You Are The Magic
What a year this has been.
Are you as relieved as I am that we survived?
I’m not usually one to celebrate an arbitrary flip of a calendar page, but this year, it feels like the right thing to do.
I’m also stopping to observe the shifts happening in our society, and noticing how many of my local communities are stripping away the pretense of “business as usual” to return to what’s real and help the people in our orbits.
For me, 2025 was about being present where I am and helping others do the same. And, it was also about remembering that growth isn't as much about striving outward as it is about returning inward.
This past year, I made choices to step down from things I loved but had outgrown so I could make room for deeper work that's been calling me back for years.
In November, I closed out five years as Host of CreativeMornings/Richmond by being the speaker for the topic of Growth. (You can watch it here, but for all that is holy please don’t tell me that you are going to watch it because I’m a mess over it going live and keep bursting into tears every time the video starts to roll, so no, I’ve not watched it ).
That moment for me was a huge exhale and an end to a big chapter of my life. But this year was filled with transitions…
I turned 50 in May and celebrated by taking a sabbatical and learning to scuba dive.
I left my “second home” of Irvington, VA and moved back to Richmond, VA full-time.
I pivoted my work — reclaiming my life strategy and coaching roots to help people return to who they are underneath it all and make meaningful progress toward living in alignment with their values.
What about you?
As you look back on this year, what are you noticing?
What did you strip away?
What are you still carrying that no longer fits?
Where did you find yourself returning to what's real, even when it wasn't what you expected?
What are you prioritizing that feels in alignment with who you’re becoming?
And maybe the biggest question: Are you giving yourself the compassion and care to grow into the next version of YOU?
When I answered these questions for myself, it helped me understand where I’ve been — and gave me even more clarity on where I’m headed personally, professionally, creatively, and in community!
Work-wise, here’s what I'm bringing into 2026:
Life Strategy & Coaching is where my heart is right now. My clients are typically navigating an identity transition and stepping into a new version of themselves. Some are seeking to get out of the stories that are keeping them “stuck,” others are stepping into the C-Suite for the first time, a few are re-examining their careers and leadership, and still others are working on finally living in alignment with the things they value even with demanding and competing priorities. I’m helping them understand and bridge the gap between who they were and who they're becoming while creating their new paths.
Witchy Eve 2026 is expanding, and becoming more intimate at the same time. Yes, it’s called Witchy Eve. No, it’s not religious. Yes, it’s space to pause, reflect, connect to the rhythms of the year, and remember that you are magic. Think tarot in community, deep conversations, sharing life moments with like-hearted souls. Enrollment is capped at 10, but with enough interest, there may be two groups.
Arcana 2026 is new! I’m excited to FINALLY offer this year-long, online class which is a deep dive exploration of the Major Arcana tarot cards in 13 sessions throughout the year. Think studying signs, symbols, stories, and tapping into the archetypal wisdom of the tarot as extensions of identity work in community — both on Zoom and in an online forum.
Of course, I’m still doing deep brand storytelling and strategy for incredible businesses, and working with companies to deliver human-centered, customized courses and training for leadership development.
If it feels aligned to work together or recommend me to someone, please reach out.
And if you’re just here for deep thoughts, questions, exercises, and ramblings (and maybe even some fiction writing next year!), that’s fine too.
Thank you for being here — for reading these words and for trusting me with your stories, your transitions, and your unfolding.
As you enter 2026, I hope you’ll keep these words close to your heart:
The world doesn't need another version of who you think you should be.
It needs the real you — the person you are underneath.
Be more you. Tell your stories. Live what you love. Trust your intuition. It's all coming. You are the magic.
With gratitude,
Michelle
P.S. I’d love to hear how you’re ending your year! Hit reply and let me know.
P.P.S. All the new classes, programming, and coaching slots are beginning at the end of January, but many of them have “early bird” rates for booking. If you feel called to work together, reach out.
May your holiday season be a six-seven out of 5.
Want to explore how to work together?
Visionaries hire me to help
them navigate the liminal points and be a thought partner, coach, and strategist for their lives and businesses.
Leaders in organizations hire me to create branded content, value-aligned strategies, and to work with their teams to facilitate growth and connection through engaging training, workshops, and speaker-led sessions.
Seek yourself. Be more you.
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Be who you are. Lead with curiosity & love. The world will respond.
