Topic: Tribute to Julian Joyce
Today (August 21) is the birthday of author and metaphysician Julian Joyce, who was our neighbor and our friend for many years when Ethan and I lived in Paonia. Our home was on Julian's land on Stucker Mesa, a special place that will live in my heart forever.
Julian was an interesting person who influenced a lot of people in many ways. He was born on Aug. 21, 1911 in Fredonia, Kansas. His life is depicted in detail in Julian's autobiography, An Empath, which he wrote and published in 1998, before his passing in 2000.
When I first met Julian in 1984, he was already in his 70s and married to Bonnie, his third wife. That marriage lasted only a couple of years. When I moved to Delta County in 1985, I became reacquainted with Julian on a professional level and he was often asked to lead discussions at metaphysical meetings held in my home. He was a fascinating speaker and a wealth of knowledge for newcomers.
In 1994, Ethan and I moved our mobile home onto Julian's property and began the process of purchasing the place. By then Julian was in his mid-80s and slowing down quite a bit. He was glad to have us there to help him with meals and cleaning his house and all the little things that needed doing around the place.
I helped publish a number of Julian's books through Earth Star, starting with a couple of his pamphlets, "Lifted Up" and "Into the Shekinah," and then his book "Thought." Later, he wrote "Sunrise" and "Cause," and then he wanted me to reprint Orrin William Auman's tome, "By the Help of the Infinite," which I did. All of his books, including "Cosmic Law," "Spiritual Renaissance of the New Age," and my favorite, "Translation" (about the apostle St. John) are available on Earth Star's shopping page.
Julian also had a column that ran in The Star Beacon, called "Cosmic Thoughts." I actually still have a couple of unpublished writings in a folder that one day I will share with the world.
When my parents would come to visit me, they always looked forward to their interesting discussions with Julian. He loved being the center of attention and really had a lot of good information to share. But, being human, he also had a dark side. He could be controlling and a little prejudiced. We learned to overlook that.
And so today I remember Julian on what would have been his 98th birthday. He passed onto the next world on Jan. 21, 2000 after a bout with pneumonia. At least he got to see the new millennium.
If you're interested in reading any of his books, please let me know and I can see that you get some.
