Curious Seeds is a monthly interview series with beautiful + fascinating humans. You can nominate an interview (including yourself) via the comments below.
Julien Elizabeth is a mystic, astrologer, soul seeker, artist, and teacher. She is a yoga nidra guide, attuned to the pulse of the natural world and curiosity. I met Julien last year at our shared yoga studio, but truly began experiencing her healing artistry in a series of rage practices she facilitated through Mars retrograde in late-2022. Yep. There is an effervescence and soft emergence to her offerings that will make you pause and consider.
Julien, it’s so good to be with you!
We're going to play a short game I made up called, "this or that, without context" in which I give you two concepts and you choose one - for whatever reason you want - and you can share why, or not.
Staghorn fern or a stag’s horn? Stag’s horn.
Garfield or linoleum? Garfield.
A soul or a spirit? Soul.
Chiron or the fullest moon? Oooph. I couldn't possibly choose. The fullest moon serves to illuminate the deepest part of ourselves - often where Chiron lives. To me, they are both necessary.
Getting a good deal or beating the rush? Love a good deal.
Shaggy or snaps? Snaps because they're more embodied, are often the tastier cookie, I love a quick pic, and a small tasty drink. Also much more fun to say!
What has astrology helped you understand more deeply about free will and the potential for growth and evolution?
Astrology is a map. We don't have to carry it or follow it, but when we do, the path becomes so much more clear. Its framework offers so many perspectives and I think offers even more access to a sense of free will.
It also amplifies compassion and empathy because very quickly you come to realize we are all creative geniuses with major missions on this earth.
I signed up for evolution and soul growth in this life and have leaned hard into the tools that enhance and accelerate that. Astrology has been a major connector for me to the bigger picture of my life, offering me perspective and choice for my growth.
How do you know when it’s time to move on from someone or something?
For me, I've learned that eventually my knowing will always win and over time I've become quicker at locating the knowing part of me. In short, when I know, I know. I trust that feeling - it's a patient, still certainty that once felt, there is nothing to do but follow the movement on. I have a really profound relationship with grief, so letting go and moving on, while tough, is something I know how to face. Often this is where great growth lies.
How do you forgive yourself? How might we forgive ourselves?
I believe forgiveness is release, not permission. We all deserve peace, and forgiveness is one of the most spiritual things we can do to reach that. It holds the key to a freedom that liberates us to move toward the solutions needed to come back to that peace. It is not intellectual — it's embodied. When you forgive others, you forgive yourself, and ultimately it expands you.
I had a teacher once tell me that the easiest way to forgive yourself is to forgive yourself. It sounds like a paradox, but from her I learned a magical phrase that I employ with immediacy when I've violated myself, been hurt, or feel the weight of shame or guilt creep into my bones. Where relevant and as much as I can, I will say the magic words: I forgive myself. Sometimes it's a mantra I repeat until it sinks in and sometimes it's a one-and-done release. I highly recommend everyone adopt this practice; it's changed my life and given me many opportunities to discover myself in the grace of letting go.
You’ve referred to yourself as a “Jungian girl.” What does this mean to you?
Exploring Jung's work (and the incredible resources his students have developed!) has opened up so much for me. My fascination with the natural world, symbol and myth brought me deeper into yoga and astrology and Jung is a natural next step in deepening my studies and perspectives.
Personally, I've found so much healing and soul growth working with my depth psychology. The hallmarks for me have been:
1. Myth and symbol, which give a framework to the archetypal experience so that we can place ourselves in perspective.
2. Dreams as portals into my subconscious knowing. As I've learned to work with my dream space and find symbol and insight, I've moved into greater states of ease and compassion in my life. My relationships with others have shifted in seeing dynamics and projections play out in the dreamspace.
3. A deep connection to soul and the interconnectedness of all things. Jungian work has offered me full acceptance of my depth. I've always been able to swim in deep soulful waters, but felt alone in that space for much of my life. This work has offered me a framework, foundation and worldview that seems endless and enchanting -- just like the soul!
"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate." - Carl Jung
What’s the best piece of advice rattling around in your head right now?
1. You can only move at the pace of your slowest part. It reminds me to slow down and check in. I don't need to rush if a part of me still needs to go slow. Honoring my *slowest and neediest* parts has helped me move at the pace that is actually presence for me, say yes to less, and welcome spacious ease into my work, relationships, and life.
2. Fire needs air. This one is my forever reminder that passion and excitement often become stronger and more powerful with a bit of space. When I let things linger, I often stay activated longer, avoid burnout, and something even more epic comes to life.
Why is ritual important to you?
For me, honoring the passing of time as holy makes life enchanting and every moment more magic.
Life itself is an infinite series of cycles and ceremony honors our connection with the rhythms that are intrinsic to being. These moments of recognition, honoring and intention give us pause and access to presence, which opens us to the sacred.
Humans are adaptable and habitual, which I take to mean we're doing ritual all the time, whether we are aware of it or not.
Making conscious our habits, patterns, and emotional waves can offer us choice in which rituals we're practicing and what we're opening ourselves up to. For me, it's a practice of deepening into worth - a recognition that we are worthy of honoring the passing of life and its moments.
What does a flow state for you feel like? Give us just a few words.
Presence, catharsis, eternal, magnetic.
What’s your favorite through line between the practice of yoga and astrology?
Everything is connected; we are energy; alignment is cyclical; seek sufficiency and you will always have enough.
Something that you can’t live without today that you could a year or so ago.
Unstructured downtime. A year ago I had a hard time being idle. If I was doing nothing I was still on my phone, reading, studying, working, thinking, doing. This year I've learned the power and magic of unstructured time and space ("spacetime"). This is stare at the wall time. Lay in bed until the bed kicks you out time. Walk with no destination, at a slow pace, listening to nature time.
It's made me more creative, productive, easeful, confident and radiant. I highly recommend!
Something that’s not a part of your life right now that was a year or so ago.
Neediness (for the most part). My need to be needed or wanted ran a lot of the show for me, especially in the last few years as I healed from a really tough breakup. I often felt rejected and sad if things didn't go my way. I have so much compassion for this energy because I know it's a cry for presence and gentleness of the self. I now know how to meet that need and its shift has created room for so much beauty.
What have you been pecking at lately?
I've been super into the Greek Goddesses, specifically the story of Persephone. Venus Retrograde is a major transit that starts end of July and runs 40 days. This cycle is more rare and I'm crafting a special ritual experience for us to dive deep into the healing and dynamic power of it. Stay tuned!
What have you squirreled away for later?
Letters. On all of my retreats I ask attendants to write themselves a letter, sealed and addressed. In six months time -- often when most have forgotten they did it -- I'll send them. I have dozens of letters filed away. When they come up due, I love unpacking the envelopes and sending them home to the hearts they belong to.
Anything else to leave us with?
What an honor!! I love the way you think and show up, Jess! It would be such an honor to sit and connect with the birdseed community. If anyone feels called to a session, use the code BIRDSEED for a little community savings :)
(JM: Woohoo! This is awesome. Don’t miss a chance to connect with Julien <3)
This conversation is very moving and inspiring.