We recently connected with Ursula Acae and have shared our conversation below.
Ursula, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I’m actually still working on my most meaningful project, I feel. My work in progress, Twine and Gold, is still in its drafting stages, but it’s been a two year project that I really want to see through. I feel like everyone sees Ursula the pagan or Ursula the business owner (I mean, look at my main account. It has 30k+ followers while the writing account is currently on 100!). The thing about my writing is that I incorporate every aspect of myself into it. There’s the pagan part of me that comes up with the lore in the book, the mythology, the world building. There’s the business owner part of me that knows how to market my work and learn the ins and outs of the publishing world. It’s all there, and that’s what makes this project not only the most meaningful one for me, but also the most vulnerable one. I talk about growing up a minority, being part of the LGBTQ+ community, etc. through a world that I made up on my own, hoping that people who pick it up will feel safe and heard. That they can find themselves in my characters and get whisked away in the adventure that we all crave. It’s such a heavy and high expectation that I give myself, but that’s also what makes this so important to me. I’m the only one pushing myself with this one, you know?
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Ursula, and I’m a 22 year old pagan witch with a small business that also wants to be a published author. The first out of all of those things is the author bit. I’ve been writing ever since I was 9 years old, and writing has and will always play a part in my life. In my business Ursula’s Messenger Bag, for example, I write up tarot readings and poetry for my clients and have a stationary line. It’s interesting how it all connects. I started off with tarot years ago and when I offered readings to people, I got really great feedback and decided to make a business out of it. Then, I had the idea to sell perfumes based off of mythology. Personally, I never had a staple perfume that I liked and would go for, and I thought it would be really cool to make my own for the deities I honor, so I made them myself and – what do you know? – others liked them a lot (Aphrodite’s is my favorite, by the way). That was over a year ago, and now Ursula’s Messenger Bag has expanded to fairy tale inspired perfumes, jewelry, makeup, and stationary while carrying the theme of bringing modern magic to every day people. I really have my community to thank for it. Without even 1000 or 100 of them, I wouldn’t have the support and traction I do now and my business would be in the mud for sure.
If there is anything I want others to know about me is that I’m where I am because I don’t shy away from my own ideas. Ever since I was little, I always stuck to my guns, even though it got me into trouble. Whenever I want something, I chase after it. I don’t let anything slow me down, no matter who supported me and who didn’t. That’s all it takes. An idea. I’m not some heir to a dynasty that has a million dollars and a lot of resources at their disposal; I was just a 20 year old itching for something to do for themselves. I always try to do the best by my team and my community, and I’m always open to learning more. I’m definitely not done yet.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Honestly, I started it for fun. It was during quarantine and I decided to post on Tiktok for fun. Now I have over 30,000 followers, and it still shocks me, honestly. I know I got lucky. It took one or two videos that got people’s attention, but I suppose it was the rest of my content that got them to stay. My advice to others? Be yourself, please. Be authentic. Even though people will say that social media is fake, there is no reason to live up to that expectation. Audiences will appreciate honesty and ingenuity. I love interacting with my community and creating more ways for us to get to know each other, and I think that’s another aspect that allowed me to build a solid community. Trends, algorithms, and good lighting helps, of course, but they stay for you and what you have to offer, not for the 15 second videos.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
A few months ago, I had a really bad fallout with a business partner. There were months of questioning my mental health and my capabilities as a person because of how this person treated me. I was left taking care of a very fast growing business by myself in my parents’ home. Not gonna lie, I felt like a failure. I wanted to quit and just go back to university and get a corporate job like the rest of America.
If it weren’t for the support of my community, I would have, too. I’ve been told that I built myself from the ground up. Honestly, I don’t see it, but I am flattered by that perception. I suppose it does say something that I built my business, wrote a book, and secured a job by myself. Still, it wasn’t like I never had moments of weakness, but I think that’s what adds to it. I had many nights where I cried and many sessions with my therapist where she had to talk me out of going back to a world of isolation. What do you know? My business is still standing, my book already piqued the interest of publishers, and I have a whole new healthy and mature friend group.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ursulasmessengerbag.com
- Instagram: ursulaacae
- Twitter: ursulaacae
- Other: Tiktok: ursula.acae Tumblr: https://ursulasmessengerbag.tumblr.com/