Julie Rasmussen is a potty-mouthed former president of a cartoonist's company. Sometime in the '90s, between drinking Zimas and stealing food from the cafeteria, she got a Journalism degree and later spent years in the media industry. She splits her time between Colorado and New Mexico.
I haven’t read a book that’s made me laugh or go “huh!” this much in a looong time! Before I even reached chapter one, this book made me laugh outloud in delight and exclaim “I fucking love you!” to the author, wherever she may be in the universe! She’s is undoubtedly my kind of lady.
I am incredibly grateful to the author for introducing me to the concept of a Twin Flame. While it’s not something I’ve experienced personally, I do have friends who have found or are in the process of finding their TF and I was able to recommend this book and concept to them, saving them a ton of confusion and - hopefully - heartbreak in the long run.
“Colorado is the Napa of beer. We love exercise, dogs, the mountains, tattoos, and craft beer. It’s the way of our people.” I’m a born and raised Coloradan and the author TOTALLY nailed the description of “our people.” I’ve rarely related to a book so much!
I originally thought this was going to just be a book about cosmic shit like chakras and past lives and palm reading and different shit like that, and then before I could do anything about it, the book became a memoirs. And I despise memoirs. They're not interesting and are just an excuse for people to make money off of the stories they tell when at their boss's dinner party (you know, the same story they've told their hair dresser, Sunday school teacher, and coworkers at least twenty times).
But I loved it. I absolutely ADORED it. Never have I related to someone this hard. She's twice my age exactly, but I haven't found anyone else that much like me.
I actually emailed Julie about the book midway asking to buy an autographed copy (she ended up sending me one for free!!!) and I told her I hope that I turn into someone like her when I'm her age.
My one complaint I only discovered after reading a neutral review of the book in which someone said that her fixation on Bo felt a bit like an... Obsession. I didn't even realize it could be taken that way because I felt so in touch with Julie throughout the book that I realized that's totally something I would do (as unhealthy as that is).
I love this book, and my new signed copy is going on my bookshelf so that way once this book appears in Target I can brag to my friends, saying, "Yeah! I owned this book AND got it signed before it became popular!" like a motherf**king hipster.
I was so excited when I first saw this memoir and couldn't wait to read it...at least until I got a few chapters in. I don't like to leave negative reviews, especially about memoirs, someone's life...but the title was deceptive. I thought it was about a person who was skeptical, perhaps scientifically-minded and maybe feeling like something was missing from life, who then found spirituality. Had I known what it was actually about...I would have passed. I kept going, though, because I'm not a quitter (haha) and it had been a must-read. So I skimmed the last half of the book to save future readers the hassle if it's not something they'd be into.
Possible spoilers to follow.
So the author claimed to be a skeptic and the title is "I Didn't Believe Any of this Hippie Dippy BS Either." Based on what I read, the author absolutely was not a skeptic at all and there was a distinct lack of critical thinking and skepticism regarding her 'spiritual awakening.' Skeptics think critically and don't tend to be overly impressed with such things like coincidences and the Law of Attraction because they understand fallacies and biases. I think the author definitely believed in some of the 'hippie dippy BS' but didn't get firmly entrenched/cultish until later.
As others have stated on Amazon.com, it's basically about someone who cannot let go of an ex-boyfriend. She became convinced that he was her 'twin flame,' something that's apparently more intense than soul mates (and set off alarm bells in my mind that we're about to get into some serious woo). She became obsessed with the twin flame idea and her ex. She kept pushing the guy and trying to get back with him because she thought they were meant to be together. I sensed some serious boundary and codependency issues. Furthermore, I had to remind myself that it was about a middle-aged woman, not a lovesick teenager.
I got the impression that the ex was trying to let her down kindly, and maybe wanted to continue being friends, but she interpreted every bit of kindness as potential for rekindling the romance. The woman was obsessed with this guy; she just couldn't let him go. She looked at half-a-year-old text messages and convinced herself that there was meaning behind them that there wasn't. It also seemed like the ex kept stringing her along when it would've been better for her and her mental health if he'd have just cut the cord. Then again, maybe he was afraid she'd go all 'if I can't have you, then no one can.' As another reviewer said, if a man was doing this to a woman, he'd have been slapped with a restraining order and charges of stalking and harassment.
She became obsessed with numerology, too. She kept seeing 11:11 everywhere, and she was convinced it meant something. What about all the times she didn't see 11:11? She wouldn't remember those, but she kept remembering every single instance when she did. A true skeptic would have acknowledged such memory recall bias. When she started saying numbers on license plates added up to 11:11...I thought A. she has too much time on her hands, B. why is she driving when she's so distracted? C. she's completely obsessed, and it's not healthy.
Then when she started doing letter-math for birthdays, wedding dates, names, etc...oh, man. She saw a ton of meaning where it was coincidence. Coincidences are actually pretty common. (It also really irked me that she kept saying 'coincidence, or was it?' I think she was trying to be cute and funny while demonstrating that she didn't believe in coincidences...but after the first time, it became grating.)
I felt so angry when I read that she had seen a mental health professional, but because the therapist didn't tell her what she wanted to hear, she left and decided to 'fix herself' with self-help books. The idea of fixing one's own mental health problems is dangerous hubris, and I recommend that anyone struggling with mental health concerns see a professional they trust. It's okay to need help. Some broken bones need to be set, some pancreases don't function right so insulin is required, and many cases of mental health conditions need professional care, too. I know it's important to see a care provider that you trust and who you 'mesh with.' Maybe the first therapist wasn't a good fit, but I can't help but wonder if she just didn't like being questioned and asked to consider her situation objectively. I can't help but suspect she left because the therapist wouldn't go along with her delusions.
And I think there was definitely some delusional thinking involved. She saw another therapist who was more willing to go along with her ideas, but ultimately, I think doing so was a disservice.
I feel for the author. Breaking up with someone you love, a relationship ending, hurts. Plain and simple, it hurts. It can be hard to accept and some of us hold on to hope with all we have. But that hope can cross the line into obsession, and that's what we have here. It was painful to read at times, mostly because I was both embarrassed and concerned for the author's well-being. I think it might've been better had the author left this work in her journal.
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveway. I don't know that this book contributed any towards my spiritual awakening. I enjoyed the author's personality and sense of humor which were quite evident in the book. I think I was more engaged with the book than I might have been because of the location since I live in the same area and, actually, have several locations in common with the author. Hmmm....coincidence?
I was hooked when I picked this novel up in a Breckenridge bookshop. I've always felt my belief system fell somewhere under the "Hippie Dippy Bullshit" umbrella so I found many similarities but also learned far more than I had expected. I highly recommend it if you are into these kinds of memoirs. Support small novelists because her writing style deserves to stand out.
Having grown up Catholic and learning to question things leaves me understanding so much of what Julie Rasmussen says. I'm intrigued by other realms and their application to our current life. If you are, too, you'll love this quick, fun and interesting read.
There are lots of memoirs/self-help tomes out there that are heavy with self-seriousness and proscription. Julie Rasmussen's whimsy keeps this delightful read a journey that doesn't weigh us down with "do this," "follow me," or "look at what I did!" We get to be part of her journey to the degree we let ourselves be--and to that degree _we_, too, go on our own journey. Fun, un-self-conscious prose, wit, dust-mop cultural references, and spot-on/unique analogies pepper the read, keeping Julie's account from ever getting predictable or formulaic, which is, ultimately, the method of the madness--_none_ of our lives are ever meant to be predictable/formulaic. Travel with Julie, and you'll see the sheer beauty of your very self, right here, right now--hot messy brutiful vortex that it is. <3
Funny, irreverent search for the meaning of life with romance and revelations along the way. I have been reading inspirational spiritual books for a long time...and written a couple myself. This was an easy read with love at its heart, written by an interesting person and worth the time!
I dunno. I wanted to like it more. It's a very well written book, and I found myself fully engaged and laughing along the way. I think, due to the title, I thought it would be more of a guide than an autobiography. Because I find myself wanting to believe this Hippie Dippy Bulls**t, but I'm not fully convinced. A couple things the author said made sense (Law of Attraction and universal spirituality mucked up by religious dogma) ... but then she'd completely lose me again, especially talking about numbers, non-coincidences, and Twin Flames. Confirmation bias is a real thing, yo. And I can and do believe in soulmates, but the TF phenomenon is not something I've experienced, so it was difficult to connect on that level, and SO MUCH of the book centered on that. The end of the book almost made me angry. I'm glad she found her happiness, but it's just so cliché. No, she didn't buy a tambourine, but she does want to freely roam the deserts and mountains? Without a retirement plan? Like... c'mon. You can be spiritually aware while still being pragmatic about the reality we live in. I would have appreciated a post-script "your miles may vary" instead of "I'm the model of a modern-day spiritualist."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I found this hilarious memoir written by Julie Rasmussen to be so relatable and fun to read! It made me feel like I was having a full-blown conversation with a close friend over lunch. "You'll never believe what happened!! But in the end, you might. I think it's a perfect book for people going through big life changes and needing a refreshing read. She expresses her journey physically and mentally in seeking her spiritual side and the ups/downs that come with it. If only we could all be this fearlessly vulnerable, I thought frequently while reading. The way she wrote it is so honest yet funny with her experiences, talking about her childhood, her trans son, and dating life montage. There were times at 2AM when I couldn't put the book down. I got it in New Mexico and the lady there told me it was one of her favorites. After all, that was the one I was drawn to the most. The chapters really give me with this sense of closeness and connection to the author, but at the same time lingering for more... wanting to know if/and how the love story will continue. What else will be discovered? How much more quirky can it get? She is so wise and in conclusion was an INCREDIBLE read that gave me purpose, because I too am on a similar path as her and discovering my vulnerability. She even dives into the ego and how she named the criticizing voice in her head "Helen" after the cow painting on her wall. While it may not be for everyone, I don't love super serious books and the lightness and cursing in this one is ultimately beautiful; really raw in association with the human experience we share. I recommend it for sure.
*****DISCLAIMER**** I received this book as a good reads giveaway winner earlier this year!
I really enjoyed the authors writing style, I found her to be humorous and relatable. I am also an orange so reading about important spiritual concepts with swear words and innuendo was definitely up my alley. I would definitely read more of her works!
The only reason I did not give this a 5 star was not because of her woo-woo spiritual beliefs. Some of them I agreed with and some of them I did not. But she definitely sounded a bit like a certifiable stalker in her belief that her soul is meant to be with this man and he has just not awoken to their spiritual destiny. I am certain that celebrity stalkers have said very similar sentiments when asked why they were on the property of someone's penthouse after security asked them to leave.
I am happy for her that she found herself, without needing the reassurance of a partner to find her worth. That was the best part of the book for me. For her credibility, I might have advised her to not share the part about another person's destiny that is intertwined with her own. I think her story of spiritual development could have still been authentic without this bit. It was the only aspect that had me raising my eyebrows at her.
Anyways, no hard feelings to my fellow orange - I am waiting for her next book anyway! I want to know more about her and Alex's shenanigans. I would love to read her memoir of just all the different things she has done in her life and what she learned from them.
i won this as a goodreads giveaway and wasn't sure what to expect - but i have to be honest, i think that julie's writing is funny (although no offense julie, you really need a better copy editor!) and i really appreciate her journey. i think that she is able to articulate, in a less traditional/more equitable/less ivory tower way, how we can connect to ourselves, the world around us, and love with more truth and awareness. this is for the folks who aren't going to pick up all the zen books, start paying for $25 yoga classes, and reclaim spirituality through a new practice. we can all be - live, love, act, think, engage - better in the world when we find clarity by dropping our egos and recognizing what is around us.
i knocked off stars because the lack of flow and writing style were a little too loose for me.
This is scary stuff. So, what if you are Twin Flames, does that mean you should act creepy? This woman didn't have an awakening, she just looked for reasons that she felt justified to have an obsession with another person. The purpose of the book is simply to further desperately plead and beg with her ex, "See, I've changed!" No, past lives spent together is not fair reason for not simply facing that he's just not into you. I wonder if embarrassment and restraining orders surround this book. Quite an interesting book when the reader looks beyond. Frightening down to the marriage proposal at the end, which happens within minutes after saying such security is not not needed. Ugh, transparent.
Its short, but I couldn't finish it. It's definitely not my cup of tea. Or coffee. Or beer.
First, I'll say that I'm well versed in all New Age concepts, having spent a good portion of my life believing in them. The concept of Twin Flames is far from new to me.
My initial impression was that this was being written by a teenager (early 20s at best) who was doing their very best to seem relevant. ("I'm SO edgy! Look at all the bad words this orange uses!") I later discovered she is far older than that. It reads sort of like a Lifetime movie where a woman becomes obsessed with the guy she's into and starts over evaluating every move he makes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I grew up going to Christian schools and could really relate to Rasmussen's story and writing. However, it's her writing style that won my five-star review. Rasmussen is quick-witted and I enjoyed hearing her voice and personality pop out of the text. I highly recommend this fun yet insightful read for the religious, spiritual and those that can recall what it was like to have a CD collection in your car!
I have the privilege of working with the author, thank you Julie for sharing your story. Barbara, if you are still around, I think you could relate to Julie's story.
The story resonated with me, a 70 something Caucasian male who some years ago started a similar journey of discovery. Having a conversion experience during the "Jesus movement" and having been randomly labeled hippie in the 60's I might even suggest that my journey is more remarkable. The irony apparent in the narrative is the persistent self focus from start to finish. The difference in my outcome is that l have learned that life is not about me. This principle was clearly illustrated by Jesus, who gave up the authority given him by the Creator. He was the manifest presence of the Creator come into the creation. He came to show humankind what unconditional love looks like. He came as "everyman" having no reputation. He was rejected in spite of a life lived for the sake of others. He was not seeking anything for himself. The author's story became less compelling as her focus seemed to shift from self discovery to fulfilling her personal desire for connection with her supposed twin flame. This to me sidetracked the journey and the narrative.
I picked up this book after reading a book about Nazis. Considerably lighter subject matter! I had a few epiphany moments while absorbing it, but half way through I could see where this train wreck was heading. Perhaps it was because I had lived it...I'm not sure. There is life once your twin flame burns out. And thanks for the picture of penis rock. Another must see attraction!
Omg - this book is the bomb (do people say that anymore)
You my friend, are the funniest, realist author I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading your book! I’m on the edge of the vortex. This past weekend I had another ‘awakening’ they have been coming to me since ‘14. But I let ‘Helen’ get in the way a lot. That’s ok. That’s my journey! Please people this book is so worth reading!
This author doesn’t know what a skeptic is. I picked this up thinking it might be a book that takes a more rational, scientific approach to spiritualism.
But no. It’s a lady who has a midlife crisis and hops onto the first explanation that some psychic gives her. No critical thinking, just, “I’ve never heard this before and I’m going fully on board with it! Reincarnation and everything!”
Safe to say that I was not convinced of the hippie dippy bulls**t.
Fun and quietly read. Dos open one’s eyes to our own worst qualities, the way we/I stress and fret and attempt to control things; and that in the end, what you put out there (be it good or bad vibes) comes back. I enjoyed this....
Real. Love it and so did my customers at One Brown Mouse Boutique up in Nederland. I ran out of stock a few years back and I've been trying to find Julie for the last few years to get more. Julie, if your out there, hit me up!