March 24, 2025 • 16 mins
Uncommon Paths: The Rev. Julia Fritts on Music, Acupuncture, and Ministry
Welcome Reverend Julia A. Fritz to our podcast! In this heartfelt episode, Reverend Fritz shares her unique journey, from a career in music and physical therapy to becoming a classical and neuro acupuncturist and an associate priest at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore. Discover how her diverse experiences and passions integrate into her current roles, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit. Learn about her formative years, her motivations, and the profound impact of her work on her patients and church community. Join us for an inspiring conversation about embracing one's unique gifts and serving others.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:13 Julia's Diverse Background
01:26 Journey into Acupuncture and Priesthood
04:59 Combining Passions in Ministry
09:27 Spiritual Aspects of Acupuncture
14:29 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
16:07 Closing Remarks and Inspirational Message
Email Julia: jfritts@incarnationbmore.org
Julia's website: https://www.classicalacupuncturecare.com
The Good News! podcast series is part of the ListeningforClues portfolio. Catch us at https://listeningforclues.com/
© 2025 Listening for Clues
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dolores (00:00):
Let's meet the Reverend Julia A.
(00:01):
Fritts, Episcopal priest, neuroacupuncturist and musician.
With Julia today is our Good Newsteam, Deacons Jon Shematek and Lauren
Welch as we bring another episodein our second season of Good News!
All about people making adifference in the world.
Jon Shematek (00:17):
Reverend Julia A.
Fritz, welcome to our podcast.
We're delighted thatyou're here with us today.
Julia (00:24):
Thank you so much, Jon and Lauren.
It's a privilege to be here.
Jon Shematek (00:28):
Yeah.
We're so excited to get to learn moreabout you and get to know you better.
You're Brand new to us just this isyour very first week starting role at
the Cathedral of the Incarnation inBaltimore as a associate priest there.
But we know you have somany irons in the fire.
You've got so much life experienceand you're actually bivocational and
(00:51):
have a priestly ministry, but you alsohave work outside of the priesthood,
we're curious about your variouslife experiences and skills come
together, how are you seeing things?
Julia (01:02):
I am a classical and neuro acupuncturist.
That's a specialty area of acupuncture.
I have a practice that I do twothirds of my time, and one third
of my time is with the Cathedral.
I'm thrilled to join the Cathedral.
I feel So happy and sowelcomed and so at home.
(01:23):
It was my sending parish 20 years agowhen I went off to seminary a lot of
life has come and gone since then.
I'm finally back in Maryland.
Thanks be to God.
And, I actually back at the Cathedral.
So I feel just a little bitstunned and just so glad.
Lauren (01:43):
Julia how did your journey began?
And in all of this, acupuncture,you also are a physical therapist.
Now working as a priest,what motivated you?
Julia (01:56):
I've had to think a lot about that in my formation process.
As a young child, I was, one of four,the only girl, and, was always expected
to be the little artist and musician.
That's how I was formed, thosewere the expectations on me.
It never occurred to me to,study, the sciences very hard,
(02:21):
but I was interested in them.
Life went on and my mother suffered,with MS and, a burn incident.
as I lived through hersuffering and death.
it changed me like those things will do.
it really, galvanized this longingto help wherever I saw suffering.
(02:44):
I just wanted to be useful my Career as amusician was going on, at the same time,
and I recorded and traveled all overthe country, one of our first recorded
songs was number one in Riga, Latvia.
we did a lot musically and I thoughtthat was going to be my career.
(03:06):
but it wasn't enough for me in thisneed to help people who are suffering.
I was drawn to, become aphysical therapist in particular,
for, neurological patients.
No surprise given my mom'sneurological illness.
That's where I was drawn to serve.
I started at Hopkins, loved my work there.
(03:28):
it was so formative, so wonderful,and then went on to become Chief of
Rehab Medicine at, Hospital in Laurel.
as any good PT does, they ruin theirknees lifting people properly, and then
they ruin their backs lifting people.
With bad knees.
(03:48):
I realized I needed torethink my career trajectory.
I couldn't be lifting people anymore.
So I discovered acupuncture thisoccurred to me to be a deeper level.
I could help on the levels of thebody, the mind and the spirit.
I kept both licenses for quite some time.
(04:10):
And then with great fear and trepidationdropped my PT license because it's
very expensive to keep two licensesgoing and forged ahead with acupuncture
and built a thriving private practicespecializing in neuro patients, it
was around this time that I decided toexplore this longing to serve at the
(04:36):
deepest possible level, which for me meantserving Jesus and trying to follow him.
he was a teacher and a healer.
God incarnate, how can you follow that?
But I could do my little bit to try tohelp at the deepest level of suffering.
(04:58):
the discernment process went forward.
I was ordained, deacon in 2008 atthe Cathedral, by, Bishop John Rabb.
my first call was inStanford, Connecticut.
where I was ordained priestby Bishop Andrew White.
along the way, I was able tokeep all my passions going, my
(05:23):
musicianship, work on a physical levela spirit level and a mental level.
I found that all of mypeculiar gifts had a use.
In my priestly ministry, I really,hesitated, fought this sense
(05:46):
of call to ordination becauseI felt I was too unusual.
I don't look like a clergy person.
I don't sound like one.
I felt that call wasmaybe just my imagination.
I'm a drummer, a rock drummer, actually,the music we toured with was Celtic
(06:09):
rock, and it was haunting and gorgeous,fed my soul, my experience in the music
industry could be used in the church,when my daughter was in, Rite 13 and J2A
at the Cathedral, I was one of the mosthelpful parents we decided to put on a
(06:30):
coffee shop as their big fundraiser, andI put together a youth group band, we
rehearsed and, some kids were learninginstruments for the first time, I helped
them learn about lighting sound and,a little bit of stage, orientation,
we had The most wonderful time.
And I was able to do that in, myfirst call in Stamford, Connecticut,
(06:53):
as well with the youth group there.
such a joy to have your wholeself be useful in some odd way.
I think that sums up the journey so far.
I don't plan on any more master's degrees.
Three is
Jon Shematek (07:08):
perfect.
Julia (07:09):
never say never, Mom.
I'm going to call it.
Jon Shematek (07:14):
At this point.
Julia (07:15):
I think we're good with that.
Lauren (07:17):
It sounds like you have found that in all that you were doing
music, PT, acupuncture, you havefound the spirit of those ministries.
Yes.
And you're able to combine them rightnow in what you're doing as a priest.
Julia (07:38):
That's how it feels and everywhere I've served, I actually just remembered
in one of the churches I led in Oregon.
I offered free drum lessons to thekids in the community, and that grew
to be a tiny school of rock sortof thing, and that was great fun.
Jon Shematek (08:01):
Julia, you remind me, about the power of music as a healing resource.
People may not think aboutdrumming in that way, but we do
Julia (08:12):
that's lovely.
Jon Shematek (08:13):
So yes, all of this, people might say, gosh, these are such
different endeavors, musicianship,acupuncture, priesthood, but you really
have managed to find where they meet andare integrated and work with one another.
Your focus is to be on,child and youth formation.
and that sounds like that's alsobeen part of your past experience
Julia (08:38):
whether it was a church large enough to have youth groups and
children's ministry or smaller churcheswhere we did everything together.
I have adored my time with thelittle ones and the older youth,
Last Sunday, my first Sunday withthe Cathedral, as I was meeting all
the parents and children, a 10 monthold baby boy, John reached out for
(09:02):
me to hold him it just made my day.
All the joy of my first Sunday atthe Cathedral that topped it all.
I find absolute delight with childrenof all ages and, I'm excited to do
this, in this new setting with sucha wonderful staff and congregation.
I'm thrilled.
Jon Shematek (09:23):
We're thrilled to have you.
Absolutely.
I'm curious about, acupuncture.
I'm a physician by training.
and I practiced for a gazillion years aspediatric cardiologist and pediatrician.
Julia (09:34):
that's interesting.
Jon Shematek (09:34):
those were fun times, but it also was a great merging
of, seeing myself as, an instrumentfor healing, in so many ways.
Yes.
I'm just wondering if you could, without,Being too scientific about it Talk about
the spiritual aspect, of acupuncture.
Maybe teach me a bit.
Julia (09:51):
in Eastern medicine, it's based on Taoist philosophy, which holds
that the body mind and spirit are one.
They're not separated out theway they are in Western medicine.
in Western medicine, we have aspecific doctor for each body part,
a separate field of medicine for,those with mental struggles and a
(10:15):
separate field for those with spiritualissues, considered very separate and
none having an effect on the other.
Whereas in Eastern medicine,one, directly affects the other.
any suffering on the body level intime will show up in the spirit.
(10:37):
Any suffering on the spiritlevel will manifest in the body.
In acupuncture, it's held that, the energythat moves through the pathways in the
body, addresses All levels of that person.
let's say a person is sufferingfrom overworry, overthinking,
(10:57):
circular thinking, I willcheck their digestive system.
Their stomach will have troubles.
If someone is suffering fromgrief, I will check on their lungs.
And vice versa, if someone shows up witha terrible rash, I will know to ask into,
is there a grief process in the mix here?
(11:18):
in Eastern medicine, therecan't be distress in one area
without distress in all areas.
So all those areas need to beaddressed for the person to heal.
I don't consider myself a healer.
Jesus was the great healer.
I'm blessed to have some tools to help.
Jon Shematek (11:41):
You can be a channel of that.
Julia (11:44):
if I keep myself clean and clear, I can be a useful instrument.
Jon Shematek (11:50):
And to what extent is there actual, maybe with each needle
puncture, how does it fit into this?
Julia (11:58):
That's a great question.
it's very important that I be clearon my intention with every needle
and with every treatment in general.
Let's say if I'm treating a certainpoint, my intention will be to clear
this point, to move this energy.
(12:19):
the entire treatment is based on,how I hope for, The energy to shift.
at the end of each treatment, if thepatient would like me to, I will lay
hands on their head, and pray for them,if they want me to say spoken prayer,
(12:39):
I'm happy to do that, and I'm happyto give blessing also if they want
that, whether they believe in prayeror not, We know that God believes in
them and loves them, I pray for everypatient and some will ask for a little
bit more, and I always love that, too.
Jon Shematek (13:02):
Thank you.
Lauren (13:03):
So the intention with each needle that you put in is for
the highest good of that person.
Julia (13:09):
Yes, whether spoken or not.
Our intention is so powerful.
If we could just take thatlittle moment before we speak to.
refine what our hope isfor that conversation.
What a difference we could make
Lauren (13:27):
that intention is a prayer.
Thinking of prayer broadlyinstead of just what we say.
Julia (13:34):
Oh, yeah.
Lauren (13:36):
What has surprised you most on your journey?
Julia (13:40):
what has surprised me most?
I feel like the whole journeyhas been such a surprise.
Being raised to be an artistand musician and to find myself
in love with the sciences.
And to be such an avid learner, andto be ordained a priest in Christ's
(14:03):
church, in some ways it feels like home.
Jon Shematek (14:08):
Julia, you're a priest, at the Cathedral of the incarnation
right now, and you have a, practice, inacupuncture, And you do some, meditation.
Julia (14:17):
I've practiced meditation for 50 years.
I've taught for 20.
Jon Shematek (14:22):
Julie, thank you very much for being here today and sharing
so much of your story with us.
Really inspirational.
You've overcome a lot, but you'vegot so many, gifts that you bring
to the church and to the world.
you're someone that peoplewould do well to emulate.
Julia (14:40):
Thank you.
Just to be able to sit with you andchat it's such a gift to be heard.
Thank you
Lauren (14:48):
Julia, before you go, we want to give you one more chance.
Would you like for our listeners to hear?
from everything that you've learned.
Julia (15:00):
Grow a garden.
what I'd love for people to, Consider,is that each person is marvelously made
unique with varied little odd bits andcapable in different ways all of that.
(15:24):
Is God's design and needed inthe world and in the church.
if you feel you're too unusualto be useful, or feel you
can't be your full self,
spend your lifetime figuring out how to.
(15:47):
Come to life more fully.
Who was it said the glory of God isthe human being come fully alive.
Gregory of Nyssa?
That's good advice to follow thatevery bit of you is On purpose
and beautiful and necessary
Lauren (16:07):
Thank you.
You are wonderful and thankyou for being with us today.
Jon and I also want to thank Allwho are watching and listening
for the gift of your time with us.
Until next time, peace and blessings.
Jon Shematek (16:22):
Bye-bye.
Dolores (16:23):
This episode of Good News has been brought to
you by Listening for Clues.
For more podcasts, check outour YouTube channel or our
website listening for clues.com
or just about any audio podcast platform.
Be sure to comment, like or share.
Thanks for being with us today.
Let's meet the Reverend Julia A.
(00:01):
Fritts, Episcopal priest, neuroacupuncturist and musician.
With Julia today is our Good Newsteam, Deacons Jon Shematek and Lauren
Welch as we bring another episodein our second season of Good News!
All about people making adifference in the world.
Jon Shematek (00:17):
Reverend Julia A.
Fritz, welcome to our podcast.
We're delighted thatyou're here with us today.
Julia (00:24):
Thank you so much, Jon and Lauren.
It's a privilege to be here.
Jon Shematek (00:28):
Yeah.
We're so excited to get to learn moreabout you and get to know you better.
You're Brand new to us just this isyour very first week starting role at
the Cathedral of the Incarnation inBaltimore as a associate priest there.
But we know you have somany irons in the fire.
You've got so much life experienceand you're actually bivocational and
(00:51):
have a priestly ministry, but you alsohave work outside of the priesthood,
we're curious about your variouslife experiences and skills come
together, how are you seeing things?
Julia (01:02):
I am a classical and neuro acupuncturist.
That's a specialty area of acupuncture.
I have a practice that I do twothirds of my time, and one third
of my time is with the Cathedral.
I'm thrilled to join the Cathedral.
I feel So happy and sowelcomed and so at home.
(01:23):
It was my sending parish 20 years agowhen I went off to seminary a lot of
life has come and gone since then.
I'm finally back in Maryland.
Thanks be to God.
And, I actually back at the Cathedral.
So I feel just a little bitstunned and just so glad.
Lauren (01:43):
Julia how did your journey began?
And in all of this, acupuncture,you also are a physical therapist.
Now working as a priest,what motivated you?
Julia (01:56):
I've had to think a lot about that in my formation process.
As a young child, I was, one of four,the only girl, and, was always expected
to be the little artist and musician.
That's how I was formed, thosewere the expectations on me.
It never occurred to me to,study, the sciences very hard,
(02:21):
but I was interested in them.
Life went on and my mother suffered,with MS and, a burn incident.
as I lived through hersuffering and death.
it changed me like those things will do.
it really, galvanized this longingto help wherever I saw suffering.
(02:44):
I just wanted to be useful my Career as amusician was going on, at the same time,
and I recorded and traveled all overthe country, one of our first recorded
songs was number one in Riga, Latvia.
we did a lot musically and I thoughtthat was going to be my career.
(03:06):
but it wasn't enough for me in thisneed to help people who are suffering.
I was drawn to, become aphysical therapist in particular,
for, neurological patients.
No surprise given my mom'sneurological illness.
That's where I was drawn to serve.
I started at Hopkins, loved my work there.
(03:28):
it was so formative, so wonderful,and then went on to become Chief of
Rehab Medicine at, Hospital in Laurel.
as any good PT does, they ruin theirknees lifting people properly, and then
they ruin their backs lifting people.
With bad knees.
(03:48):
I realized I needed torethink my career trajectory.
I couldn't be lifting people anymore.
So I discovered acupuncture thisoccurred to me to be a deeper level.
I could help on the levels of thebody, the mind and the spirit.
I kept both licenses for quite some time.
(04:10):
And then with great fear and trepidationdropped my PT license because it's
very expensive to keep two licensesgoing and forged ahead with acupuncture
and built a thriving private practicespecializing in neuro patients, it
was around this time that I decided toexplore this longing to serve at the
(04:36):
deepest possible level, which for me meantserving Jesus and trying to follow him.
he was a teacher and a healer.
God incarnate, how can you follow that?
But I could do my little bit to try tohelp at the deepest level of suffering.
(04:58):
the discernment process went forward.
I was ordained, deacon in 2008 atthe Cathedral, by, Bishop John Rabb.
my first call was inStanford, Connecticut.
where I was ordained priestby Bishop Andrew White.
along the way, I was able tokeep all my passions going, my
(05:23):
musicianship, work on a physical levela spirit level and a mental level.
I found that all of mypeculiar gifts had a use.
In my priestly ministry, I really,hesitated, fought this sense
(05:46):
of call to ordination becauseI felt I was too unusual.
I don't look like a clergy person.
I don't sound like one.
I felt that call wasmaybe just my imagination.
I'm a drummer, a rock drummer, actually,the music we toured with was Celtic
(06:09):
rock, and it was haunting and gorgeous,fed my soul, my experience in the music
industry could be used in the church,when my daughter was in, Rite 13 and J2A
at the Cathedral, I was one of the mosthelpful parents we decided to put on a
(06:30):
coffee shop as their big fundraiser, andI put together a youth group band, we
rehearsed and, some kids were learninginstruments for the first time, I helped
them learn about lighting sound and,a little bit of stage, orientation,
we had The most wonderful time.
And I was able to do that in, myfirst call in Stamford, Connecticut,
(06:53):
as well with the youth group there.
such a joy to have your wholeself be useful in some odd way.
I think that sums up the journey so far.
I don't plan on any more master's degrees.
Three is
Jon Shematek (07:08):
perfect.
Julia (07:09):
never say never, Mom.
I'm going to call it.
Jon Shematek (07:14):
At this point.
Julia (07:15):
I think we're good with that.
Lauren (07:17):
It sounds like you have found that in all that you were doing
music, PT, acupuncture, you havefound the spirit of those ministries.
Yes.
And you're able to combine them rightnow in what you're doing as a priest.
Julia (07:38):
That's how it feels and everywhere I've served, I actually just remembered
in one of the churches I led in Oregon.
I offered free drum lessons to thekids in the community, and that grew
to be a tiny school of rock sortof thing, and that was great fun.
Jon Shematek (08:01):
Julia, you remind me, about the power of music as a healing resource.
People may not think aboutdrumming in that way, but we do
Julia (08:12):
that's lovely.
Jon Shematek (08:13):
So yes, all of this, people might say, gosh, these are such
different endeavors, musicianship,acupuncture, priesthood, but you really
have managed to find where they meet andare integrated and work with one another.
Your focus is to be on,child and youth formation.
and that sounds like that's alsobeen part of your past experience
Julia (08:38):
whether it was a church large enough to have youth groups and
children's ministry or smaller churcheswhere we did everything together.
I have adored my time with thelittle ones and the older youth,
Last Sunday, my first Sunday withthe Cathedral, as I was meeting all
the parents and children, a 10 monthold baby boy, John reached out for
(09:02):
me to hold him it just made my day.
All the joy of my first Sunday atthe Cathedral that topped it all.
I find absolute delight with childrenof all ages and, I'm excited to do
this, in this new setting with sucha wonderful staff and congregation.
I'm thrilled.
Jon Shematek (09:23):
We're thrilled to have you.
Absolutely.
I'm curious about, acupuncture.
I'm a physician by training.
and I practiced for a gazillion years aspediatric cardiologist and pediatrician.
Julia (09:34):
that's interesting.
Jon Shematek (09:34):
those were fun times, but it also was a great merging
of, seeing myself as, an instrumentfor healing, in so many ways.
Yes.
I'm just wondering if you could, without,Being too scientific about it Talk about
the spiritual aspect, of acupuncture.
Maybe teach me a bit.
Julia (09:51):
in Eastern medicine, it's based on Taoist philosophy, which holds
that the body mind and spirit are one.
They're not separated out theway they are in Western medicine.
in Western medicine, we have aspecific doctor for each body part,
a separate field of medicine for,those with mental struggles and a
(10:15):
separate field for those with spiritualissues, considered very separate and
none having an effect on the other.
Whereas in Eastern medicine,one, directly affects the other.
any suffering on the body level intime will show up in the spirit.
(10:37):
Any suffering on the spiritlevel will manifest in the body.
In acupuncture, it's held that, the energythat moves through the pathways in the
body, addresses All levels of that person.
let's say a person is sufferingfrom overworry, overthinking,
(10:57):
circular thinking, I willcheck their digestive system.
Their stomach will have troubles.
If someone is suffering fromgrief, I will check on their lungs.
And vice versa, if someone shows up witha terrible rash, I will know to ask into,
is there a grief process in the mix here?
(11:18):
in Eastern medicine, therecan't be distress in one area
without distress in all areas.
So all those areas need to beaddressed for the person to heal.
I don't consider myself a healer.
Jesus was the great healer.
I'm blessed to have some tools to help.
Jon Shematek (11:41):
You can be a channel of that.
Julia (11:44):
if I keep myself clean and clear, I can be a useful instrument.
Jon Shematek (11:50):
And to what extent is there actual, maybe with each needle
puncture, how does it fit into this?
Julia (11:58):
That's a great question.
it's very important that I be clearon my intention with every needle
and with every treatment in general.
Let's say if I'm treating a certainpoint, my intention will be to clear
this point, to move this energy.
(12:19):
the entire treatment is based on,how I hope for, The energy to shift.
at the end of each treatment, if thepatient would like me to, I will lay
hands on their head, and pray for them,if they want me to say spoken prayer,
(12:39):
I'm happy to do that, and I'm happyto give blessing also if they want
that, whether they believe in prayeror not, We know that God believes in
them and loves them, I pray for everypatient and some will ask for a little
bit more, and I always love that, too.
Jon Shematek (13:02):
Thank you.
Lauren (13:03):
So the intention with each needle that you put in is for
the highest good of that person.
Julia (13:09):
Yes, whether spoken or not.
Our intention is so powerful.
If we could just take thatlittle moment before we speak to.
refine what our hope isfor that conversation.
What a difference we could make
Lauren (13:27):
that intention is a prayer.
Thinking of prayer broadlyinstead of just what we say.
Julia (13:34):
Oh, yeah.
Lauren (13:36):
What has surprised you most on your journey?
Julia (13:40):
what has surprised me most?
I feel like the whole journeyhas been such a surprise.
Being raised to be an artistand musician and to find myself
in love with the sciences.
And to be such an avid learner, andto be ordained a priest in Christ's
(14:03):
church, in some ways it feels like home.
Jon Shematek (14:08):
Julia, you're a priest, at the Cathedral of the incarnation
right now, and you have a, practice, inacupuncture, And you do some, meditation.
Julia (14:17):
I've practiced meditation for 50 years.
I've taught for 20.
Jon Shematek (14:22):
Julie, thank you very much for being here today and sharing
so much of your story with us.
Really inspirational.
You've overcome a lot, but you'vegot so many, gifts that you bring
to the church and to the world.
you're someone that peoplewould do well to emulate.
Julia (14:40):
Thank you.
Just to be able to sit with you andchat it's such a gift to be heard.
Thank you
Lauren (14:48):
Julia, before you go, we want to give you one more chance.
Would you like for our listeners to hear?
from everything that you've learned.
Julia (15:00):
Grow a garden.
what I'd love for people to, Consider,is that each person is marvelously made
unique with varied little odd bits andcapable in different ways all of that.
(15:24):
Is God's design and needed inthe world and in the church.
if you feel you're too unusualto be useful, or feel you
can't be your full self,
spend your lifetime figuring out how to.
(15:47):
Come to life more fully.
Who was it said the glory of God isthe human being come fully alive.
Gregory of Nyssa?
That's good advice to follow thatevery bit of you is On purpose
and beautiful and necessary
Lauren (16:07):
Thank you.
You are wonderful and thankyou for being with us today.
Jon and I also want to thank Allwho are watching and listening
for the gift of your time with us.
Until next time, peace and blessings.
Jon Shematek (16:22):
Bye-bye.
Dolores (16:23):
This episode of Good News has been brought to
you by Listening for Clues.
For more podcasts, check outour YouTube channel or our
website listening for clues.com
or just about any audio podcast platform.
Be sure to comment, like or share.
Thanks for being with us today.
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