I’ve lived many lives: in faith, in academia, in love, in art
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by vocation and by practice
My memoir in essays Heretic: A Queer Revolt Against Evangelicalism, Empire, and the Lies We Are Sold (HarperCollins) is available everywhere books are sold.
I’ve written about culture and faith and more for publications across the internet, from my Disney column at Longreads to ELLE to Autostraddle to LitHub.
by heart and by calling
For years, I’ve guided artists and writers through workshops, lectures, and long-term mentorship containers that help them reconnect with the sacred pulse of their creative work. My teaching is grounded in curiosity, rigor, and compassion — less about fixing your process and more about listening to what wants to emerge.
Whether we’re studying astrology, writing together, or exploring how spirit moves through art, my goal is always the same: to help you remember that creativity isn’t a grind. It’s a relationship.
by training and by outlook
If you’re a creative who knows there's more to your process than capitalist standards of production, my New York Times featured newsletter Astrology for Writers might be up your alley.
I also have a forthcoming book with Hachette based on the newsletter, Astrology for Artists: Intentional Practices for Creative Living. It'll be on shelves spring 2027!
More about me
I have my Masters in English Literature from Brandeis University and my BA in English, Politics, and Women's Studies from Cornell College, where I graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
I am and will forever be ABD (All But Dissertation) in the English doctoral program at Brandeis, where I studied women's political writing of the French Revolution and taught fairy tales, queer and feminist theory, and all things pop culture to undergraduates.
I dropped out after four years (and a Master's degree) to start Bluestockings Boutique, the first ever lingerie boutique geared to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Jeanna Kadlec is the author of Heretic: A Queer Revolt Against Evangelicalism, Empire, and the Lies We Are Sold and the forthcoming Astrology for Artists. A born and raised Midwesterner, she now lives in New York City.
Name:
Jeanna — like Geena Davis
Kadlec — like Cad-lick
Pronouns: she/her
Location: New York City
Media kit
If you’re preparing slides or an introduction, here’s what you might need
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media, interviews & writing
Jeanna’s latest publications, interviews, YouTube videos, and exclusive content
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Substack
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Longreads
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LitHub
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New York Times
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Vogue
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Electric Literature
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Autostraddle
Oh, I Like That
Living Open with Eryn Johnson
The New Yorker Radio Hour
The Maris Review
Books Are Magic
If I could get the whole last chapter tattooed, I would.
Louise Clark
I couldn’t put it down
So many times throughout this book I thought “me too”. It laid out a story so similar to my life’s story that I couldn’t put it down.
Brynna
Fav book of the year so far.
It's so nice to be seen ... great read. Fav book of the year so far.
Idalis
Written with energy
Written with energy and lots of religious and historical contextualization, this book is a prime example that what the reader brings to the text may well determine what they get out of it.
Robin
and so so heartbreaking
beautiful and so so heartbreaking. Kadlec does a beautiful job entwining her own stories of growing up in the church and coming out as queer with truths regarding christian fundamentalism and american politics. Highly highly recommend.
Maggie Loughnane
such great slice-of-life writing
I loved the memoir bits of this so much, such great slice-of-life writing, dabbled with lines and paragraphs that were practically poetry. Chapter 6, F/F, was my favorite, having been raised in fandom as well.
Valerie Anne
Heretic sets the bar for every memoir I read after this
Just finished this book and instantly reached for my phone. Heretic sets the bar for every memoir I read after this. Truly fantastic. A mix of history, sociology, witty anecdotes, and self-reflection, I couldn’t ask for anything better.
abi struthers
This memoir was triggering and healing all at once
This memoir was triggering and healing all at once. It was easy to resonate with this story and seeing Kadlec’s journey out of organized religion to accepting herself and finding happiness as a queer woman left me feeling so hopeful. I can’t recommend this enough.
Nicole Drew
Quick, illuminating memoir
Quick, illuminating memoir of how the evangelical church suppresses everyone except white cis het men. Interesting section delves into the interpretation of the Constitution and how it has been influenced by Christianity and interpreting the Bible to benefit this same narrow group.
Trista
I loveddd this book
Anddd another lucy dacus recommendation. I loveddd this book. As a previous church kid I related to this on sooo many levels. The guilt that plays into it is so real. The way this book was written was giving me Educated (by Tara westover) vibes and I ADORED that book so obviously I loved this too.
peyton
Fantastic book
Fantastic book. As someone who walked away from the faith on my own while my entire immediate family and most of my extended family are still in it, I sometimes feel soul-crushingly alone and I needed this book. It's so good to know that I'm not the only one living this life. Incredible, relevant book.
Brannon O'Neal
What a great read!
What a great read! This book is for anyone who grew up in the religious, conservative world and navigating their queerness. I felt the grief of leaving behind (literally) everything to step into your own, the excitement of experiencing queer joy for the first time, and finding the space (if any) for spirituality in your life after religion.
Carole Louise
A really interesting mix of personal narrative & social critique
A really interesting mix of personal narrative & social critique. As someone raised Catholic I appreciated the depth of history of the evangelical movement and it’s effects - I was only familiar with it on a more surface level. I’ve read memoirs of people who have left their faith of origin before but this has more context than I had expected.
Kate Irwin-smiler
This book is a must read for Exvangelicals and anyone going through deconstruction
This book is a must read for Exvangelicals and anyone going through deconstruction. I felt like I was reading my own story half of the time, and it was comforting to know that I'm not alone. She really highlights the grief that comes with losing your identity/faith. Kadlec perfectly balances hard topics with moments of comedic relief. I'm so thankful that she was willing to share her story. Thank you Jeanna, you're a badass powerful queen and I love you!
Annie White
This was a wild read
This was a wild read and much of the author’s experiences resonates with mine. In between pages, I recalled talking to a friend about how I think evangelical Christians and Catholics have very similar dogma, that they’d otherwise get along if it weren’t for the whole “Catholics aren’t Christians” stance of many (if not all?) evangelicals. I especially appreciated how non-linear time was in this text as (especially religious) trauma bends time.
Adryan Corcione
Absolutely recommend to anyone wanting to grow their knowledge about dismantling oppressive systems
This is a memoir but also a history lesson. Kadlec weaves her story with the oppressive history of the Evangelical church together MASTERFULLY. Absolutely recommend to anyone wanting to grow their knowledge about dismantling oppressive systems, but please read the trigger warnings the author puts at the beginning of the book. As you can expect with a book about religious trauma, it has some very triggering moments.
Kristina Wiles
The audiobook was amazing
I binged this in one day because it's so easy to. The audiobook was amazing. Honestly this does a really good job explaining how evangelism wormed its way into politics and pretty much everything just to push Americans back into very traditional aka oppressive Christian values. I loved her chapter on spirituality being present in her life even after leaving the church and constantly trying to find a way to still be spiritual even when not returning to church. Spirituality is deeper than religion and I loved seeing Jeanna explore that in this book.
Vic Young
Amazing read
Was debating picking up this book until reading the 1 star "a blame all my issues on my parents and the church read" review, which is irresistible marketing. Disappointed to learn it was not a "blame all my issues on my parents and the church book" but in fact a moving memoir of self discovery that also puts the evangelical movement into historical context. As someone not raised religiously I do admit to being personally called out at several points in the book where Jeanna challenges the assumption that all religious people are uneducated, so I'm glad to have been corrected. Amazing read.
Meg
this book was everything
this book was everything. my journey from christian fundamentalism is something i am still navigating, and there were so many parts that hit hard
thel
This book is a love story to all the queers
This book is a love story to all the queers who have been through religious environments that tore them down, and have decided to rebuild themselves inspire of it. I heard about this book on the Gayotic podcast hosted by the band Muna and their guest Lucy Dacus. I was instantly intrigued and picked it up right away, and I am so incredibly glad I did. This may be my new favorite book ever. I laughed, I cried, and I will be thinking about it for weeks to come. I hope whoever needs this book will find it, and know that they are so incredibly loved 🧡
Erin Rilke
This memoir is absolutely stunning
5 stars. This memoir is absolutely stunning and beautifully articulates the life of a queer woman raised in the evangelical church. She details the damage it did to her psyche in a way so profound it directly impacted me to excavate my own experiences as a black queer woman in the white evangelical space. Jeanna touched on an array of personal experiences while having an intersectional lense that I deeply appreciated. I highly recommend it to anyone, but especially people with religious trauma or who are curious about its effects.
Lisa Witcher
this book felt real, and urgent, and in many parts beautiful
Heretic has a lot of traits that usually annoy me in memoir: repetitive, sometimes grandiose, sometimes a little fast and loose or just wrong with the facts. And I really don’t love reading details of people’s sex lives. And yet …this book felt real, and urgent, and in many parts beautiful. I both am very far from and in some ways deeply understand Kadlec’s story of leaving her husband, her church, her family, and her God. I don’t know how you’ll react to this book if you identify strongly or not at all. Give it a try and see what you think.
Ann G. Daniels
I will be thinking and feeling this book for long after I turned the final page
One of the most personally moving memoirs I’ve ever read. The journey through and with religious trauma and queerness is a daunting one, but the author articulates her experience with such care and critique that I find so powerful. I’ve underlined more lines in this book than most, namely for putting into words my own conflicting feelings that I’ve long struggled to describe in my time after leaving Christianity. ‘We have resurrected ourselves. We are born again. Our tombs are empty. We are risen.’ I will be thinking and feeling this book for long after I turned the final page. I look forward to rereading and rediscovering more the second time round.
Nicki Vleisides
this book resonated with me so deeply
I don't use Goodreads much anymore (StoryGraph is prettier and isn't owned by Amazon), but this book resonated with me so deeply and so many people don't seem to know about it. Heretic is a thoughtful, beautiful memoir that details Kadlec's journey through her time as an evangelical Christian, her deconstruction of her faith, and her discovery (and embracing of) her queerness. She backs her personal story with history, facts, and analysis that add really interesting additional layers. So much of this book felt true to my own experience, and I'm so grateful this representation exists for all of us queer ex-vangelicals out there.
Jewell Boyd
I wish all evangelicals would read this book
Recovering, jaded, or ex-evangelicals will find much to relate to in Kadlec’s memoir. Beyond that, the introductory chapters lay the groundwork for how American evangelical Christianity has become overwhelmingly white, Republican, and capable of voting for someone like Trump because the ends justify the means. These chapters prove useful for someone outside the evangelical fold that doesn’t understand how evangelicals support the most un-Christian, fraudulent, diabolical politician our nation has ever encountered. I wish all evangelicals would read this book and take a step back to analyze themselves and their true identity and feelings. Like Kadlec, Jesus is still very real to me, but the evangelical churches in this country are not.
Jon Stanton
So well thought out and formulated so raw and vulnerable
I am completely blown away by Jenna’s writing. So well thought out and formulated so raw and vulnerable. Having been raised in a silo mar circumstance in rural Texas, I have never found such a healing story that mirrors so much of my own life experience. I have never been given such tools or language to be able to process what I know now is to be my deconstruction. The author and I began reading tarot around the same time. I had never allowed myself to get deep into the old ways of community, but now as I am getting older and seeing how important it is to be surrounded by love, compassion, and support I have been searching and working towards building many groups of people. My heart is eternally grateful for this writing. For this freedom granted.
Skylar Hines
felt like reading parts of my life
I was raised evangelical so reading this book really felt like reading parts of my life. I loved getting more historical and cultural contexts especially the pervasiveness of evangelical ideals throughout our society. It also felt like a peak of what my life could have been had I not left the church at 18.
SmutForTwo
A must read
A phenomenal and relevant book detailing the harm that Evangelicalism has done and continues to do while lamenting the loss of the community it provided. Kadlec shares deep and personal stories to illustrate a path to self discovery that is as authentic as it is enthralling. The sense of exploration she tells is an inspiration to look deeper into ourselves and how we make sense of the universe. A must read.
Bryan Roush
I loved every second of this.
Full of passion, heartbreak, and recreating yourself. As a queer woman, I loved every second of this.
Kara L
Heartbreaking but hopeful at the same time.
A profoundly moving and honest account of the pain and trauma involvement in and rupture from the evangelical church inflicted on the author. Reading Kadlec's raw pain and hurt was hard at times but the memoir also offers beautiful and insightful musings on queerness, friendship, desire and love. Heartbreaking but hopeful at the same time.
Fflur Jones
I connected with it on so many levels
I devoured this book. It’s part memoir and part commentary on the evangelical culture that permeates our society. I connected with it on so many levels and the author found a way to articulate some of the feelings I’ve had that I’ve struggled to describe. ‘I buried my old self years ago. Do not look for her; she is not there.’
Holly Hillard
absolutely inescapable
I usually bounce between several books at once but with Heretic, I read, laser-focused, until one Tuesday afternoon. After the final sentence, I burst into tears. I have never felt such resonance in grief, fury, and heartache like I did while reading both about her life and also her dissection of evangelical culture, Christianity, and it’s current place in the world. I loved this book so much and would heartily recommend it to anyone who grew up in the church, or lives in a culture influenced by the church which, if you’re American, is absolutely inescapable.
April
I wish I'd had access to [it] when I was younger
This is one of those books I wish I'd had access to when I was younger. I appreciate how intimately and honestly the author talks about what it's like to grow up gay in a religious community and the damage it does for years afterwards.
Victoria
a beautiful picture of reconstructing a self
I started reading this book the same day I finished Beth Moore’s autobiography, from one pole of Christian experience to the other. Kadlec’s incisive critiques of white evangelicalism ring true, and I found her wide-ranging use of literary theory and criticism in her critique invigorating. I cried at the end of the essay about A-Camp—a beautiful picture of reconstructing a self.
Valli
A masterpiece
A must read for all exvangelicals, but particularly the queer ones. A masterpiece.
Em
this book was written for me
As an ex-evangelical queer woman, this book was written for me. Kadlec bears her soul in such a familiar way. It's healing to have someone live a similar experience and be better for it, much as I have.
Jennifer Treutle
I *did* connect with her words, page after page
As a queer ex-Catholic from New England, I don't share Jeanna Kadlec's exact story. But I *did* connect with her words, page after page. The echo in my heart had me frantically highlighting passages, knowing I'll be desperate to read them again later. This book is honest, empowering, and provides a really nuanced and thoughtful depiction of life after church. I can't help but feel like it's a particularly necessary book for this moment, as well. I was in the middle of this memoir when Roe V. Wade was overturned, and I wanted to shake it at the sky like, yes, see, this is how this happened. This is how this happened. And maybe, maybe, maybe; this is how we take care of each other. Reach for healing. Escape. Dream. Thank you for this book, Jeanna. And for sharing so much of yourself in it. It matters quite a lot, maybe now more than ever.
Jen
Definitely recommend
Heretic is billed as a memoir, but I'm not sure that quite covers it. Kadlec shares her very personal story of growing up as a fully believing evangelical Christian in the midwest, who gradually becomes disillusioned with the church and god she loved as she realizes that she is queer. But she also did copious amounts of research on the church, the history of evangelicalism, the evolution of the church's pet issues (anti-LGBTQ stance, anti-abortion) and how they're rooted in maintaining white supremacy, and the church's rise to political power. This information is sprinkled throughout her account of her own experiences and she references research in frequent footnotes. Because we know from the jump how this ends - Kadlec leaving the church and coming out as queer, we can see the problems Kadlec faces long before she does as she follows the path set out for her. We can feel outraged when two women take Kadlec aside to tell her she shouldn't give the boys "ideas" by laughing at their jokes or that she needs to keep her shirt and shorts on when swimming because her body will tempt the boys. Kadlec, meanwhile, simply feels ashamed. I thought this book was a very powerful read, and served as a more serious complement to Cameron Esposito's Save Yourself. Both books are written by queer women who had to reckon with the religious upbringing they once loved. Heretic tells the protestant evangelical side to Esposito's Catholic version, but the tales are eerily similar. I loved how Kadlec infused her personal story with the research that she has undertaken as she went through this journey, in her attempt to make sense of her experiences. Definitely recommend.
Ashley
this book resonated with me like a GONG
I think memoirs can be valuable and enriching for the windows they provide for us to other experiences. especially lately, I've found power in the resonances I feel with queer memoirs specifically - they give me words for emotions I didn't know how to name. this book resonated with me like a GONG and I am so so grateful to the author for sharing her story and for how she crafted this beautiful memoir. this, indeed, helped me name emotions I didn't realize I hadn't processed or knew I was putting off for years. it also opened my eyes to new outlets and avenues for spirituality and spiritual processing - can you believe I bought my first tarot deck just a few weeks before picking this up on a whim? I feel intrigued and excited to continue growing as a queer person, as a former christian, to see new ways of building community and discovering spirituality. I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone but especially queer ex-christians, no matter how long ago your experiences were - I think this will hit you upside the head in the best way.
Hannah
...it echoes so much of my own journey
Jeanna Kadlec is a skilled writer who has taken a compelling personal narrative & weaved in theory, academics, & deep understanding of evangelicalism, queerness & spirituality. I loved this book because it echoes so much of my own journey — it made me feel seen & understood. But beyond that, it is brilliant on a craft level. Even if you didn’t leave the church, if you want to understand purity culture/white evangelicalism/the GOP or queerness or tarot or yourself better, this book is for you. What a gift.
Amy Estes
Thoughtful, intelligent, heartfelt, open, and brave
This memoir was thoughtful, intelligent, heartfelt, open, and brave, and I couldn’t put it down. Jeanna Kadlec’s account of her transition from follower of evangelical Christian dogma, with all of its emphasis on conformity, strict adherence to “biblical womanhood” roles for female members, and policed behavior by church leaders, chronicles her shift to divorced lesbian creative, writer, and astrologer/tarot card reader. As she comes to understand the damage that her church’s rigid fundamental principles and practices can do to its followers, she takes first a leap and then a long adjustment to a different way of life. With new beliefs and a new life, and connecting with other “ex-vangelicals,” she breaks free, but not without a cost. She is still plagued with missing her old identity, missing her former relationship with God, and especially missing the closeness of the community she valued so much within the church. I gave extra points for her explanations of the complexity of her intellectual and emotional shifts and how she had to change, not only her beliefs, but her whole paradigm and mental model, which had been, for her entire childhood and adolescence, based on black-and-white / either-or systems of thinking that were no longer useful to her. Instead she had to come to an understanding of the value of a world view that allows for ambiguity, doubt, questioning, and intuition, a vastly different proposition for someone raised in an environment of conformity where even the notion of exploring other ideas was forbidden. Her new philosophy is something she has had to build “from the ground up,” and is not just a matter of incorporating her gay identify into her old world view.
Suzanne
A beautiful story of rebirth!
A beautiful story of rebirth! As a non-religious, queer woman living in a very religious culture, this book was eye-opening! So many of the stories seemed so familiar and helped me to better understand the experience of my religious peers! The author writes in a raw, vulnerable voice that felt both authentic and trustworthy.
Gigi Ropp
Forthright, righteous, ambitious, and deeply compassionate memoir
As a fellow Midwestern ex-pat bearing scars from religious trauma, Heretic, Jeanna Kadlec's forthright, righteous, ambitious, and deeply compassionate memoir about unlearning evangelicalism and making one's own community, feels like it was written for me. And while parts of this book resonated with my own experience so much that I exclaimed "WHOA!" a number of times whilst reading, much of what kept engrossed to the last end stop was not where our experiences overlapped, but rather Kadlec's unique, sometimes surprising path towards radical self-love. Judging by the number of reviews of this book by people who clearly haven't read it, Kadlec's unflinching take on the evangelical rot that's been a feature of the US since before its founding and that is currently driving the nation towards fascism has ruffled some feathers. Good. I can't think of a higher compliment for this book than that it enrages Christofascists. A part of me also hopes that in the process of searching for gotcha-takes in the text, some initially hostile readers come to appreciate and learn from the hard-won grace Kadlec extends to her past self, the deep intelligence with which she navigates intersections of identity, privilege, and trauma, and the wit and humor that shine through. Also? Reading Heretic has made me really, really excited to see what Kadlec does next. Whatever it is, I'm confident that it'll be as smart, penetrating, and remarkable as this book is.
Libby Weber
author of Risk a Verse: A Year in Daily Sonnets
This book is a gift, and a challenge
A devastating and generous memoir about growing up in an evangelical, Midwestern family and the author's grief as she wakes up to the painful, discriminatory systems that governed her world. Jeanna Kadlec pushes through the shame of religious trauma to share her experiences with divorce, losing her faith, and coming out as queer. There is so much in this book that is necessary and urgent: how Christian fascism is baked into the DNA of American culture and government, the normalization of all kinds of abuse within religious communities, and how scripture has been twisted to support racism, sexism and homophobia. It is smart and beautiful, tackling its subject matter on micro and macro levels. I did not grow up with organized religion, and my atheist childhood made it hard for me to detect the creeping sexist ideas my ex held about marriage and the role of women, rooted in his Christian worldview. On a personal note, Kadlec's stories of sexual coercion and the pressure to submit to her husband gave me the lens I needed to understand my relationship. "The church teaches that two become one, that marriage is the death of individuals and the birth of a new union. What is the self, then, within an evangelical marriage? A disappearance, an invisible woman." This book is a gift, and a challenge. I find myself wondering if the negative reviews here on Goodreads are a knee-jerk reaction from devoutly religious folks who find its premise personally threatening.
Ella Dawson
author of BUT HOW ARE YOU, REALLY
Made me want to write through my own experiences
A book hasn’t made me think in a long time as much as this one had. Such good commentary on the Midwest, particularly Iowa, in connection with religion and queerness. My religious upbringing certainly wasn’t as strict as the writer’s, but a lot of it connected with me. I also felt very seen in her journey in coming to terms with being a lesbian. Also made me think a lot about the ways in which spirituality exists in my life now in the absence of religion. Much to unpack and made me want to write through my own experiences.
Hannah Showalter
I loved this
Phew, I loved this. The second half in particular had some genuinely perfect essays, it made me think and reconsider some longer held (unconscious) beliefs, and it broke my heart while somehow remaining grounded in a positive worldview.
Hannah
It’s moving. It’s incisive. And it’s a balm...
Jeanna Kadlec is the moment. There has never been a more important time for this memoir, in which Kadlec shares her story of growing up in the evangelical church, getting married, coming out as a lesbian, wrestling with her faith (Jacob-style, to the bone), leaving her husband, and pursuing her wildest dreams in her new life. Weaved throughout the candid narrative are essays that unearth the death-grip the church has on our cultural and political landscapes. It’s moving. It’s incisive. And it’s a balm, too, if you’ve also scuffled with the Lord.
Heather Hogan
This is a must read for anyone
I related to this book so much. I think I highlighted more in this book than I have for any other I've read so far. I honestly wish it had been a little longer, just because I think there's SO MUCH to unpack when you've grown up in the culture that Jeanna Kadlec (and myself, and many many others) have. This is a must read for anyone who has deconstructed and/or considers themselves an "ex-vangelical."
Jessica Kruse
My outlook about my creative life has
My outlook about my creative life has shifted from dread to joy and hope, thanks to this reading.
Julie
As I'm wrapping up my Saturn Return
As I'm wrapping up my Saturn Return and dealing with the effects of the executive orders on my industry, Jeanna provided critical insight into additional transits in my chart that speak to major changes and cycles closing out at this time: both out of choice and as a result of our broader political context. The reading offered clarity and comfort, in particular to not be so hard on myself when certain placements are already providing that pressure. Jeanna's guidance addresses your whole self and chart so that you can move forward with appreciation for what our bodies and minds offer us when they are well-fed and flourishing.
Ellie
This literally changed the trajectory of my career!
This literally changed the trajectory of my career! We chatted about submission dates for my new book proposal and selected Feb 22nd. The proposal went out as planned and we had an offer within an hour. The book later went to auction and I landed with one of my dream publishers. Planning that date with Jeanna gave me so much motivation and confidence to push forward when I doubted the writing and I'm so grateful for it.
Nikki St. Crowe
USA Today bestselling author
I learned so much about what creatively
I learned so much about what creatively fuels me and how to nurture my writing practice. Jeanna is thorough and incredibly talented at explaining complex astrological concepts in a way that's easy to understand, and helped me figure out immediate ways to take action and incorporate new routines based on what was in my chart. One of the things I found most refreshing about this reading was that it was not formulaic or prescriptive, nor does Jeanna define "routine" as something you must do every single day, repetitively (and thank goodness for that, because I'm not a "morning pages" sort of person!). It felt much more expansive, an invitation to experiment and play with different energy and different creative practices that could open up new ideas for my work, support my writing process, and carry me through editing and the more "administrative work" associated with my writing, like pitching/publishing/etc. I am super grateful for this offering and feel like it's essential for any writer (or creative person) who is looking for ways to break out of ruts, unblock themselves, get out of their own way, and feel more energized and optimistic about their work
Hannah Levy
founder of The Rebis magazine
Jeanna has an innate understanding of what
Jeanna has an innate understanding of what it takes to be a creative professional because she is one herself; she speaks so kindly about how astrology intersects with not just art, but artistic process. This reading was super affirming of my own rhythms as a writer. I definitely cried after
A.E. Osworth
author, WE ARE WATCHING ELIZA BRIGHT
I felt so affirmed in learning how to trust myself
I felt so affirmed in learning how to trust myself more about my writing and creative practices. Allowing and celebrating that I need variety and other people to bring new work into the world. I am not the solo writer in the tower working on the single project, and I am still a writer. I also was so grateful for Jeanna's encouragement of me as a new learner of astrology, and the ways that she made room for what I have learned and helped me to see more and more deeply what my chart is telling me. This was a big investment for me and I'm so grateful I made it. I feel that I now have rich soil to plant the seeds for my work and my growth as a human being. So happy to be on this journey and to have Jeanna as one of my teachers. Strongly recommend this reading
Jen M.
Here all this time I’ve been thinking my writing is
Here all this time I’ve been thinking my writing is somehow trapped within me, corked up. At some point the pressure of my artistic genius would inevitably build up and burst forth. But what if instead, I am a parched dusty place? What if, while there are certainly dormant particles of inspiration waiting to be activated, there is not enough poured back into the well to initiate that creativity enlivening process? What if what I need is more for me, to fill me up, instead of expecting art in a vacuum? Your reading meant the world to me, Jeanna! You really helped me put puzzle pieces together in a meaningful new way. I’m continuously pondering it. HOLY WOW did I get my money’s worth! To anyone waffling on this reading, here’s your sign
Amy
My chart mystified me for months as I struggled
My chart mystified me for months as I struggled with creating a new editing process. In just half an hour, Jeanna sparked not only transformative ideas but also spawned a whole new way of thinking about it that I am sure will be useful for years to come. A+++ knowledgeable and intuitive smarty pants, definitely recommend.
April Walters
My reading with Jeanna occurred within a stressful
My reading with Jeanna occurred within a stressful writing project that had continued to drag on infinitely. With her sharp astro-writer perspective, she immediately cut through the toxic fog of stories I’d held about writing that, quite simply, were not mine to cling to. Since our reading — nearly two years ago now! — I’ve continued to explore the core takeaways, improving not just my writing but my overall creativity in the process. I highly highly recommend working with Jeanna if identifying YOUR writerly embodiment is a priority for you.
Diana Rose Harper
My session with Jeanna was insightful and productive.
My session with Jeanna was insightful and productive. Jeanna came to our session prepared and present. Her deep knowledge of astrology and writing made this session valuable. During the session, I felt heard, seen, and validated. After the session I came away with tangible next steps and felt as if I had been given permission to embrace my unique approach to writing and creating of any kind. I recommend this session highly to a writer at any stage in their journey.
Vanessa
After settling into a new day job, I decided it was the perfect
After settling into a new day job, I decided it was the perfect time to reassess my writing practice and I'm so glad I finally did! Jeanna's reading offered a wonderful blend of practical advice and intuitive guidance that addressed my writing routine, but also larger questions of finding an audience, navigating industry pressures, juggling a day job, and being true to my voice. I left the reading with a deeper understanding of my own needs as a creative, as well as lots of ideas for how to begin again after a time off. I highly recommend Jeanna's readings to any artist looking for support in building their practice.
Rory Gory
Jeanna is a knowledgeable and welcoming
Jeanna is a knowledgeable and welcoming reader and the chance to explore my natal chart in this craft-specific way was enlightening and fun. Being reminded of the sacred routine aspect of third-house activities helped me to reframe my practice at a perfect time. Energizing and collaborative, our conversation was a great way to approach a writing routine from a new angle and left me excited for future readings. Highly recommended (and I am picky about who reads for me)
Whitney W.
Jeanna's reading was an essential part of
Jeanna's reading was an essential part of the process towards developing a writing practice that works best for me. She allowed me to let go of rules I’d imposed on myself that weren’t serving me, as well as affirming that the very thing I try to avoid could be the thing that would unlock what was blocking me (spoiler: it was).
Frankie de la Cretaz
author of HAIL MARY: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Jeanna's reading came at a really transitional
Jeanna's reading came at a really transitional time for me — I had been on the road and promoting my first book for months, and was feeling very disconnected from the me that sat down and actually did writing or had new ideas. Working with Jeanna helped me think about the structures and habits I could carry over from book 1 into book 2, and the new things I could implement to get back into a new groove. It helped me take writing from something that felt like an abstraction into a concrete reality.
Alejandra Oliva
author of RIVERMOUTH: A CHRONICLE OF LANGUAGE, FAITH AND MIGRATION
The reading I had with Jeanna was magical!
The reading I had with Jeanna was magical! If you're on the fence wondering if you should get the reading... GET THE READING! Every day this week her words have popped up in my mind when thinking/feeling/doing something and it has been so helpful and the medicine I've needed when navigating the craziness of this week. I definitely feel more at peace with where I'm at in my own creative processes and so thankful I happened upon her substack and community when I did.
Kim E.
I know what to write, how to write it, and why
Jeanna’s class was so helpful to provide insight and self awareness not only as a person who aspires to write, but also as a human being who needs to function in a world founded on sharing words with others. I am now in a love affair with my birth chart and my multi-faceted creative process. I know what to write, how to write it, and why I need to do so. I now have words on paper.
Nicole K.
Jeanna is a thoughtful and generous teacher
Jeanna is a thoughtful and generous teacher and an astrologer steadfast in her commitment to rigorous self-examination and loving acceptance of whatever it is you uncover. Her course helped me reconnect with the writer within and will shape my work for years to come.
Eleanor Cummins
For me, this class was a permission slip, a challenge, and an invitation
This class! Jeanna is an excellent teacher who organizes information in a way that’s accessible and thought provoking. I came away from every lesson with a new understanding of my chart and my creative work. For me, this class was a permission slip, a challenge, and an invitation to use the realities of who I am and how I work to make my writing life work for me.
Chelsee B.
I gained clarity on my purpose as a writer
After taking Jeanna’s course, I gained clarity on my purpose as a writer as well as the confidence to pursue it. However, the most fulfilling thing that I walked away with was a deep sense of compassion, acceptance, and self-love for the unique process I need and have to write my best work. In all honesty, every writer, no matter where they are in their career, should make the time to take this class with Jeanna. It is THAT remarkable.
Luna Damiana
Jeanna is a wonderful teacher
This class helped me to consider what is most essential to me as a writer and gave me more avenues to connect my writing and magical practices. It’s helped me to regain my writing momentum in some very foundational ways. Jeanna is a wonderful teacher. Her class is inclusive, thoughtful, and filled with ideas, inspirations, and further resources. It was a truly magical experience!
Miranda Schmidt
I would recommend this class to anyone
Jeanna’s expertise in and passion for astrology and writing are undeniable. The knowledge I gained in this class allowed me to shed preconceived notions of what I was supposed to be doing as a writer and really embrace what would work best for me based on my astrology. Jeanna gave me insights into my chart that I honestly don’t think I would have gotten anywhere else. I would recommend this class to anyone who is struggling with how to make a writing life that makes sense for them.
Tarah Ruff
I feel free to relax into the writing life I was born for
Jeanna’s class gave me permission to write about the things I feel compelled to write about in the way that feels natural to me. I no longer feel embarrassed about not having the same process all writers are “supposed to” have. I feel free to relax into the writing life I was born for, and that is an incredible gift.
Becky Bullard
Jeanna’s class affirmed my passion for writing, storytelling, and astrology
Jeanna’s class affirmed my passion for writing, storytelling, and astrology and I’m so glad I took it. The work I’ve done in this class has prompted invaluable and critical self-reflection on my life as a writer. Jeanna’s expertise and guidance have helped me to feel more confident in my voice, and more unafraid of speaking my truth.
Roslyn Talusan
I come back to this class all the time
I come back to this class all the time. Jeanna's explanations of everything — from house to sign to planet to aspect — are so clear and distilled that I can count on gaining meaning whenever I'm looking at a new chart or studying an aspect of my own. Her metaphors for the signs through the seasons are a core part of how I understand and apply them.
Melissa L.
songwriter and game facilitator
Jeanna's class was really helpful
Jeanna's class was really helpful in terms of helping me realize not just when and how my writing happened, but also that there was no moral valence or certain writing that counted "more" than others as I was creating my writing routine and life of a writer. Writing in my journal counts, notes on what I'm reading counts, essays count, working on my book counts—it's all writing that goes towards making me a writer with a practice.
Alejandra Oliva
author of Rivermouth
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