Keynote talks, Workshops & retreats
Karen brings a combination of her songs, humor, and stories to present a keynote talk or a workshop that is unique, heart opening and inspiring.
Here is a sampling of of the talk titles she offers. New talk titles are always being added, and titles and descriptions may be revised. Both talks and workshops can be created and personalized based on what is needed. Please contact our office to discuss these topics further.
Keynote talks can be from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. Please note that all workshops include group discussion, exercises and processes, and can be from 90 minutes to 3 hours.
- Let Your Light Shine: or Tarzan Calls and Sweaty Palms
- Lighten Up: The Spiritual Practice of Clutter Clearing
- I Give Myself Permission
- I Will Be Gentle With Myself
- Taming My Inner Critic
- NO Is My New Yes!
- Keep That Passion Burnin' in Your Soul
Descriptions
Let Your Light Shine
"For too many years I hid my light
Thinking I was too much and who I was Just wasn't right.
Then I heard this voice from within and up above saying
'You're here to be a shining light and give and receive love.'"
How many of us were taught as children to be seen and not heard, or when expressing ourselves in some way got the message we were “ too much”? And yet we are all divine and unique, here on this earth to shine our lights and be all of who we are.
In our time together we will look at
- How much we are shining our lights.
- The ways we diminish our lights.
- Ways to amp up our wattage.
Through songs, stories, exercises and humor, we will stop hiding our lights and like the lyric of my song says, “We’ll let our our big bright brilliant beams of radiant light shine!”
Lighten Up: The Spiritual Practice of Clutter Clearing
Stuff, stuff and more stuff. We all have it – but what we do with it? Do we have piles of paper on our desk with a gazillion e-mails to answer, clothes stuffed in the closet we no longer wear, books that we have read that we’ll never read again, people we need to handle an issue with that we avoid, a refrigerator that is stuffed with unhealthy foods?
Do we have clutter that needs to be weeded out and yet it feels too overwhelming to start?
In our time together we will:
- Define what clutter is in your personal, business and mental life.
- Discover simple ways to de-clutter your life.
- Make a plan of living your best life and how de-cluttering will help you to become clear.
You will walk away with a whole new look on what clutter is all about and have the tools to live in a whole new way!
I Give Myself Permission
A few years ago I wrote a chant that said:
“I give myself permission to be all I can be.
I give myself permission to live passionate and free.”
I have thought about that word for a while: “Permission.” I have asked myself the question: Are there places in my life that I would like to give myself permission to do what I want, have the things I desire, or be the person I want to be?
In our time together we will look at that word together as it relates to daily lives, relationships and our dreams. With songs, stories, and lots of laughter, we will learn how to give ourselves permission to be, do and have all that we desire.
I Will Be Gentle With Myself
“ I will be gentle with myself. I will be gentle with myself.
And I will hold myself like a newborn baby child.”
How many of us actually do that? In times of distress do we allow ourselves to be truly compassionate and gentle with ourselves, or do we allow our inner critic to get in the way and mentally beat ourselves up? I know that I am guilty of not always treating myself in a kind and gentle way. I wrote this chant for myself to remember that I always have a choice.
In our time together we will:
- Look at what our inner voice says when we supposedly “mess up.”
- Discover techniques to nurture ourselves and choose new ways of being.
- Practice the art of extreme self-care.
- Discover the freedom of not having to be perfect!
Through songs, stories, and laughter we will learn how to be gentle with ourselves – all the time!
Taming Your Inner Critic
We all have one. You know, that VOICE -- the voice that says we’re not good enough, smart enough, thin enough--- the voice that keeps us from knowing our own self-worth and divinity. So how do we quiet that voice when it is raging on inside? Studies have shown that we have over 60 thousand thoughts every day . . . so how many are positive and life affirming?
In our time together we will look at how we can tame that voice with positive affirmations and self-talk that will greatly diminish its powers.
Including:
- How to take back your power by learning how the critic
operates in your life. - How to determine what feeds your flame and lights you up.
- How you can say “Yes” or “No” to what feeds your flame
or diminishes it. - And - you will see the role that the critic has played in your life and be able to work with it in a fun and light-hearted way.
With songs, stories, fun exercises and a general lightening up around this whole subject, you will learn techniques to tame your critic. You will leave feeling empowered, inspired, and free to let your light shine!
NO Is My New Yes!
- Do you say YES to things that you don’t want to do and then get mad at yourself for not saying NO?
- Do you feel that if you say NO you are being selfish or that the world will suddenly come to an end? .
- Do you feel overwhelmed and tired because all those “Yes’s” have taken time away from YOU?
In our time together you will learn to identify, process and release all the reasons why saying “NO” can feel difficult at times. Getting in touch with the reasons why we continue to please others instead of taking care of ourselves is the first step to our own freedom and empowerment. This is the time to claim for yourself and say YES to what feels right and NO to what feels wrong.
Keep That Passion Burnin’ In Your Soul
Creativity. Motivation. Inspiration. Where do we get it and why do some people have it in spades while others struggle to find it? I believe that passion for whatever we are doing is all about allowing. Allowing yourself to open to the creativity within, surrendering to whatever the process is, and receiving the download from Spirit that is always available – if we allow it to be.
In our time together we will:
- Identify what is your passion and how much you are expressing it.
- Discuss ways to keep that passion flame lit and how to nurture it.
- Commit to a passion practice
With songs, stories, and lots of passionate creativity, we will lean how to keep that passion burnin’ in our souls!
Workshops
Sing the Song Of Your Soul
I am a healed whole and healthy, I relax and visualize.
I am healed whole and healthy, I am well, I am well.”
I wrote this chant for my mother when she was going through chemo treatments for breast cancer. Through the years of writing and performing healing music, I have seen the power that music can bring to people in need of healing and inspiration. I have also seen how singing affirmation can help with any issue and be used as a daily spiritual practice. In this fun (and non-threatening!) workshop you will learn to write and sing your own personal affirmation chant. We will sing, write and explore the process of writing chants for personal growth, inspiration and healing. No musical experience necessary. Shower chanters welcome!
Everything you ever wanted to know about music,
but were afraid to ask.
Or: The care and feeding of your music department
(A workshop for Ministers and/or Church/Event Musicians)
This workshop addresses ALL the issues that surround music in the church, or at any gathering.
Topics include:
- Selecting music for the service or event
- Communication between the minister and music director
- Demystifying music (learning to "talk" to musicians)
- Working with guest musicians
- Finding music that fits the theme
- How to make your service or event flow and inspire
No musical experience necessary--just a love of music and a willing heart. This can be an all day or 90-minute workshop.
Retreats
I am so blessed to be able to offer spiritual retreats* throughout the year in wonderful locations that I facilitate on my own, as well as working with and inspiring co-facilitators. Check my website to see what is being offered throughout the year.
*Retreats vary in length, but a typical retreat is usually 1 to 3 days (Friday night to Sunday at lunchtime).
With Joan Borysenko
- Initiation into Power: How to be a Wild, Wise & Witty Woman
- A Woman’s Time Out: A retreat of rest, relaxation and inspiration.
With Rev David Ault:
- Get On With It
- The Grass is Greener Right Here
Karen can also be hired along with the presenters below to do the “music weaving” throughout the workshops or retreats of:
Alan Cohen, Debbie Ford, SARK, Cheri Huber, Mary Mannin Morrissey