Julie Kusma on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Julie Kusma. Check out our conversation below.

Julie, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Every time I create, whether through writing, art, or even decorating (yes, I love design and my exact skill set is used for this, too), I get lost in the act of creating. Time disappears. I’m simply in the flow of creation. Inspired. Passionate. Alive.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Julie Kusma, and I’m an author, creator, and teacher. I have several branches for my creative work. First, my solo writing projects include psychological, paranormal, and supernatural novels for Young Adults and older, nonfiction books for Young Adults (emotions and feelings), and children’s picture books. My collaborations include children’s books, middle-grade books, educational, inspirational, and poetry with my husband, poet Derek R. King, as well as children’s books with our friend and editor, Jill Yoder.

Recently, Derek and I branched out into the esoteric field, creating four enlightening prompt journals based on the four phases of alchemy, designed to help others discover their true and higher selves. The four journals are The Nigredo Path of Shadow Alchemy, aiding the removal of not self aspects or layers, The Albedo Path of Luminous Alchemy, encouraging one to stand in their light, The Citrinitas Path of Embodied Alchemy, a forgotten phase since the 15th century, uncovering ways to live in one’s golden, higher light, and finally, The Rubedo Path of Sacred Alchemy, revealing that each of us is the long sought after Philosopher’s Stone. It has been within us all along. We are creators. We are the Stone.

Additionally, we have created a companion book, The Alchemy of Being, drawing on over 200 ancient texts to demonstrate that we are the Philosopher’s Stone. All of this work feels profound, and we are very proud to have been part of the creation process, bringing this work to the world.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Believe it or not, losing my mother at eight set me on my path of seeking Truth, understanding life, and questioning everything. I couldn’t understand the point of my mother’s death. Why? I know, I was eight, but honestly, even now, I ask why? This deep, perpetual desire to understand life, to understand myself, and to understand others truly drives my work in all of its creative forms.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Of course, my mother’s death has been the defining point in my life. Real healing or me didn’t come until my thirties when I read “Motherless Daughters” by Hope Edelman. That was the beginning of recovering my true self. But the work isn’t done. I heal through kintsugi, ho’oponopono, Jungian shadow work, and most recently through self-alchemical meditations and studies that I do with Derek.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Everyone who really knows me would say spirituality matters most to me. I have been on my spiritual path since I was eight. Of course, I wasn’t reading spiritual books yet (I devour them now), but I was questioning everything. But I do remember a profound moment —a turning point —a brother-in-law handed me his paperback of the “Chariots of Fire” by Erich von Däniken. That book rocked my world, as I began questioning the cosmos—existence itself.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I do give my best to every project as I genuinely believe in the ancient Greek concept of “arete.” It means living to one’s highest potential and striving for personal excellence in all that one does. So, I do strive for excellence. Now, this is not perfection as that cannot truly be achieved, but every day, in every way, striving for the best actions, thoughts, and creations one might achieve.

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Image Credits
All background images created with Canva Professional.

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