Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Seva.
Karen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in upstate New York, I started out singing before I could talk. Everywhere I went was a song and there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be a singer. Yet, when I was 5, I learned about God and I fell in love. I had such devotion that has lasted throughout my life and colored much of my journey and many of my experiences.
My life path has been one motivated by service and simultaneously a deep desire to express and be received in my full expression. This has caused a bit of vacillation at times between singing and service that took me years to merge.
I studied philosophy and music in college and was very grateful to complete my undergrad, as it felt like I had fulfilled the outer “expectations” and now could take the “risks” I desired. After college, I went to West Africa and worked on an irrigation project in the desert – this experience in the 120F temperatures with rationed water and food opened me up to experience the harsh world in which so many people live while bathing me in the sweetness of the traditional songs and dance that would be performed daily. In that environment, the people had nothing, yet were happier than any people I had known. I was introduced to shamanism during that time and began to learn about the powerspots of the earth and how life initiated into her mysteries those who were called into her service. I longed to go deeper but was at capacity – body and mind – by the terrain and my own limitations.
After I returned from Africa, I was culture shocked. I was in despair at the excess of north American and European culture which seemingly led to an even greater sense of disconnection and unhappiness. So, I traveled. I spent time in Canada, Ireland, Arizona and the western US, I studied multicultural music and religion. I realized that which I was looking for was deeper than I was finding on the surface – I wanted answers and lasting meaning. I decided to go to India to find my spiritual teacher. However, I found him in New York City instead, which began an 11 year Meditation path. I meditated daily and was the administrator for his nonprofit organizations. During that time, I pursued the route of the singer/ songwriter, as well as continued my education. I received a Master of Social Work and a Master of Divinity. I worked as a social worker, a voice teacher, a mommy & me music teacher, a children’s choir director and, in addition, I had two children. My love of children inspired me to delve into child development and write children’s music. And, I knew there was more…
Fast forward, I attended a South American Native Ceremony. It was a group of people sitting in a circle in a dimly lit room… then the shaman started to sing. He sang the healing to the people! Suddenly, so many pieces of my life made sense. I had always known in my heart that this was possible, yet, it was like witnessing magic. I understood that through sound vibration people could access deeper states of consciousness and levels of awareness – and that all matter is vibration subject to change. I went on to study these shamanic traditions in depth for five years. Gaining a deep love for the plant kingdom, and an even greater respect for the laws of the universe & the humility required to be its student. I studied in the Q’ero tradition of Peru and learned how to connect with the lineages of wisdom keepers, earth protectors, & star keepers. I learned how to sun gaze, how to sit in sweat lodge, how to connect with the earth and hear her messages. Then I found Naam & how to sing… Even though I had been singing for my whole life, I finally learned how to sing – taught by the water, the sun and the wind, and the mantras that sung through my lips. They taught me how to listen and how to connect. How to let the songs that created life come through me – and how to sing back.
I learned about Dr. Masuro Emoto and Hans Jenny – and the power of words, intentions and sound to change molecular structure. I learned about unified and morphic fields and the power of collective consciousness. I immersed myself in sacred sound practices – in many different yogic and indigenous traditions. I studied Kabbalah. I became a certified Transformational Life Coach, Reiki Practitioner, Naam Yoga Teacher & Harmonyum Practitioner. I applied my nearly lifelong meditation practice and began to understand the role that “being” plays in the delivery of the material – as opposed to a framework of “doing” or “trying”. This awareness inspired the music project and album “Sing the World Awake!” in 2014 and crystalized into my bestselling book “The Awakening World: The Return of the Divine Feminine”, which was released in 2017; in addition to setting me on my path of working with sound vibration as a fundamental building block of creation – both in our own personal mythos, as well as in catalyzing change in the collective experience.
Through my own personal journey, some take-aways have been… Listen. Receive. Sing. Leave no footprint. Know we are connected to everything. We are so very precious to the universe. We are integral to each other. And we MUST teach these practices to children from a young age so that they know how deeply they matter and so that they have all the tools they need in order to succeed in harmony with the earth.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is said that life initiates us through challenge. At times, I have reflected back on the events of my life and seen the great gifts that had been given in the absence of very dear things that seemed to have been taken away. My parents divorced coincided with my initial “finding God”. My “finding my voice” coincided with the breakdown of my marriage. And once my life path opened up clearly, it led me to California, while my children stayed behind to live with their father. My learning to truly follow my heart has at times left me heartbroken, broke or uncertain as to where the next meal would come from or where I would sleep at night. Yet, my path has revealed that there are forces at work on my behalf and help always came – even in the 11th hour or last 5 minutes…
And once my life path opened up clearly, it led me to California, while my children stayed behind to live with their father, at first.
Please tell us about Sing the World Awake!.
I have a 501c3 nonprofit called SING THE WORLD AWAKE, which activates children’s highest potential through music, imagination, education and connection – and assists individuals of all ages in accessing their true voice! In addition, I have a multidisciplinary coaching and consulting practice in which I work with private clients to assist them in finding their voice – both literally and metaphorically.
Sing the World Awake! combines group singing to increase one’s sense of belonging; the use of sound vibration to calm the nervous system and activate the body’s self-healing mechanism; hand positions to stimulate the Eastern acupressure meridians of the body; movement to invigorate the lymphatic system, brain and circulatory systems; as well as education to help us know that we are an essential part of this BIG world!! In addition, the program focuses on social emotional learning, emotional intelligence, group dynamics, indigenous practices, environmental awareness, mind-body-spirit health and self-worth.
Whether with children or adults, we focus on the use of sound vibration to “connect” with self, each other and the natural world.
The services I provide range from teaching breathwork in order to shift the vibration of the body and mind; to giving sound baths in order to reset the nervous system; to leading children’s choirs and group singing experiences. I teach Breathwork and Sound classes weekly in Santa Monica, CA.
I have been leading Children Sing(ing) the World Awake for five years – at elementary schools, festivals and events across the country – including BhaktiFest, ShaktiFest, Singing Alive, Beloved, One Love, Lucidity, ImagineFest, DisclosureFest, Festival of Colors and more. I have led children singing for the Dalai Lama, other native and spiritual elders, in addition to leading the Agape Children’s Choir. In 2017, I started an annual event called “Children Sing for the Future” that takes place on International Children’s Day – and unites children around the world singing for world peace. I have worked with organizations such as Unify.org, Unicef, Naam Yoga, Love Activists, Peace Guardians, Natural Leaders Foundation, Pneuma Foundation, Hansavedas Foundation, Million Mamas Movement, Inspired Parenting, Share Necessities, the Hug Alliance, Mindfulness Mothers, Meaningful Moms and more.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood is my father singing to me. He would sing me to sleep each night. I would sing along and we would laugh and laugh.
Contact Info:
- Address: Karen Seva
1235 4th Street
Santa Monica, CA
90401 - Website: karenseva.com
- Phone: 646-801-0654
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: karen_seva
- Facebook: @karenseva
- Twitter: divinelovevibe
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