An Invitation to the Mess

Here I am – Karen Joy.
I am a passionate, playful, curious, expressive, grumpy, messy, intense woman and mother of a grown son. My life is rich with an abundance of dear friends and family, and with experiences that have been both heart-opening and challenging, sometimes seemingly too difficult to bear and often more perfect than I could have dreamed.

I am endlessly drawn to understanding people—to finding our deepest places with intense honesty, and to sitting in those places with another with a soft heart. This curiosity leads me to play with movement, color, sound, and words as ways to access this fullness of Life.

Student & Teacher
My path also leads me to deeper study of the natural world of plants and their medicines, as well as the ancient wisdoms found through practices such as Yoga, Qigong, Buddhism, and the timeless stories of Jungian psychology. At the same time, my curiosity keeps me exploring, from mathematics and languages to human cultures and history. These are all lifelong studies. Though I joyfully teach, I am perpetually a student.

My Vision for Embracing Life Studio

At its base, this Studio is an online space where I invite you to EXPLORE deeply, EXPRESS your unique voice, and EMBODY the fullness of who you are.

More to its essence, this space is a living expression of my own desire to witness and to guide. It is a creation found in my own mess—the perfect embodiment of it.

Growing the Garden
I see a rich garden growing from this foundation. The Studio will soon host a variety of gatherings and workshops. Our library will be stocked with resources—from guided audio practices to my own artsy creations. And the Journal will soon pour forth with an abundance of writings on a colorful array of topics.

My Promise to You
I intend to maintain this space as an honest reflection of the truth that life is at once both orderly and messy. I promise to remain true in my presence here—to teach not only as a guide, but as a fellow practitioner dancing right alongside you.