Mischief managed

what comes after a project is born

Samhain offerings + tarot pulls. What a way to call in this season.

What a month, y’all. I often joke, working in the gender space, that March is Feminist Christmas with all of the International Women’s Month content, events and speaking opportunities (many of which still go unpaid, ahem).

But now that I am weaving my baby witch-ness into my work life, October has that same feel - only as Witch Christmas or, more technically and correctly, the observance of Samhain and its associated rituals. This month has brought a plethora of goodness, from a spooky szn Girl Hike collab with Anna Willatt of Esoteric Isle, to pulling tarot at the SheSays Night School Graduation, to meeting new folks and deepening my tarot practice with the one and only Cult Mother as part of the inaugural Samhain Society down here in Margate. Not to mention the general Halloween antics that a transplanted American must get up to in the UK: immortalising Gloria in the form of a pumpkin; ensuring that I have enough candy for trick or treaters and watching The Nightmare Before Christmas as my annual Halloween ritual.

Not an #ad, just the best fun size and everyone knows it.

And in and amongst all of this witchy goodness, I launched a lil offering of my own: The Coven in the Corner Office, podcast edition.

You Are the Magic

This eclipse season baby was conceived back in March of this year, when I felt a yearning to make something all my own. Something that wasn’t briefed by a client, or reliant on a creative team, or in support of someone else’s magic.

Please don’t get me wrong - all of those types of projects are excellent and really do light me up. But in a year of reckoning with my own creativity and my willingness to actually call myself a creative, it became increasingly urgent that I…create something from scratch.

With Saturn and Neptune moving in and out of Pisces and Aries, my 9th and 10th houses of publishing/creativity and career/public role, I started to sense that the urge was bigger than me. That it was reflective of larger shifts in the sky that were bringing me the discipline (Saturn) and delulu-ness (Neptune) needed to launch something of this ilk into the world.

Because I knew, and continue to know, that The Coven in the Corner Office wouldn’t be for everyone. That I was taking a (potentially) big risk in outing myself as a baby witch in this way, and in focussing my creative output in a world where women and witches have been persecuted for generations (and are still to this day).

But as I say to so many of the folks that I coach, whether formally or informally, there are things that you do in the world that will be for some people, and not for others. And that is A-OK. In fact, that is the gift: to follow your creative instincts towards something that matters to you, audience be damned. The “audience” — the people who connect with your offering — will be there on the other side. I have to remain hopeful that that continues to be the case.

The Coven in the Corner Office hasn’t been for everyone. I can get hung up on metrics and numbers and tell myself that Season 1 is destined to be just that - one season and done.

But The Coven in the Corner Office has really been for some. The people who have messaged me on various platforms, sent me voice notes, commented on posts — people who I haven’t seen in years, who have re-emerged in my life because of this work — these are the people who this podcast and newsletter are for. You are the person who this podcast and newsletter are for. If this has resonated with you, you are welcome here.

The other person that this podcast and newsletter are for is of course, me. To take that bet on myself; to find the collaborators who are aligned at a cellular level (shout out to Joli, Claire, amelia hruby, phd, Naomi, Clemmie, Omar, Lisa and Rachel); to be willing to pour my resources, emotions, mental prowess and creative firepower (Minor Arcana style) into making this thing a thing.

It was also an opportunity to learn about a new medium for me, and explore how it felt in my body as I embarked on this creative journey. And let me tell you: I REALLY LOVE PODCASTING. In each conversation, I felt my body relax, my nervous system come back down to earth and my confidence grow. I was reminded of why I trained as an Integral Development coach, why I learned to read tarot and why I love being in conversation with others. Because I learn as much about myself in the practice of listening to them. Because it fosters depth of connection that I can’t get through social media platforms or even big group dinners (which are fun and have their place!) Because the wisdom that Clemmie, Omar, Lisa and Rachel imparted is necessary for this time of toil and trouble we are in.

Across all four episodes, these guests reminded us of the power of intuition, of mystery, of trusting oneself. Of leaving behind systems and expectations (algorithmic tyranny, capitalist grind, compulsory alcohol intake, climbing the corporate ladder) in favour of something a little wilder and imaginative. They helped us all see the power in reclaiming the parts of ourselves that crave nature, connection, humanity, possibility. They helped me get outdoors on rainy days, deepen my witchcraft practice and believe in myself. I’m so endlessly grateful to the four of them for sharing their wisdom with us in this way.

And ultimately, at the end of the day, I’m proud of myself.

It takes a lot for me to say that. To look at myself in the mirror and tell myself that I am proud of myself, that I believe in myself, that I know that I am enough. Perhaps you feel this way sometimes too. The culture we live in wants us to compare and despair, to constantly worry that we aren’t enough and to keep striving for more, more, more. But in trusting my instincts, collaborating with my favourite people and refusing to take no for an answer, I put something out in the world that feels unmistakably me. And that’s what I want more of, more than anything.

I’m curious when you’ve taken a bet on yourself this year. In a year of unprecedented disruption, when did you gather up your pentacles, cups, swords and wands into your bag, throw it over your shoulder and set off, Fool-style, into the wilderness? Take a moment right here, right now to celebrate that.

When have you been The Fool this year?

---

If I’ve learned anything over the last six months of making this project, and the last month of releasing it into the world, it’s that there are people out there who need to hear this. Who are looking for guidance on how to bring their witchy side into their work; who want to connect with their intuition more deeply; who are curious about the intersection of creativity and spiritual practice.

If you’re here for these reasons: thank you. And if you know someone for whom you think this would resonate, consider sharing this newsletter with them as an offering.

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to start experimenting with other ways to explore the idea of putting the “woo” in work. I’d love to know what resonates with you, and what kind of offerings or moments you’d like to read, listen to or even take part in.

Maybe what you’d like to see isn’t listed here, so drop in the comments and let me know. I want to hear from you! 🫶

Thanks for being on this ride with me. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to be living in a time where I can freely talk about and explore the intersection of witchcraft and work, and how grateful I am to do it with you.

The Star: hope, generosity, wonder. Check, check, check.