discover the daimon (again)

Experiment 12 of Project: AMOR FATI

amor fati?

Amor fati is a Latin phrase that may be translated as "love of fate" or "love of one's fate."

The aim of this project is to help me to find a love of my fate, and in doing so share some useful tips and practices and ideas that will help others to find a love of their fate.

The plan is to set myself an experiment or goal each month that - based on my research on happiness, meaning and fate itself - that should help me get closer to my goal of amor fati.

Each experiment will involve 2–3 different practices or regular actions that I can take over the course of the month's experiment. I’m measuring my love of fate with a very simple little form that I’ll fill in at the end of each month, as well as keeping updates here on Substack.

the next experiment: discover the daimon (again)

I few years ago, I wrote a book about the daimon—our guiding inner voice—only to lose touch with it myself not long afterwards. What does that look like, losing touch with the daimon? For me it was an inability to make decisions without second-guessing. A loss of faith in my ability to steer my own life, as if I were purely at the whim of the gods. And maybe I am. Maybe we all are. Thinkers like Sam Harris argue that everything is predetermined. But even if that’s true, it’s not exactly a helpful worldview. When we feel entirely powerless, it’s easy to feel lost, afraid, and overwhelmed.

If you’re reading this, you probably know I’m an astrologer and a firm believer in fate—our lives shaped by the moment and place we were born, reflected in the heavens. But I also believe we need to feel agency, to trust that we can make meaningful choices. The ancients didn’t study astrology to surrender to fate; they studied it to understand their path and make the best decisions within it. This is where the daimon comes in.

Traditionally, the daimon is that inner knowing, the voice that guides us—if we listen. Following it with awareness is what transforms fate into destiny. (I go deeper into this in my book.)

And that’s really what Project Amor Fati has been about: an experiment in reconnecting with the daimon, embracing fate while learning to navigate it with intention.

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Developing my intutition

All three practices this month are designed to help me develop my ability to tune into the daimon, and the skill that seems most useful for that to me is: intuition.

For some, intuition is that sudden Eureka! moment that seems to come out of nowhere. Others see it as a source of creativity—artists, poets, and writers often speak of their intuition as the force behind their work. As Richard Wiseman puts it in The Luck Factor:

Artists, poets, and writers often refer to their intuitive abilities when they talk about the creative processes that lie behind their paintings, poems, and books.

Personally, I think of intuition as a more socially acceptable label for what I believe is the personal daimon. Unlike the daimon, intuition doesn’t seem to scare the scientifically minded. It’s often described as the insights we receive or decisions we make without conscious reasoning—like that gut feeling that warns, I don’t know why, but something feels off.

Plutarch compared Socrates’ daimon to Athena in The Iliad—a guiding presence that “showed him the way, illuminating his path.” That resonates with how we think of intuition today: a way of knowing, of sensing truth or falsehood, without logic or measurable evidence.

What Does This Have to Do with Fate?

Following intuition—or the daimon—is what the ancients believed, and what modern science has now confirmed, actually leads to an easier course of fate.

Think about it: when you trust your intuition, doesn’t life feel more aligned, as if you’re consciously walking the path of your destiny? Compare that to the uncertainty of doubting yourself, feeling like the universe is an unpredictable force beyond your control. I know which perspective I’d rather live by—one where I trust my daimon and follow where it leads.

And speaking of science, here’s an interesting insight from The Luck Factor:

Unlucky people don’t tend to rely on their gut feelings, hunches, or intuition. It’s not that they don’t have them—they just don’t foster their intuition or listen when it speaks. Lucky people do the opposite. They pay attention to their intuition and use it as an alarm bell, a signal to stop and consider a situation carefully.

So, how do we develop intuition and hear the daimon more clearly?

The answer: meditation (sort of)

Many lucky people swear by meditation as the simplest way to strengthen their intuition. Studies show that those who practice quieting the mind—whether through traditional meditation, mindfulness, or simply stepping away from a problem and returning to it later—tend to have stronger intuitive insights.

The problem? I’m a terrible meditator. Really.

But I’ve found a workaround: guided visualisations. And that’s where my first practice comes in.

First Practice: Guided Visualisation

Three times a week, I’ll spend 10–15 minutes visualising a journey to my daimon, having a conversation with him, and listening.

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Decluttering for Clarity

I recently came across a thought-provoking book: Living in Tune by Liz Roberts. One question stood out:

How do your surroundings affect your intuition?

There’s also this quote:

“Where there is too much, something is missing.” – Leo Rosten

That got me thinking about my space.

I’m highly visual. Even if you’re not, your environment shapes how you feel—sometimes in ways you don’t even notice. Of course, we all have different levels of control over our surroundings. But chances are, there is some level of control you have over the stuff that surrounds you every day.

“By making space, you set a clear intention for what you’re calling in. By purging what you no longer need, you close the door on the past and open one to the future. Often, what we’re unwilling to let go of is exactly what’s keeping us stuck.”
~ Liz Roberts

The wording leans a little New Age for my taste, but the principle rings true. It’s the classic as above, so below; as within, so without idea—our external world mirrors our internal state.

I’ve seen this play out in my own life.

For over a year, I’ve barely touched my astrology business, I’ve seen the odd client, but for the most part, I’ve been closed for business.

Yet, every time I make a small shift—tweaking my website, doing a bit of work on Project AF—something happens. A book sells. One time, a major podcaster reached out the day after I had an internal breakthrough and let go of some old baggage. It’s bizarre—things I wasn’t even working on suddenly start moving.

Now, I’m not saying that cleaning out your closet will magically attract money or romance. This isn’t about manipulating fate. I don’t think fate works like that. The best we can do is learn to tolerate her—maybe even love her.

But decluttering? That’s a way to fine-tune intuition.

Why? Because each time we pick up an object, we get to listen to that inner voice: Does this stay or go? Should this go here or there?

It’s a low-risk way to practice intuitive choices. Plus, it reminds us what is within our control—something that can feel reassuring when life feels overwhelming. And if fate does respond, if things start to shift after releasing what no longer serves you… well, maybe that’s something to pay attention to.

The Second Practice: Decluttering

This month, I’ll do three major clear-outs:

1. Winter clothes

2. Books

3. Cosmetics

Marie Kondo suggests decluttering by category, not by location:

“You can never grasp the overall volume of each type of thing you own—you’re more likely to keep the paperclips in your office if you don’t take into account the stockpile in the attic. The result? A never-ending cycle of tidying.”

So, let’s see what happens when I put this into practice. Will I magically unlock a new chapter of my life? Probably not. But will I create space for something new? Almost certainly.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.

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Morning Pages

Oh, how can I express the wonder that is Morning Pages?

I’ll admit, I’m cheating a bit by including this one—I’ve had a head start on this practice for about a year now. But if you’re new to it, I’m thrilled to be the one to introduce you to what is, quite literally, a magical practice. And I mean magical—as in, magic with a "k," magick.

The concept is simple: you write three full pages of freeform, stream-of-consciousness thoughts—anything and everything on your mind—ideally first thing in the morning. That’s it. Just three pages. But don’t let the simplicity fool you.

Morning Pages were introduced by Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way, a book based on a course she originally taught to help blocked artists and creatives. I first heard about the practice years ago, probably on The Tim Ferriss Show back in 2016, and since then, I’ve completed The Artist’s Way three times. While I don’t love everything about the program, Morning Pages are the one part I always stick with, long after the 12 weeks are over.

Cameron describes them beautifully:

“Pages clarify our yearnings. They keep an eye on our goals. They may provoke us, coax us, comfort us, even cajole us, as well as prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. If we are drifting, the pages will point that out. They will point the way True North. Each morning, as we face the page, we meet ourselves. The pages give us a place to vent and a place to dream. They are intended for no eyes but our own.”

One small adjustment I make: I address my pages to my daimon each morning. Dear Daimon… You can use your daimon’s name, if you have one. Some days, I write as though I’m confiding in a close friend—no response needed, just the relief of being heard. Other times, I ask my daimon direct questions and let the answers flow onto the page. It’s incredible what can emerge.

No matter what I write, I always end with thank you. I believe in showing gratitude to my daimon for showing up—even when I’m not great at showing up for it.

Of course, you can put your own spin on this. But if you want to follow this experiment to the letter, try dedicating your pages to your daimon.

The Third Practice: Morning Pages

Write Morning Pages—three full pages of handwritten, stream-of-consciousness writing, without stopping, as soon as I wake up.

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Wrapping Up: The Final Experiment

And just like that, we’ve reached the final experiment in Project Amor Fati. If you’ve made it this far, you’ve already embraced curiosity, discipline, and a willingness to engage with yourself in new ways. That alone is worth celebrating. Hi fives all round.

So as you step into this last phase of the project, I hope you lean into the process. Let the practices surprise you. Let them challenge you. Let them reveal what you didn’t know you needed to see. And most of all—trust that whatever comes up, it’s all part of the unfolding.

Good luck with the final experiment, and here’s to embracing it all—fully, freely, and with a whole lotta love.

Amor fati. ❤️

how to follow along

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