karen@karengray.com
202-744-5771
I am an ordained Interfaith Minister since 2003. For me, "Interfaith" means simply, Faith. Maybe "Inner Faith" says it better.
Spirituality is very personal. As a minister, it is my sacred privilege to support anyone seeking to honor and develop their relationship with the Divine.
There is only one Truth. Religious teachings can be useful as roadmaps to the Truth, but rigid doctrines are often roadblocks.
I am most at home, spiritually speaking, with the teachings of Unity, including the understanding that all paths lead to God.
I attend a Unity Church in Washington, DC (CommUnity on the Hill) and am very active there, and at Unity of the Shenandoah [unityoftheshenandoah.org] in Stephens City, Virginia.
My ministry is increasingly active as I enjoy opportunities to speak to congregations, to officiate sacred ceremonies, and to offer pastoral counseling and prayer support.
As a teenager I worked in a record store, and there I discovered the music I love. I was not interested in the hits on the Pop and Soul charts, even though that was the focus of my job.
The first album I bought was a collection of recordings by The Glenn Miller Band and from it I learned "Moonlight Serenade" and "Tuxedo Junction." Then I bought albums by the Manhattan Transfer and learned "In A Mellow Tone" and "Love for Sale." Then I started listening to solo vocalists, learning "Sentimental Journey" from Dinah Shore and "Moonlight in Vermont" from Willie Nelson. (Strange, but true.)
As I listened I learned, because I loved the songs, each one a distinct creative masterpiece offered up for personal interpretation! My "accidental repertoire" included well over 200 songs by the time a chance encounter led to my first professional gig many years later.
Lucky me, singing is now a huge part of my life. Since my daughter was born (2007) I've cut back a bit, but I still perform once or twice a week. Festivals, restaurants, concerts, parties! It's jazz for me. That's what I sing, and what I listen to, almost exclusively.
Becoming a Coach was not a decision; it was a discovery. I first heard about it in 1996. Even without knowing much, I knew it was for me. And I was right. It was a natural next step on my career path. I had an MBA in Organizational Behavior (Columbia University, 1992) and had worked in Career and Organizational Development for a couple big companies: Goldman Sachs and Andersen Consulting. Now, instead of working within organizations, I enjoy working one-on-one with individuals who are ready for a lot more from life, from themselves. Our work benefits from the use of well-designed tools, methods and programs. But mostly, our work is based on personal connection and compassion.
Most people don't ever get the kind of support that Coaching offers. It makes a big difference. I know this from both sides of the story: My own work with Coaches has been truly and positively transforming!
I grew up in a close family of five: three "live wire" girls and two very involved parents.
My first job was on a tobacco farm. (It was North Carolina. I was ten years old.) Since then, I've worked in retail, restaurants, nightclubs, Wall Street, nonprofits, "Big Six" and education. I've been a salesclerk, a management consultant, an entertainer, a trainer, an administrative assistant, a motivational speaker. And then some. And I've loved it all. (Especially in retrospect.)
My experience includes: