From birth, she spent her first decade traveling with her parents throughout North America, collecting snakes and native seeds. During these travels, she attended the ceremonial dances of the Yaqui, Hopi, Navajo, Taos Pueblo, Apache, Tarahumara, and various Mexican Indigenous tribes.

At age five, Karen was exposed to Transcendental Meditation and remembers sitting on a rock waiting for her magic mantra or sound. Not sure which sound to choose, Karen moved on to practice meditating with the Raja Yogis, chanting with the Nichiren Shoshu Buddhists, singing with Evangelical Christians, and feeling one with the drumbeat of American Indian Ceremonies.  She has traveled to ancient lands worldwide, including Bali, Uxmal, Uluru, Scotland, and Greece.

Karen's family lineage exposed her to the scientific classification of Nature’s kingdoms. This early imprinting created a grounded foundation from which she studied esoteric material such as astrology, Tarot, channeling, and crystal healing. Karen also worked with various trained teachers to learn sweat lodge, medicine wheel, peace pipe, and other traditional ceremonies by working with various trained teachers.

Karen earned a BFA in acting from the University of Southern California, where she also studied creative writing and watercolor painting. She completed several Eastern and Western bodywork trainings in the healing arts sector at The Desert Institute for Healing Arts and Body Therapy Institute. Karen practiced as a licensed massage therapist for over twenty years in North Carolina.

Karen also became a certified Integrative Sound Healer through the UK's Sound Healing Academy, integrating this knowledge with her body therapy knowledge.