We recently had the chance to connect with Karen Thames Ballew and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Karen, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Who are you learning from right now?
I’m very grateful to learn from many people in different walks of life. I take Persian dance lessons from Natalie Nayun who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. We meet via Zoom. Dance is incredibly healing for the mind, body, and soul, and there is such a wonderful capacity for expression in it beyond words! I’m also learning from the beautiful community at Glen Leven Presbyterian Church here in Nashville, from the scriptures, sermons, and fellowship there.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I love creating songs, collaborating with other artists, and teaching music. I teach singing and harp at the Nashville Irish Music School and enjoy dancing with the Nashville International Folk Dancers. It is an honor also to help in leading worship with my friends Sara Yarborough Chang and Jeffrey Nelson at Glen Leven Presbyterian Church!
Recently, my Texas friends Abby Mayo, Laura Barbé, and I formed a folk trio called The Seamaid’s Tale. We love vocal harmonies and sharing the stories behind the songs!
There is a lovely group here in Nashville called Mon Ami that performs recorder music, Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque pieces. I love joining them for their Christmas and spring concerts!
In 2019, I started The Deer’s Cry collective, a group of friends collaborating on music and sharing original songs inspired by spiritual themes and folk music from around the world. Our music incorporates some rock, Americana, and Western classical elements as well. The Deer’s Cry is another name for the beautiful St. Patrick’s Breastplate prayer. Irish music, poetry, and prayers have greatly influenced the songs I write, so it seemed the perfect name for the group!
The Deer’s Cry has a new album coming out early next year. Recorded with Nick Bullock at Freda Recording, it was a joyful process and incredible journey! Many thanks to my wonderful friends who recorded on this project: Amberly Rosen Hoins, Kyle Jones, Caleb Yang, Cherish Hamby, Sara Yarborough Chang, John Wood, Kenny Perkerwicz, Joseph Carmichael, Éamonn Dillon, Kristin Weber, Austin Hoke, Alicia Enstrom, Betsy Lamb, Bára Grímsdóttir, and Chris Foster.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was a freshman in high school and my brother Ryan was a senior, he decided to start a philosophical discussion group that met at our house, and my parents were happy to host it. Many of the friends who came to this group were part of a Humanities class taught by Mr. Monroe at Abilene High School in Abilene, Texas. Mr. Monroe is an inspiring teacher and encouraged his students to write reflections and make creative endeavors to explore the things in life that they were interested in and to ask questions about the things they didn’t understand. Not just take someone’s word for it. That’s what emboldened my brother to start this group, and I enjoyed sitting in, listening mostly as I was a bit shy and younger than everyone else. But it made a huge impact on me. Everyone there had a different life experience, different interests, and different perspectives of the world. I got to witness how poetry, philosophy, literature, and music spoke to them. Sometimes people would disagree about things, but there was a constant thread of friendship and discovery of what it means to live this human experience and the truths that penetrate it. I learned that each person’s experience is unique and there is a lot we can learn from one another when we make the space to listen.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of making a mistake and the fear of disappointing others has held me back the most in my life. Worrying that I might mess up or upset someone has kept me from trusting my intuition and being fully present in the moment. This worry in turn has caused me some health issues.
I know there is a peace which surpasses understanding, and I am gradually learning to let go and receive it. As I do, I am illumined to God’s love and what is most important in life. This perspective shines light on what is true and gives me strength to live beyond my fears.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
I believe there is something significant beyond the purely material world, closely tied to consciousness and spirituality. Many people see science and spirituality as separate or even opposed, but I think we’re beginning to witness a convergence that could enrich both.
What fascinates me is that some highly respected scientists are seriously exploring ideas that sound almost spiritual. Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff’s Orch-OR theory, for example, proposes that quantum processes in the brain might give rise to consciousness. Hameroff has even speculated this could explain parapsychological phenomena, things like telepathy or shared consciousness, and even point to a kind of quantum soul. Nobel laureate Brian Josephson has explored links between quantum mechanics and consciousness, and Donald Hoffman at UC Irvine argues that consciousness, not matter, is the fundamental reality from which spacetime emerges.
These are not fringe figures in tinfoil hats; they’re accomplished scientists grappling with problems like the ‘hard problem of consciousness,’ which remains unsolved. Increasingly, some researchers wonder if consciousness isn’t produced by the brain but is instead something more fundamental that the brain taps into.
This resonates with ancient spiritual traditions that place spirit at the heart of reality. To me, it’s compelling to see modern science circling back to insights that spirituality has carried for centuries, and it challenges us to rethink what we consider foundational truths.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
I think all that’s left of any of us when we lay down our name, role, and possessions is beauty from the love we’ve received and wisdom from the kindness we’ve shared. And for some of us, there is guilt from the harm we’ve done and hurt from the forgiveness we have yet to give. But after forgiveness, all that’s left is love, and that is a marvelous thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedeerscry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedeerscryband/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedeerscryband/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvr3cS-YXq8SyRAcB8g7vJg
Image Credits
Portrait photo by Sam Wiseman Photography, Artwork by Madison Thames, Other photos by Brad Ballew
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