Oh, how I love this woman. She is delightful and wise.
Julia says on her website: I have very few secrets, I don’t usually have a problem spilling it all. I love that. Me too. Perfect for What’s Real because we want all of the juicy goodness!
Julia shares the inspirations behind her poems and artwork, how she gets to the other side of fear, “behind the scenes” of self-publishing a book, and my favorite bit of wisdom- how she lives with Unapologetic Brightness, like the moon.
Get Julia’s beautiful, soul inspiring book, On the Other Side of Fear.
Connect with Julia: Website :: Facebook
PS: Below is the quote Julia referred to later in the interview by Marianne Williamson.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
-Marianne Williamson
Julia and I in Portland in May, 2011.
Hello friends! I'm Lori Portka. I make art with the intention to radiate love and healing. 
Wonderful to see you both shining here. You inspire me! Sending so much love.
Alia, you are such a beauty. Thank you for taking the time to listen and connect.
Thank you Alia! I so appreciate you <3
SO glad I sat still today long enough to watch you two being so honest and insightful. I’m inspired by both of you and what you put out into the world. xo
I’m so grateful! xoxo
I’m so glad you did too, J. I feel so incredibly lucky to know you.
Such a beautiful interview. I love seeing you both and hearing your voices speak about your process and celebrating your creations.
It was so helpful to hear how you both struggled after your creations were born, and how you had to go through the hell of the mind to get to the other side. Thank you for sharing this.
You both are so beautiful, and I love that there are strong women like you, brave enough to create, and to gift it to others to help inspire their journey.
I love this: “It is okay to shine.” Wow! Thank you Lori’s husband!!! WOW!
Brooke. You. are. a. precious. gift.
Brooke! Thank you thank you! Your thoughts mean so much to me. xoxo
Lori, Julia
This is such a beautiful interview. Thank you for being with me over my dinner this balmy summer’s evening.
I am inspired, heartened and challenged by watchIng and listening, because I aspire to be like you both, with the courage to create and release into the world, and the desire to sink into a place of ease at being me. To allow my words to kiss each other as waves to the shore. To allow my life to matter, to blossom into an ‘uncontainable’ fountain of colour, love and connection. I still hold so much back and yet I yearn to set my soul free to dance joyfully across this green and blue planet before my beating heart comes to a permanent rest.
Much love and gratitude to you two incredible women, for all that you are and all that you give.
Love,
Elloa xxx
Elloa. You are so beautiful because you are so YOU. You shine and glow–your spirit seriously sings to me.
I know the more and more like YOU you are, the more the world (and you) will dance in jubilant celebration.
I absolutely adore the you-ness of you.
Thanks so much for taking the time to come here & connect–it matters so much.