We were lucky to catch up with Judy James recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Judy, thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

You know, I spent almost my entire life hiding from who I really was.

And I didn’t even realize that’s what I was doing at the time.

I hid through people-pleasing… through denial… by trying to be the “good girl.” I wanted to be perfect, to be liked, to get it all right. I thought if I could just do all the right things, I’d be okay.

But the cost of that was leaving myself behind. And yet, even though I buried her… that true version of me kept whispering to me.

I was incredibly intuitive as a child. I could sense things about people and situations that didn’t match what they were saying or how they were acting. But when I tried to express what I knew, I was told I was wrong, or that it wasn’t true. So I started doubting myself. I shut it all down.

I left my intuition behind—even though there were moments in my life when it tried so hard to break through. But still… I hid.

I wanted to be in control. I wanted to be safe.

And then one night, seemingly out of nowhere—but really, it was divinely guided—I looked up and said out loud:

“I don’t know what to do.”

And for someone who had always needed to be in control, always needed a plan, that was huge.

Now, if this had been a movie, the clouds would’ve parted and a beam of light would’ve come down and a choir would’ve started singing. But it wasn’t like that.

It was quiet. Still. Simple.

That moment was surrender.

And I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but my soul knew exactly what had just happened. Something shifted in me. And from that point on, I started hearing my intuition again—only this time, I listened.

Each day, I just knew the next right thing. Not in a dramatic way, but in a deep, soul-level way.

And over the next couple months, I made a decision I never thought I’d have the strength to make. I left a 28-year marriage. And I left it with peace, with clarity, and with guidance—because I had finally reconnected to my own inner voice.

That was the beginning of my new life.

I dove headfirst into the spiritual work that had been calling me all along. I found my mentor, Sunny Dawn Johnston, and over the past ten years, I’ve taken every one of her classes and certifications. And in doing so, I’ve unwound so many old stories and limiting beliefs.

Since then, I’ve written a book, become a Reiki Master, an end-of-life doula, a mind-body-spirit practitioner… but more importantly, I’ve come home to myself.

That’s the risk I took: to stop hiding and finally become me.

And that’s what I help others do now—reconnect with who they really are, beneath all the roles and expectations and pain. Because when we remember who we are, we create lives that feel aligned, joyful, and free.

And I believe that’s what we all came here to do.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Who I Am & What I Offer

Sacred Guide • Intuitive Mentor • Energy Healer • Medium • End-of-Life Doula

After 45 years behind the chair as a hairstylist, I came to understand that my true gift has always been presence—offering deep, heart-centered listening and creating a safe space for people to feel seen, heard, and honored.

That gift has now expanded into sacred work that reaches far beyond the surface.
At the center of it all is connection—connection to self, to Spirit, and to the cycles of life and death.

My Offerings
• Intuitive Mentoring
I connect with your inner guidance system to help illuminate what may be hidden from view—old patterns, beliefs, and the truth of who you really are. I create a space where you can return to your power, your voice, and your light.
• Energy Healing through Reiki
Through Reiki and intuitive energy work, I help release emotional and energetic blocks that are holding you back. This work brings clarity, peace, and a renewed connection to your body, your truth, and your spirit.
• Mediumship & Spirit Communication
One of my deepest joys is helping people reconnect with loved ones in Spirit. Whether through messages, signs, or intuitive knowing, I remind people that they are never alone—Spirit is always near, offering guidance, love, and presence. I also teach others how to develop their own intuitive and mediumship abilities.
• Group Mentoring & Intimate Retreats
I lead small group containers and soulful retreats designed to create accelerated healing and expansion. These spaces are deeply supportive, where each participant becomes both a student and a teacher, and growth happens through shared experience and sacred witnessing.
• End-of-Life Doula Work
One of the most sacred honors of my life is supporting individuals and families through the transition of death. As an end-of-life doula, I help prepare people emotionally, energetically, and spiritually for this journey. I offer presence, compassion, and peace in moments that often feel overwhelming or uncertain—reminding all involved that death is not the end, but a sacred passage home.

My Heart-Centered Mission

My superpower is reading energy and meeting people exactly where they are—with compassion, without judgment. From the first moment, people often feel safe, understood, and deeply seen. I don’t fix—I reflect. I don’t rush—I hold space. I simply walk beside you as you remember who you are.

I do this work because I believe:
• Healing is always possible
• Spirit is always guiding
• And love never dies

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A Lesson I Had to Unlearn: My Worth

For much of my life, I believed that my worth was something I had to earn.

I thought it was tied to how much I could achieve, how successful I appeared, how much money I made, or what I could acquire. I sought validation in the roles I played, the things I could prove, and the way others perceived me.

But all of that kept me searching outside of myself.

I didn’t yet understand that worth isn’t something to chase—it’s something to remember.

I am worthy just because I am. Nothing more is required.

Unlearning that old belief has been one of the most freeing experiences of my life. And now, it is one of my greatest honors to help others remember the same truth:

You are not your accomplishments. You are not your income. You are not what others think of you.

You are worthy simply because you exist.

Let that sink in. Let it land. Let it guide how you show up from this moment on.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

A Resilience Story That Changed Everything

There are so many moments in my life where resilience has carried me through—but one stands out vividly. During the pandemic, my husband and I opened our home to three of our teenage grandchildren. At the same time, two of our own children were still living at home. That brought us to a household of seven people, three dogs, and two cats.

It was a time of deep love—and deep challenge.

The house was full, loud, and busy. Every corner held movement, emotion, and energy. There were meals to cook, emotions to soothe, schooling and schedules to manage, and a whole lot of navigating teenage moods and family dynamics. It could have easily felt like a time to put everything else on hold.

But something inside me said, Keep going.

In the middle of the noise and the uncertainty, I wrote my book. I posted regularly on my blog. I showed up for my vision of a spiritual career, even when it felt like I didn’t have the time or space. I thought I might have to set my dreams aside—but I didn’t. I chose to believe in them anyway.

That season of life required me to dig deep, deeper than I thought I could. And what I found wasn’t just survival—it was purpose. It was the realization that resilience isn’t just about pushing through hard times; it’s about choosing who you want to be in the middle of them.

That chapter shaped who I am today as a mentor, healer, and guide. It taught me that I can hold sacred space in the middle of chaos. That I can create peace within myself, even when the world around me is anything but peaceful.

That’s the kind of resilience I now help others tap into—because if I could rise in the middle of all that, so can you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Judy-James.com
• Instagram: Judyjames.4love
• Facebook: Judy James Inspirationalist.love