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When I gave birth to my youngest daughter Danielle, labor lasted two days. It was grueling. There were many times I thought I could not go on. But when you're in labor you have no choice. You have to endure. Once she was born, the suffering that had come before vanished. I was holding the most precious being in the world, my newborn daughter. I was in awe of the living, breathing miracle in my arms. I was humbled by what my body was able to withstand to bring her into the world. Holding my memoir, "Beyond Fear: A Woman's Path to Enlightenment" feels a little like that. For the first time I am holding a real life copy of the book. For the past twelve years I have labored and edited, read and re-read this book countless times. And now it is blossoming into the world. I was told by a shaman in Peru that I had to write a book. He told me the Apus, or spirits of the mountains, would help me. I could not see the vision he held back then. But today, I honor the Apus whose presence weaves through these pages. I am humbled by my ability to persevere. And I am eternally grateful for all of the love and support along the way 
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Beyond Fear may never have been written had it not been for my obscure self-published book, A Structure for Spirit. Its first incarnation was known as, A Success Journal: Daily Practices to Manifest Your Intentions, self-published in 2005 along with an audio of guided meditations. To create a book out of thin air, with nothing more than the ideas in your head, takes quite a bit of fire. And that fire kept me going for a good year after the book was written, promoting it through family (oh what I have put them through in my life!), friends and clients. I ran out of steam as the energy invested seemed to show less and less payoff. I abandoned the book to a closet shelf where it began collecting dust for a number of years. In 2010, one of the mentors on my travels to Peru asked me, “How do you intend to bring your wisdom to the world?” It felt like the most profound question anyone had ever asked me. I had never given it much thought but my book in the closet came to mind. After a series of synchronistic events it seemed time to pull the book about daily practices down from the shelf. I have had a daily practice for a very long time so what need did I have for a book to help create a daily practice? In the words of my mentor, “You’re blowing past your own medicine.” I finally became a student of my own book. My father had recently died. My beloved had left me leaving my heart shattered to pieces. A period of isolating loneliness engulfed me. The book landed in perfect and divine timing. It transformed and so did I. Everything changed, including the name. (Well my name stayed the same.) A Structure for Spirit was born. Balboa Press became the new self publishing agency. By this time Facebook was invented. I started a page. Nearly 9000 likes. The fire returned. Keeping up with writing blogs and posting on Facebook was a full-time job, especially since I have never considered myself to be a writer. My entire life has been in healthcare and healing. My full-time job demands much of my time so for the second time I felt myself abandon the book as the dividends diminished.  |
AuthorKaren Chrappa is a healer, physical therapist, and author of "Beyond Fear: A Woman’s Path to Enlightenment". With over 30 years of experience, her work blends modern therapy with ancient wisdom from the shamans of the Andes. Now based in Abiquiu, New Mexico, Karen is dedicated to helping others heal and grow through her writing, yoga, and spiritual practices Archives
September 2024
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Karen Chrappa is a healer, author, and physical therapist with over 30 years of experience, dedicated to helping others on their path to wellness. After a transformative life in New York City, she moved to the serene landscapes of Abiquiu, New Mexico, where she works with rural communities and continues her personal healing journey. A mother and grandmother, Karen’s life is rooted in love, spiritual growth, and a commitment to leaving behind a legacy of beauty and healing. Her work blends modern therapeutic practices with ancient shamanic wisdom, focusing on personal transformation and the Divine Feminine. Her memoir, Beyond Fear, explores the power of ceremony, overcoming fear, and the awakening of women’s spirituality.
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