about me
“You cannot provide a map to a place you haven’t yet been.”
Some version of these words I read in a book and they struck me as being true and deeply relevant to my personal journey.
It was only after stepping out of the hiatus and metaphorical cave of menopause that I felt truly ready to create the ‘map’. One spring morning watching the sun rise, I knew it was time to create and birth this body of work that has been part of my mission and a destiny calling throughout my life. Having passed through the final rite of passage of the classic stages of womanhood – I felt fully ready to bring together all the wisdom I had gathered over the years. This map I have created comes from both personal experience of the challenges and joys of being a woman and journeying through life’s stages as well as wisdom I have gleaned from teachings and trainings I have undertaken over many years in various traditions from the scientific to the spiritual and everywhere in between.
“Passing through a rite of passage can sometimes be challenging and painful but when we have the right map and tools we can navigate the path with more ease, grace and a spirit of adventure. There are always hidden gifts of meaning, magic and mystery to discover along the way which allow us to birth our unique wisdom and truth and become more fully ourselves.
I love to create a unique plan for each woman, factoring in everything from natural health strategies and personal development tools to mindset change, creative processes and spiritual practices. Whether it is one on one support or a group programme, there is something for everyone.“
Karen McElroy
my professional journey
I have a degree in naturopathic functional medicine and have studied and trained in holistic counselling, yoga, spiritual practice, psychological theories, anthroposophy and biography work, as well as embodiment practice, sound healing, tantra and shamanic healing. Working holistically as a health professional always means navigating through the territory of body, mind, soul and spirit when seeking to unravel the meaning and mystery of illness and to support deep and lasting healing.
My personal treasure trove of life and learnings has also been coupled with the experience and wisdom I have gathered from supporting thousands of women and girls over a 25 year period. This has been in both clinical practice as well as through running women’s circles and girls rites of passage programmes and retreats.
Over the years I have found and created many tools, techniques and processes to support and honour the physical, emotional and spiritual journey of women from menarche to menopause. I am always humbled and grateful to learn from women, at every age, as they courageously do the work to show up and more fully meet themselves as they meet life’s challenges.
Time and again I witness women finding their way to a healthy place of joy, authenticity, wisdom and self love as they emerge from their own unique portal of change that each of the rites offer. I am passionate about this work and excited to share my Rites of Womanhood map with other women so that they might pass through their life stages with understanding, perspective, surrender as well as a dash of humour!
I hope you join me and we can co-create your own unique map – through bespoke personalised counselling, coaching or health consultations to support your individual situation or come along and participate in one of my online programmes, in person events or retreats.