The Woman Behind ESG

Obsidian Sky: Okay, here we are, again, another interview, another stab at this website thing, and so many burning questions.  First things first, what's different this time?

Chelsea Jo: I am owning it this time.  This is no longer a "website thing" or a "writing thing" or "something I'm going to try."  It's a career change and I am doing it.  It's happening.  While I still have moments of pause and doubt, my predominant feeling is excitement.  My vocabulary has changed and it's shifted my whole mindset.  This is my full-time job.
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Obsidian Sky:​  What made you change your approach?  How did you go from "Aspiring Indie Author" to "A Knowledgeable Witch Sharing Stories"?

Chelsea Jo:  The real catalyst here was a podcast a couple of amazing women I know, started.  Any one who has been following me on Facebook has seen my posts about them, they are called Witchy Wit and I highly recommend them.  Anyway, they talked about Authenticity and Leilani basically coined the term Authenticity Sobriety.  This just, I can't give you words to describe it.  Perhaps like a kindling being lit in my heart chakra, then things just took off from there.

"Aspiring Indie Author" always felt forced for me, but I couldn't figure out what would fit better.  Before "Aspiring Indie Author" the page was, in-your-face witchy, and the blog was "A Witchin' Blog."  I think I had the word "witch" was on my homepage like, 20 times.  While I am both a Witch and an Aspiring Author, neither of those themes fit me and what I wanted.  That was the core of my problem, I didn't know what I wanted.

While setting up my YouTube Channel I was presented with a challenge.  Describe your brand in 5 words.  I finally sat down, after setting up all my social media, and applied myself to the challenge.  "A Knowledgeable Witch Sharing Stories" is what I finally came to.  Instead of forced if felt like a breath of fresh air.  I knew, this is it.  This is how I brand my writing.  This is how I brand myself.

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Obsidian Sky:  Do you plan to take down your old posts or change them to fit the new direction?

Chelsea Jo: No, in fact I reposted old posts from "A Witchin' Blog" and post dated them.  They are decent posts and they tell a story, both in and of themselves, but also as a whole.  They tell my story of trial; of trying repeatedly until I found what works.  I hope that it will be a source of inspiration for others.  That they'll see it's okay not to get it right the first time, or the fifth.  As long as you don't give up and keep looking for the right answer/path/fit, you aren't a failure.

Obsidian Sky: You've mentioned social media a couple times and you've also been posting about it a lot on Facebook.  What are you trying to accomplish with the various platforms?

Chelsea Jo: Well first, as part of my Authenticity Sobriety, I am working on taking up space, on being seen, on being present and noticed.  From a marketing perspective, this gets my brand out there.  On the personal side of that, I'm tackling this crazy social anxiety that I developed several years after getting out of the Army.  At it's worst I had gone a couple months without leaving my apartment, except for once a month for work and groceries and to walk my dog.  When it's been less severe, I would have "safe places."  Places where I could go by myself because I had been there with someone I knew beforehand.  Even my Facebook had become so locked down, I'm surprised anyone could find me to friend me.

The social media with ESG gives me an outlet to be 100% me, to take up space and to once again feel comfortable and safe in my own skin.  As I grow, I want to bleed that out from my virtual life into my real life.  I want to feel comfortable and safe, as my Authentic-self, in new and unfamiliar places.

On a brighter note, I was a Scentsy Consultant for a couple years after I got out of the Army.  I remember fondly, how much fun I had with marketing.  I would make videos about the products, make my own business cards, leave catalogs with my contact info in shopping carts and public places.  I want to get back to that joy.  I am getting back to that!

Obsidian Sky: We've talked about a lot of things so we'll wrap up with one final question.  It was eluded to at the very end of the last interview and you pretty much brushed it off.  Who is Obsidian Sky?  And now, you've added yet another name, Dancing Quill, who is she?  What is the deal with all these names when you are one person?

Chelsea Jo: *soft chuckle* Well, first I'll say I do not have multiple personality disorder and I am not trying to confuse anyone.

It is very common for Witches and those in the Pagan community to have 2 or more names.  Typically there's your given name, also called your mundane or muggle name; then, there is your magickal name.  Sometimes Witches and Pagans will have multiple magickal names; for example a magickal name your coven or circle know you by, and a name known only by you.  It's all personal preference, but it's important because names have power.  They have meaning.  Take my first name Chelsea, it means a harbor or safe place, and the Jo is from a favorite TV show of Mom's.  It's also Dad's first name.

I chose the different names to serve different purposes.  It's easier to think of them as 3 separate entities, not personality wise, but job wise.  

When I'm wearing the Author hat, I step into the name "Chelsea Jo."  It cues my brain to be in writer mode.  When I need to deal with the tedium of synchronizing my social media, or business correspondence, or anything business/marketing related, I put on my CEO hat and step into the name "Obsidian Sky."  When I need some inspiration, some magick, or some magickal inspiration, I put on my Inspirational Coach hat and step into the name "Dancing Quill."  I talk more about the meanings behind the names and how I chose them on my About Me page.

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​Thank you everyone for sticking with me through this long post.  I hope you enjoyed it and that it answered any questions you have.  If you still have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below or, if you prefer, you can Contact Me directly.

Have a lovely and blessed day.