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.

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

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