoonShadow We started our store 4 years ago and it has been a blast! We have customers literally all over the globe, and our inventory has grown enormously. We currently have over 350 different kinds of crystals to shop from on our site. Dave and I will continue to travel and meet with our crystal sources throughout the year, so you can always find new treasures. We never know what we will find and it’s always an adventure.
Check out this video below to see a glimpse of some of our ‘behind the scenes’ stock:
My Shamanic Practice
This beautiful part of my business continues to grow, it keeps me grounded & grateful, and it connects me with community. Some of the services I have to offer are energy cleansing, chakra balancing, extraction work, soul retrieval, drumming circle facilitation, art therapy, meditation teaching & guidance, hospice comfort & traditional drumming, dowsing and Bars™ sessions, just to name a few. To learn more please visit: https://shamamama.com/energy-healing-services-in-san-jose/
Ron’s Busy Bees 
My Dad, Dave and I have been having lots of fun keeping bees over the past couple of years. We are continually learning and always amazed at the work ethic of the bees. It’s beautiful, amazing and humbling. My Dad has really gotten into making lip balms and soaps from our beeswax, and we have all enjoyed harvesting and jarring our honey. We even set up a ‘honey stand’ on my front porch and it was a huge success! The best part was that we set up the stand based on the honor system….take what you want and leave cash in a cigar box. It was a success and there were no thefts, which was a really great reminder that people are good! Soon, you will ‘bee’ able to purchase my Dad’s lip balms on our etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueMoonShadow
Before We Say Aloha….
I want to share this poem with you. Whitney shared this poem with me and suggested it be read OUT LOUD. I know it may seem silly, but give it a shot…. It feels good! Say it loud and say it proud!! This beautiful poem was written by Sara L. Harvey. http://www.sarahlouisaharvey.com/
I’m not creative, you say.
I’m not artistic, you say.
I can’t make anything beautiful, you say.
You don’t have to, I say.
Life will do that for you, I say.
Because—
Your life is your canvas.
Your moments are masterpieces.
And don’t you forget it.
Yes, life is pain.
We all f*cking know that.
But, life is also art.
More than anything
In this troubled world
We must remember that
Life is art.
So
Let us paint slowly
And with great joy.
Let us paint recklessly
And with great passion.
Let us paint quietly
And with great precision.
Let us paint fiercely
And with our whole hearts.
Let us paint.
Just
Let us
Paint.
Because your life is your canvas.
Your moments are masterpieces.
And don’t you forget it.
Enough
With the empty excuses
And pathetic attempts
To explain away and extinguish
That creative spark in your soul.
Enough
With the vapid amusements
To distract you
From the sacred beauty left lifeless
Within your wanting heart.
Enough already.
Instead—
Let’s force our shy, starving hearts out of hiding.
Let’s unbind our spirits from the painful chains of repression.
Let’s fling our wild souls in the forest and let them frolic forever.
Let’s f*cking live boldly.
Let’s build a life that
Makes our hearts smile
Rather than weep.
Because smiling hearts a better world do make.
And, after all,
Your life is your canvas.
Your moments are masterpieces.
Don’t you forget it.
Aloha my friend. Until we meet again, be well and live boldly!! .
Namaste — Karen
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1d23X-DaQWaysOwEu9pKwA?view_as=subscriber
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueMoonShadow
