The Designed Life

Today I’m sharing an intimate, embodied conversation I had with somatic life coach Kayleigh Martin about connection, integration, and staying human in polarized times.

What begins as a reflection on instant relational depth expands into a rich dialogue on somatics, trauma, lineage, power, and the radical act of weaving – rather than rejecting – the fragmented parts of ourselves.

Kayleigh and I examine how unintegrated trauma lives in bodies and systems, and how returning to the body becomes a pathway for both personal and social transformation. Themes of burnout under capitalism, entrepreneurship as a somatic initiation, nervous system wisdom, and collective grief are held alongside reflections on disagreement, capacity, and mobilization – without collapsing into shutdown or disconnection.

At its core, this conversation explores duality and wholeness: holding despair and delight at once, honoring the body’s intelligence, reclaiming “no” as an expansive and protective force, and reframing joy as a radical form of resourcing. Together, these threads point toward more integrated, compassionate ways of being – rooted in the body, widened in capacity, and alive to the full spectrum of human experience.

Connect with Kayleigh:

• On instagram here
• On threads here
• On her podcast here
• Via Haven
• Our episode on her podcast

Mentioned:

• Creative Living
• Social Change Ecosystem map by Deepa Iyer
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Connect with me:

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

What creates safety?Safety is defined as: the condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury.

But what are the components that actually create a sense of safety in a person’s life? And how do we continue to create it in the midst of world that is constantly changing, and feeling less safe and secure.

In this episode I discuss 5 main components that add to a experience of safety - physical, emotional, mental, relational -

• Being allowed to be vulnerable
• Consistent access to essential resources
• Resiliency from conflict
• Trust produced by proof of action
• Being able to ask for and receive support

Suggestion for how to work with this episode:

Choose just one of the five components listed above.

Examine – how do you experience this component of safety in your life? How do you generate it within yourself, and how are you contributing to more of this component in your relationships and communities?

What would it look like to live in a world where safety wasn’t a privilege, but a right?

Mentioned:

Prentis Hemphill, What is Takes to Heal

Connect with me:

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

February is a powerful month – perhaps THE MOST powerful month of the year, and part of that power comes from the lunations.

This month activates the Leo–Aquarius axis, spotlighting the tension and dialogue between individual identity, leadership, and self-expression (Leo) and collective responsibility, systems, and humanitarian vision (Aquarius).

We open the month on February 1 with a Full Moon in Leo at 13º. This Full Moon is asking:

• How are your talents, creativity, leadership, and identity being used in service of the collective?

• Where can access be widened, structures reimagined, or generosity increased so more people can benefit?

• How do you remain fully valued without hoarding power or visibility?

The we step into eclipse season with the February 17 New Moon Solar Eclipse in Aquarius at 28º – the first of a series of eclipses in Aquarius that will continue through 2028. This eclipse may coincide with:

• The dismantling of identities, passions, or roles you once deeply identified with

• A sense of loss, instability, or aggressive clearing

• Simultaneously, the seeding of a new way of operating as an individual in service of the collective

This is the month we find ourselves fully stepping in a new era – let's go!

Connect with me:

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

Welcome Aquarius season!

Aquarius season of 2026 is framed as one of the most intense energetic hotspots of the year, marked by collective upheaval, systemic change, and powerful moments of unity and care. This is a season where disruption and innovation coexist—where old ways of thinking fracture while new ideas, identities, and collective visions begin to crystallize.

At its core, this season initiates a decisive shift into a new era.

Themes of the weeks

• Week 1 (1.19-1.24) – a whole new world of communication, ideas, and thinking
• Week 2 (1.25-1.31) – action towards future evolution
• Week 3 (2.1-2.7) – a spotlight on our evolving identity
• Week 4 (2.8-2.14) – lean in to the moments you have the inspiration and make them pleasurable
• Week 5 (2.15-2.18) – the new era begins

Tune in to hear more about how each of these weeks will unfold, and the energy you can tap into to help direct your own creative cycles.

Key Dates:

• 1.19 Sun enters Aquarius, Venus conjoins Pluto
• 1.20 Mercury enters Aquarius (through Feb 6)
• 1.21 Mercury cazimi
• 1.22 Mercury conjunct Pluto
• 1.23 Mars enters Aquarius (through March 2), Sun conjunct Pluto
• 1.26 Neptune enters Aries, first time since 1862
• 1.27 Mars conjunct Pluto
• 1.29 Mercury conjunct Venus
• 2.1 Full Moon Leo 13º
• 2.3 Uranus stations direct in Taurus
• 2.6 Mercury enters Pisces (through April 14th)
• 2.10 Venus enters Pisces (through March 6)
• 2.11 Mercury enters pre-Rx shadow
• 2.13 Saturn enters Aries
• 2.16 Sun square Uranus, Mercury trine Jupiter Rx
• 2.17 New Moon Eclipse in Aquarius 28º, Venus conjunct N Node
• 2.18 Sun enters Pisces

Mentioned:

• Key astrology dates of 2026
• Year ahead astrology with Intuitively Wild
• Eps 032: Your Role in Cultivating Freedom

Connect with me:

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

This week I chat with the content queen herself Xanthe Appleyard! Our conversation explores what it means to lead, create, and build sustainably – from a foundation of pleasure and self-trust. Xanthe shares the organic evolution of her “leisure ethic” – a values-based framework rooted in autonomy, integration, and choice.

Although I wanted to explore all of Xanthe’s 12 principles, in 60 minutes we could only talk through only a handful. That said, this robust conversation offers so many reflections on auditing work for alignment, redefining pleasure in personal language, navigating hard conversations, and embracing conflict as intimacy, and how sustainable success emerges from integration rather than sacrifice.

Grounded in Xanthe’s real-life transitions, she offers so much insight on a human-centered blueprint for building a life and business that honors the whole self.

Connect with Xanthe:

• On instagram here
• On tiktok here
• On her podcast here
• Via Social Life

Also Mentioned:

• Samantha MacKinnon
• Chelsea Riffe

Connect with me:

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

In this new style of episode I'm sharing an overarching view of the astrological energetics of Q1 so that you can approach the first three months of the year with an broad sense of how the energy will flow.

For each month I also share a creative practice, somatic practice, and meditation or reflection suggestion to support you in the month ahead – all are listed below for easy reference.

My hope is that you utilize this episode to help you plan your quarters - in business, in family life, in your adventures, and everywhere!

January Practices:

Creative & Reflective:

• Milton Glaser 10 year vision
• Follow your inspiration but create flexibility around your ideas

Somatic:

• Emphasize body care and remembering that you have a body to care for even though you have dreams you want to build

February Practices:

Creative & Reflective:

• Get experimental! If you always do things digitally, start with creating on paper. if you always write in a certain area of your home, try writing at a coffee shop. Try doing things in entirely different ways that usual and break out of your usual.
• Bring a notebook with you for all the ideas that are going to come through!

Somatic:

• Channel your breath work practices such as box breathing, or this one-minute breath practice from me.

Reflections:

• Observe yourself, where you feel pulled, and what you feel called to change and create.

March Practices:

Creative & Somatic:

• Water color or work with water and ink. Speak intentions into your water. Shower with the intention of clearing and cleansing more than just your body. Work with water in some capacity.

Mediation:

• Visualize a wave of grade washing over the body with every breath

Connect with me:

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

*Time stamps are available below so you can jump ahead to your sign.*

2026 is a pivotal year that piggy backs on so much of the change that was seeded in 2025.

For all of us we’re going to be experiencing a ramping up in our communication, a willful desire to be wholly our weird, wild, rebellious, and contrarian selves, and ultimately we’ll be ending the year having shed many protective layers to our identity and expression – allowing ourselves to be more fully seen.

This is a year that will require courage from all of us, but we’ll be up for the challenge – we’re ready.

Wishing you an expansive 2026 friend!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:03:50 Aries Rising

00:23:00 Taurus Rising

00:42:28 Gemini Rising

01:04:38 Cancer Rising

01:25:56 Leo Rising

01:47:00 Virgo Rising

02:10:20 Libra Rising

02:33:05 Scorpio Rising

02:57:58 Sagittarius Rising

03:21:10 Capricorn Rising

03:44:35 Aquarius Rising

04:08:48 Pisces Rising

04:31:46 Wrap Up

Book an astrology reading with me

Read about all the major dates of 2026

Connect with me:

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

January offers us a chance to balance our relationships to our bodies and felt experience with our work and our desire to turn ideas into reality.

The Full Moon in Cancer 13º on January 3rd is very concerned with our relationship to our felt experience. There’s an opportunities to look back on the last 6 months and year to assess how our relationships to our bodies, nourishment, and collective care have shifted and evolved.

The New Moon in Capricorn 28º on January 18º is a unique one in that Mars and Mercury are conjoined in the sky at the same time. This is a poignant moment that offers us a great deal of clarity of direction as well as our sense of purpose. Just be sure not to overdo your intentions – remember that your body and self-care are just as necessary and important as the dreams you’re striving towards.

Reminder that select astrology readings with me are $99 through the end of the year – ⁠⁠book yours here!

Mentioned:

• 2026 Key Astrological Dates Substack

Connect with me:

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

Welcome Winter and Capricorn season!

This season is here to help us get deliberate and purposeful with our energy, our ambitions, and what how we plan to work with 2026.

We wrap up the end of the year and we start the year with a sense of the familiar. There’s a pull towards the past – past ways of operating, building, old dreams and ambitions. There’s a feeling that what worked before must work again – but deep down we know that’s not true.

This season helps us to tie up the final chapters of the books we’ve been writing the past few years (if not decades), and prepares us for the radical changes that 2026 has in store.

Themes of the weeks

• Week 1 (12.21-12.27) – stillness and tending to what motivates our creative visions for the long haul
• Week 2 (12.28-1.3) – following up our creativity with conversations, tender activations, and big ideas for the future
• Week 3 (1.4-1.10) – running hot and cold
• Week 4 (1.11-1.17) – tough love and hard work paying off
• Week 5 (1.18-1.19) – breaking up the hard earth

Tune in to hear more about how each of these weeks will unfold, and the energy you can tap into to help direct your own creative cycles.

Reminder that select astrology readings with me are $99 through the end of the year – ⁠book yours here!

Key Dates:

• 12.21 Sun enters Capricorn, Venus square Saturn, Jupiter Rx square Chiron Rx
• 12.24 Venus enters Capricorn (through Jan 17, 2026)
• 1.1 Mercury enters Capricorn (through Jan 20)
• 1.3 Full Moon Cancer 13º
• 1.6 Venus conjunct Sun
• 1.7 Venus conjunct Mars
• 1.9 Sun conjunct Mars, Venus opposes Jupiter Rx
• 1.10 Sun & Mars oppose Jupiter Rx
• 1.17 Venus enters Aquarius (through Feb 10), Sun trines Uranus Rx
• 1.18 Mercury conjunct Mars, New Moon Capricorn 28º
• Sun enters Aquarius

Mentioned:

• How to work with every moon substack
• Know your moon know your comfort zone substack

Connect with me:

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

Brand strategist and wonderfully inspiring Ylani Estwick joins me today for a conversation about building from an intuitive and heart-center vision, and cultivating motivation by leaning in to your purpose.

Ylani shares her journey of transitioning from a decade-long copywriting career into a more intuitive, purpose-led business rooted in authenticity and inner alignment. She discusses how personal identity, curiosity, and the courage to change one’s mind deeply shape the entrepreneurial path.

Together, we explore what it means to build a brand that is a living expression of one’s essence, and how to navigate the fog of stuck-ness with clarity, momentum, and audacious self-trust.

Connect with Ylani via her:

90 min Anchor Sessions

Website // Instagram // Substack // Threads

Connect with me:

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