Julia Mihas TalkTalkTalks Magic & The Mundane
Julia Mihas reflects on growing up between worlds, the esoteric, the mystical & the brass tacks of being an Astrologer
I hate Julia Mihas for being such a good astrologer because every time I sit down to talktalktalk with her she somehow turns the conversation around, and I end up feeling like I’m in a consultation! Which is exactly what happened the last time we recorded a podcast, and why I’m so thrilled to have finally pinned her down to answer my questions.
Julia is a San Francisco based Astrologer & Life Coach who creates wildly accurate & entertaining horoscopes that I can only describe as MTV news for the sober psychedelic age. Sit with that for a few moments.
Aside from making videos for her own Instagram and Youtube channel, she is a regular contributor to Hororscopes.com and Astrology.com
screenshot from Julia’s Instagram page.
CV Henriette: You grew up in Manhattan, spending summers with your family in Greece. Tell me about that. Where is home?
Julia Mihas: I primarily grew up in Manhattan and went to school there, but I was fortunate to spend my summers in Greece with my family on an island called Patmos. It's where St John wrote the Book of Revelations — arguably, the most trippy part of the bible.
CVh: Was there anywhere in your childhood that you can look back on now and see the seeds of your future Astrological career? How many children do you think grow up wanting to be Astrologers? That can’t be a common thing. Was that you?
JM: I didn't grow up wanting to be an astrologer because there were no astrologers in my world or community. I don't think I even thought of that job as a real thing. I loved the X Files as a kid, so I could see myself becoming a paranormal researcher, and, in a way, I still think that is a big part of what I do!
CVh: In the most recent podcast we recorded together, you described being a child and having a fear of magic that sounded like reverence. Do elaborate.
JM: Yes I've always been a bit fearful of magic and actually may still be. I remember watching Fantasia as a kid — you know [the movie] where Mickey dresses up as a sorcerer's apprentice and messes with forces he can't control. That left an impression on me.
In a way, I still think it's naive to assume you have control of something you don't entirely understand. And to what purpose? Curiosity? Power? If you are invoking entities, then what agendas do they have? I suppose my reluctance with magic is an admission that I believe it's real!
CVh: You also said that your explorations lead you to the conclusion that magic is mundane. How so?
JM: Well, hopefully I'm not doing semantic gymnastics now about what 'magic' is. If you go with the definition that 'magic' is a non-physical application of will to manifest something, then I think this happens commonly. It's uncanny to me how many times I've seen a friend go through a break up to then write a checklist of what she wants in her next partner. Six months later — BOOM! — the checklist magically embodies into some new person she's dating. Checklists are witchy AF!
But an art object is a direct transmission of something from the past. If you look at a painting or statue, it is exactly what historical people were also looking at, even if it's undergone some wear and tear.
CVh: Speaking of explorations, you have two art history degrees. One of them in Western Esotericism and Mysticism. What was the inspiration? Where did this take you?
JM: Just like you, languages are difficult for me. I learned to speak much later as a kid, and it took me a while to read and write properly. I also have auditory processing issues so when people speak to me I often read a lot of non-verbal cues to understand what's going on.
I gravitated to the visual world of art out of necessity. Specifically, I enjoyed symbolism in art, which is rife in pre-modern artistic traditions — especially in religious subject matter. The other thing I like about art history is that I find it to be more honest than just studying written history because, as they say, 'the victors are the ones who write (and edit) history'.
But an art object is a direct transmission of something from the past. If you look at a painting or statue, it is exactly what historical people were also looking at, even if it's undergone some wear and tear. If you read an ancient text, you don't know whether it was faithfully copied or edited to serve some political agenda.
still from Julia’s Instagram. Check out her Youtube videos HERE.
CVh: How would you describe your transition from academics to this space we as astrologers inhabit. How would you describe this space?
JM: There is a strong academic current in astrology, especially in the traditional sphere. For the record, I don't believe that an academic approach necessarily makes you a more effective astrologer! I see some people who use astrology as a conduit for intuitive channeling, and they can be absolute crackerjacks! I think what's helpful about having an academic approach is that you can always objectify your reading with comprehensive techniques. Even the greatest intuitives can have off days, for instance, if they are feeling emotionally jangled. So it's nice to have a system to draw on that doesn't require intuition but still 'works'.
CVh: Tell me about your practice. How do you work with people? What’s your approach as a consulting Astrologer?
JM: I love working with clients! My goal is to understand my client as best as possible. I want to understand what they want, or to help them define what they want. In my opinion, a lot of the time when people feel 'lost' it's because they are not sure of what they want yet.
I then try to identify the intersection between my client's personal agency and the 'fated' circumstances they find themselves in. As an astrologer who strongly believes in free will, I'm forever fascinated by where fate ends and free will begins. I probably contemplate that mystery every day of my life. Why did God create the angel Lucifer if Lucifer was going to betray Him? If God were truly omniscient, wouldn't God know what Lucifer would do? Or is our free will what gives us a spark of divine nature? IDK!
I want my client to leave my office feeling that she has choices to make. Every day of our life we make choices. And not making a choice is making a choice too.
CVh: What’s something you want everyone to know about Astrology?
JM: That it's a comprehensive, all-encompassing system of symbols which can be used in many ways. I'm sure there are destructive and perverse ways to use astrology; however, I'm of the opinion that it is inherently benevolent.
Astrology is just one of many, many forms of divination. People read cards and goat entrails too. Divination is just pattern recognition. If you know where you've come from and know where you are, you can figure out where you can go next.
What I like about astrology is that nearly every culture in the world has their own version of it, because no matter where geographically your family came from, they were under a sky. Every culture I've studied has a tradition of mythologizing the stars, and aligning the cycles of their activities on earth — like when to plant crops or officiate a new ruler — with the cosmic cycles above. Astrology is the collective lineage of humanity.
CVh: Finally, your videos. For those who’ve never seen them, explain.
JM: I take a very goofy approach to making astrology videos because I love cartoons. You made me laugh when you said it reminded you of MTV News in the 90's! I love trashy astrology as much as I love academic astrology, and I see myself as coming from both sides of the aisle.
CVh: And your dog. Please tell us about your dog. I’ve seen her leap over furniture like a cat! She’s so cute.
JM: Luna is my constant companion and one of my favorite beings on earth! She can also be an obnoxious little brat sometimes, though when I'm in an astrology reading, she knows to be quiet! During the rest of my day, anything goes!
FOR FURTHER ENTERTAINMENT CHECK OUT:
TalkTalkTalk w/ Julia Mihas Round 1 — LISTEN HERE
TalkTalkTalk w/ Julia Mihas Round 2 — LISTEN HERE + WATCH HERE
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