When the spark burns out

When the spark burns out

Welcome to Loving the Dark Parts, where we shine light on the parts we’ve been taught to hide with the help of astrology. This one is a deeper look into where I’m currently at in my business, which honestly feels quite vulnerable to share. While it’s vulnerable, it is a physical representation of the current cosmic weather [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com/p/new-moon-in-aries-the-bridge-between], so here we are. I used to think burnout was loud. I thought it would show up with a bang, but it’s more like a quiet hum. Blink and you might think it’s a bad case of the Mondays, until you realise Monday never ends. One thing I’ve noticed, especially since leaving the world of being employed by others to becoming employed by myself, is that it’s really easy to miss the signs if you’re not paying attention. I’m not sure if it’s burnout per se, at least not full blown yet, which I’m grateful for catching before it has me completely immobilised, but it’s definitely something that has me feeling “not myself.” Maybe it’s easier to catch partly because I’m now aware of how I feel in general since getting sober and un-numbing myself, most days. I tend to go through these phases in my business (and life) where things feel… strange. I try to keep doing what I’ve been doing because it worked before, only to find out that what once worked and had me feeling so excited now has me reaching for a new series to binge instead of doing the work I love. This shows me that something needs to shift. The funny part is not actually funny at all because it makes sense: When I feel flat and I’m bordering burnout, my income stalls and things don’t flow like they did before. I bleed paid subscribers, bookings are non-existent, clients nowhere to be seen, and all of a sudden I’m not excited to show up to do the thing I once loved. Then I feel guilty for not showing up in the same way I did before until that one day during my luteal phase comes around and I need to physically peel my finger off of the big red “BURN IT ALL DOWN” button before I make a big mistake that I’ll regret in a couple days. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe income as an entrepreneur is meant to be linear or always growing—I’m a lover of cycles after all—but it is interesting to look deeper at the correlation between money and how I feel on the inside. It’s all energy after all. I had one of my highest income months in January of this year. And I can’t help but notice that after the expansion of income came in, my nervous system collapsed under the weight of it. It wasn’t as easy for me to show up in the same way I had been. Even though nothing changed on the outside, my insides were freaking the f**k out. Then I stopped showing up completely. My body froze, and all of a sudden the limiting beliefs came flooding in like: * Who am I to deserve this? * When will they figure out I’m actually a fraud? * Maybe it’s not as great as they think? * It was a fluke. Don’t get used to it. Hide before they realise. * You’re not going to be able to keep up with this. I’m sorry, what? You’re telling me the moment I actually start getting what I asked for, suddenly it feels like too much and I need to hide like it’s groundhog day?! This is literally all I’ve wanted. To make enough money to live comfortably, travel to see my family and a new place every once in a while, and give back to and support causes and people I believe in from my own creations and skills I’ve been developing for the past six years (and my whole life, if I’m being honest) so I don’t have to ever go back to a soul sucking nine-to-five. To help people fall in love with themselves and feel confident (the irony is not lost on me) to do what they love. Now there are signs of it happening and you can’t survive under the weight of monetary success????? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and I’ll keep saying it until the day I die: Entrepreneurship is one of the quickest avenues to personal growth that has ever existed. In the past I would be panicking at the lack of funds reaching my bank account and the increasing expenses, but this time I’m oddly calm about it all. I’m trusting that this is the season I’m meant to be in, and that once I find that spark again, momentum will build in the way it’s meant to. I’m teaching myself how to feel safe when things happen, either good or bad, because none of it means anything about who I am. These are the moments I get to build capacity to hold what’s coming next. These are the moments where everything I’ve intellectualised turns into practice and embodiment. The moments where I practice feeling worthy even when the numbers try to tell me otherwise, because I finally understand the two are not related. Sometimes we just need to clear space in order to make room for what’s coming next. Solo travel and entrepreneurship have also allowed me to build self-trust that I didn’t have before. I know things are always working out in my favour—so that’s what I’m leaning on during this time. If there’s one thing I know, hustling and pushing and forcing and panicking is never the answer, so this time: I trust that everything is happening as it should. I will not panic. I am safe. I am worthy. Instead of panicking and hustling, I’ve decided to do something slightly insane—pour into myself. I’ve started learning pottery again because it brings me joy. I hired a coach to hold me through this season because having someone to hold up the mirror is valuable to me. I move my body at pilates every week. I’m getting massages and acupuncture. I hired a cleaner to free up some of my energy. I’m flirting again, with life and men. I’m meeting new people and putting myself out there in new ways. Heck, I even went on my first, first date in four years just the other day. A lot of these things cost money, and in the past I wouldn’t allow myself to invest in myself in fear of my bank account running dry, but this time I know the ROI is going to be worth it because loving on myself has never been a bad thing. My bank account may be dry, but I refuse to be. I trust that these things I’m feeling called to do are serving me in the way I need. I have faith that by pouring into myself I will then be able to pour into my business and my life and my community in a way that lights me up again. I’m excited to see what happens, because this time instead of freezing I’m taking action on the things that actually infuse me with life, even if it doesn’t feel practical. Wondering who the heck I am? Hi, I’m Kaitlyn! Professional astrologer, certified coach, and sober Canadian expat living in Thailand with her dog, Lady. There was a time I could be found sitting under the fluorescent lights at the desk outside of the corner office. In 2016 I quit my job, sold my things, and booked a one-way ticket out of the country. Little did I know I wouldn’t be returning and my life would be looking a whole lot different than I had expected. After getting sober in 2020, I dove head first into serious astrology studies to learn about myself, and now I help others fall in love with themselves, too. You can learn more about me and what I do here [https://kaitlynramsay.com/about]. Want to book a session? I offer 1:1 astrology readings [https://kaitlynramsay.as.me/?appointmentType=77085170] and astro-coaching sessions [https://kaitlynramsay.as.me/?appointmentType=77085582] where we can go deeper into what makes you, you. In these sessions we cover what’s current in your life, and you’ll get practical tools that will support you in the current season of your life. Leave feeling deeply seen, understood, and ready to move forward with confidence. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaitlynramsay.substack.com/subscribe [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Saturn Stories 🪐 with Erin Shetron

On this episode of Saturn Stories 🪐 we’re joined by Erin Shetron [https://substack.com/profile/14143-erin-shetron] who opens up about her experience with having Saturn in Capricorn in the 7th house in her natal chart, while reflecting on how the challenges and gifts of Saturn have shaped her life until this point. We explore themes of career, relationships, early childhood responsibilities, sensitivity, and being on an aligned path (rather than one that sucks the soul out of you). Saturn as an Archetype Saturn is often a planet that is feared or looked down upon in the astrology community, and I’m hoping to change that with these conversations. Saturn’s lessons can feel hard, as its placement in our charts is where we are here to learn in this lifetime. The best kept secret to Saturn is to make friends with this part of your chart. Learn how to step into and embrace this energy by taking responsibility in this area of life—the sooner you do, the easier it will get. Oftentimes these calls to “step up” happen at each Saturn cycle, especially the Saturn return period (between the ages of 28-31), but for some the willingness may come easier, or harder depending on how connected we are to this archetype. About Erin Erin Shetron is a former startup boss turned newsletter strategist. With her signature combination of "big brain/soft soul," she works with writers and entrepreneurs to help them produce their best, most aligned, most alive work yet. In her down time, Erin enjoys walking her two scruff potatoes (one senior scruff, one puppy scruff), reading fantasy and memoir, dreaming up new visions for the feminine economy, and espousing the benefits of radical, loving honesty. She recently launched Brain Flow Sessions [https://erinshetroneditingconsulting.as.me/schedule/7f5d45c8/appointment/81419011/calendar/12498761], hour-long containers for creatives to get clear, motivated, and back in their flow. You can learn more about her work at erinshetron.com [http://erinshetron.com/]. Check out her newsletter FREQUENT CRIERS CLUB [https://open.substack.com/pub/erinshetron] if you want to feel alive again, because she’s doing amazing things over there. Saturn Placement: Capricorn in the 7th house earth: practicality, responsibility, tangibility, grounded in the 3D capricorn: devotion/discipline, excellence, responsibility, maturity, leadership, ambition, earned wisdom, goal focused, grounded in reality, old when young and young when old 7th house: relationships, partnership, the shadow, the other, agreements, people as a mirror Where is Saturn placed in your chart? Let us know in the comments! Those with Saturn in Capricorn, was 2020 a big year for you too? The Saturn ‘7-year itch’ Cycle Saturn times are a time where we are often called to step up and take responsibility. Saturn wants structure, devotion, and respect. During the periods where Saturn communicates with our natal Saturn (approximately every seven years), we’re often faced with big decisions or opportunities to step into our gifts or recommit to the path we’re on—sometimes through facing challenges along the way. Erin’s Saturn Story (and a touch of Neptune) Saturn Return (29/30 years old): Capricorn * falling out with start up * was on a “traditionally successful path” but not quite the aligned path * drinking more than ever (read Holly Whitaker [https://substack.com/profile/33269752-holly-whitaker]’s Quit Like a Woman [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/605025/quit-like-a-woman-by-holly-whitaker/]) while reconsidering use * relationship was not right “I have to know it and I have to take responsibility for myself and get myself out of this situation and not wait for us to come to some agreement and peacefully part from each other.” ~Erin The Lesson: “You might be the most aware person of your situation, you might know exactly all the ways that it is unhealthy, and not working for you, and perhaps even retraumitizing and triggering and just deeply upsetting and you might think that you being on top of it with all that awareness is the thing that’s going to keep you safe, but it’s not… Turning that awareness and transforming it into action is the best way to protect yourself, to live authentically, to make the life that you want… Your awareness isn’t going to save you, it’s the action that comes with it.” ~ Erin Neptune crossing the Midheaven Erin talks about how things started shifting for the better after working with Alex Dobrenko` [https://substack.com/profile/554653-alex-dobrenko] on a fun creative project, which was right around the time Neptune was transiting her midheaven in Pisces. She talks about how she was feeling rejected from the traditional marketing world—the doors were closing and she stumbled onto a more aligned path. When we lean into our Saturn lesson, things begin to flow and we’re often met with deep fulfilment and a sense of purpose on the other side of it. Erin found herself on this new path, and her life “exploded” through word of mouth referrals. She talks about how quickly things took off when she leaned into authenticity and creativity. If that’s not alignment, I dunno what is! Saturn crossing the Midheaven At the time of this conversation in 2025, Saturn was crossing over Erin’s midheaven. We talked about how she was feeling that this path could be real and she could get comfy here. What once felt “too good to be true” is now feeling like “oh this could be (and is) a real thing.” Want to explore your own Saturn Story? Download this PDF Saturn Guide [https://kaitlynramsay.com/store/p/saturn-story-workbook] and follow along with this series. In the guide you will learn how to find your own Saturn placement, gain insights on what themes and lessons show up in your life, and explore your own Saturn story through timeline style journal prompts and self-exploration. paid members have access to this workbook for free in the Paid Member Goodie Box [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com/p/2025-new-moon-workshop-schedule]🎁 [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com/p/2025-new-moon-workshop-schedule]. Or, if you’d rather have the heavy lifting done for you, book a 1:1 Astrology Reading [https://kaitlynramsay.as.me/?appointmentType=77085170] and I’ll guide you through your chart in depth, including your Saturn story and lesson in this lifetime so you feel empowered to take aligned action. For an opportunity to be featured as a guest on Saturn Stories 🪐, fill out the application form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5rRynPaZSKdhZfkOsXfBe-hXNuB8oPda4lNhC4pPfCRzowQ/viewform?usp=header]. If you are selected, I will reach out with more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaitlynramsay.substack.com/subscribe [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

🌙 Eclipse Season: honouring your uniqueness

I had SO much fun chatting with you guys about the solar eclipse (and the current astrology). There’s something special about being in live conversation with you, because we get to create the experience together. Special thank you to those who were in the room. “Honouring our uniqueness is what’s going to save the world.” We talked about: * what an eclipse is * the energy of the current solar eclipse in Aquarius * what makes us unique/real/human * what we’re feeling pulled (or pushed) towards * outrage and our ability to access anger * desires as a compass * and so much more! I also exposed my truth geckos 🦎🫣 since they had a lot to say. Which house is 28° Aquarius in your chart? This might be where you’re feeling an activation in your life. There’s nothing you need to do, but notice what is coming up. Eclipses can come in to move things around and rearrange what’s needed, so if there’s something ending or beginning, trust there’s a reason for it. Happy eclipse season & lunar new year! If you’re looking for extra support during eclipse season, my books are open for 1:1 sessions. You can book a reading here [https://kaitlynramsay.as.me/]. New moon workshops for paid members will be back in full swing starting March 18th/19th (depending where in the world you are) under the Pisces new moon. You can sign up here [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com/p/2025-new-moon-workshop-schedule?open=false#%C2%A7pisces-new-moon-workshop]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaitlynramsay.substack.com/subscribe [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

[REPLAY] 🌑 Capricorn New Moon Vision Board Workshop

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit kaitlynramsay.substack.com [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] In yesterday’s New Moon Workshop we touched on the energetics of the new moon in Capricorn and began envisioning our year ahead. This is the first new moon of 2026, and the last new moon before eclipse season next month! Getting clear on your vision can truly set the tone of what’s to come in the year ahead, especially with Saturn and Neptune about to make their move into Aries, Uranus moving into Gemini, and the nodes shifting signs. Big moves are happening in the sky—and as above, so below. Getting clear on your internal desires now will create clarity for when it’s time to take action. Plant the seeds of desire so the Universe can meet you halfway. I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of the world and our responsibility in it. Each individual change we make shifts the collective, and I believe that’s what 2026 is about. Less about looking outside at everything that’s wrong, more about coming home to ourselves and leading by example. Every move you make ripples out into the world—it doesn’t need to be loud, but it does need to be you. This is the year you become more of who you are, accepting all parts of yourself, hugging the parts you’ve hidden, and allowing all of you to show up. That’s where true, sustainable change begins. Thank you to beej [https://substack.com/profile/212864849-beej], Erin Shetron [https://substack.com/profile/14143-erin-shetron], and Shaista Ali [https://substack.com/profile/64189200-shaista-ali] for joining in on the call! Below you will find the oracle card pull, a visualisation to gain clarity, and the worksheets we used in the workshop. Upgrade your membership to paid to access the full workshop—which includes a special vision board practice to set the stage for the year ahead. I’ll also be opening up an extra session where we can work on our vision boards together in a cozy setting. More details below!

Saturn Stories 🪐 with Shaista Ali

On this episode of Saturn Stories 🪐 we’re joined by Shaista Ali [https://substack.com/profile/64189200-shaista-ali] who opens up about her experience with Saturn in Virgo in the 7th house in her natal, chart while reflecting on how the challenges and gifts of Saturn have shaped her life. At the time of our conversation, Shaista was also coming out of her most recent Saturn opposition, so we talk about the huge changes that were taking place in the present moment. We explore themes of service to self and others, relationships, being in the body, and honouring our needs first. Saturn as an Archetype Saturn is often a planet that is feared or looked down upon in the astrology community. Saturn’s lessons can feel hard, as its placement in our charts is where we are here to learn in this lifetime. The best kept secret to Saturn is to make friends with this part of your chart. Learn how to step into and embrace this energy by taking responsibility in this area of life—the sooner you do, the easier it will get. Oftentimes these calls to “step up” happen at each Saturn cycle, especially the Saturn return period (between the ages of 28-31), but for some the willingness may come easier, or harder. About Shaista Shaista is a seeker. Of connection, of beauty, of truth. She finds it in the corners of the mundane, in the obvious wonders, and even in the shadows of the horrific. Sometimes especially there. Heart Chambers [https://heartchambers.substack.com/?utm_source=mention&utm_content=writes] is her Substack of nearly three years, where she tenderly unearths the contours of her inner world. It’s been an exploratory place to remember our shared humanity, to trace the invisible threads that connect us, and to decode ancient blueprints that reveal and find at once. Born of a rich and storied lineage that informs much of her truth, she writes occasionally through the lens of first-generation, while gently releasing identities that no longer serve. She believes we will see the liberation of Palestine in our lifetime and that there is much to learn in the eyes of the oppressed. In this episode, we explore Shaista’s relationship with Saturn in Virgo in the 7th house. Shaista talks us through her own Saturn story as we connect the dots between the astrology chart and lived experience, exploring themes of giving to the point of burnout to learning to create healthy relational dynamics through caring for the self first. Saturn Placement: Virgo in the 7th house Earth: mundane, grounding, practicality, structure, boundaries, the body, physical matters Virgo: practicality, discernment, finding spirit in the mundane, service to self, service to others, health and wellness, connection of body mind and spirit, being rather than doing, routine, one day at a time, beauty in the small moments, purpose 7th house: relationships, partnership, the shadow, the other, agreements Where is Saturn placed in your chart? Let us know in the comments! If you have Saturn in an earth sign, in Virgo, or the 7th house, can you relate to any parts of Shaista’s story? The Saturn ‘7-year itch’ Cycle Saturn times are a time where we are often called to step up and take responsibility. As Saturn wants structure and respect. During the periods where Saturn communicates with our natal chart (approximately every seven years), we’re often faced with big decisions or opportunities to step into our gifts or recommit to the path we’re on—sometimes through facing challenges along the way. Shaista’s Saturn Story Saturn Return (28/29 years old): Virgo * working abroad, tense relationship with boss, finding the boundaries between self and service to others * ending a relationship * entering a new relationship “I realized I had more power than I thought I did.” ~ Shaista Saturn Opposition (44/45 years old): Pisces * clear shift of no longer accepting what was accepted before * dynamic of partnership has run its course * putting self out there again (interviews, new job, writing) “My capacity is no longer the same.” ~ Shaista The Lesson: “I want to give and connect, but I’m not going to compromise my own needs.” ~ Shaista This lesson shared by Shaista ties beautifully into her Saturn in Virgo in the 7th house. She talks about how making these changes to put her own needs first didn’t mean she had to lose anything. The boundaries she has learned to set in her relationships has made the dynamic of her relationships better and more fulfilling. Shaista also ties this most recent Saturn cycle in 2025 back to her Saturn return in 2008, now knowing when to let a relationship go when it’s run its course instead of staying in toxic loops that don’t serve either person in the relationship. By leaning into Saturn, we create more space for our purpose to unfold naturally. Want to explore your own Saturn Story? Download this PDF Saturn Guide [https://kaitlynramsay.com/store/p/saturn-story-workbook] and follow along with this series. In the guide you will learn how to find your own Saturn placement, gain insights on what themes and lessons show up in your life, and explore your own Saturn story through timeline style journal prompts and self-exploration. Paid members have access to this workbook for free in the Paid Member Goodie Box [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com/p/2025-new-moon-workshop-schedule]🎁 [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com/p/2025-new-moon-workshop-schedule]. Or, if you’d rather have the heavy lifting done for you, book a 1:1 Astrology Reading [https://kaitlynramsay.as.me/?appointmentType=77085170] and I’ll guide you through your chart in depth, including your Saturn story and lesson in this lifetime. For an opportunity to be featured as a guest on Saturn Stories 🪐, fill out the application form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5rRynPaZSKdhZfkOsXfBe-hXNuB8oPda4lNhC4pPfCRzowQ/viewform?usp=header]. If you are selected, I will reach out with more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaitlynramsay.substack.com/subscribe [https://kaitlynramsay.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]