Heather-Rose Ryan was born in New York City. She designed her first Tarot deck when she was 12, around the same time that she began connecting with nature spirits in Central Park. She is a Master/Teacher of Usui Reiki via teachers Susan Aguirre and Diane Stein, and of Shamballa Reiki via teacher Christopher Penczak. She was initiated into shamanic healing by Karen Johnson and has continued her studies with Evelyn Rysdyk and Allie Knowlton. Other significant influences in her shamanic/spiritual work include Gordon MacLellan, Jessica Macbeth, Jan Fries, and Norman Vincent Peale, who was her family's pastor.
Heather-Rose lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with her husband and their teenage son, plus various dogs and cats. In addition to her Tarot-reading practice, she is a writer, editor, and artist.