The Designed Life

I'm joined once again by my friend and fellow astrologer, Jess Ellen, to tackle one of the most common questions we receive from students and clients:

Which house system should I use?

Together we explore the philosophy behind astrological house systems, how they developed, why different astrologers practice with different systems, and how both of us have expanded our own perspectives by working with charts through different lenses.

Rather than trying to convince you that one system is objectively better than another, we invite you into a more curious relationship with your own chart, and with astrology itself.

We also discuss how different house systems can reveal different layers of meaning, how astrology evolves alongside us throughout our lives, and why trusting your own lived experience is just as important as understanding astrological technique.

Whether you're brand new to astrology or have been studying for years, this episode will help you approach house systems with greater clarity, curiosity, and confidence.

This is Part 2 of Episode 57: Introduction to the Astrological Houses. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, we recommend starting there before diving into this conversation.

Connect with Jess via her:

• Website
• Instagram
• Threads
• Podcast

What happens when you've built a successful business, but realize the version of yourself that built it isn't quite the version that's meant to carry it into the next decade?

In this second business update, I'm sharing where I've landed after stepping back from much of my astrology content, loosening my creative structures, and spending the last several months living inside questions rather than rushing toward answers.

This episode explores the tension between discipline and freedom, expertise and curiosity, identity and evolution. I reflect on how we can hold onto what is true about ourselves while allowing the ways we express those truths to evolve over time.

I also share what I'm currently experimenting with in my own business, why I've intentionally slowed down before making any major changes, and how I'm learning to trust friction, uncertainty, and creative silence as necessary parts of the process.

Download your free Identity Evolution workbook here.

Leo is fixed fire: generous, life-giving, creative, and deeply connected to purpose. At its healthiest, it reminds us that true leadership isn't about being the loudest voice in the room or seeking recognition. It's about bringing warmth to others, acting from integrity, and having the courage to be seen as we truly are.

But this Leo season is about much more than personal confidence.

As Jupiter moves through Leo, the lunar nodes shift into the Leo–Aquarius axis, Mercury stations direct, and we begin entering eclipse territory, a new collective storyline starts to unfold around leadership, visibility, power, and our responsibility to one another. Questions around who we trust, how we contribute, and what kind of future we're helping create become increasingly difficult to ignore.

This season asks us to move beyond performative leadership and toward authentic participation. It reminds us that the antidote to fear isn't certainty—it's meaningful action. Whether that's caring for your local community, protecting what you love, expressing yourself more honestly, or taking one small step toward the future you want to live in, Leo reminds us that courage is built through practice.

Between the Aquarius Full Moon, the shifting eclipse axis, Jupiter's expansion through Leo, and a series of powerful outer-planet aspects, this season becomes a bridge between personal authenticity and collective responsibility. It's an invitation to ask not only Who am I becoming? but also How do I want to lead? and What am I here to contribute?

In this episode, we explore:

• Leo Season themes
• Jupiter in Leo and a new chapter of leadership
• Authenticity versus performance
• Mercury stationing direct
• The Aquarius Full Moon
• The lunar nodes entering Leo and Aquarius
• The beginning of a new eclipse storyline
• Leadership, power, and collective responsibility
• Creative expression and purposeful visibility
• Why small acts of courage are the antidote to fear
• Community, reciprocity, and shared liberation
• What Leo season is asking of us personally and collectively

Timestamps:

00:08:54 The Astrology of Leo Season:

00:10:51 Week 1 (July 22–25)

00:23:04 Week 2 (July 26–August 1)

00:23:50 Full Moon in Aquarius (6°)

00:39:00 Week 3 (August 2–8)

00:53:00 Week 4 (August 9–15)

00:58:30 Leo New Moon Eclipse

01:07:00 The Larger Collective Story: a New Era of Leadership

Mentioned:

• Introduction to the Astrological Houses article
• Unity Consciousness podcast episode

In this conversation that I'm so thrilled to have had, I'm joined by astrologer, writer, and educator Clarissa Dolphin for a wide-ranging exploration of astrology's role in understanding the collective moment we're living through.

We trace Clarissa's remarkable journey into astrology – from growing up immersed in spiritual practices and pop astrology to building a thriving practice rooted in research, harmonic astrology, and cultural observation – and expand into a much larger conversation about entrepreneurship, social media, technology, and the profound societal shifts unfolding around us.

We explore what it means to practice astrology in an era of rapid change. How do we talk honestly about difficult transits without slipping into fear? What responsibility do astrologers have when interpreting collective events? And how do we stay grounded, connected, and hopeful as we navigate a world that often feels increasingly uncertain?

This conversation is equal parts philosophical, practical, and deeply human. If you've been wondering how to orient yourself amidst the sweeping changes of our time, I think you'll find both comfort and inspiration here.

In this episode, we explore:

• Clarissa's lifelong relationship with astrology and the lineage that shaped her practice
• How harmonic astrology transformed her understanding of the birth chart
• Building an astrology business from the ground up and the realities of entrepreneurship
• Why social media isn't the business engine many of us were led to believe it is
• Uranus in Gemini and the future of technology, communication, and our relationship with social media
• What happens to our minds—and our nervous systems—when we're constantly online
• The fine line between honest forecasting and fear-based astrology
• The difference between natal astrology and mundane (collective) astrology
• The upcoming Mars-Uranus-Pluto configurations and why they mark the beginning of a much larger story
• Community, innovation, and collective action in times of disruption
• Clarissa's upcoming What the F** USA: The Astrology Behind the Madness* podcast series and why these conversations matter now

You can find Clarissa:

• On her website
• On her Instagram
• On Threads

Connect with me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrology Readings // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life Coaching // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website

Last summer, I stepped away from Instagram.

At the time, it felt like a necessary experiment, and an opportunity to understand who I was, how I created, and how I connected with people outside of a platform that had been part of my daily life for over a decade. What began as a response to creative exhaustion and ethical questions about social media quickly became a much deeper exploration of community, attention, identity, and the subtle ways these platforms shape our inner worlds.

This episode is a reflection on what I learned by stepping away, why I decided to come back, and how I'm approaching social media differently moving forward. It's a conversation about creativity, consumerism, belonging, self-expression, and the very human desire to be seen and understood.

Most of all, it's an invitation to consider your own relationship with social media and whether the ways you're showing up online are truly aligned with the life you're trying to build offline.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why I left Instagram for nearly a year
• The ethical questions that initially motivated my departure
• What happened to my community, business, and relationships while I was away
• Alternative spaces for connection and meaningful conversation
• The impact of visual stimulation on creativity and attention
• Social media, influence, and consumer culture
• The pressure to be visible online
• Creative expression versus content creation
• Why your business may not need social media as much as you think
• The desire to be seen, known, and understood
• Building a private inner life in a public world
• How I'm approaching social media moving forward
• How some parts of life become more meaningful when they're allowed to remain private.

Mentioned

• Social Life by Xanthe Appleyard
• Supernova by Chelsea Riffe
• The Apprenticeship with Gianna

Cancer season begins in the body.

After the movement, insights, and connection of Gemini season, Cancer invites us to slow down enough to feel what everything we've gathered actually means. This is a season of nourishment, intuition, emotional intelligence, and learning to trust the subtle language of the body. It's about recognizing what helps us feel safe, supported, and resourced—and building deeper relationships with those foundations.

But this Cancer season arrives during a particularly intense stretch of astrology.

As Mercury stations retrograde, Mars enters Gemini, Jupiter moves into Leo, and several major outer-planet alignments reshape the collective landscape, many of us may find ourselves navigating periods of uncertainty, disruption, mental overstimulation, and emotional tenderness. This season asks us to pay close attention to our needs, our reserves, and the practices that help us remain grounded when life feels unpredictable.

Between the Capricorn Full Moon, the Cancer New Moon, Mercury Retrograde, Mars conjunct Uranus, and Jupiter's entrance into Leo, this season becomes a lesson in both surrender and stewardship. It reminds us that resilience isn't built by pushing harder; it’s cultivated through care, replenishment, and a willingness to honor our humanity in the midst of change.

In this episode, we explore:

• Cancer Season themes
• The Summer Solstice as a midpoint of the year
• Listening to the wisdom of the body
• Mercury Retrograde in Cancer
• Mars entering Gemini
• The Capricorn Full Moon
• Jupiter entering Leo
• Mars conjunct Uranus
• Chiron in Taurus and resource-based healing
• Venus in Virgo
• The Cancer New Moon
• Emotional resilience, nourishment, and self-trust
• Major outer planet alignments shaping the second half of 2026

00:00:20 Cancer Season 2026 Overview

00:04:12 What Cancer Energy Teaches Us

00:11:06 Week 1 (June 21–27)

00:17:09 Week 2 (June 28–July 4)

00:23:47 Full Moon in Capricorn

00:31:54 Jupiter Enters Leo

00:38:14 Mars Conjunct Uranus

00:44:19 Week 3 (July 5–11)

00:57:49 Venus Trine Chiron

01:01:15 Week 4 (July 12- 18)

01:03:10 New Moon in Cancer

01:07:05 Major Outer Planet Alignments & The Bigger Collective Story

What happens when yoga becomes less about pushing harder and more about learning to rest? In this conversation, I sit down with yoga teacher, author, endurance coach, and educator Sage Rountree to explore the deeper purpose of yoga beyond the poses.

Together we discuss recovery as a radical practice, the underrated value of comfort, teaching as an act of service, entrepreneurial intuition, and how yoga philosophy can guide us toward greater freedom in everyday life. Sage shares stories from her own path – from academia to endurance sports to owning and eventually releasing a yoga studio – and offers practical wisdom from her new book, Yoga Off the Mat, on bringing ancient teachings into modern life.

Find Sage on:

• Her website
• Her Instagram
• Her podcast
• Her books

Mentioned:

• Giana Cerasia
• Chelsey Riffe

In this semi-impromptu and transparent episode, I reflect on a season of transformation that's unfolding in my creative life, relationship to astrology, business, identity, and upcoming marriage.

Speaking not as a coach or astrologer but simply as a human in transition, I explore what it means to outgrow the systems, labels, and structures that once offered me safety and direction.

Through reflections on creativity, personal branding, commitment, trust, and the uncertainty of becoming, this episode becomes a meditation on identity dissolution and reinvention.

This is my very honest exploration of what happens when the containers that once defined you no longer fit — and how to navigate the messy, sacred space before clarity arrives.

While this is my declaration that this podcast and my other creative spaces are in the midst of change, I am committed to continue to showing up here as I process this change in my identity and creative work.

Themes explored:

• Identity dissolution & reinvention
• Creativity beyond systems
• Marriage as threshold ritual
• Expansion requiring more space before reconfiguration
• Rejection of personal branding culture
• The sacredness and fear of not knowing

Mentioned:

• Creative Living
• Lois Mac
• Ximena

Gemini season begins in the mind.

After the grounding and embodiment of Taurus, this is where things begin to move again — ideas multiply, conversations quicken, curiosity returns. Gemini is mutable air: curious, connective, restless, and alive with possibility. It gathers information, follows threads, asks questions, and searches for meaning through movement, dialogue, and exchange.

But this Gemini season is going to feel different.

For the first time in over 80 years, Uranus is in Gemini, initiating an entirely new collective era around communication, technology, learning, identity, and the way we relate to information itself. The weeks surrounding this shift feel electric, mentally stimulating, and full of unexpected insights, conversations, and turning points that will continue unfolding over the next eight years.

This season asks us to rethink what consistency means, to follow curiosity instead of certainty, and to explore the versions of ourselves emerging through change. Alongside the mental expansion, there’s also a deep emphasis on the body and emotional intelligence as Mercury moves into Cancer and Venus-Jupiter offer some of the most nourishing astrology of the year.

Between the Sagittarius Full Moon, the Gemini New Moon, and a series of major outer planet transits, this season becomes a bridge between old ways of thinking and entirely new possibilities — inviting us to imagine different futures, new forms of leadership, and more value-led ways of living, creating, and connecting.

In this episode, we explore:

• Gemini Season themes
• Uranus in Gemini beginning an 8 year era
• Emotional intelligence with Mercury in Cancer
• Leadership & Collective Responsibility
• Sagittarius Full Moon
• Venus Conjunct Jupiter
• Chiron in Taurus

YOU’RE INVITED to SPACIOUS: *Empty Houses & How to Work With Them*In this workshop we'll explore what your empty houses mean for you personally – the areas of life they represent, why these areas of life show up in a certain style, and how you can simply and practically integrate these parts of yourself.

Time Stamps:

00:09:49 Week 1 (May 20-23)

00:16:49 Week 2 (May 24-30)

00:30:25 Full Moon in Sagittarius 9º

00:39:32 Week 3 (May 31-June 6)

00:47:57 Week 4 (June 7-June 13)

00:58:42 New Moon in Gemini 24º

01:03:43 Week 5 (June 14-June 20)

Mentioned:

• Orienting to Summer workshop waitlist

Connect with me:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrology Readings // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life Coaching // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website

The houses are one of the most essential parts of astrology, but they're also often one of the most confusing.

In this Astrology 101 episode, I break down the 12 houses in simple, accessible language so you can better understand what you’re actually looking at when you pull up your chart. We explore the houses as the “where” of astrology: the different areas of life where your experiences, relationships, desires, fears, work, creativity, and growth unfold.

I walk through each house one by one – from the body and self of the 1st house all the way through to the subconscious and hidden life of the 12th – while also explaining how signs, planetary rulers, and even empty houses shape your relationship to these different parts of your life.

This episode is an invitation to begin building a real relationship with your chart: not just memorizing meanings, but understanding how your life is patterned, connected, and expressed through the architecture of the houses.

YOU’RE INVITED toSPACIOUS: *Empty Houses & How to Work With Them

In this workshop we'll explore what your empty houses mean for you personally – the areas of life they represent, why these areas of life show up in a certain style, and how you can simply and practically integrate these parts of yourself.

Mentioned:

• Jess Ellen astrology
• House Division Calculations in Astrology Explained - TAP
• How to Synthesize Your Big 3
• Kira Sutherland
• Kira Ryberg
• The astrological houses image