What’s your relationship like with starting? With playing? With launching? No matter the creative outlet—art, design, fashion, music, poetry—writing our thoughts, telling our stories and sharing our voices takes courage.
For me, the very idea of carving a path to someplace new is enough to spark vulnerability. And I no longer underestimate the thought and care it takes to put one foot before the other. While new can feel expansive, it can also be challenging.
This week marks 12 months since I began building this community, so it seems like the ideal time to reflect on my own experiences of starting, playing and launching. And to introduce the Brand Seasons podcast to those who have yet to tune into the trailer!
Had you told me I'd one day sidle into audio, I would never have believed you. Thankfully, being a guest on several podcasts has eased me into the role of host, so I’m allowing myself to celebrate the sharing of ideas and insights in a different form.
With the first recordings under my belt, I decided to (quietly) go live on May Day. After all, Beltane symbolises new beginnings and readying ourselves for growth and change.
I hope you return and join me for the first episode, where I share the story behind my Brand Seasons method and tell you more about the phases of Sowing, Blossoming, Harvesting and Grounding.
Trusting your inner compass
When thinking about what to share as I neared this one-year milestone, I was conscious of curating graphs, hacks and stats. Success means different things to us all. And what works for one won’t necessarily work for another.
I was and still am here for slow, simple, and sustainable growth. I was and still am curious to see what this space might hold for me. Acutely aware of my tendency to get distracted by shiny things and pay attention to what others are doing, I prefer to dip my toe into growth posts because there's no one-size-fits-all solution to creating a publication. I take what I need, and I leave the rest.
You can learn more about my early hopes and plans in my first post about this fledgling publication.
In truth, the art of approaching tasks slowly, simply and sustainably doesn’t come easily to me. Like most creative endeavours, tackling projects meaningfully is a practice. It’s a lot like having an inner compass—guidance which brings me back, again and again, to the knowledge that there is another way.
For this reason, I avoid formulas or templates where possible, since they shrink my capacity to approach my work instinctively. I believe there is value in having a strategy, something I’ll be exploring with paid subscribers this season, but it's only ever there to hold me. To offer a soft place to land while I get down to creating. We need to be able to flex.
The phrase “everything is an experiment” felt fitting during my first six months on Substack, where I made the platform my playground, and approached things with curiosity. I noted my plans for shaping my brand, and what I shared here still stands.
Crafting your words, your way
Recently, I updated my publication with refined Brand Seasons graphics, maintaining a link with These Are The Days, my design studio, and I’m continuing in the spirit of initiating and recreating. Which, for me, is about following my intuition.
Late last year, my curiosity led me to ask others what they would say to someone joining the platform today, and the response was so encouraging. The wisdom gathered from fellow writers helped me draft a post about crafting your words, your way.
But the words shared may be just as helpful for those who are a year or more into writing on Substack, feeling overwhelmed or underwhelmed, or needing encouragement. Whether you’re aiming for consistency, flexibility or spontaneity, this post about setting up home in this space may have something for you.
I’ve certainly felt overwhelmed and underwhelmed at points. And lately, a sense of being “crowded” has crept in because there are more and more publications, more and more features, and Notes can feel like an echo chamber. I’m so mindful of adding to that noise.
This has caused me to consider my own words more carefully (too carefully?) and deliberate over what to write and when. It has affected how I show up and share. But, of course, I get to dictate my pace and curate my feed. And while I don’t care for trends and can be resistant to change, there are times when trying something new is worth being open to.
I feel this way about audio and video, and as I reflect on the past year—the beginnings, the discoveries, the experiments—a blend of uncertainty and excitement is to be anticipated!
Embracing your creative seasons
With the introduction of the podcast, you can now expect a bi-weekly blend of solo episodes and guest conversations, where we explore honing our vision, managing the ebbs and flows of creativity, and harnessing our energy.
We also look at living and working in harmony with nature in an episode dedicated to the Celtic Wheel of the Year. From the resurgence of spring to the quietude of winter, we'll discover how each season can offer opportunities for reflection and restoration.
Those with a free subscription can listen to all episodes, or you can upgrade to access bonus content where we go deeper and wider and share branding, creative and seasonal resources for those hoping to enrich their lives and work.
The first bonus post will be a behind-the-scenes article for paid subscribers detailing the making of the podcast. It took time for me to make decisions and solve problems, and I’d love to share insights about building confidence, tackling challenges and navigating sponsorship. If you have a podcast or have considered starting one, I'd love to know about your experiences. Just drop your comments or questions below.
I’m also excited to bring you practical articles on vision boarding, building a business with intention, and finding moments of connection so you can approach this creative life with clarity.
If the podcast has sparked your curiosity, I would be so grateful if you could share the trailer with friends who are just as interested in exploring creativity and seasonality.
Thank you to Saorsa Psychology, the sponsor of this first season.
In Gaelic, Saorsa means 'freedom'—serving as a beacon for those eager to amplify their impact in the world, in a grounded and gentle way.
Freedom lies in being bold, and if you’re looking for deeper meaning, you can carve your own path with a combination of coaching and psychology, where you'll be guided through the wood, the trees and the spaces in between.
To learn more about how you can create space to think, do and be, visit Saorsa Psychology. You can also connect with founder right here on Substack at , and follow her on X, Facebook and Instagram.
As a free subscriber, you can enjoy articles and essays written through the lenses of curiosity, creativity, and connection and a podcast exploring the rhythms of our creative lives and work.
If you’re ready to craft a brand that feels like home and access exclusive insights and resources, consider upgrading to join my Brand Seasons paid community. Here, I support you with a gentle, nurturing, and playful approach to brand strategy, styling, and storytelling. I’d love to welcome you!
Making trails