The Designed Life

Hollis M. M.
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I'm a designer, astrologer and life coach who's always seeking for deeper understanding, meaning, and beauty – and I love doing it with other like-minded friends. I created The Designed Life to help you ask the bigger questions, explore the unexamined nooks and crannies of your own habits, behaviors and choices, and inevitably start aligning your daily decisions to create a more empowered and fulfilling life. In every episode you'll find stories, resources, and contemplations, from me and other entrepreneurs, curated to help you gracefully navigate a life that comes with no guide book.

  1. Eps 050: Capacity to hold both despair & delight w. Kayleigh Martin

    17 HR AGO

    Eps 050: Capacity to hold both despair & delight w. Kayleigh Martin

    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 hereOn threads hereOn her podcast hereVia HavenOur episode on her podcastMentioned: Creative LivingSocial Change Ecosystem map by Deepa IyerEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindConnect with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrology Readings // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life Coaching // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website

    1h 12m

  2. 6 FEB

    Eps 049: Cultivating Safety

    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 vulnerableConsistent access to essential resourcesResiliency from conflictTrust produced by proof of actionBeing able to ask for and receive supportSuggestion 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

    48 min
  3. Lunar Series · February 2026: Leo Full Moon & Aquarius Solar Eclipse

    30 JAN

    Lunar Series · February 2026: Leo Full Moon & Aquarius Solar Eclipse

    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

    40 min
  4. Solar Series: Aquarius Season 2026

    23 JAN

    Solar Series: Aquarius Season 2026

    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 thinkingWeek 2 (1.25-1.31) – action towards future evolutionWeek 3 (2.1-2.7) – a spotlight on our evolving identityWeek 4 (2.8-2.14) – lean in to the moments you have the inspiration and make them pleasurableWeek 5 (2.15-2.18) – the new era beginsTune 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 Pluto1.20 Mercury enters Aquarius (through Feb 6)1.21 Mercury cazimi1.22 Mercury conjunct Pluto1.23 Mars enters Aquarius (through March 2), Sun conjunct Pluto1.26 Neptune enters Aries, first time since 18621.27 Mars conjunct Pluto1.29 Mercury conjunct Venus2.1 Full Moon Leo 13º2.3 Uranus stations direct in Taurus2.6 Mercury enters Pisces (through April 14th)2.10 Venus enters Pisces (through March 6)2.11 Mercury enters pre-Rx shadow2.13 Saturn enters Aries2.16 Sun square Uranus, Mercury trine Jupiter Rx2.17 New Moon Eclipse in Aquarius 28º, Venus conjunct N Node2.18 Sun enters PiscesMentioned: Key astrology dates of 2026Year ahead astrology with Intuitively WildEps 032: Your Role in Cultivating FreedomConnect with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrology Readings // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life Coaching // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website

    1h 22m
  5. Eps 048: Embodying Leisure Ethic w. Xanthe Appleyard

    16 JAN

    Eps 048: Embodying Leisure Ethic w. Xanthe Appleyard

    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 hereOn tiktok hereOn her podcast hereVia Social LifeAlso Mentioned: Samantha MacKinnonChelsea RiffeConnect with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrology Readings // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life Coaching // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website

    1h 4m
  6. Eps 047: How to work with the astrological energy of Q1 2026

    9 JAN

    Eps 047: How to work with the astrological energy of Q1 2026

    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 visionFollow your inspiration but create flexibility around your ideasSomatic: Emphasize body care and remembering that you have a body to care for even though you have dreams you want to buildFebruary 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 breathConnect with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrology Readings // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life Coaching // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website

    55 min
  7. Eps 046: 2026 horoscopes for your rising sign

    2 JAN

    Eps 046: 2026 horoscopes for your rising sign

    *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

    4h 34m
  8. Lunar Series · January 2026: Cancer Full Moon & Capricorn New Moon

    26/12/2025

    Lunar Series · January 2026: Cancer Full Moon & Capricorn New Moon

    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 SubstackConnect with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrology Readings // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life Coaching // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website

    36 min
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About

I'm a designer, astrologer and life coach who's always seeking for deeper understanding, meaning, and beauty – and I love doing it with other like-minded friends. I created The Designed Life to help you ask the bigger questions, explore the unexamined nooks and crannies of your own habits, behaviors and choices, and inevitably start aligning your daily decisions to create a more empowered and fulfilling life. In every episode you'll find stories, resources, and contemplations, from me and other entrepreneurs, curated to help you gracefully navigate a life that comes with no guide book.

Information

  • Creator
    Hollis M. M.
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    87
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hollis M. M.
  • Show Website
    The Designed Life

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