Dr. Karen Ralls, medieval historian, ancient art history and music / sound researcher, obtained her PhD from the University of Edinburgh, followed by six years as a Postdoctoral Fellow, lecturer, and Deputy Curator of the Rosslyn Chapel Museum Art exhibition (Scotland) before relocating to Oxford, England, where she continues with her specialized research at Oxford University, UCL, and other archives. Noted for her groundbreaking 12th-14th c. research in particular, Dr Ralls explores ancient and medieval history, historic sites, and music and sound.
An international lecturer/conference speaker, noted author, historical sites tour guide, and workshop/events presenter, Dr Ralls’ books include Gothic Cathedrals: History, Art, Places and Symbolism, (Ibis Press/RedWheelWeiser books USA, 2015), Medieval Mysteries: History, Places, and Symbolism, a fully illustrated book examining the history, places, lore and symbolism of twelve of the most-requested, favourite medieval history topics requested by the public about the High Middle Ages (Ibis Press/distr RedWheelWeiser books USA, 2014); The Templars and the Grail (Quest Books, USA); The Knights Templar Encyclopedia (Career Press, USA); The Quest for the Celtic Key (Luath, Edinburgh, UK), Music and the Celtic Otherworld (Edinburgh University Press UK and Columbia Univ Press, USA), Indigenous Religious Musics [Ed.] (Ashgate, SOAS Musicology Series, University of London UK). Forthcoming from 2016 will be other publications to follow.
A former Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley, Dr Ralls serves as professional Historical Consultant and Advisor for film / TV / media projects and documentaries (Discovery, The History Channel, National Geographic, etc), and for travel, charity and heritage-related projects. She completed a specialist Medieval and Renaissance Art History course at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London., and has been studying with US sound healing pioneer Jonathan Goldman, US expert John Beaulieu (tuning forks), and UK CymaScope inventor John Stuart Reid, to learn more about sound, geometry and visual imagery, and Bill Taylor (Ardival Harps, Scotland). A historian originally from the US and based in Britain for over twenty years, Karen is also on Facebook and Linked In, and her website is www.ancientquest.com.
A musician (flutes, and wire-strung Celtic harp), Karen is also interested in further exploring links between history, art, symbols, music, and historical and sacred sites today, as a greater understanding of history can still provide us with key insights to powerfully assist us in transforming our own lives — and that of the planet — today. Join the Quest…
“Sharing the Wisdom of the past … a gateway to the future”
“Wisdom begins in wonder”….
(‘Socrates’)
….something to ponder for our world today….
Karen at Roslin Glen, Scotland
To view Karen’s US amazon.com Author’s Page, please click here, and for the UK Author’s page on amazon co uk, please click here
