Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Moreno Scott.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, by my immigrant Guatemalan mother. As with most single-parent households, we had our share of financial struggles, but it was in witnessing my mother’s sacrifices that I learned the importance of having a strong work ethic.
I lost my mother to ovarian cancer in my early thirties, and that coupled with unresolved childhood/young adulthood traumas, was enough to push me over the edge because my life was unraveling and the more I tried to take my healing into my own hands, the more overwhelmed I became. After decades of struggling, I did the only thing left to do, I sought professional help and embarked on the most intense, grueling, and rewarding healing journey that has led me to this beautiful place I find myself today, feeling more empowered than ever and supporting others through their own healing.
A few years after embarking on my healing journey, I felt called to be of service to women of color who may have also experienced traumas and loss and could use the help of a professional who could relate to their story. It was then that I began my coursework in Professional Life Coaching, and in 2018, when I felt ready to take a leap of faith, I left my corporate job to start my own practice.
Since then, I have grown my practice nationally, offering additional holistic and spiritual services, such as Reiki and sound healing. I have also published my debut memoir entitled, Ascension of a Woman, and founded Luna Nueva Wellness Retreats & Healing Circles, offering women safe and sacred spaces to heal in the community. My dream, hopefully not in the too-distant future, is to expand my practice globally and open low-cost bilingual women’s wellness centers where women can feel supported and empowered to create a path for generational wellness.
At a young age, I learned to survive. As an adult, I learned to thrive. I am living proof that it is never too late to heal and begin to change the narrative of our stories, especially as it relates to intergenerational traumas. I have only just started, but I am committed to reaching and helping as many women as humanly possible, and while I know that will take hard work and effort, I’m in this for the long haul.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I came into entrepreneurship later in life, so there have definitely been obstacles, especially as it relates to staying confident and trusting in my ability to succeed outside the corporate space.
From learning to navigate the “hustle” mentality to set hard boundaries around my work and rest time, it’s been important for me to find a sense of balance. I’m constantly reprioritizing to ensure that my self-care and family remain at the top of the list, which is why I have stopped working around the clock and saying yes to everything.
Also, going into business for myself knowing nothing about running my own business filled me with doubt, and have even thought I may not be cut out for it – there have been plenty of times I’ve wanted to throw in the towel and go back to working for someone else. But thankfully, I have a strong support system that keeps me grounded and encouraged to keep going, and I have found communities of entrepreneurs of color who create spaces for seasoned business owners and newcomers to gather and learn from one another.
The biggest struggle of all was learning to redefine what success looks likes for me at this point in my life. In my corporate days, I defined success by titles, income, and other trivial factors that didn’t matter to anyone outside my organization. Now that I have resolved my issues around scarcity and limiting beliefs, success looks like having a flourishing business that provides me the flexibility to do pro bono work and get to be very present in my personal life, which is a luxury I wasn’t afforded when I worked in corporate spaces.
It’s safe to say that while at first glance the obstacles that have come my way have appeared immense and overwhelming, eventually I have learned to see them as opportunities to view situations from a different perspective I may not have otherwise considered, and remaining open and flexible has been vital to my success.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
While I hold certifications in both Professional Life Coaching and Reiki, I describe myself as a Holistic Wellness and Spiritual Practitioner, because in my years of service I have supported my clients in ways that go far beyond what one learns about in a classroom setting and requires leaning into my spirituality and intuition. This is why I don’t believe in providing services that are one-size-fits-all, and specifically tailor them to meet each one of my client’s needs.
My coaching services are provided in a 1:1 or group setting, and what I do is hold space for my clients to connect with themselves, explore and work through any persisting issues they wish to overcome, and take empowered action toward achieving their desired goals in any area of their lives.
As a Reiki practitioner, I also offer 1:1 or group services to clients wishing to heal through engaging the body’s many systems and activating their innate healing abilities, which can alleviate stress, anxiety, and sleeping disorders, and can assist with pain management, to name a few of its countless benefits. Reiki is an ancient Japanese practice used worldwide because of its significant healing abilities that go beyond the physical.
I am especially proud to serve as a pro bono wellness practitioner at Circle of Hope in Santa Clarita, a nonprofit organization that provides services, support, and resources to active and recovering cancer patients.
As the founder of Luna Nueva Wellness Retreats & Healing Circles, I host and facilitate retreats and healing circles geared at bringing women together to heal in a community surrounded by nature. Our retreats started in Guatemala, and now I’m bringing them home to serve women locally throughout the states.
As an author, I can say my book has opened doors and has taken me to the most unexpected yet delightful places and spaces. I love surrounding myself with other writers who enlighten, teach and inspire me to continue growing my skills and become a stronger writer. Sharing my very personal story has not been easy, but it has been more rewarding than I ever expected it would be.
What were you like growing up?
I am a twin, which means I’ve always had a companion and best friend, yet I have also been very independent and strong-willed.
As a child, I was often told I was an old soul, perhaps it is because I’ve always been a good listener and people appreciate feeling heard. This is one of the qualities I believe makes me an exceptional wellness practitioner today.
As the youngest of nine, I was exposed to all genres of music and film, which is why I now have eclectic taste in both. I also really enjoyed love songs and strongly believe that is why I have always had a niche for writing heartfelt notes and letters. My family jokes that I give cards with letters inscribed in them, but I can’t help being a woman of many words. The writing was always something I enjoyed, and I always knew I would someday write a book about my life’s story, which I finally did during the pandemic.
Inevitably, as happens when we get older, my interests continuously changed. But my go-to was then and always will be, dancing. Whether it was square dancing, school dances, dance recitals, or competitions, I was front and center ready to put on my dance shoes and my dance moves to good use. I will admit that to this day, it is not unusual for me to blast my music and have solo dance parties in my living room. It really is the best feeling to dance without a care in the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karenmorenoscott.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenmorenoscott/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeCoachKaren
- Other: https://www.lunanuevawellnessretreats.com/
Image Credits
Aureli Davis Photography, Verenice Navarro, and Emily Gutierrez
