A little over two months ago (wow, how time flies), I broke down and paid a visit to local luminary Julie Walker, intuitive healer. Now, I must say, with all honesty, that I originally harbored some serious reservations about the whole thing, and the inherent implications tied to something such as “intuitive healing”. But a steadily escalating food sensitivity, coupled with loving counsels from friends and a really bad experience with an allergist in Kansas City, led me to say: “I’m gonna try this.”
So, I did. And, doggonitt, I’m glad I did. While we’ll save a couple of the bigger, juicier fruits of my consultation with Julie Walker for the next update, I’ll fill you in on some of the most heart-wrenching lessons in detachment that came out of my hour-long session with that most amazing lady.
It’s become a punch-line in the community of young Baha’is. Whenever a person says, “No, I can’t eat that”, when offered a certain food or beverage item, the reflex response is, “Julie Walker?” And the funnier part is, well, the answer, 90% of the time, is “Yep.”
I went to Julie to investigate a growing sensitivity to sugar, and a mysterious relationship with pastas and breads. At one point, I was even wondering if I was pre-diabetic (it runs in the family). But after visiting my doctor and allergist back in Kansas City, I was left with a dead-end: they didn’t see any problems, really. But I knew, and I could feel, that something wasn’t quite right.
When I walked into Julie’s office, she immediately diagnosed…or…should I say, detected, a knee injury that had been plaguing me for the past month, mostly unbeknownst to me. You see, a month prior to the appointment, I had hit my knee cap exiting the Roosevelt #12, stumbled about in pain for a few minutes, grumbled about the pain for a week, and promptly forgot the injury. She informed me that the knee cap was, in fact, floating. It was dislocated. “It’s like you’ve been walking around without a knee cap for the past few weeks,” she calmly informed me. Like, woah. Alright. This was my introduction to the Julie Walker Experience. So, I sat back and listened as she gave me four little bits of dietary advice, which I’m struggling to live by. So, posted here is a page from my sketchbook. Read it and be of the learned who understand why, when presented with certain foodstuffs, I’ll simply shake my head, softly close my eyes, and solemnly intone, “No, I can’t eat that.”
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Comments (31)
Zane wrote that on Jul 24 06 at 11:32 pmGlad to see the mystery is at least partially solved. This Julie Walker sounds like quite an interesting/illuminating person…I too have had trouble with coffee and sugars-I’ve begun to drink a lot more tea, one small stepo into The Republic of Tea (sorry that was a bad joke/attempt at product placement
Patrick wrote that on Jul 25 06 at 7:05 am“I love meat, cause meat tastes like murder, and murder tastes awesome…”-Dennis Leary.
Briana wrote that on Jul 25 06 at 8:58 amstaying on the “julie walker diet” is hard. Especially when that limits so favorite things. But one person I know that went to her told me it took them two years to fully comply with it and now it’s not a struggle at all. That made me feel better when I fell off the no-sugar band-wagon.
and is it NO sugar, or no cane sugar? because the world of maple syrup, honey, and fructose is a wonderful magical place.
Andrew wrote that on Jul 25 06 at 1:17 pmZane, I’m currently residing in the Republic right this moment, then, later, I’ll probably stop by the land of Tazo.
Patrick, that’s hilarious.
Briana, yeah. I’m allowed to have honey, maple syrup and fructose. Thankfully! Makes things easier!
Gavin wrote that on Jul 25 06 at 7:09 pmYes, Africa is the T-bone of the globe. America is the stepped-on-saltines-box (florida being the side-view of the lone cracker that spilled out half-way) of the globe.
Any note worthy developements, feeling better type developements.
kari wrote that on Jul 25 06 at 7:33 pmi love it… honestly… when i tell someone about an allergy that i detected pre-Julie. i feel, very, very proud. but, i only detected 1 of 3 allergies pre-Julie. she, on the other hand, told me that the allergy i had dectected for myself in high school actually started when i was five years old. so, she still trumped me.
Popstar wrote that on Jul 26 06 at 9:31 amYo. I would like to point out that your “Andropolis.org proudly presents…” bit looks exactly like the “Fitter, Happier” promotional posters that were floating around during the OK Computer era. I had one on me wall in Detroit, but it got damaged, so it’s not on my wall in Chicago. But if anyone wants to give me an arbitrary present, they can get me a “Fitter Happier” OK Computer poster. I would also like to say that the reason I have not gone to see Julie Walker is that I like sugar. It’s not even that I like sugar, it’s that I like Soda Pop. Not as much as I enjoy Soda Popinski from the original Mike Tyson’s Punch Out, but pretty darn close. Still, I’ve been trying to transition myself from Soda, to diet Soda, to Cranberry Juice mixed with Sparkling Water a’la Dr. Henderson, with no luck. That Crushed Melon Jones is too delicious, and so are those M&M’s, man. Hang in there, brother. You’ll be fine. You just need to enjoy a meal at my place on of these days.
Patrick wrote that on Jul 26 06 at 10:44 amLeave it to Castelaz to bring Radiohead into a post about food allergies….nerd.
Myk wrote that on Jul 26 06 at 11:42 amI have been fighting myself over whether or not I want to see her.
The Good:
I think she is a wonderful human being and nice person. I enjoy talking to her on a person to person basis. She is a good parent on top it off. I consider her daughter I also must admit though, that it is very intriguing to me because there is so much anecdotal evidence that comes from people.This evidence comes from my close friends and people I really really respect (and out of that respect I’m not mentioning their name here, but saying that most the people I know really look up to him more than most people.
Abdu’l-Bahá and other people who are highly spiritual have had special abilities to have extrasensory perception. Perhaps Julie has tapped into this.
It is commonly indicated by people that the Universal House of Justice has written Julie indicating that she is ok to continue with her activities. I have never seen this letter. I have heard about it by word of mouth.
The Bad:
First off, I feel hesitant in contributing to something that I don’t understand fully. My rational/logical mind rejects all that I hear about her having the ability to see “molecular structures” or be able to read a person’s body and determine what foods they should and shouldn’t be eating.
I’ve seen some people go to her and then change their career paths. In some of these I say, fine, the person realized they didn’t really want to do what they were doing/going to do, in other situations I’ve seen what to me amounts to someone having a lot of influence over someone else and causing unnecessary confusion in their lives.
Andrew, she could have known about your knee cap by observing your gait.
Much of what I hear about her seems to be question and answer much the way fortune tellers wow people basing their answers on things people tell them and basically telling people things that they already know and basically gave clues about but just want to hear from another person.
Does supporting this give an accurate representation of the Faith? I’m not sure. Perhaps in the future this type of healing will be more respected. In the meantime though, many Baha’is talk to seekers about Julie’s work, and perhaps they assume that this is what Bahá’ís do instead of what an individual Bahá’í does. I’m kind of nervous about those implications.
The Bahá’í Faith is so logical, scientific and makes so much sense. I think this has Bahá’ís often wishing things really were more mysterious than they are. Wanting for Ghosts, psychic phenomenom, etc…
Overall, I don’t know if I am going to visit her, I am really tempted to, and at times I was resolute that I was going to do it. I may do it at some point still, but as you can see I’ve thought a lot about it, and had many reservations. Now on to other things. I hope no one takes this as criticism of Julie. These are just thoughts I’ve had.
Genevieve wrote that on Jul 26 06 at 3:46 pmOk, I will say that even though I have been 99% coffee free for 9 months(really, meaning all caffine), I miss it every day.
Gen - coffee = sad.
BUT, I will say that I have felt obviously better on the inside, so it is worth it. And if I can go it, you can do it. No doubt. But, don’t be too hard on yourself if you fall off the wagon. Just get back on.
ok, bye.
a bit uncomfortable wrote that on Jul 28 06 at 12:43 pmwhile i have to admit i’m a bit uncomfortable discussing and/or criticizing another human being’s chosen path… given the Baha’i teachings on backbiting being akin to murder and being that this is such a public forum… i, at the same time feel the urge to defend just a little.
i usually go to her with a completely vague/almost non-existent request. sometimes a complaint like, “i’ve been crying nonstop for 3 weeks straight. i’m not a crier. why is this happening?” and walk away with information that does one of the following:
a. resonates deeply
b. warns me against tendencies i didn’t know i have, but then 3 years later i find out are dead on and not good for me
c. makes me stop and consider some things i haven’t beforethe other thing to consider is independent investigation of truth. we’re each our own person and can take or leave ANYone’s advice, based on our own sensitivities and modes of operation.
mia wrote that on Jul 29 06 at 2:20 pmhey, i have the same thing with sugar too for the exact same reason as you have so purd-ily stated here. rock.
on another note, when did you decide to go to KS? I just got the email about your apartment and haven’t really been tapping into the cyber world much lately…. geez, we’ll miss you. again…
the guy how will save you 100 dollars an hour wrote that on Jul 30 06 at 5:40 pmI’ll save you a trip if you are contemplating one. Just stop eating wheat and sugar
madeline wrote that on Jul 30 06 at 5:48 pmno sugar for me as well! thats all my limitations! i win!!
Andrew wrote that on Jul 30 06 at 7:50 pmGavin, you’ve made a couple astute observations, as usual. And as for developments, I’m suprised that I can function without caffeine. Really. After years of coffee/espresso dependency, the image of caffeinated tendrils releasing their hold on my psychobiology is a heartwarming one, indeed.
Kari, haha! I know the feeling. I detected most everything that she mentioned to me, though I had none of the “reasons” for why these allergies developed. The whole “eat a ton of meat” thing totally blindsided me, though.
Dear Popstar, thank you for weaving Radiohead into this entry. I love you, man.
Myk, though we talked a bit about this the other night, I just wanted to say again, that I really love the thoughts you’ve posted! I share(d) many of the same opinions, myself. I really like what you said about how friends who aren’t Baha’i may view this type of healing. I think it’s incredibly important to make the distinction that although Julie is a Baha’i, and a healer, she is in no way a “Baha’i Healer.” Those two aspects of who she is obviously influence each other, but they’re not dependant on one another. Furthermore, her methods aren’t based on any explicit Baha’i guidance regarding healing methods. Yeah. Does this make sense?
Gen, I’m happy to have a cohort in my decaffinated-ness. Yay!
A Bit Uncomfortable, you said it! Thanks for posting that! That’s totally how I felt! Resonation. That’s the word.
Mia, haha! That’s awesome! We’re both gross! And yeah, I decided to go to Kansas City a few weeks ago, and now I’ll post about that…I’ll miss you guys too!
Guy, thanks? haha
Melon, you totally win. And what’s more, y’all decepticons are brutalizing me with Mass Extinction #6. Totally.
kari wrote that on Jul 31 06 at 9:09 amdear guy -
i have no problems with wheat or sugar. try again.
kari
greg wrote that on Jul 31 06 at 10:26 amhere is what i am confused about. i see two possibilites.
1.) She has “powers” that allows her to determine that you should/shouldnt eat meat/sugar/wheat/dairy, can see your busted knee cap, etc… (since we know she has no medical credentials). In that case, from my recent persual of quotes on the subject, those powers are not meant for this world and should not be used.
2.) She has no powers and functions much like fortune tellers and psychics you find at carnivals and in booths on the street and others who use observation and suggestion to provide an illusion of insight.
I have a hard time believing that she can both have legitamte powers and for it to be ok to use them.
Uncomfortable, i think she is a great person and is very nice. I think it is important to question things like this, especially when they produce such important life changes in people.
kari wrote that on Aug 01 06 at 1:03 pmokay - so i’m the uncomfortable one.
i think that it is important to question these things, clearly. i do believe the Writings to be fact. they tell us the way the world works in any given Day.along those lines they tell us that in this Day, backbiting is akin to murder and the most grevious of sins. we’re asked never to repeat stories about another unless we are in their presence. and we are told that the GREATEST harm to the Cause comes from contention, strife, estrangement and apathy. Which, of course, we know can be precipitated by gossip. the GREATEST harm to the Cause doesn’t come from us struggling through an evolution of our own understanding of spiritual/physical/psychic reality. it comes from contention, strife, estrangement and apathy. it comes from disunity.
All I’m saying is, while all of the points have been made might be valid, I question whether displaying them on a public web site, that ANYone can find by typing in her name is helpful or harmful to building a community that’s based on the regenerative principles that Baha’u'llah brought into being to unify us all under His love and care.
i mean, really, would you want to be a member of a community that found it appropriate to publicly debate the validity of YOUR life’s path? is that in accordance with the Teachings?
kari wrote that on Aug 01 06 at 1:09 pmoops… forgot a question… remember in Ruhi Book 1 when we’re asked whether it’s backbiting to mention someone’s faults if we’ve also mentioned what we like about them?
maybe we can revisit that question…
Lindsey wrote that on Aug 01 06 at 1:28 pmI agree with Kari
Andrew wrote that on Aug 01 06 at 1:28 pmThank you so much for posting your thoughts, Greg and Kari! I strongly agree with what Kari has said regarding gossip and backbiting, and how, although well-intentioned, this series of comments may slide down a slippery slope…
kari wrote that on Aug 01 06 at 1:43 pmi’m sorry… i can’t quite let this one rest right now. can we all be real for a second? ’cause we’re charged with this community-building process… and i think this is a topic we need to continue to take seriously as we carry out our charge.
i’m thinking about how many of us choose to live parts of life in complete seclusion from the community. and i’m thinking about how instictively i want to rebel against secluding myself and just live my life out in the world…
with discretion and keeping private things private… but keeping them private because they should be private, not because i fear my community…
and i’m thinking about how i usually choose to keep myself aloof from the rumor mill that so many of us fear…
and i’m thinking about how in the abstract i’ll say things like… i don’t care what people say because the most grevious of sins is not in me living my life but in others talking about it. so if i “live out loud” and someone else gossips about it… that’s on them…
but, in all honesty, things like this debate make me SO SO SO nervous… like i can’t trust my own community.
so, i’m sorry to dominate your blog, andrew. and if it feels more appropriate for this conversation to migrate to mine, i’m happy to host it.
but, i’ve got one last question: how can we go about building greater trust in our communities? i want to trust y’all… i really, really do.
lacey wrote that on Aug 01 06 at 8:51 pmWe may just have to face the conclusion, friends, that we have to agree to disagree. There’s been a lot of honest thoughts shared here, which makes it consultation. Because it’s in a blog, though, it doesn’t follow the consultative flow that may be intended and its also rather public (and permanently posted to the web. That doesn’t mean it needs to be deleted–in fact, this shows that Baha’is are real people with their own grey areas). So it’s just a little awkward at times.
I’ll also go out on a limb here and say that not one person who has commented on this blog post has wanted to backbite. If it was/is true backbiting, it’s between them and Baha’u'llah. It may be troubling to read things that are so contrary to our own feelings, but because human beings are so beautifully diverse in every way, we need to accept it and learn.
I think it’s interesting to think about how a spiritual healer impacts the community, but ultimately the Faith is completely separate and can stand on its own. A “true seeker” will see it. We have a responsibility to Baha’u'llah and ourselves, but there comes a point where we can’t take responsibility for what other people think (especially if we’ve done our best to proclaim the truth). But of course, more than our food choices, people should know a Baha’i by the quality of their character. The second our physical choices get in the way of that, we have to reasess. And therein lies the root: we can’t judge anyone else’s decisions or motivations, we can only learn and make decisions for ourselves.
Jessica wrote that on Aug 01 06 at 9:26 pmCan I just say that I’m proud of us. We were faced with something that was beginning to lead us to a place that we don’t want to go, and we faced it with straightforwardness and honesty. That’s tough to do. It takes courage. AND, it looks like a “humble posture of learning” to me. Awesome.
Husayn wrote that on Aug 01 06 at 11:04 pmThis question of backbiting is fascinating to me because as was mentioned, it’s all bound up with community/individual development. To say that backbiting is between the person and their Lord doesn’t quite seem to capture the whole truth about backbiting. It’s kinda like second hand smoke–it’s an individual’s choice to smoke but it affects the entire area or community around them. And backbiting is a social thing, and my understanding of the writings is that those subjected to it have a duty to stop it. And similarly, the person who chooses to smoke is choosing to engage in something that they need/want/find pleasurable. But whatever the intention, the affect on everyone else is harmful. What I’m saying is, is there a way to discuss things like this but allow everyone to feel safe in their community? Now that I think about it, that might be another way of asking Kari’s important question about trust. My initial thought is that in true consultation everyone approaches the forum with an all-consuming love for each other. If I can do that myself, then trust that others are doing the same, and begin by assuming that others are doing the same, then is that a first step? That’s how I’ve tried to approach this consultation.
And Jessica–double true.
Andrew wrote that on Aug 02 06 at 12:06 amMan. I love you guys.
Husayn, you ask, “is there a way to discuss things like this but allow everyone to feel safe in their community?” I surely hope so! And, honestly, I think we’re always learning. If we can approach challenges constructively and critically, while remaining aloof from personality, always focusing on the issues. And I believe that the fuel for this sort of focused but detached discourse must be, as you beautifully suggest, love.
You people are rock stars.
kari wrote that on Aug 02 06 at 8:29 amthe thing about consultation, too, is that unless done in the chambers of an assembly or House of Justice, it is NEVER about a person who is not present and who has not asked for a full discussion of their life. “consultation” that is ABOUT another person outside of an institutional setting is gossip.
and if we think something is really harmful to our community, we also have those institutions to turn to confidentially. we don’t have to debate it here.
just to be absolutely clear — my attachment in this discussion is to the protection of the integrity of a community that SAYS its building unity and that has the tools to do so… and to trying to root out those things that lead to the greatest harm. not to whether or not seeing an intuitive healer is okay. my true feelings on that subject may be surprisingly similar or surprisingly in contrast to what’s been stated here.
but, the deeper feelings are — again — would YOU want to belong to and invite YOUR friends to belong to a community where people find it appropriate to talk about YOU when you’re not there?
sorry… it still really makes me nervous, as a member of this community myself, to trust folks.
Lindsey wrote that on Aug 02 06 at 2:57 pmO beloved of the Lord! If any soul speak ill of an absent one, the only result will clearly be this: he will dampen the zeal of the friends and tend to make them indifferent. For backbiting is divisive, it is the leading cause among the friends of a disposition to withdraw. If any individual should speak ill of one who is absent, it is incumbent on his hearers, in a spiritual and friendly manner, to stop him, and say in effect: would this detraction serve any useful purpose? Would it please the Blessed Beauty, contribute to the lasting honour of the friends, promote the holy Faith, support the Covenant, or be of any possible benefit to any soul? No, never! On the contrary, it would make the dust to settle so thickly on the heart that the ears would hear no more, and the eyes would no longer behold the light of truth.
(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 230)
Backbiting isn’t a light subject. I agree with Kari, I feel that this topic is too important to brush off, not that that is what is happening. The discussion is wonderful, and the fruits of it are plentious. I just feel that we must be aware at all times that the things we do and the things we say have a direct effect on all those around us, Baha’i or not. And we are always teaching, always. It isn’t something to be taken lightly…
Sholeh wrote that on Aug 02 06 at 6:05 pmI would humbly like to suggest that we consider closing this topic in this venue. It is entirely too easy to write something and push the “post” button, and the written word can be a difficult medium for consultation.
Closing the topic does not mean it is being brushed off or dropped. Let us consider, however, that no matter what our personal opinions are (and I know I have my own), we are also exhorted to “Beware lest ye harm any soul, or make any heart to sorrow; lest ye wound any man with your words, be he known to you or a stranger, be he friend or foe.” -Abdu’l-Baha
This is not to say that there is anyone in the wrong, nor, God forbid, should we accuse each other of backbiting. I would instead ask that perhaps we consider how each of us approaches this subject, whether we agree or disagree with the particular methods does not matter.
It is possible to express our discomfort legitimately, but let us be careful how we do so. On the other hand, those who are more comfortable should be aware that those who are not comfortable have perfectly legitimate feelings, and should not make them feel as though they should embrace certain methods. This is a very personal topic, and it is easy to let our enthusiasm and emotions get the best of us.
Much love.
Sydnei wrote that on Jun 25 08 at 9:28 pmAs intoned by him who is Meatloaf, “I would do anything for love, but I won’t ‘eat’ that…” I thought it was prophesied that we would all be vegetablearians in the future? Well, I still down with the knoweldge brought forth from the intuitive healing tip so sounds good to me. I love luminous luminaries who lend their frequency in love
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