Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julia Lemke. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Julia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Last year, I published my first book, “Silent Sound: 44 Poems to Hear Your Soul.” This book shares my story of the six years leading up to publication. In four sections, I bring you along my journey of divorce, spiritual awakening, and discovering my neurodivergence. Along the way, I come home to my body, fall in love, and discover a greater ease in my relationships.

Since I released this body of work into the world, I’ve seen how much this book has an energy and life of its own. There are so many incredible moments to highlight. A stranger discovering my book when she found the courage to leave a decade-long relationship. My dad’s friend reading and sharing my poems with his son. A client sharing my words at a baby shower. A new friend telling me “the book told me to read outside on my patio.” People buying books for their little free libraries or to give as gifts to friends.

For almost two years, I edited my book. I fell deeply in love with the editing process. This process made me a better writer. I continue to bring these lessons into new material that I write and perform in San Diego and beyond.

Julia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The short answer is, by accident.

I never intended to be a poet. I never intended to be spiritual. I thought I was an Atheist at nine years old.

In 2019, during the most challenging time of my life, words began to flow through me—poems that spoke directly to my soul. In my experience, the energy of creativity and intuition speak the same language. Poetry was how I first honed my intuition. I would see images and “hear” words. In a minute or so, I’d have a note—a poem—that didn’t even sound like my voice, but stunned me with its resonance. I began to have more access to “see” in my mind’s eye. Around the same time, I brought attention to healing my physical body. I grew a relationship with the energy and sensations in my body that previously felt impossible to perceive or articulate. Many of my visions became too real and accurate to ignore.

Socially, I also sought to understand myself and others. I studied people. My first love in the personal development world was the Enneagram personality system.

I went all in on the tools that allowed me to traverse my inner terrain. I began to create a life that was more honest and true to my heart. With formal training and practice, I discovered my own language and method of energy, intuition, and creativity. I had the honor of reading the energy of bodies and souls all across the globe in what I called Essence Mapping.

Over the years, my work evolved into readings, healings, spiritual mentorship, a community, in person events and retreats, tarot parties and corporate events, and more. I’ve read for hundreds of spiritually-curious, first-timers to tarot and intuitive readings and hosted 100+ Shadow Play events that blend somatic shadow work with playful intuitive development.

Now, I simply call myself “a translator of body and soul.” Currently, that takes the shape of a poet, tarot reader, and meditation guide. However we meet, my work invites you to land where you are, listen to what you know in your body & soul, and play. I guide you to transcend what you think to meet what you know in your body & soul.

My poetry has evolved into my first book “Silent Sound: 44 Poems to Hear Your Soul,” a poetry collection inspired by the Strength card in the tarot. I recently hosted a five-day retreat in La Jolla Shores and am working on my next poetry collection and a forthcoming Zine.

Based in San Diego, California, I continue to share and perform my poetry, read tarot for private events, and host events/workshops in Southern California and online.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I started sharing poetry online when I went through a sort of “creative awakening.” Poetry would come it quickly and within a minute or two, I had an entire draft of a poem. I created an anonymous account and challenged myself to post my imperfect drafts. I figured if they were helpful for me, they would be helpful for at least one other person. I was terrified, but I treated it like a time-capsule for my creativity. I posted at least one hundred poems and grew to about 200 followers, which seemed unbelievable at the time. I received encouraging and appreciative DMs from friends and strangers following along.

When I started my intuitive business, I recorded short collective tarot readings. I let my intuition guide me. When I felt a strong urge to share, I knew that at least one person needed to hear what the cards had to say. I shared a mix of writing, intuition tips, and energy readings. I offered free card pulls or mini readings in my stories. I also offered free sessions to influencers, in exchange for promotion if they enjoyed the sessions. I took every opportunity to do an Instagram live with key collaborators.

After years of consistently posting, it hasn’t changed the fact that I don’t love being on camera or recording “content.” I focus now on sharing what I’m already doing: reading tarot at an event, performing at an open mic, or leading a meditation event. When I do events, I tag the brand, venue, or organizer(s) and try to post right after the event so they have the content for their own event recap.

My work continues to gravitate to more in person spaces, but I still use social media as a time capsule to document where I’m sharing my work these days. This gives anyone I meet the chance to “window shop,” and get a feel for my energy before my next event or performance. I also use DMs to stay in contact with friends, clients, and collaborators, even if I’m posting less overall.

My advice for anyone starting now is to know that it takes time, and repetition, to feel comfortable sharing your work online. Secondly, become comfortable with—and maybe even excited by—repelling the people who don’t “get it.” When you transmit your energy out into the world, you attract the people who see you into your sphere, and repel those who don’t. The more “you,” you are, the more clear that transmission becomes. Honesty is the most efficient way to share your soul and see who matches with your energy. I’ve met people all over the world, including some of my closest friends, through braving sharing my energy and work online. I found people I couldn’t have found in any other way.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Tarot reveals to us the sequential journey of creating something in the physical world. From the first burst of inspiration to our life’s legacy, there are key lessons in life that we can’t skip over.

For example, the Three of Cups reminds us about the importance of friendship and community. This is about your close-knit friend group and the people who get you. They support you and challenge you to be a well-rounded human outside of your work. You can’t, and shouldn’t, do it alone. You need relationships of all kinds: acquaintances, clients, friends, collaborators, and promoters. The Three of Cups reminds us to savor connection, celebrate milestones, and not take it too seriously.

I’ve met some of my best friends through sharing my work. Deepening these friendships offers me valuable sounding boards and reality checks when the journey gets challenging. These people are also the foundation of bringing future visions to life.

Other vital lessons we might learn along the way are: how to quit and modulate how much we take on, how to manage and generate resources, how to rest, how to start over (again and again), patience.

When we see the entrepreneurial or creative journey as a cycle that repeats from zero like the tarot, we let in some lightness and ease. We make it a little less serious. Of course the path will have its challenges, but it also has room for our dreams to live out in our tangible reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.julia-lemke.com
• Instagram: @julialemke11
• Other: Substack: https://julialemke.substack.com

Image Credits
Julia Lemke