Nina's story with The Book of Love

"I have such warm and positive feelings about my time in The Book of Love class. I keep my own Book of Love on my bookshelf and it is one of my most cherished possessions. It is still a work in progress and I enjoy revisiting it when the spirit moves me. 

When I started the class I was completely shut down and in tremendous pain. I was still reeling from my divorce and the dismantling of my life and family as a result of that divorce. I was struggling to move forward in a positive way. I was lacking self-love and self-forgiveness.

The experience of examining life, purpose, and love was the beginning of a beautiful journey for me. It was my springboard to a positive outlook and ability to cherish myself. I'm not going to say I got there overnight, because I didn't.

But this class turned me in the right direction, took off my blindfold, and whispered words of encouragement in my ear as it pushed me off on my journey of self-love. I felt like a weight had been lifted off of me, and I could see a whole new and different world in front of me. I stuck my head out of my dark cave because I was tired of being there, and this class showed me where to go next.

Two years later I'm still on that journey, but much closer to the finish line than ever before.  Thank you for placing this class on my path. It was the perfect thing at the perfect time for me."

- Nina S., Silver Spring, Maryland, US

This group may be a good fit for you if:

• you're recovering from an addiction, illness, or difficult time 
• you're in the midst of a life transition 
• you're caretaking for others and feel lost or overwhelmed
• you're caring for a chronic illness
• you yearn for self compassion, healing and wholeness 
• you've done lots of healing work and feel exhausted
• you want to play and dance with joy
• you want something creative and expressive to support other healing work 
• you enjoy playing in the realm of soul 
• you long for connection with yourself and others 

The Book of Love is a playful way to bridge places of separation, to reconnect with the story underneath the story. People have been very creative!

People have made 'Books of Love' to:

• say goodbye and thank you to a dying parent
• reconnect with a loved one after going through a challenging time
• say goodbye to a beloved home
• grieve and honor the ending of a marriage
• mourn the pain of an addiction or compulsion
• nurture the dream of writing a book
• deepen their courage through a health diagnosis
• heal a painful body image
• and bring compassion to the suffering of chronic illness

We love hearing all the ways people use this group to nurture their healing, and we look forward to witnessing your creation! You can read about Joanna's experience with The Book of Love below.

Joanna's story 

Today it’s my mother’s birthday, she would have turned 81. She passed away in August 2019 after a long struggle with cancer and my father followed her quite closely, he had dementia, passing away in February this year.  

So it’s been an incredibly tough last few years, during which I’ve followed 3 of [Karly's] courses - Emerge (twice), The Book of Love and Align.  All of these courses taught me so much - I feel like Karly is one of my ‘other mothers’!  And in the words of Penny Harter’s poem, a line really resonates: 

In the Zen tradition, When the student is ready, the teacher appears.  Karly appeared when I was ready and in need of a different kind of support in my life.  

We (me and my 4 siblings) have spent the last few months dealing with the family home and everything in it as we prepare it for sale - the family home for nearly all of my life - and as I was looking at all of the objects, books, fabrics and everything collected there over the years, I have thought about the Book of Love and how I might create a book of love out of this painful experience of saying goodbye to this very special family home.

Not long after the Book of Love course, I decided to make a scroll for my mother, while she was still alive (but deteriorating fast) to ‘talk’ to her about the things I value which she had given me.  I found it hard to express this verbally with her so I decided to write and illustrate my thoughts (something which had come out of working on the Book of Love course.

Now that my mother has passed away, I think there is a second one I can make now - thinking of other aspects of her and her wisdom I can add and also perhaps the wisdoms I’ve gleaned from other mothers. I am hugely grateful.

- Joanna, U.K.

From a book to a class to a group

In 2018, I created the first Book of Love class and was joined by 26 soulful women. They, too found healing, strength, and compassion in creating their books. (You can read some of their stories throughout this page.)

Since then, I've offered this course nearly every year. For 2025, we have a new format - with a longer, monthly mini-retreat so we can really dig in and create our books together.

Like many of you, I love exploring the depths. I love creating spaces like The Book of Love where we can explore and share with others.

Why we need places to create and set down the urge to 'fix'

When we're in the midst of a struggle or when we experience the pain of life it's easy to collapse into self criticism or overdoing, striving to 'fix the self.' These attempts to 'work on ourselves' are exhausting. Often, we try so hard to 'fix ourselves' because we think it's the only way to eradicate our pain or to ease the anxiety of our shame.

But this doesn't work - it can feel like pouring water onto concrete, wondering why it doesn't soak into the soil and lead to new blooms. While there's a time and place for inner work, overdoing leaves us feeling frustrated, depleted and anxious. 

Rather than more inner work, our souls may be crying out for exploration, imagination, and psychological rest. One of the most beautiful and tender ways we can give ourselves this holding is through self compassion and creativity.

Self compassion helps us meet the edges of our suffering with softness and strength. And creativity gives us a safe, neutral place where all our emotions, feelings, experiences, and yearnings can come out. 

The Book of Love was created with these ideas in mind - to create a holding space for your creativity, for your story, and a holding space for the compassion that will arise to meet it (and in fact, that already does.)

I think of The Book of Love like 'soul book making,' creating a psalter of the soul. And even though this group is creative, you do not have to be an artist or think of yourself as creative to join the class - just willing to play.

Christy's story

I wanted to tell you about the importance of your Book of Love class. My quiet daughter Beth, 16, is my 3rd daughter. My 2nd daughter has had a very difficult road these past five years. She’s been the loudest as far as needs in our family.

Beth has been my quiet daughter. She has had to navigate her path many times on her own because of the crisis that arose. It’s been so difficult to communicate and build a deeper relationship with her because of anger she holds with regard to feelings of abandonment.

She’s been very angry and closed off for a long time as well as struggling with depression herself. She’s felt isolated from friendships and like she doesn’t fit in anywhere. She’s been lonely and feeling very hopeless.

When I heard about your class I thought of it for me but then when I really settled in I felt like we needed to do it together. After extending the invitation to Beth she said she’d think about it. I showed her your video clip and she said she’d be willing to do it.

The time we spent together watching the videos, listening to the readings, and recordings was priceless. We shared memories and learned about ways that we feel loved. We still work on our books together when we have free time in the evenings and many times it’s initiated by Beth.

She is seeking out and reading poetry now as well as finding moments to share with me good things that have happened to her throughout the day. We have a point of connection now that is based on love and not crisis or drama. I have learned so much about her and she is more open to hearing good things from me as well. It’s truly beautiful.

And her follow up story:

Last year was an extremely painful year, and at times I was hanging on by a thread. I can’t tell you how many times I pulled out my book and felt the universe speaking to me through it, telling me that I have so many good things in my life to hang on too and not to fall into the darkness...

The Book of Love, on more than one occasion, kept me rooted in Love. Thank you for this beautiful space that you created almost as a foreshadowing of what was to come and what I needed to anchor me in my life. It’s also tremendously helped my daughter and I stay focused on the good that’s all around us.

Gentleness and compassion have been areas that have been growing in me for years now. Crisis has a way of either drawing that out or hardening. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to you for helping me create safe spaces to continue to allow the softening and beauty to unfold.

- Christy S., U.S.

Frequently asked questions

What technology do I need to join?

You should be comfortable using zoom and accessing the internet through your device - a phone, tablet or computer. We'll be using zoom for our monthly meetings, so you'll need a device to access zoom. The class materials are hosted on a private web site and you'll create a username and password to login. It helps to be comfortable logging in to websites.

I've taken other classes with Karly. How is this different?

This group isn't focused on learning or creating outcomes but on process and exploration. You'll explore many of the themes of Growing Humankindness – self compassion, mindfulness, and inner listening. But you'll do this through play. This group is intentionally designed to be a playful, nourishing, creative way of entering the soul's sacred ground. 

Can the group heal trauma?

We have so much empathy for the ways trauma impacts your relationship with yourself! While The Book of Love can be a helpful companion for your healing journey, it's not designed to heal trauma. 

Do I need to be an artist or creative?

You do not have to be an artist, writer, or think of yourself as creative to join the group. If you enjoy reflecting upon your experience, becoming more intimate with your inner life, playing with creativity, and feel comfortable in an online environment, then this group is a good fit. 

We're not here to perform or critique our books, or even to write or create something 'good,' but to explore our relationship with ourselves and to open to our experience, seeing what wants to come through. 

This offering is for Soul Divers with a sincere desire to explore, share, create, write, and listen from the heart. We get to be together, from all over the world! The only requirement is a willingness to show up and offer your presence to the group.

What if I'm new to meditation or mindfulness?

All levels of meditation are welcome. What matters is a desire to be present and to be with what's here. 

What should I bring to the gatherings each month?

Bring writing and art supplies, your book, those things that help you feel comfortable (water or tea, a cozy chair or blanket), and a device that connects securely to the internet. It's also helpful to settle into a quiet space where you can feel well nourished and present.

Will there be breaks or time off screen?

We'll have a short break during our gathering, and there will be abundant writing/creating/playing time where you can be off screen.

I tried to sign up but it's sold out. Is there a waiting list?

Yes! Please contact us to join the waiting list. 

Can I cancel? Do you offer refunds?

You may cancel up to Monday, January 13th with a full refund. Please contact us by email to cancel your registration.

As this is a closed, small group with limited spots, there are no refunds after January 13th. If you cancel after January 13th and we're able to find another student to take your spot, we can refund your initial $125 payment and you won't be responsible for the remaining tuition. But we can't guarantee this. 

Please be mindful of our refund policy when purchasing the class.

Do I have to pay if I can't attend the live monthly group?

We don't offer refunds if you're not able to attend the live gathering. You're responsible for your monthly fee whether or not you attend each month. The gatherings are recorded if you miss a session so you can watch and listen later. 

What if I drop out. Do I still owe my remaining payments?

If you drop out after January 13th, you're responsible for your remaining payments.

A closing blessing for you

When we tell our stories of loss, often the first layer of telling is of shame, frustration, or separation.

But underneath this surface telling there is so much tenderness; beauty, courage and strength. Whether or not you choose to join us for The Book of Love, I hope you keep a keen ear trained to this deeper story, and to trust it.

May those fontanels of your being be cradled in remembrance and wondering. And may you trust the way the soul is guiding you into descent, into your deeper story.

Our journeys may arise through some uncomfortable messengers. And no matter what form our telling takes, when we touch our stories and our wounds directly, when we dress and tend them like something beloved, we come to a new understanding. 

We realize that our wounds are not what we think they are – and that neither are we.

To the sacred ground under your feet, and to the deeper story that lives within you,  Karly