Yes! Come find out at the book release party for The Occult Sylvia Plath: The Hidden Spiritual Life of the Visionary Poet (Destiny Books). This is my fourth book on the subject of Plath, and The Occult Sylvia Plath was originally intended to be the introduction to my first book, Fixed Stars Govern a Life: Decoding Sylvia Plath (2014, Stephen F. Austin State University Press).

Come to hear how Plath was mentored into occult practices by her husband Ted Hughes. Learn about the Ouija boards, crystal balls, astrology, bibliomancy, alchemy, witchy bonfires, and many more occult practices that were a regular part of both of their lives since childhood and a spiritually powerful, if toxic, marriage.

I celebrate the release of The Occult Sylvia Plath on Tuesday, May 7^th, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Left Bank Books in St. Louis’ Central West End, where I will be doing a reading, Q&A, and book signing. Admission is free, but space is limited. Call Left Bank Books for more information at (314) 367-6731. The Occult Sylvia Plath is available to preorder now with all major booksellers.

Links:

Julia Gordon-Bramer – The Occult Sylvia Plath | Left Bank Books (left-bank.com)

The Occult Sylvia Plath | Book by Julia Gordon-Bramer | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster (simonandschuster.com)

The post Book Release Party for The Occult Sylvia Plath Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at Left Bank Books appeared first on Julia Gordon-Bramer.

THIS coming Friday, April 12th, I’ll be speaking about The Occult Sylvia Plath at Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s LitCon in Natchitoches, LA.

Saturday, April the lucky 13th, I’ll be reading tarot cards and doing a reading/book signing for Tarot Life Lessons at The Peace of Mind Center in Shreveport, LA.

on Thursday, May 2nd at 10:41 a.m. I’ll be a guest on the Vic Porcelli Show with Vic and Ken (NewsTalkSTL 101.9 and 94.1 FM)

and on Saturday, May 4th, I’ll be doing an all-day book (Tarot Life Lessons AND The Occult Sylvia Plath) and tarot card reading event with Lavender Moon Metaphysical in Ocean City Maryland

I’m currently planning additional events around my Illuminate Festival dates. If you’re affiliated with a bookstore, metaphysical shop, or college and would like to host me at your venue, please contact me so we can explore the possibilities!

The post New Book Tour Dates Added! appeared first on Julia Gordon-Bramer.

Hello! My website is in the process of being redesigned, but while that’s happening, my webmaster says I can still update here. It’s been a busy time with Tarot Life Lessons: Living Wisdom From the Major Arcana out this past November (Destiny Books), maneuvering through the holidays and tarot jobs, guesting on Gaia Network’s TV show Beyond Belief (that should air in May sometime), preparing to launch The Occult Sylvia Plath: The Hidden Spiritual Life of the Visionary Poet (May 7, Destiny Books),  and planning a book tour. Whew!

Here is what I’ve got on my calendar so far.  Please reach out if you’re in one of these cities and need more information on how to find me, or want me to come to your city? Let’s talk!

St. Louis:

Monday, March 4th 7-9 pm, Spine Indie Bookstore –reading and book signing for Tarot Life Lessons w/some free tarot readings to lucky attendees who buy a copy of the book.  (spinebookstorecafe.com)

Friday, April 26 (4-7 pm), Saturday, April 27, & Sunday, April 28 (11 am – 7 pm) St. Louis Mystic Fair, Machinist’s Hall, Bridgeton–Presentation and book signing at 5 pm Friday on Tarot Life Lessons w/some free readings; paid tarot card readings may be booked throughout the weekend $30 for 15 minutes.  Check Facebook for info.

Thursday, May 9th 12:00 -1 pm. Noon Reading Series presents the release of The Occult Sylvia Plath. Reading and book signing. Kranzberg Arts Foundation in the Listening Room of the High Low Bldg,  3301 Washington Ave, St. Louis 63103. Free. Books will be for sale.  www.kranzbergartsfoundation.org

Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day), Cherokee Caravan (Along the Historic Cherokee St. Antique Row), 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Book sales and signing. I’m sharing space with the Mississippi Nights Book table. Should be fun! www.Facebook.com/CherokeeCaravanSTL

Nacogdoches, TX:

Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8, 4:30-6:30 pm, Bosslight Bookstore, Book signing for Tarot Life Lessons and paid tarot card readings $30 for 15 minutes.

Richmond, VA:

Sunday, June 2nd, Illuminate Festival Richmond, Richmond Marriott Short Pump, 10 am – 5 pm –Presentation on Tarot Life Lessons and The Occult Sylvia Plath, book signing, paid tarot readings (note: more Richmond events area TBA around this date) www.illuminatefestivals.com

Annapolis, MD:

Saturday, July 13, Illuminate Festival Annapolis, Anne Arundel Community College Main Campus, 10 am – 5 pm, –Presentation on Tarot Life Lessons and The Occult Sylvia Plath, book signing, paid tarot readings (note: more Annapolis area events TBA around this date) www.illuminatefestivals.com

Saturday, November 9, Illuminate Annapolis, Anne Arundel Community College Main Campus, 10 am – 5 pm, –Presentation on Tarot Life Lessons and The Occult Sylvia Plath, book signing, paid tarot readings (note: more Annapolis area events TBA around this date) www.illuminatefestivals.com

Columbia, MD:

Saturday, July 20, Illuminate Festival Colombia, Ten Oaks Ballroom, 10 am – 5 pm, –Presentation on Tarot Life Lessons and The Occult Sylvia Plath, book signing, paid tarot readings (note: more Columbia area events TBA around this date) www.illuminatefestivals.com

Ocean City, MD:

Saturday, July 27, Illuminate Ocean City, Roland Powell Convention Center, 10 am – 5 pm –Presentation on Tarot Life Lessons and The Occult Sylvia Plath, book signing, paid tarot readings (note: more OC area events TBA around this date) www.illuminatefestivals.com

Clearwater, FL:

Sunday, August 11, Illuminate Clearwater Beach, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 10 am – 5 pm –Presentation on Tarot Life Lessons and The Occult Sylvia Plath, book signing, paid tarot readings (note: more Clearwater area events TBA around this date) www.illuminatefestivals.com

Naperville, IL (Chicago area):

Sunday, September 29, Illuminate Naperville, Chicago Marriott Naperville, 10 am. – 5 pm —-Presentation on Tarot Life Lessons and The Occult Sylvia Plath, book signing, paid tarot readings (note: more Richmond events TBA around this date) www.illuminatefestivals.com

Frederick, Maryland:

Sunday, October 13, Illuminate Frederick, 10 am – 5 pm –Presentation on Tarot Life Lessons and The Occult Sylvia Plath, book signing, paid tarot readings (note: more Frederick area events TBA around this date) www.illuminatefestivals.com

Rehoboth Beach, DE:

Sunday, October 20, Illuminate Rehoboth, 10 am – 5 pm — Presentation on Tarot Life Lessons and The Occult Sylvia Plath, book signing, paid tarot readings (note: more Frederick area events TBA around this date) www.illuminatefestivals.com

The post Book(s) Tour & Tarot Tour for 2024! appeared first on Julia Gordon-Bramer.

If you’d like to get a copy of the book in your hot little hands, signed by me, come to the book release party! It is Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at the Center for Spiritual Living, 12875 Fee Fee Road, St. Louis, MO 63146  from 7 pm to 9 pm. We will have the physical books there for purchase, an opening reception and meet and greet, I’ll do a reading from the book, and there will be a book signing. It would mean so much to me if you would come.

If you’ve already preordered the book, I’d still love you to come anyway and celebrate this day with me. Or you could buy an extra signed copy as a holiday gift.

Tarot Life Lessons | Book by Julia Gordon-Bramer | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster (simonandschuster.com)

The post Book Release for Tarot Life Lessons! appeared first on Julia Gordon-Bramer.

Alright, alright. I’ve been gone again for a long time. But this time for good reason! I have my own radio show! It started toward the end of December when I was talking to my friend Tony Colombo about the weekend programming at NewsTalkSTL. I asked him, “How does one get a radio show?” Really, it was more out of curiosity. I mused about having something of my own similar to the paranormal themes I used to be a guest for when I worked with Tony at other stations. I thought it would be fun to do free readings for callers so that listeners could understand what a tarot card reading with me was like (and to help others for free). I loved the idea of being able to promote kindred spirits and help authors I respected sell books. And maybe I’d sell a few of those too!

Well, Tony thought it was a great idea. Next came the name, because, as we know from spiritual teaching, nothing (good or bad) is real until it is named! Tom and I wandered the mall trying to get our steps in on bitter cold nights, trying ideas out. Too many of them sounded like bad band names. Souler Coaster, anyone? The best ones were already taken, like Beyond Belief. I saw a cellphone fix store and that’s when Mystic Fix came to me. Fix has a lot of good meanings: to situate, to repair, and to satisfy a craving (We will leave out the castration definition). And so, naming the show was part of its conjuring.

NewsTalkSTL, meanwhile, had a pipe burst over the Christmas cold and lots of damage. The station co-owner suggested that my show start January 21st, but I bumped it to February 4th to be safely out of Mercury Retrograde’s shadow and to let NewsTalkSTL recover. The energy had to be good!

Most importantly came the matter of finding a sponsor to pay for it. I spent the last days of December and the first week of January pitching the idea of the show that did not yet exist to businesses I thought might have interest. It felt very much like when I started Night Times magazine in the 1990s, getting my first check from Streetside Records–God Bless them–which was the $900 that changed my life. Here I was selling a dream again, with the same kind of energy of creating something, or maybe letting the something create me since I wasn’t entirely sure of what I was doing.

Then, one of my dearest regular clients came through to promote his pet project, Kamaflight, which is a fascinating, therapeutic, and dare I say, sexy amalgam of yoga, meditation, and massage. Next, I needed a producer to be assigned to me, and I lucked out with the wonderful Leah Almstedt. We are becoming fast friends. Because I do nothing halfway (or maybe because I tend to go too far) I decided that I wanted this show to also be videocast and podcast. Radio is a one-shot communication; you have to be in the area at the right time to tune in. But podcast and videocast last in perpetuity. Truth is, creating any of it is out of my wheelhouse, but I wanted a way for my family and friends on the east coast to tune in/see me, as well as clients around the world. To get the station to do videocast would be an extra cost that I didn’t have, so I figured I’d do it myself. How hard could it be, right? (Ha ha. I’ll be getting to that).

I had to plan the show(s), of course. Which meant finding good guests who could be available for the time we were pre-recording, synchronizing everyone’s schedule with producer Leah’s and the station’s studio availability. I wanted some kind of theme, so of course, I picked tarot. Every show has a tarot card theme assigned to it, in order of the cards. There are 78 tarot cards, so when I get through that many shows I can either repeat the themes with new guests, choose a reversed meaning of the cards, or try something new altogether. I’ll worry about that later.

There were (are) lots of other moving parts. I needed a website for the show. And a social media presence outside of my posts of my cats, my family, and Plath. I needed a YouTube Channel (and all the others). Thank God next for my sister-in-law, Anne Peters, my web ninja who has been behind the scenes creating logos, making social network reels, and launching my website www.mysticfix.com.

Recording the first show, I was a little shaky. I was not in full voice and unsure of what to say and when as I was not yet accustomed to being the one directing the whole thing (I did have a radio show of my own, The Writer’s Voice Hour, way back in 1994 and 1995 on KYMC community radio). Since then, though, I’ve always been a guest who could just smile and let the host go to commercial or whatever. I only just learned–the hard way–you don’t say the POINT in 101.9, and they don’t say FM anymore (we used to always say both in the 1990s). Being prerecorded has both challenges and benefits: The biggest benefit being, obviously, that if you screw up you can do it again. But with prerecorded, I’m cued to stop for commercials and news I don’t hear because it’s not there yet! I had to imagine introductory music that had not yet been created for me. Acting skills are involved. I’m learning.

We’ve recorded three episodes and tonight is the show’s debut! 8:00 pm on NewsTalkSTL 101.9 and 94.1 FM. I set the video camera up and just let it go. The first episode’s video initially disappointed me because 1.) I was too far away from my guest,  2.) I sounded too shy and quiet,  and 3.) my hair was a little wonky. My friend Garrett Enloe came to the first recording to take pictures for my website and be some moral support. My friend Tyler Kiwala was a fantastic first guest, and I interviewed a wonderful author in Great Britain, Rachel Patterson, on her occupation as a kitchen witch.

Learning the video processing software was a bit challenging, but thanks to Tom, I got the basics down fairly fast and decided to use all that extra space between me and my guests! The videocast of Mystic Fix is now like a spiritual version of VH-1’s Pop-Up Videos (Yes, the 90s again. It was my favorite decade for so many things). I feel exceedingly creative and haven’t had this kind of energy and enthusiasm in a long time. It’s hard work, but it’s a blast.

So, when and if you watch the first show, know that I wish I had been better. But my guests are fantastic. I really mean that. They save the show, and I still think, while I am not great, the first show is good. The second is even better and by the third, I found my footing.

If you can’t listen to the radio tonight, I’ll have links posted on www.mysticfix.com and all my social networks on how and where to find us in podcast and videocast. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts. xo

The post Announcing… Mystic Fix! (Or, How to Start Your Own Radio Show) appeared first on Julia Gordon-Bramer.

Hello and Happy New Year!

On this first day of 2023, we have a symbolic blank page on which to write our hopes, fears, prayers, and creative energies. All of these create our experience of this new year. Today, I hope that you celebrate possibilities and empower yourself to attract them. This is that “manifesting” buzzword you hear so much in spiritual circles.

For me, it’s been another year of neglecting regular blog entries, but let’s get real: We all have too much to read and spend too much time anyway! I only want to write if I have something worthwhile to say to you. If you want the micro-blogging stuff, check out my Twitter @jgordonbramer.

I am astounded to say that 2022 is over. And I’ve done some things! Manifesting is real! The highlights are:

• A book contract and finalizing the manuscript for Tarot Life Lessons (formerly The Tarot Diaries) with Destiny Books, a subsidiary of Inner Traditions (and a publishing home to the tarot genius Alejandro Jodorowsky! So honored to share his label!). Release date should be announced VERY SOON. The cover is beautiful!
• A book contract for The Magician’s Girl: the history and mysticism of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, with Inner Traditions. The title could change, and it may be on another imprint of Inner Traditions–I’ll hear soon.
• In May 2022, I became the proud owner of Sylvia Plath’s (hand-carved by her) Hermetic Caduceus with provenance papers. Additionally, I’ve acquired a November 1952 photograph of Sylvia, autographed by her mother Aurelia to friend Richard Larschan and his wife, as well as a copy of the very rare “Last Encounters” memoir of Plath by neighbor Trevor Thomas, inscribed and signed by the author.  Many thanks to Richard Larschan for all of these things, but most of all, for his friendship!
• At the end of June, I lost my dear friend, literary mentor, writing teacher, surrogate father, and friend of Plath and Hughes’, Zulfikar Ghose. I’m not over it yet. I began writing him a memoriam, but nothing can do him justice. We shall see if I ever finish it.
• I toured Sylvia Plath’s childhood home in Wellesley, Massachusetts with the Larschans; I had a blast traipsing across Cape Cod with my friend Margaret following Plath and Hughes’ footsteps (if you’re going to the Cape, stay at Margaret’s beautiful historic Bursley Manor); and I had some time visiting family in both the Boston area and Ocean City, Maryland.
• I watched one of my besties and his wife, Garrett and Stacy Enloe, put out the coolest book ever about Mississippi Nights, of which I was honored to help with and even more honored to be in (along with Tom). I’m in for Night Times magazine, which started as a Mississippi Nights publication, and Tom is in the book with his old band Radio Iodine. Our 30-year-old pictures are in it too! Garrett and his work have reunited me with so many dear friends from the St. Louis scene and I’m so proud that his efforts have made it a best-seller in St. Louis this Christmas season.
• I fully immersed myself in a return to music and saw some great shows: The Cult with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club; Jack White; The Who; Jane’s Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins; Gin Blossoms; Local H; the Eagles—and those were just my favorites, there were others!
• Finally, I am going to have my own radio show on NewsTalkSTL 101.9 and 94.1 FM! I am still figuring out some of the details: studio time, who my producer will be, sponsorships and advertisers, etc. As soon as I have a start date, I will post it here. But I can tell you it is called Mystic Fix and the show will focus on mind-body-spirit topics–everything from yoga to Qabalah to the paranormal. Should be a lot of fun! If you have a business that wants to help support this program (and of course, get lots of publicity on STL’s fastest growing station) PLUS it’ll be podcast so all those outside of the area can hear at their leisure and ads will last in perpetuity–give me a holler and we will talk!

OK. Back to manifesting! Hope you have a fab 2023! xo

The post The End of An Exciting Year; The Beginning of Even More appeared first on Julia Gordon-Bramer.

Happy Holidays! It is now Hannukah, the Festival of Lights, for my Jewish friends and I love how so many of us share the idea of lights at this time of the year. Lights, of course, are symbolic of the light of God, and of enlightenment.

Funny story: my ex was Jewish and, while we could do Christmas, he wanted it all Santa-themed and not about Jesus. Which, for someone like me who grew up in Sunday School, who once starred as the Virgin Mary in the St. James Episcopal Church’s Christmas Pageant, bummed me out. And so, I kept a tiny, secret nativity scene stashed away as my rebellion. It had very simple figures, hand carved from wood. It is only about an inch and a half tall. I still have it.

This year, there is no hiding. The Christmas Holiday started for me when we saw Peter Mayer and friends* with their Christmas show at Delmar Hall last week. Mayer was the son of missionaries, and he grew up in Africa for part of his childhood. The whole enchanted evening, with the lights, music, stories and lyrics got me thinking:

WHAT IF the Christmas nativity is the ultimate parable? Hear me out before you roll your eyes that I might be getting too Jesus-y, or if you’re more fundamentalist, you might call me a blasphemer here. I accept that my views are not traditional. But:

WHAT IF we are all born of the pure mother Earth, and reside alongside the animals in the kingdom of life? What if during our darkest days, if we bother to look, we can see that we are guided by stars and by angels? What if the shepherds and the wise ones who came before us will steer our direction and give us the gifts we need? What if the nativity story is to teach us that we are salvation for ourselves and for the world?

You are the light of the world, friends. These short, dark days of winter are cold and can be tough. Despite that, I hope that you shine, shine, shine!

In other news, here is an interview with me from MysticMagazine: https://www.mysticmag.com/uncatego…/juliabramer-interview/     Enjoy!

*I mistakenly called this a PM Reunion on Facebook and Twitter. It was not the group PM, just Peter Mayer with other musicians.

The post A New Nativity? appeared first on Julia Gordon-Bramer.

Sorry I’ve been so bad about blogging. I’ve been finishing up two books for Inner Traditions publishers, and then I went right into my busy Octoberfest/Halloween season. I should have a little break between now and the Christmas party rush and will hopefully catch up a little. In the meantime, I’m sharing the catalog page and cover design for my forthcoming Tarot Life Lessons: Living Wisdom from the Major Arcana. To those of you who have been following my writing career, the working title of this book was The Tarot Diaries.

I don’t have a release date just yet–that should happen in the next couple of months, but it will be out on an Inner Traditions’ subsidiary, Destiny Books. I am told the famous Tarot and Occult writer, Alejandro Jodorowsky, published on this imprint so I am in good company. Here’s a link to the catalog page:

TarotLifeLessons_CatPage

What’s the other book? That is The Magician’s Girl: The History and Mysticism of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. Title/Subtitle also subject to change! More on that as I learn it.

I did a few podcasts and radio appearances in the last few months. My favorites were talking about how the spirit world is presented in Hollywood with Max on Movies, as well as another good LifeBlood podcast with George Grombacher called “Return to the Source.” Check them out if you get a few minutes!

I’m filling up for weekend holiday parties in December, so reach out fast if you’re looking for my tarot services. And of course, I am always taking my regular weekday and weeknight appointments. Looking for a different gift idea? I can make you a custom gift certificate to print, email, or send by phone. Just email me at tarot@nighttimes.com or through this website for more information.

The post New Book Coming! Tarot Life Lessons appeared first on Julia Gordon-Bramer.

What a busy summer! I don’t know if it is Mercury retrograde or just decompression from such a relentless work schedule, but I’ve hit a wall and the last couple weeks have been more indulgent: visiting with friends, catching up on and scheduling doctor and dental checkups, going to concerts, and I’ve resumed writing poetry after months and months of scholarly nonfiction (which sort of deadens the creative impulses).  For me, there is nothing lovelier than lying out in the sunshine, reading and writing poetry (my new go-to poet is John Rybicki). This is my recharging time before the big Halloween crush of events. I’ll have some TV and radio appearances coming up soon for which I will post links.

A week ago, I was feeling overconfident about my fitness when I decided to move a wood pile from our wheelbarrow into our rolling garbage cans. I didn’t want to bother Tom about it. I thought rather proudly that I’d get this out of the way for both of us and together we’d marvel at how strong and efficient I am (ha). Stacking the wood from one container to the other was a breeze. No sweat, if a few splinters. Then I went to do the rolling, which of course means one must tip it backwards. There’s where I got a bit careless, and the whole thing, which probably weighed as much or more than I do, came smashing down upon me.

I fell hard on my left hand, I cut up my left arm with some impressive gashes, scraped my nose and chin, and it looks as if someone beat my left thigh with a baseball bat. Not my finest moment.

I’m starting to scab up now, and the bruising has gone from deepest purple to shades of yellow and plum. People ask if I was in a car accident. What did I realize about all of this? I wasn’t paying attention. I still think I could have successfully maneuvered the trash can IF I had concentrated and not been so careless. Lesson learned. Another lesson: Ask for help when it is readily available. I didn’t have to do it myself.

It’s hard to believe we are past mid-September. If you pay attention, you can hear the seasons change: there are different insects, wilder winds, and the rustling of tree leaves beginning to dry out. The daylight has shortened and shifted. I try to remember that I am connected to this earth. We forget our oneness too often, busy in individual efforts and drama, like fighting with woodpiles. We forget our bodies, in health, sickness, and aging, are a part of the whole universal organization. We forget our efforts are a part of some greater momentum we cannot see. We forget that our feelings are in the sea of all feelings, that there is nothing that has not been experienced by some other, somewhere. Oneness can keep us sane, if only in not feeling alone.

When I came into the house covered in blood, I went downstairs to Tom’s office choking back tears and said, “Tom, I f**ked up.” He immediately got the first aid kit and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to clean my wounds. Then, without a lecture beyond “why didn’t you ask me to do it?” he went out to pick up the big mess I’d made of the wood. He made me so glad to have someone there. That’s another kind of oneness.

I don’t hate the woodpile, or even this experience, because I did learn a few things and there’s no permanent damage. The picture above is how my leg looks today (the first photo was too ugly to post!). We can’t always change the circumstances, but we can change our reaction to them. We can evolve to adapt, or we can blame and rage, or we can die. Those are pretty much our choices in this life.

And then, this tragedy happened to one of our favorite personal trainers, C. and his wife, J. We had plans to double date at the Alice in Chains/Bush concert tomorrow evening. C texted and told us they couldn’t go because of this terrible thing. In my oneness, in my empathy as a mother and a friend, I crumbled. I laid awake most of the night in grief for this young woman I never met, who I will now never meet.

In my fascination with the human body, I’m watching my own healing but the pain in another’s heart is something that I cannot heal. As a mother, I can’t imagine a way to ever heal such a thing, and maybe, like a lost limb, you just learn to endure, to survive for everyone else who needs you. I am glad to reach out and to be there for them in our oneness. Being one with nature is something else again: the overwhelming beauty of the magnitude of the cosmos, with its repeating patterns of fractals and Fibonacci sequences that go from the birth of the tiniest atoms to the expansion of universes. There is movement and life to all of it–even the stones beneath our feet. But sometimes nature surprises us and sometimes terrible things happen, and no great pattern is evident, or not for a long time. The universal energy is within all matter. Energy doesn’t die. It all matters, and because we are here, or were once here, so do we.

The post Cuts and Scrapes, Bruises and Tragedies appeared first on Julia Gordon-Bramer.

Bringing this back to me, I think of the TV show I almost had and what a gift it was that it fell apart. I also remember reading on their website that they wanted character over substance—spiritual teachings don’t sell a series. If I’d been character enough for them, I would have likely been made a fool.

I think now about some relationships and other opportunities I have pursued, only to later learn of someone’s true character or to understand that I was not dreaming big enough when I tried to make something happen. I think of books I tried hard to publish; either they weren’t ready, or it wasn’t the right time. I think of how I might have destroyed myself in so many ways, like I was a toddler, playing with a big, sharp knife, and Mom snatched it away as I cried. I am protected.

This was a rough summer for me, which is why you haven’t heard much. Part of it was good news: I have been getting up at 6 a.m. and typing until 9:00 p.m. to finalize my manuscript The Magician’s Girl: the history and mysticism of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes (forthcoming with Inner Traditions). In June, my husband had knee surgery that had some complications. My mother was in a car accident, and my mother-in-law started chemo. I lost my beloved mentor, Zulfikar Ghose, to cancer, and I had to put down my ancient little cat, Mimi (over 20 years old!). All while reading tarot cards for my clients, attending weddings, and traveling. Whew.

I am just back from a fantastic trip to Boston and Cape Cod, where I walked through the private residence that was Sylvia Plath’s childhood home, toured the town of Wellesley, and spent a great deal of time with a friend of the Plath family. Then, I saw Cape Cod by land and sea, stepping back to the 1950s writers’ scene and taking in that incredibly varied landscape. I have an essay coming out in the next Plath Profiles about touring the house, and I will be writing up something about Cape Cod soon. I will post links when they’re published.

I’m sorry to have been gone from the blog so long, but I had to make my work priority, and I feel good about that. I hope your summer was fantastic. More soon. xo

The post What We Think We Want appeared first on Julia Gordon-Bramer.