thank you for 1,000 🫶

of ted lasso, daring greatly, and living life in the arena 🏟️

A rare Pokémon has appeared — this post is public *AND* vulnerable. Let’s dive in!

I’m listening to my new favorite The Maine song, ‘cars & caution signs’, and mourning the end of my new favorite show, Ted Lasso.

3 years too late, but man, what an emotional rollercoaster. 🎢

This week, for some reason, has had the tinge of unlikely endings: from big things, like FINALLY completing my first horoscope writing gig for the New Moon in Leo 🦁 (paid subscribers will get first dibs next week!); to small, peripheral things, like Brooke Solis closing her book sales, and my Apple TV subscription coming to an unceremonious end. The end of an era.

It’s rare that the Astrology is so on the nose — it was the Last Quarter Moon 🌗 a couple days back, a time of wrapping up the old to clear space for the new (moon). Is this what it means to live in alignment? Perhaps the New Moon next week is a bigger new-beginning than usual. I feel like I’m on the precipice of something; but what, I have no idea.

But things are coming to an end, now, and it demands I grieve for them.

Ted is the most unlikely protagonist. (No spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched Ted Lasso!) For the uninitiated, Ted Lasso is a dramedy about a languishing football team, AFC Richmond, and how he, a gratingly optimistic coach from Kansas City, turned it all around over three seasons. Ted started out borderline unhinged in the first season; as time progressed, he mellowed out, as though all the love and zest he carried had seeped into the others, humanizing them, making them more whole. All the other characters were also caricatures, but their humanity was always intact. As they wrapped up the final season, with each character having their own arc, I felt a deep bond with each and every one of them — and I didn’t want to let go.

This show doesn’t give me the same addictive quality or obsessive need for closure that Netflix shows typically do. Every episode was masterfully done; even when new side characters were introduced, they were always fully fleshed out. You could tell who they were and how they were going to be.

At the end, Ted had created a culture, a legacy, that lasted beyond him. Through sheer hard, heart work, he showed that it is possible to get people to care for one another and love each other, the way we were always meant to as humans. 💖

Watching this series gave me hope that this is possible in real life, too. That you can fight hard for each other, alongside each other, toward a common goal. A shared purpose. Shawn and I’s favorite scenes were always when the team was together; secretly, my favorite were when they were on the pitch, having fun, kicking the ball around. Winning, losing. Learning.

After all, that’s what this show is about, at the heart of it all: Football.

And Football . . . is life. 🥹

It is a way to live — passionately, with grit, and discipline. The fans may be the back-bone of the sport, but the true warriors were those in the arena: on the pitch, training, running drills, then — for a few days of glory, bloodshed, and triumph — they give their all. Bare it all. What is it like, to have Game Day, everyday? To work so hard toward something, and then to put it all on display? Your wins, losses, scrutinized, torn apart by pundits and lovers alike?

I suppose, in many ways, that is the Life I have chosen to lead, as well. 

I just hit 1,000 followers today. 💛 A milestone I knew I would hit eventually, but I guess I never expected to hit it so soon.

I received a voice message from a fellow astrologer friend — one of the first people I’d met and looked up to when I ventured into this industry. She said, “You are now miles ahead of me in terms of articulating Astrology.” I know, personally, that is what I’ve always been strongest at: sharing, teaching, simplifying knowledge in a way that is both clarifying and empowering. (I have a 9th house Sun 🌞) I did it in my last career, training folks in Empathy; and I’m doing it again now in the reels I make, and the readings I do. It’s a skill I’ve worked hard at, and am proud of.

But it’s also thrust me into a position I’m not quite sure I’m ready to accept:

The arena of public attention. 🏟️

Leaving the nest, the nurturing haven of chosen community I’ve cultivated, and expanding my reach. Stepping into the arena —

And all the pains, triumphs, opportunities and tragedies that come with it.

“I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both.” ~ Brene Brown

Are you enjoying this so far? Share this post with a friend if you are. Love ya!

As my reach on Instagram grows, so does the responsibility I feel.

To be articulate. Well-researched. Ever-prepared. Constantly productive.

In other words . . . perfect. 🙄

Venus Retrograde has been shining a giant spotlight on these insecurities. Illuminating them with the heat of the Sun. Living my life “in the arena” is something I’ve both craved and been terrified of for a long time. In my previous career, I was always flirting with the idea of going BIG, truly BIG — but each time I came close, I pulled back. And every time I did, I fell further and further away from my purpose.

Ted Lasso taught me that to live publicly is to fail publicly.

Just like a football team on the pitch, getting booed and cheered with equal measure, being seen means you get all of the glory, AND all of the pain. But when you focus on your own lane, on what lights YOU up — regardless of whoever else is brightened by it — that’s when you find the strength to keep going.

The team on the pitch are focused on one thing: the ball. They’re not giving two sh!ts about what’s going on in the stands.

What is your ⚽️? What can you channel all your focus to, and ignore the rest?

I have just two:

1. Making content. 🤳

2. Building community. 💐

That’s it. Rinse, repeat. Day in, day out. I focus on making good, useful content. And I focus on connecting with the people and clients under my stewardship. 💛 Simple.

When I first started out, my mentor told me to focus on drilling readings. I found the idea abhorrent. But she said I needed to focus on “getting on the horse”, while the knowledge was still fresh. She was right, of course. This week, I finished my 60th paid reading. It’s something I’m actually comfortable with now. 🥹 I never thought I’d see this day. But I’m living it.

I’m used to showing up. I’m used to failing publicly. I’m used to daring greatly.

It’s only when we look back that we can see how far we’ve come.

It’s a grind. But it’s also part and parcel of being in the arena. 🏟️

And I’m so grateful to finally be living in it.

Thank you, my friends, for 1,000. Thank you for being here for this milestone. Thank you for cheering me on in this arena called Life.

Despite all the doubt, all the challenges, all the fear of being seen —

There is absolutely nowhere else I’d rather be. 🌞

🦁 How has Leo season been for you? Did this piece resonate with you? It’s one of my rare public posts, and I’ve opened my comments to all. Share your reflections with me below! Hearing from you ALWAYS makes my day 😍

Love,

Gwen

—

The Asian Astrologer 🪐

A few housekeeping notes . . .

✷ NEW MOON IN LEO HOROSCOPES COMING UP FOR PAID SUBS! 🌚 They will hit your inbox on Monday, the day after the Venus Cazimi. I’ve been hyping ‘em up all week, and for good reason!!! I can’t wait for you to read them.

You can subscribe for as low as $3.75 USD / month if you choose the annual plan. I’m so grateful for your support 🌸

✷ If you’d like a reading with me, you can book at the link below! 🥰 Here are 3 of my latest testimonials from the lovely Bella, Caitlin and Sheryl:

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