about me

Now & Then, Then & Now

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black and white typewriter on table

Have you ever paused to look back and see how far you’ve come?

If you haven’t, this is a practice I recommend at least once (or every 9, 10, or 12 years—those are a few life cycle period lengths). This could be through an old blog, journal, conversations with folks, or even just reflecting on what you knew then versus what you know now.

I think you might surprise yourself.

A few days ago, I found myself in a rabbit hole of my blogs from way back when (10-13 years ago), and I found myself laughing, face palming, and thinking, “Gosh, did I really have no shame in sharing this?”

Is it weird that I found Young Me quite hilarious? I hope I still have some of that humor hanging around because I don’t think I realized how funny I was—I was just having fun, sharing my performing, dating, and life antics.

However, I also found that Young Me still had some wisdom to share, like why I decided to break up with the scale because I realized weight is just a number and not an actual indicator of health, wanting to keep music in schools because creativity is essential for kids’ wellbeing, being honest with kids/teens about what protected sex actually is and means because the state I lived in had one of the highest numbers of teen pregnancy in the country, and a few other posts that had my eyebrows raised in surprise because I wasn’t sure I remembered writing them, but clearly I had.

Even though I’ve always felt relatively smart because I got good grades and was one of those weird kids who actually liked school, it’s always reaffirming to have something you said come back to you in a way that shows how wise you were, are, and can be.

This is helpful because oftentimes I don’t remember what I’ve said or written, which is why it helps for me to write things down for posterity.

One of the challenges of being a medium where you just channel energy through you constantly—you barely remember what you’ve said but others do!

Also, how fun is it to have that kind of archive or time capsule to show you how you were then so you can clearly see how you are now. How you’ve grown. How your interests or passions have shifted or deepened. How your view of the world has changed. How you choose what is no longer for public consumption (ahem, Young Me, we may need to have a talk, ha—I still have compassion for you, though!).

Because… We aren’t meant to stay the same. We are here to change, to shift, to adapt. We are meant to grow, to understand more of what we ultimately desire to experience in our lives. As we move through life, we are faced with choices, roadblocks, detours, pain, loss, newfound delights, and all kinds of relationship shenanigans… And all of it shapes us as we go along.

It’s like we can’t help but change one way or another. And there’s always something new to learn from our experiences as we go.

So, that also means it helps to have grace and compassion for who we used to be… Because if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be who we are now.

And that feels like a powerful thing to remember right now.

When I Felt the Biggest YES Ever

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Imagine your skin tingling from head to toe, your heart hammering on in a dancing rhythm, your breathing quickening in excitement, and your brain lighting up and expanding with possibilities…

I can count two times in my life when I got this excited about a job offer…

The first was for an internship for a local news broadcast station right out of college. I’d met a producer while working as a media intern for my university’s sports department. After helping him out in the TV production van for a televised basketball game, he invited me to apply for the internship for the news station. He thought I might like it.

I remember walking into the newsroom and feeling the buzz of everything—and immediately felt how excited I would be to work there. I remember when he said, “It’s safe to say you got the job!” And I felt like crying because it felt like such an exciting opportunity to grow into and learn from. I remember thinking, “This feels like Disneyland!”

Yep, that excited.

Ended up completing the internship, then was offered a part-time evening production assistant job a handful of months later. And I loved working there, I truly did. Every bit of it.

But then I realized, several months later, that I wanted a job with 9-5 work hours so I could still do theatre in the evenings—for what I felt was a balanced life where I could still be creative and have a steady job. So, I loved working in the newsroom, but my other creative passions were calling for my attention.

My Disneyland needed a shift.

Around that same time, I got another invitation for a full-time job from one of my other part-time gigs that sounded like a great fit for me. That job allowed me to stretch my wings as a baby magazine editor, which I loved. That was pretty lucky!

And the second tingles-inducing job offer came a couple of years into my New York adventure…

It was a secret desire. One I wasn’t sure I could do because my career trajectory thus far hadn’t necessarily or obviously pointed to a career in my desired field. But I had privately shared it with my intuitive coach at the time, and I had written it down in my Evernote as a potential business idea. But the niggle of the idea had always been an interest of mine…

A psychic even predicted it was coming. “Watch out for August. Editing work will come in then,” he said.

While not all of his predictions were correct, this one was.

At the end of August, a book editor—the one who had helped me edit my own book back when she was a budding book editor herself—reached out to me and said she wanted to expand her stable of editors for her business to provide a more thorough editing experience… She thought I might be interested.

Y’all… When she offered me a spot in her stable, I HAPPY DANCED MYSELF OUT. I’m pretty sure I cried. It came out of left field, and it felt like the perfect job for me. Came to discover I loved learning from her and working with her. I loved learning the process of book editing, and couldn’t wait to dive into more in-depth editing types for books. And I’m blessed that I still get to work with her from time to time!

A (literal) handful of books I’ve worked on. Delighted to have a section of my bookshelf dedicated to books I’ve helped to edit or proofread!

Book editing became my absolute favorite job. I get utterly lost in the work while editing—helping the narrative become clearer, polishing up the errors and mistakes, offering words of encouragement when desired, and providing constructive criticism. I still lose time in this work since I’m having so much fun. That could be why I started my own editing business… 😉

Never have I loved a job so much—which is saying something because I’ve been fortunate enough to have loved all of my jobs to some degree.

But it was those excited tingles, that sense of my whole body just buzzing as if I’d been hopped up on a dual coffee-sugar rush—only it didn’t have a crash. Only up and up from there!

That excitement felt like the biggest YES I could have felt when it came to my work.

Reminds me of that saying… If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.

Not that you can’t say yes to things that don’t spark the living daylights out of your veins… You can also feel at peace or a general contentment to know if a decision is right for you.

The trick is to notice what your unique yes/no feels like in your body, so you can make those aligned decisions for yourself.

My hope is that you can find something you feel excited to say YES to very soon.

Cheers!

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Originally posted on magicwithmikael.substack.com

What’s in a Name?

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white and black scrabble tiles on a white surface

Do you know the story of your name?

People always ask me the origin of mine.

“Is it Russian?” Nope. “Hebrew?” Nope.

Basically… My mom wanted to name me Michal, pronounced like Michael, (inspired by one of her friend’s names). And my dad said no.

So, they adapted it and it became more… feminine, I guess?

Well, my mom still got her wish because I cannot count how many times during roll call where “Michael” was called to an overwhelming silence, or where other Michaels in the room hollered out (happened at Starbucks not so long ago), or until they say, “Michael Short?”

And my little voice chimed in from the back with a waving arm, “It’s Mikael!”

Like Michelle but with a K. Mickelle, or like a fairly common spelling McKell. My nickname is Kel, so just add the “Mc” on it. XD

Honestly, if I could be known by just my first name—like Madonna, Beyonce, or Rihanna—I would be thrilled! I love my name that much.

What I don’t really love is how often it’s mispronounced. Correcting people all the time gets exhausting (even if it is part of my job as an editor).

And sometimes correcting folks still doesn’t work. I’ve been called Mikale, Mikayla, Mikella, etc., so many times by folks, even people I’ve known for years, that I’m surprised I haven’t had an identity crisis.

I still remember the essay I wrote, not so subtly directed to my third-grade teacher who consistently emphasized the A in my name—like Mikale. It grated on my skin like a cat’s claws. I really dislike the A being pronounced like that. Her note on my essay read, “Gee, I hope I don’t do that!” Yet her pronunciation didn’t change…

There was one person I allowed to emphasize the A—my paternal grandfather because it’s how he said my name with his slightly remaining English accent, and I loved that his accent crept in on certain words. The way he said the A in my name was more subtle, so it was endearing coming from him.

Occasionally, I’ll allow my brothers and family to call me Michael, as a joke, and I’ll still respond to them. Mostly.

(It’s also oh-so-fun when I get mistaken for a “Michael” over email, and someone responds, “Hey Mike”… I’m not a Mike. Check the signature, folks. XD )

Now that I’ve moved to a multicultural city, I’ve gotten a whole new world of pronunciations for the spelling of my name. I didn’t realize it was such a common spelling throughout the world! The pronunciations differ, and that’s fascinating in itself.

“Mik-AH-yel”… The Spanish pronunciation, for one.

“Meek-AY- il” … Russian-esque.

“MEEK-ell” … French & Swedish—though I do have ancestry from both countries!

There are probably more; those are just the ones I’ve heard most often. It’s been so cool to hear the variations of Mikael!

I feel like my name carries a certain frequency within its spelling and how it’s supposed to be said for my person. All names do, I believe.

And part of me wishes it would be pronounced right more frequently, but what can you do? I know I’m not alone in having to explain how to pronounce my name during introductions.

So, the gift of my name also presents a practice in patience in correcting folks when it’s mispronounced. Which is also a practice in speaking up for myself, I’m now realizing, instead of just letting mispronunciations slide.

That’s why when someone does say my name right the first time, it’s blooming music to my ears and I feel so seen.

(A coach I admire—Amanda Frances—said it correctly recently when she called out a comment I left on one of her livestream events, and my goodness… Can’t remember the last time I felt so elated when someone said my name right the first time without having to ask!)

Overall, though, I feel like our names are important. Names set the stage for the life and the person of who we are. Our names, whether bestowed or chosen, shape us one way or another.

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It’s really fun to look up the meanings of our names too… Have you done that before?

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With my unique spelling and pronunciation, I feel like that means I’m just meant to embrace my uniqueness—to love who I am as a fully individualized human (something I think we are all here to learn).

To embrace all the different pieces of me, no matter how esoteric or unusual they are.

To embrace my unique desires and wants, since I never really wanted much of what was modeled to me growing up—I already know I’m a generational curse breaker.

To embrace the ways I feel called to express myself even if it’s not considered the so-called “right way” to promote myself and my work.

And it’s a reminder to stand up and be my own person—to be brave enough to shape my own destiny.

Your name is your name. And you get to choose how you say it and how people address you. There’s power in your name… just as there is power in you.

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As a fun writing challenge, look up or align the meanings of the character names in your book.

I keep a “spark note” of names I might like to use in future books.

Perhaps you can start a note like that for yourself!

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If you have a unique spelling to your name, love the story of your name, feel free to hit reply or drop it in the comments!

A Call to Joy – How TIE Was Born

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I want to tell you a secret…

I want to tell you how and why The Intuitive Editor was born.

Because I realize I haven’t told anyone except my coach in 2021…

Why It All Began

The Intuitive Editor was born because writing is one of the most natural things I do. It’s not something I’ve ever felt self-conscious about. And it was something I became known and recognized for. It’s been my selling point for every job I’ve held. 

I’ve always been a writer, pouring stories onto pages since I learned how to write.

And just like writing, reading fills my soul.

Both reading & writing are where my playtime, my learning, my growth, my self-reflection, and my creativity live and thrive.

I love writing in all the ways it serves me and all the ways I can create new things with just words. I can transport and change others just like what I’ve read has transported and changed me throughout my life.

From Writing to Proofreading…

From my love of writing in all the work and all the jobs I’ve done, I began to love improving writing.

Taking an article and cleaning it up. Making sure headlines and lower thirds are accurate. Proofing emails and brochures before they go out. Shiny, sparkly, and clear.

The writing jobs beautifully segued into editing and proofreading. I fell into it and fell in love. 

There’s nothing like taking a piece of writing and polishing it up so it’s free of errors and clear in its message. Scrubbing out all those errors, typos, and misused verb tenses littering the path along the way.

And I love learning about how to improve my writing and editing skills. Those two passions co-exist within me.

The more I write, the better I get.

The more I edit, the better I get at both writing and editing.

Seems like a win-win, no?

A Call to Pursue My Joy

When it became clear to me during the pandemic that I needed to be writing more, that writing calls me more than anything else I do… I found that my voice and stories needed the space, energy, and freedom to pour from me.

And the work I was doing… Needed a big adjustment to allow that. 

While I love writing in all its facets, freelance writing is actually quite draining for me. In multiple ways. Energetically and creatively.

I knew I needed to find work and build a career that wouldn’t drain my creative juices so much and also felt enjoyable because… I’m simply not available for work I don’t enjoy. I know I won’t be motivated to do it if enjoyment isn’t there, and that’s not fair to anyone.

So, I sat down and explored what work I most loved to do that didn’t suck my creative juices dry.

Enter editing…

Every single job I’ve had, I have proofread, copyedited, and edited countless files and documents. And that’s always been my favorite part of every job!

In every office, I became the go-to proofreader, earning the moniker “The Machine”  since I was so efficient and accurate in catching errors and maintaining style guides prior to print, post, or broadcast.

Even when a close friend or family member sent me something for a quick once-over, I’d get so excited that I would literally drop everything to proofread something for them to help. It became my favorite way to help loved ones. 

Serendipitously, a few years back, I was invited to join a book editing firm as a book editor and copyeditor. And honestly? That was the most excited for a job that I’ve ever been. And it’s been the best job ever—plus, I get to work with a dear friend and mentor who saw my potential. <3

What It All Boils Down To…

I love diving into something to make it better. I love correcting the errors and providing guidance for the writer to improve their work in the future. That’s ridiculously fun for me, and I can literally do it for hours without looking up. 

Sometimes it feels like alchemy… Taking something and making it shine. Spinning words and stories into gold. 

That’s it… I’m a story alchemist.

That obsession and excitement to do that kind of work was my sign—my billboard from the Universe—for what kind of work I should be doing.

Then I Started My Business!

So, now I’m here, with my own editing business. One that incorporates my core strengths: my intuition, writing, and editing prowess. It really is a perfect marriage of my skills. 

And in creating this business, my hope and dream is that my editing business will support other writers & creatives live a more balanced and creatively enriched life while polishing up their stories and increasing their potency—while also maintaining my own creative writing practice. 

Because the Universe knows this girl has piles of stories coming out of each finger tip that she wants to put to the page. (I’ve got a couple over here in the Bookshop!)

When it comes time for me to send my books out into the world, you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be hiring an editor or two myself.

After all, even editors need editors!

Want to Work With Me?

So, if you’re ready to step into a more divinely led creative path, putting your stories onto the page, and building a creative practice that’s in harmony with the rest of your life… I’d be tickled & honored to help you shape and polish your written works too.

Thanks for being here and hearing my story. <3

The Woman Behind the Editing Curtain

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In case you’re wondering who is behind The Intuitive Editor, look no further.

My name is Mikael (pronounced Mih-kehl, she/her), and I am the editor & writer behind this purple curtain.

And I cannot wait to help you make your content shine. Whether it’s a book, a website, articles or blogs, your resume or cover letters, I’ve literally done it all! With more than 12 years under my belt as a professional writer and editor, I have a plethora of experience writing and editing that spans a number of industries and styles.

Not only that, but I’ve spent the last six years honing my intuitive abilities since they came roaring onto the scene with my Saturn return—my most attuned psychic abilities include clairvoyance (clear seeing), clairsentience (clear feeling), and claircognizance (clear knowing).

This means I can see straight into the heart of the matter and channel what’s there—whether its your business, book, or message—so we can strip away what’s unnecessary, clarify what’s there for more impact, and proof & polish it all to how it’s best meant to serve you and your audience.

With the technical editorial experience combined with crystal clear intuitive insights, I help you to elevate your writing to new heights while also offering suggestions to further improve your writing skills. And because I enjoy this work so much, I aim to make it an enjoyable experience for you as an author too. (I, too, am a writer and understand how scary it can be to hire an editor in the first place.)

What matters is that I help your words shine through in your own voice so you can make the impact that you desire to make and reach the people that resonate most with your message. I’m here to help make your writing sing with confidence & heart while also keeping away those distracting grammar/punctuation/spelling mistakes that make you look unprofessional.

Your words are what represent you… And I can help you to make them sparkle and shine from the inside out. Let’s talk.

What Defines You?

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I have a question niggling my noggin, lovely reader.

It also happens to be President’s Day in the USA, and I know it’s been a week (or… a long time more) of questioning the humanity and morals of what it means to be a representative of those living in America. So, perhaps this question is timely…

What defines you? 

Admittedly, the source of how that question came up was due to an indulgent watch of Confessions of a Shopaholic—which, while quite corny, has a couple of one-liners that I had to jot down to myself to remember. Like, “Cost and worth are two very different things.” 

Ever get a feeling or nudge to watch or read something in particular, even if it’s something you’ve already seen or read? I get that all the time, and I certainly love to listen to that nudge since I’ve come to trust it to know that I’m going to get something out of it this time that’s perfectly relevant to something going on in my life. A message is in it that I need to receive. Apparently, Confessions was my source this time… 

This time, “What defines you?” stood out as I finished up the film.

Is it your career or creative projects? Your skills or talents? Your family? Your house? Your money or belongings? Or perhaps it’s something less concrete, less what you do, and more like who you are being?  

Now I’m going to pull out another movie quote (like I always do), though its source is a book… See if you can guess which movie it is: 


“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” 

And I think that’s an important distinction to make.


We get to choose what we do with our lives.
We get to choose what we do with our money.
We get to choose what we say or not say, do or not do. 
We get to choose how we respond to what life throws at us.
We get to choose what we think and how we think. 


In the end, our choices will distinguish and define us more than almost anything else. 

So I pose these questions to you as they are the questions I’m asking myself… 

Are your thoughts and choices reflecting what matters most to you?
Are you choosing to respond to life in a way that reflects your values?
And at the end of the day, are you proud of who you are being?

Growing up, I was often labeled as “the girl who sings in the bathroom” and “the walking sweet tooth.” I love singing and I love sweets—those are just small pieces of who I am and not the whole picture by any means. It’s how other people perceived me and these were the labels I liked best since they made me laugh while also being true. However, I’m not defined by these monikers. 

Since I’m presently taking a break from social media, I find myself in yet another moment of checking in with myself, taking space to redefine (if necessary) and rewrite unhelpful beliefs, practices, and behaviors into something more constructive and more aligned with who I am. It’s easy to get distracted and far too easy to fall into what other people expect from you and the endless competition/comparison trap that comes with the endless scrolling. I don’t try to compete with anyone but myself, and in the last few years, I haven’t felt like sharing.

Only now am I beginning to crack open my process again to share with you. 

It’s very fun to learn and peel back more layers of who I naturally am (especially thanks to Human Design for that). In getting to know more of myself, I’m learning who I want to be moving forward with that intel. In recognizing the kind of person I want to be and how I naturally operate, I can choose to better align with that vision (for example, like someone who loves to exercise regularly for health and wellness since I miss doing that, and I’m definitely doing better in that regard and feeling better because of it too—win!). 

Right now, I’m choosing to get to know myself better and to follow what I feel guided to do, and it may not always be what’s “expected” from me. Trusting my intuition and instincts to know what the next right step is. And sharing this letter with you is part of it. So thank you for being here! <3

Ultimately, I’m learning that I’m defined by no one but myself, and my definition is in constant evolution—and that feels exciting. Like there’s always something new to discover, explore, integrate, or even release. Nothing wrong with a work in progress! 

Just as I love to uncover more layers, I love to further understand the people and the world around me. I find we are all reflections of each other to some degree. We all have something to learn, and sometimes what we most need to discover about ourselves comes to us through other people (just like I find nuggets in rewatching movies as I feel inspired to).

So, perhaps in each other, we can also find a little more definition and purpose.

And (hopefully) definitely more love and compassion. We really need that these days. 

What have you learned about yourself lately? I’d love to know!

Comment below and let me know your thoughts.