My Story

I've been really good at helping people heal the past. Now I am providing guidance for the present moment.
I feel so much joy and inner peace when I connect with mother nature. Her love and support wraps me up and helps me with whatever I am going through. The insights that come through for me are so helpful, I'm inspired to share with others.
I find that it's the details . . . when I can be so present, enough to notice and appreciate the delicate balance and precision it takes for a butterfly to land. And when the sunlight shines through a green leaf making it appear translucent, my heart sings. So many wonders in nature! Well, guess what? These moments are healing. They help us get out of our heads and into our hearts. The heart expands with that. And we feel it's impact. We walk away with feelings such as; grace, love, warmth, inspiration, motivation, empowerment, support, and joy.
These moments inspire my photos and desire to share them. Join me on facebook: Karen Dovehawk.

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My Experience 

• I graduated from Cal Poly State University in 1991 with a Bachelors in Human Development, concentration in Applied Psychology. Counseling internships at Hospice, the Women's Shelter and Klein Bottle Youth programs.
• I graduated from Antioch University in Santa Barbara in 1993 with a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology. 
• I became licensed in Denver Colorado in 1997 as a Licensed Professional Counselor (L. P. C.) I counseled families, children, and struggling single mothers on welfare in transitional housing. Empowering women was central.
• I started raising my family and put my career in Psychology on hold in 1998. 
• After my divorce, I picked up where I left off in 2007, and began teaching Psychology for the University of Phoenix.
• I started my own Life Coaching practice in 2008.
• In 2013, I  guided support groups; "Women Starting Over" 
• Author of "A New Leaf; 12 Spiritual Truths for Starting Over" I self-published my book in 2014.
• In 2014, I was given my spirit name: Water Dove Hawk during a ceremony in the Chumash tradition. The Grandmother told me that I have all thee essences (water, dove and hawk), and they are each equally important. From that day forward I strive to embody this name.
• I lead silent mediation group hikes on MeetUp  in 2017. 
• Travel to sacred sites and connecting to the land around the world (2017- present). I bring wisdom from Mary Magdelene sites in France, Hathor and Isis in Egyptian temples, and St. Francis of Assisi (among other sites such as Newgrange, Hill of Tara, Stonehedge, and Entruscan land) into our sessions. 
• August, 2020, my spiritual practice went a step deeper and I was initiated into the Sufi order and granted a Murshed/Guide, Gayan Gregory Long. He gave me my sufi name: Rafia. It means The exalter. Sufis can be described as mystics, and physicians of the heart. It's our intention always, to grow the capacity of our heart.
•  In 2021, we began working on turning my book into an Audible version. It is narrated by the fabulous Rachel Fredrickson. In 2022 it was published on Audible.
• In 2022, I became Certified as an Energetic Practitioner of Aleya Dao's, Seven Cups of Consciousness. I'm featured on her platform/website for these coaching sessions using my connection to the nature realms via Zoom. Go here

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I share pictures of my travels here, because they have enriched my soul's journey so much. Each place I traveled to had a purpose: to seek out sacred lands. Here are a few; Sedona, Islands off Maine, Jamaican ruins, Assisi, Rome, Paris (Chartes and Notre Dame Cathedrals), Cathar castles in the Languedoc region of Southern France, a pilgrimage to Mary's cave at Maxime Saint de Baume, and natural hot springs in Tuscany. Does it get any better than this? I intend to keep living my life to the fullest. And one day not to far off in the future, I will lead retreats to one of these amazing areas.

Rose Valley, Ca.

Sedona, Arizona

The Pyrenees, France

Angels' Landing, Zion National Park

A reproduction of The Black Madonna of Our Lady of Loreto, found in Chianciano Terme, Italy.

My journey to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume (Mary Magdelene's cave) in Southern France.

I live on the central coast of California in a funky ole fishing town (now a tourist attraction) where I host two listings for Airbnb. We have a sacred rock on our coastline that used to be a volcano and part of "The Seven Sisters" - land whose ancestors include the Salinian and Chumash nations.
My two teenage boys are at home and attending high school. My oldest son is a professional ballet dancer in Las Vegas.
I participate in Dances for Universal Peace and I love attending ecstatic dance. I take good care of myself with a rigorous self-care routine that includes hiking, yoga, meditation, gym workouts, and eating clean foods. Music and Nature is my therapy! 
I like to think of myself as a guide/facilitator, teacher, nature/animal lover, wisdom seeker, heart opener, body temple, music lover, way shower, yogi, entrepreneur, shaman in training, dancer, writer, traveler, and most importantly - a mindful mother of three sons. I have been devoted to my spiritual path and personal growth since I turned 19 years old, when I attended my first meditation class/training. 
​Teachers I've studied and in-person training have included the following; Clarissa Pinkola-Estes, Michael Tamura, Ganga White, Dee Wallace, Jennifer McClean, Sandra Ingerman, Jane Burns, Shabda Kahn, Gayan Gregory Long, Jean Houston, Judith Orloff, Jean Shinoda-Bolen, Denise Linn, and Joan Borysenko, Carolyn Myss, and Aleya Dao.

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To receive regular insights and get to know me better, you can follow me on Facebook @http://facebook.com/anewleaf4u
​and Instagram @naturelifecoach4u