Bonus Content from Episode 11
Successful agency owner Rachel Formaro shares tips for adding some "woo" into your professional life.
One of the best things about having a podcast is getting to share the stories of your favorite people. This week on Feminist Founders podcast, I have the pleasure of introducing you to a stellar client and friend, Rachel Formaro (she/her), founder of Blu Pagoda. Website | LinkedIn
With more than 25 years of broad career experience, Rachel is a top-performing communications and business management professional. And we talk all about how she’s transforming “business as usual” at Blu Pagoda in her episode.
But for this bonus chat, we went down a different path to discuss how she integrates her “woo” spiritual side into her professional experience.
Watch our 6-minute conversation or read the summary below.
Becky Mollenkamp: Thank you, Rachel, for joining me for this bonus content. We’re going to talk about something a little different—how to allow for your more “woo-woo” or spiritual side and still be ‘professional.’ I know that you love Tarot and other things, so tell me your first tip for how to embrace that part of yourself as a professional.
Rachel Formaro: First of all, it's becoming more accepted, which is wonderful to see. There are as many tarot decks out there as there are people. I have a deck problem, I've had to confess. I have at least 30 different tarot or oracle decks in my office.
I work with them, and they are a supplement to how I can get a fresh perspective or an idea. Maybe it's just pulling a card for the day or a challenge I'm dealing with, and I just want to see some different aspects to this challenge that I might consider. I don't make it the primary focus of my professional life, but it is a beautiful addition and it's something that I value. Part of my values is spiritual connection as part of my life. So
There's a wonderful book called Tarot for Change, which even kind of takes a psychoanalytic view of reading tarot cards. So tip number one is bring your tarot deck to your desk, and pull a card from time to time.
Becky Mollenkamp: Time to time? I say do it every day! I love it. So, next tip?
Rachel Formaro: Astrology is not for everybody, but I love Chani Nicholas. I have been learning from her since before she was super famous. It's part of my weekly planning. I sit down with my astrology planner and my business planner. I review Chani’s reading for the week and plot out, in both of my planners, things to think about and areas of growth. It gives you a bit of extra permission to kind of get that outside view. So again, I love astrology. I find meaning and connection in it.
Becky Mollenkamp: Before you go to the third, Chani is a dream guest, so if anyone has inside knowledge, let her know. Also, I would recommend Babs Cheung, a feminist astrologer I know who (sneak peek) will be a guest on Season 3 of Feminist Founders. She also talks about planning with astrology from a feminist perspective. Okay, so tip three?
Rachel Formaro: Ritual is a wonderful thing to incorporate into your business and professional life. I talked about that a little bit in the episode when we talked about wrapping up a project and taking time to reflect and honor that.
Ritual can mean so many different things. If I have a really full day of talking to a lot of people or a challenging conversation that day, in the morning I take that time to breathe, light a candle, and send some love out into my day. It's about the sacred pause. There's so much to be gained from taking a pause before you jump into something. Finding those little rituals that delight you to incorporate throughout your day.
Becky Mollenkamp: It's something that I talk a lot with clients about, too, especially around celebrations. I think many of us have learned to discount, diminish, and dismiss our accomplishments and successes. Acknowledge it is one thing, but creating a ritual that cements it really allows it to soak in. I also think rituals around grief are important. I love the idea of what are all of the ways that we can create more rituals for ourselves? There's real power in that. And I think there's a lot of scientific evidence behind it, too.
Rachel Formaro: Absolutely.
Becky Mollenkamp: Thank you so much for sharing these, Rachel.
Rachel Formaro: Thank you, Becky.