Hey peach,

How have you been, love? Feels like it’s been ages since we last spoke — I hope January isn’t being too much of a bitch.

When I first sat down to write this, I had notions of coming in with sensible goal-setting or decluttering exercises. But I have a sneaking suspicion you’ve read a million newsletters and LinkedIn posts of the same ilk in the last few weeks. So, I decided to go with body swapping instead.

Before you poop your pants, I should mention that I was—obviously—being OTT for the subject line of it all. What I really want to moot is ‘embodiment.’ In magical practice, embodiment is the act of stepping into an archetype or persona and channelling it, whether physically, energetically, emotionally, or otherwise.

As writers, embodiment is a huge part of our work. It can also be a handy technique to use if you’re a freelancer and you need to walk into a meeting and blow the bloody doors off.

So, I’m acting the friendly raven and dropping some shiny embodiment-shaped trinkets at your feet. Enjoy!

7-minute body swap exercise

Step one: step into the skin of your reader (but not in a gross way)

1) Close your eyes and take a nice, deep breath to ground yourself.

2) Imagine you’re physically stepping into the body of your reader or client in the moments before they get your email or enter your meeting. Imagine what they might be doing, what their day looked like up until now, how they might be feeling.

3) Channel their internal monologue and write some short bullet points to summarise what comes up:

• What am I trying to achieve?
• What’s stopping me (time, money, fear, boss, overwhelm)?
• What have I already tried that didn’t work?
• What would make me say ‘yes’ today?

Step two: pen time

Hold that vision, friend! Open your notebook and write the following, without overthinking or editing:

• One hook: that speaks directly to their goal

• One reassurance: that tackles their biggest block

• One proof point or benefit: that answers “why you?”
  

Step three: …to use if you’re going into a meeting

Keep your written embodiment notes in front of you and frame every point around your opponent’s goal, blocker, and the benefit that makes a ‘yes’ safe and easy.

Their reality becomes the foundation of your pitch. Just don’t mention that you pretended to be them using a visualisation exercise, or you might creep them out. Deal?

🌝 Snow Moon – 1st February

Quiet growth · Cleansing and release · Planning

🌝 Imbolc – 2nd February

Honour the goddess Brigid · Reaffirm life · Baked goods

🔮 Freelance focus: nurturing wealth with the Queen of Pentacles

Oh, hello, mumma! I don’t think we’ve ever pulled this babe before. The Queen of Pentacles card represents abundance through nurturing — pouring your energy into what you’d like to see grow and enjoying how it flourishes.

This card speaks to vigilance and care, being selective and intentional with your energy, especially when it comes to money and business plans. Our girl might be wearing a golden crown, but her wooden throne reeks of groundedness, and her gaze is focused on her asset, showing us how careful and attentive she is with her money. Something to think about going into the season of planning!

Other shit you might like

Issue #2 of my occult music and arts zine is due out early next week, and it’s a blinder, if I may say so myself. Sign up for the newsletter (never spammy, btw) to learn who’s in the line-up and to get first dibs on a limited run print copy. Go here!

Blessed be!

Cowners