Why I’m moving again (and how I made the decision)

Following intuition, astrology, Human Design and the real-life signals that told me it was time to shift

I’m moving. Again.

One year ago in June, I moved from Texas to Portland, Oregon. Next month, I’m packing everything up and moving to Phoenix, Arizona.

Why move to Portland? And now, why move to Arizona?

Let me tell you how intuition, Human Design and astrology have influenced and informed my choices.

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When I came to Portland I was at a life stage transition with my youngest child leaving the nest a couple of years early to attend an international boarding school.

Since I was born in El Paso and had lived near Austin, Texas since college, I was ready to explore outside of Texas. I wanted seasons. And trees. And to live in a larger city. When I visited Portland, I drove in through the Columbia Gorge and it was stunning.

Oh my gosh! And to be less than 2 hours from both beaches and mountains sounded so amazing. Very little is 2 hours from anywhere in Texas.

But really, how did I choose the location? I wasn’t moving for family, or work since I can work anywhere. I was in a position where I could choose any place, anywhere.

Portland was a choice guided by intuition and desires. My criteria were seasons with a moderate winter. I wanted a good airport since I knew I would have to travel to Vancouver, BC, Texas and Georgia to visit my kids.

I considered the entire US. But every time I looked at a map, the northeast felt like a no. Areas in North Carolina felt okay. Colorado was a contender. But the northwest from north California to southern Washington kept drawing me.

To make a decision, I turned to astrocartography for more information. The astrologer I chose answered my questions about the best locations in the country. North Carolina didn’t hold anything helpful. Colorado would have kept a lot of the energies that I had lived in in Texas. And the northwest held some potential but nothing negative.

Where she suggested I absolutely visit (if not live there) was San Diego and the Phoenix area. At that time I wasn’t willing to consider Phoenix, because - hello? Desert and 110 degree summers. No thank you, I’d had enough of blistering heat.

And San Diego is lovely, but I didn’t want to experience such a huge cost of living difference. And again, no seasons.

So Portland, it was. I have a good friend here who made the transition easier. And a side benefit was that I was only a 6 hour drive from Vancouver BC where my daughter’s school is located.

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Why am I moving now?

Many people assume it is because of the weather - the grey and the wet. No, that’s not why. It is a dramatic difference compared to Texas but not the deal breaker.

I’m missing two things: openly friendly people and hispanic culture.

Portlanders are friendly but not openly so. They don’t start talking to you the moment you step into the coffee shop or walk through the grocery line.

And I had figured just about everywhere has an hispanic community. Especially a big city in a state just north of California. I’ve been surprised to find that is not so.

I may be an introvert but I was raised in a Mexican American family. Where everyone speaks at the same time. Where anyone even remotely connected as family, including neighbors, invites you in, gives advice and has opinions about everything. I’m used to having at least some of the people around me be interested (even nosey) in my comings and going. I’m used to having people energetically extend greetings when I enter their store. I’m used to encountering people walking on the street who nod or wave a hand, if not outright stop and chat. Whether hispanic or not, all of this can be found in Texas.

But I didn’t find that here in Portland. And missing that connection has been the deal breaker.

I’ve experienced A LOT of change that was uncomfortable and so very different. It’s unavoidable when you move from the wide-open spaces and commercial (non)zoning of Texas to the compact, dense zoning of Portland. Culturally also very different.

I’ve been willing to be flexible and open to the differences. I welcome it actually. I believe it helps keep me young and excited with life. But I need a type of connection and engagement that isn’t a part of this city.

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Photo by Joe Cook on Unsplash

So why Phoenix? And how did I make this choice?

Coming to this choice was a surprise to me.

I had new criteria once I realized I would need to move. I needed something with more of the southern friendliness and something with more cultura latina. California seemed like the logical choice.

In fact, my top contender was the Sacramento area. I studied more about the astrology of places to find the energy I was looking for.

Sacramento has a Sun/Jupiter line that would give me the energy and focus toward my work and business that I am looking for.

I visited the area several times and true to the astrology it felt easy and familiar. I had a facility with my work that felt so good. But for some reason, I just couldn’t get to a clean yes - my emotional authority just wasn’t leveling out to a yes.

In my frustrations a few weeks ago, I had a stern talk with myself and told myself to stop with all the conditions I had about what I didn’t want.

If I wiped the slate clean, and only considered the top priority of myself and what I really wanted, what choice would emerge?

The bottom line truth:

• I want to be near my kids. But they aren’t settled. My sons are in their first years of work, just out of college. My daughter will start college next year. My family is in transition.

• I want to build my business. In a way I wasn’t ever able to while raising a family. I want to know what it feels like to create the success I’ve only imagined. To play and create in my field in a way that only I can.

• I want friendly people and hispanic culture.

Once I got clear on that, here’s what emerged: I need a good airport so it’s easy to visit my kids and have them visit me. That’s it.

With that I turned to the astrology again.

The reason I’d been told earlier to look at Phoenix is because I have my Sun and Jupiter lines running right through that area. They are both very strong lines for me especially for business and future personal growth. It also has a taste of Uranus and the Nodes. Uranus the unexpected, innovative and new which I enjoy and actually need in my life. The nodes open the door for me to lean into my dharma.

When I let myself actually consider the area, rather than outright rule it out, I have support there. My aunt lives there. So does a favorite cousin.

And when I visited there with an open mind, I had more ideas and excitement around my work than I have had in the past year.

Intuitively it has a good feel.

However, the mental me still has some questions. I wonder about living in that type of heat again. I wonder about the personality of the city and the people. I wonder if I will find like-minded friend. Those are questions that don’t have answers without living the experience, even if my mind does want to try and find them.

Wanting answers to calm my mind is all about wanting certainty, but that doens’t come for a Human Design 3 profile without taking the action first. That’s a learning curve for me. I’m learning more and more about how to live the 3 profile of my Human Design - making choices as experiments and with the expectation of changes.

And with that, during my recent visit to Phoenix a perfect house revealed itself on the very last day of my visit. I was able to tour it as I drove to the airport to catch my flight. It met all my criteria for a cozy home, including the pool I wanted.

I’ll send you photos once I arrive in late July.

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Sharing this move is a real-time example of how I work - with intuition, with Human Design while consulting astrology, and with a willingness to take aligned action even when certainty isn’t guaranteed.

If you’re in a similar place - considering a shift, sitting in a transition, or just needing a clearer way forward - I’ve opened up a few Summer Mini-Intensive spots.

It’s a short, focused container to help you work through one area of your life or business.

We’ll look at your Human Design, your astrology, and I’ll bring in my own energetic read to help you see what’s ready to move and what’s not.

Includes:
– Two 45-minute private sessions over 30 days
– Voxer and email support in between

This is for when you want clarity, not more noise.

A nudge, a map, and a next right step—aligned with how you work best.

The investment: $1,000