Author Spotlight

Karen Chrappa

Were it not for a coca leaf reading in Peru, Beyond Fear: A Woman’s Path to Enlightenment, would never have been written. For nine years I traveled with a group of women to study with the medicine men and women of the Andes to awaken the Divine Feminine. One year, I had a coca leaf reading before heading to the mountains. Don Andreas, a Q’ero shaman, took a number of coca leaves in his hands and began blowing into the leaves while praying in Quechua, a language native to the Q’ero. After a few moments, he haphazardly threw the leaves on the table, lifted his head and asked, "Did you write a book?"

My jaw dropped. Years earlier I had self published an obscure book, A Structure for Spirit. "You have to make it bigger," he said. "You have to include more of what you have learned on your journeys here in Peru. You are like a farmer planting seeds that others may harvest in the future. This wisdom is not your own. It must be shared." I had no thought of ever writing a book again, but if a shaman from the holy mountains of Peru tells you to write a book, you really should start writing.

May Beyond Fear serve the prophecy well is my daily prayer. 

About the Author: After spending her entire life in New York City, Karen Chrappa moved to New Mexico in search of love and meaning. Her books include the children's book, Jethro the Runaway Puppy. Today, she lives in Abiquiu, surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and desert, where she continues her work with rural communities. Hiking the wilderness with her dog, Jethro, has become a way to nourish her soul. For over 30 years, she's worked as a physical therapist, with healing at the heart of everything she does. Her own journey to health began when she trained for the New York City Marathon to overcome a two-pack-a-day smoking habit. "Running became the foundation of my transformation and dedication to helping others heal. I am a mother and a grandmother, and this new chapter of my life has deepened my commitment to leaving behind a legacy of beauty and healing."