Julia's Journey: 3 Questions

A quick introduction to yours truly, why I started The Journey, and what I hope to achieve with it

Why did I create The Journey and what do I hope to achieve with it?

For the last four years, I’ve been passionately following the developments in the psychedelic medicine space. The prospect that more people will soon have access to the same medicines that have completely altered my life is exhilarating. I’m hopeful it will also shift how we view mental health. Depression is not a brain disease, addiction is not a life sentence. There are reasons. When we uncover the root causes, we can cure them and heal ourselves.

I’m hoping to add personal narratives to the expanding research and exploding investments in the space. Because in the end, research and business won’t be what pull people in. Personal stories will. By sharing reflections, prompts, resources and stories from myself and others, I hope to demystify these mystical medicines to create a safe space for those curious to explore their inner world with intention and impact. To destigmatize psychedelics for healing, to create a community for those venturing inward, and to spread awareness around root cause medicine.

Where has my journey taken me so far?

Before, my life looked pretty perfect from the outside: I had a fancy job, fancy degrees, fancy travels, and tons of fancy stuff. I was an atheist and prized rationality, intellect, and independence above all else. I had many friends but felt disconnected. No one knew the real me. For years I’d secretly struggled with an eating disorder that, despite continuous efforts, I couldn’t overcome. By the time I was in my late-20s, relapses and depression became so severe I was growing frustrated and hopeless.

Fast forward to today, I enjoy a deep sense of inner peace and the ability to experience the full range of human emotions—joy, awe, despair, anger, all of it. I no longer feel like a victim to my subconscious. Like everyone else, I have good days, and I have bad days. I’ve embraced the highly sensitive empath within me and tapped into previously inaccessible sources of intuition, joy, and creativity. Through my connection to Self, I feel a deep sense of worth and connection to all living beings and nature.

What’s been the biggest reward of doing this work?

When I embarked on my healing journey, I was so focused on finding ways to feel less pain. There was so much darkness to explore, so many repressed and shamed parts to liberate. The most beautiful surprise has been the emergence of qualities that I hadn’t experienced in their full magnitude since childhood: wonder, awe, curiosity, creativity, joy, and playfulness. My baseline mood is elevated and the smallest things now bring me immense joy. As the Buddha teaches, happiness comes from the inside. By healing my shadow through inner journeys (with and without psychedelics), I’ve discovered an abundance of sources of joy residing inside of me. I wish for everyone to experience life this freely.

Thanks for reading. I can’t wait to share more with you. Comment or shoot me a mail if you have any questions or input, I’d love to hear from you.