The Designed Life with Hollis M. M.

It's officially eclipse season friends!This last eclipse series of 2025 harkens us back to Spring of 2025 and Fall of 2024 – there's a theme of growth and unravelling in a part of your life and it's getting a boost of stimulation this coming month.The Pisces eclipse at the North Node on September 7th ushers in a new layer of connectivity, openness to possibility, and dissolving of boundaries that have kept us from the unification we're naturally born to desire. This moment might have you feel like you're spiraling a bit, but you can trust that after the dizzy spell dies down, you'll be on the path you need to now walk.This eclipse connects back to the eclipse in Pisces on Sept 18, 2024 and will connect to the eclipse on Aug 28, 2026.The Virgo eclipse at the South Node on September 21st as for us to continue a similar theme – of consciously (or unconsciously) shaking up the systems and structures and compartmentalized parts of our lives that have been holding us back from deeper connection, unification, understanding and fairness. This will likely be represented in the collective, but also within yourself. What defense mechanisms supported you and created safety for you in the past, but are no longer helping your energy now?This eclipse story connects back to the eclipse in Virgo on March 14, 2025, and will connect to the upcoming eclipses in Virgo on March 3, 2026 and Feb 20, 2027.Mentioned:⁠⁠Constellations⁠⁠ with ⁠⁠Jess Ellen Astrology⁠⁠How to work with the current big planetary shiftsConnect with me:⁠⁠ASTROLOGY READINGS⁠⁠⁠⁠LIFE COACHING⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PINTEREST⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THREADS⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠

Welcome Virgo Season/ eclipse season!This month I have a very special cohost and fellow astrologer, life coach, yoga teacher, Jess, with me to explore and translate the very full energy of Virgo season - because everything is better with friends!This new season begins officially on August 22nd, but the Virgo New Moon on August 23rd fully initiates us into the tone shift. From there we have multiple planets changing signs, Uranus stationing retrograde, and (perhaps the most important of all) two eclipses!What does this all mean?This month is a turbulent, friends. Everything is going to be getting shaken up. But if I had to sum it up into a few main themes I mention – unboundaried compassion, experimentation and play in relationship, undoing patterns and wounds of perfectionism, affirming ways to embody heart-centered energy, and major beginnings and endings. Everything is on deck.Don't want to navigate Virgo season alone? Join Constellations for a communal exploration of every single transit – so you can land with the energy as it's unfolding in the sky, and in your life (relationships, work, family, resources, etc) and now how to work with it in real time.The more resourced and supported you are for the rollercoaster energy of this month, the more you'll step out of Virgo season with hair do in tact, sunglasses still on, and a bounce in your step even after the wild ride.Mentioned:⁠Constellations⁠ with ⁠Jess Ellen Astrology⁠Key dates:08.22 Sun enters Virgo 08.23 New Moon - Virgo 0°08.25 Venus enters Leo (through 9.20)08.27 Venus in Leo opposes Pluto Rx in Aquarius09.01 Saturn Rx re-enters Pisces (through 2.13.26)09.02 Mercury enters Virgo (through 9.18)09.06 Uranus stations Rx (through 02.04.26)09.07 Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Total - Pisces 15°09.13 Sun conjunct Mercury in Virgo09.17 Mercury in Virgo opposes Saturn Rx in Pisces09.18 Mercury enters Libra (through 10.6)09.19 Venus enters Virgo (through 10.14)09.21 New Moon Solar Eclipse Partial - Virgo 28° opposition Saturn Rx in Pisces09.22 Monday Sun enters Libra

It’s been 5 weeks since I’ve been on IG, and here’s what I’ve learned:My brain craves stimulation and will reach for it every opportunity it gets. Not every thought that becomes conscious in my mind is mine to own (or share). Habits require conscious interruptions if they’re ever going to change. Third spaces are our keys to creating social resilience. We have to spend time with people that we didn’t choose to necessarily be with if we’re ever going to save society.In this episode I chat through all the ways I’m witnessing my brain change in real time as I spend more and more time away from this platform. And how in the “de-conditioning”, I’m discovering all the value I’ve been craving – via other outlets of connection, and self-expression.At the end of this episode I leave you with the question:What are you unconsciously choosing (that’s actually not in alignment for you) and that has you too scared to go against the grain?Mentioned:Leaving IG Substack pt. 1Leaving IG Substack pt. 2Constellations SeptemberConstellations August (free)My chat with Jess on her podcast about making choices aligned with your valuesConnect with me:⁠ASTROLOGY READINGS⁠⁠LIFE COACHING⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠PINTEREST⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠THREADS⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠

Now that I'm officially off of IG for the foreseeable future, I'm bringing some of my personal like updates to the pod!After a month of hosting friends and family, throwing big gatherings at the house, and generally being way more social that usual, I'm digesting everything that's been shifting in my day to day life, my sense of identity, and my understanding of my roles in community online and IRL. I chat the energetic influence of Uranus in Gemini, the Saturn-Neptune conjunct in Aries, and Pluto in Aquarius and how these major planetary placements are impacting me, my clients, and also you – and most importantly how we can work with them so they don't work us.Comment and let me know if you've also been feeling the big shifts in your own life, and be sure to check out Constellations for astro support through August and beyond.Mentioned:Uranus in Gemini substack articleUncategory by Xanthe Appleyard & Lois MacSocial Change Ecosystem MapConstellationsFreedom epsConnect with me on:ASTROLOGY READINGSLIFE COACHINGSUBSTACK⁠PINTEREST⁠ ⁠THREADS⁠ ⁠WEBSITE

I have the pleasure of hosting the incredible Kaitlyn Kessler!Being in Kaitlyn’s orbit has been so inspiring simply because she exudes this level of alignment in all of her work and communication. It's alignment that’s not just beautiful, but it's also subtly ultra bold and very brave.  We recorded this episode a few months ago before she made the massive move to Spain from Charlotte, SC. It’s so fun to listen back and hear her declarations of what she was anticipating her life to look like once she landed in Europe, and to now be witnessing all of that unfolding for her in real time. We talk a lot in this episode about the power of telling your own story, and we go back and forth between the benefits of being seen in public and also how scary it is to put yourself out there, and  be seen.  You can find Kaitlyn on her:WebsiteInstagramSubstackSpacious PodcastWanting in Public PodcastThanks for tuning in!

This month we're invited to explore the intersection of leadership, community, and responsibility. With Mercury still retrograde in Leo and Saturn in Aries influencing the Full Moon in Aquarius, the first half of the month invites you to examine your long-term plans, structural power dynamics, and your role as a leader, particularly within community contexts.This Full Moon wants to ask you: How do we balance personal authority with collective responsibility?The New Moon in Virgo continues this theme by offering a potent time to reflect on how you communicate, express your ideas, and lead with integrity.Virgo’s earthy practicality supports grounding these ideas into real, tangible practices — but with Uranus squaring the lunation, you’re also invited to be bold and visionary, shake up stale narratives, and ditch perfectionism in favor of purpose-driven presence.Key Dates:08.09 Full Moon in Aquarius08.23 New Moon in Virgo

Welcome Leo Season!Officially beginning July 22nd, this month includes a Mercury RX, along with several planet ingresses (sign changes) – many of which activate the Saturn–Neptune conjunction in Aries.What does this all mean?We’re going be reviewing a lot of the ways in which we do things, the ways in which we show up and demonstrate leadership, how we express ourselves and find harmony in our relationships, and what we want to uphold in our ever evolving identities.And, if that doesn’t sound like enough fun, there’s also going to be even more erosion of systems and structures that used to make sense, but are in the process of being released for new things to be built.Mentioned:Astrology readings with meConstellations with Jess Ellen AstrologyKey dates:07.22 Sun enters Leo07.23 Sun sextiles Uranus07.24 New Moon - Leo 2° trine Saturn RX & Neptune RX and opposing Pluto07.31 Mercury RX conjunct the Sun in Leo & Venus enters Cancer (through aug 25)08.01 Venus squares Saturn RX & Neptune RX08.06 Mars enters Libra (through sept 22)08.08 Mars trine Uranus08.09 - 08.10 Full Moon - Aquarius 16° & Mars opposes Saturn RX & Neptune RX trine Pluto08.11 Mercury stations direct 4° Leo opposing Pluto and trine Saturn rx and Neptune rx08.12 Venus conjunct Jupiter in Cancer 14º08.14 & 8.18 Mercury sextile Mars08.22 Sun enters Virgo

Today I'm joined by fellow designer, creative, artist, and curiosity-follower Kristina Bleiler of Gem Creative Co. Kristina has been such an inspiration – since the moment I started following her I knew she brought a special playfulness, depth, and inquiry to the creative work she does.In our conversation we talk about the power of community - online and in person, her experience of growing up in the church, and how moving away from that foundation, and into a life emboldened by her own curiosity, guided her to be an entrepreneur and leader with integrity and openness.Kristina was such a joy to chat with, and I hope you get as many gold nuggets out of this episode as I did!You can find Kristina via:WebsiteInstagramSubstackThreads

This week's episode is inspired, not just by the day this episode drops (July 4th) but also the conversations I've been having lately in my communities and with myself.Questions like:What makes you feel free?How are you restricting your own freedom?What inner division, insecurity, doubt, or violence are you waging against yourself that is keeping your from your own liberation?In this episode I explore the ways in which we can not only find freedom within ourselves, but also how we can use our freedoms and privileges to support others in being able to access their own.Freedom is not something that is given to us – we have to protect it.Mentioned:On Being w. Krista Tippet: Hope Portal w. Ocean VuongConnect with me on:PINTEREST THREADS CONSTELLATIONSWEBSITE

In this midyear episode the lunations ask us to assess our long-term visions, and definitions of embodied leadership.The polarity of Cancer and Capricorn is highlighted during the Capricorn Full Moon, and we're invited to examine how practical ambition and inner nourishment must work together. It's also a great moment to reflect on what you’ve built so far this year, what you’re still devoted to, and how your body can serve as a compass for what truly matters. The Leo New Moon forms a tense opposition with Pluto in Aquarius, triggering deep questions about power, leadership, and identity. Reflect on themes from early November, January, and April to determine the emotional echoes or power dynamics that might be resurfacing around this time.Key Dates:07.10 Full Moon in Capricorn07.24 New Moon in Leo

Welcome to the very first installment of the Solar Series!This new series within the podcast is a compliment to the Lunar Series. Rather than just speaking to just one planetary/luminary movement in the sky as I do in the Lunar Series, you can find a full exploration of all the major planetary transits within the next solar season in every Solar Series episode. For this first installment, we're diving into Cancer season. These next 4 weeks will be dominated by the feeling, nurturing, safety-seeking energy of Cancer, with a few key moments from Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus that will strongly impact your energetic flow.Tune in to learn more about what to expect and how to navigate the pivotal energy ahead!Key dates:06.20 Summer Solstice/ Sun enters Cancer06.24 Sun conjunct Jupiter06.25 New Moon - Cancer 4°06.26 Mercury enters Leo through 09.0206.29 Mercury opposition Pluto07.04 Venus conjunct Uranus07.04 Venus enters Gemini through 07.3107.07 Uranus enters Gemini through 11.0807.10 Full Moon - Capricorn 18°07.13 Saturn RX through 11.2807.18 Mercury RX through 08.1107.22 Sun enters Leo

I loved this recording with Kristine from @wellwithkristine!! As a somatic coach and all around wonderful human, Kristine and I get into the nuances of the world of somatics – how her origins in the corporate world drove her directly into burnout and from that place of complete physical disassociation she found herself redirected into the magic of somatic therapy.In this episode we chat what it’s like to not live from the neck up, the power of healing in community, the magic of being Cancer suns (and having the same birthday I might add!), Kristine’s ambitions for making somatic therapy more accessible, and the bravery required for the business.I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I enjoyed chatting with Kristine!You can find Kristine at her following channels:InstagramWebsite

“Your growth isn’t linear” - is a phrase we’ve heard a million times, right? But what does it actually look like in a real experience? In this week’s episode I share a through line of cyclical growth via my own experience with yoga – of finding the practice, becoming a student, becoming a teacher, opening and running my own studio, closing that studio during the pandemic, up to today where I find myself having returned to being a student.I discuss what propelled each iteration, and also how even though it may look like I’ve lost what I grew, and maybe I’ve stepped backwards to where I’ve started, I’m still several layers progressed from where I began.This personal share is an invitation for you to get curious about your own spiral of growth, where you are on that path, where you’ve come from, and where you’re journeying towards.Mentioned in this episode:Identity Evolution workbookDefine your history to know where you’re going practice

This is the turning point of the year friends!!! After so many retrogrades, major planetary sign changes, eclipses, and general cosmic chaos – this is the point where the skies finally gift us some reprieve. This month is packed with abundant, generous, expansion, freedom-inducing Jupiter energy, and I'm so excited about all of it for all of us.The Full Moon in Sagittarius on June 11th is a peak moment of growth, stretching, and joy. You can ask yourself:What is my deeper “why”?Where have I been called to expand my perspective or release outdated beliefs?What wisdom am I gaining from my body?Then the best New Moon of the year, in Cancer, marks a key date for setting THE intentions that we want to see nurtured, fortified, and fed. You can ask yourself:What do I want to start again in terms of my emotional body?What parts of my inner home need refreshing or nurturing?What do I really want—what lights me up from the inside?I also go into reflection questions for each rising sign because this is SUCH a good New Moon, and I desperately want you to work with it. Wishing you all the most abundant June!Mentioned: Ep 012 Creating HomeMoon Sign SubstackTime stamps:6:17 Sagittarius Full Moon18:43 Cancer New Moon

My new friend, Rachel Levine, and I sit down for a rich conversation that is essentially all about how to listen, follow, and live devoted to your intuition. Rachel is a new connection, but she's quickly becoming a friend because her kindness, sincerity, and pure heart are palpable in all of our interactions. In this episode we discuss the magic of being a dog mom, the energetic difference between routine and ritual, how living with intention and ritual can and is accessible for everybody, the myriad of ways to invite yourself back into your experiences, and Rachel’s journey to discovering that a big part of her destiny is to be a community builder.You can connect with Rachel via:Her InstagramHer substackHer event on May 31st!Her websiteHer podcastHer apothecaryAlso mentioned in this episode - the incredible Xanthe Appleyard of Oh SierraTimestamps:8:13 The importance of being a dog mom 13:41 The energetic difference between routine and ritual 22:12 How ritual and coming back to yourself is accessible for everyone 29:49 Inviting all modalities we know and love into our work37:19 The journey back to community and building it intentionally47:58 Our self-made obstacles 52:36 Our obstacles are gateways 59:13 It's easier to make friends as an adult than they say