There are women who feel like a portal.
Hollie Azzopardi is one of them.
A mother, psychic, astrologer, bestselling author, and host of the Soul Talk podcast, she has spent a decade helping people find their way back to themselves.
The work is real. Her journey behind it, even more so.
I'm lucky enough to call her a friend. The kind who celebrates every version of you. When you're flying, or when the world, or as we like to say, the planets, are against you.
A Leo Heart.
I asked Hollie some questions about the move that changed everything, the burnout that made her soul cry out for more, and what she'd whisper to the version of herself who didn't yet know how far she'd come.
Consider this a gentle introduction. To her work, her world, and the way she holds people.
If you feel the pull, follow it…
Read the full interview below.
M&E: Ok, so we're both Northern Beaches to Northern Rivers gals ~ tell me how and why you made the move north, and what the greatest gifts of living here are.
HA: From the first time I stepped onto Bundjalung land, when I was only 19, I just knew I'd call it home one day. It was like my soul knew - I had never felt that "home" feeling anywhere in my life before. We got married up here before we made the move, and wrote into our vows we'd start a family here. I am my best self here - the most grounded, intuitive, creative and joyful version of me. And I knew I never wanted to become a mother anywhere else. I feel so lucky to live here. The gifts span far and wide - from the depth of community and connection, to the beauty of nature all around us (it's currently whale season and every year I pinch myself!), the slower pace of life, the beautiful food, the weather, the beaches, the walks, the incredibly interesting people with stories to tell, and the fact every day feels like I'm on holiday. I'm living my dream life because I live here.
M&E: When asked what you do, how do you answer ~ and do you ever adjust your answer to the person asking? I mean this from a place of owning who you are and all that you offer.
HA: I used to, before living here. It was easier to say writer or author than psychic or astrologer, because of the projections I used to receive, especially in Sydney. Nowadays I lead with psychic because I know it's going to either have people lean in (my people!) or back away. I love that what I do for work is so wide-ranging, so I can adjust depending on the audience, but these days it's usually as an unapologetic psychic and astrologer first, then writer, author and podcast host second.
M&E: Your readings are very unique, and I've been so blessed to have experienced a session with you ~ share with us, when did this start for you in your life?
HA: Thank you beautiful! I just love what I do so much - and nowhere was this life what I had planned for me. I have a writing and journalism degree, I interned at CLEO Magazine for two years, and spent 5 years in strategic marketing in corporate before experiencing my first ever burnout at 25. My soul was crying for more substance but I just didn't know what that looked like. I started on my own personal development journey and it was during that time - meditating, journaling, sitting in women's circles - that I realised I was psychically tapped in. I started studying under a number of psychic mentors to develop my skills, and realised quite quickly that this was something that came very naturally to me and the thing I was here to offer the world. From there it took some time to build my confidence up to offer one on one readings - especially as I was still so young, and it was very taboo (especially living in Sydney!) But it's been almost ten years now and I can't imagine doing anything else.
M&E: Your book Saying Yes To You came from a really challenging time in your life. From where you are now, what would you go back and support, whisper words in your ear, or do in that time?
HA: I would tell that version of me that life was about to open up in unbelievable ways. I'd offer her hope. That was the first time in my life I truly felt without hope, which was a very scary place to be. I would tell her to invite in more support, to ask for more help and to take a break from working so hard and just focus on rest and healing. I'd also tell her to move the eff out of that house stat! And to get mould tested much earlier than we did, haha!
M&E: What has cacao taught you?
HA: That the heart is the bridge between everything. The more deeply you connect with your heart, the more grounded you are with the earth and the elements, and the more strongly you are connected to the magic of the cosmic realms, your guides, ancestors and angels. To come back to the heart in any moment of uncertainty, emotional upheaval or overwhelm, or big life transition or point of confusion. Cacao is my anchor into body, mind and spirit. I'd simply not be who I am today without it.
M&E: Tell us some astro fun ~ a snippet of what's coming in the next few weeks. Are we buckling up, surrendering, or livin' life?
HA: Look it's a little of column A, B and C! I'm writing this during one of the most cosmically intense periods of the year - we have Jupiter, Pluto, Uranus and Neptune all forming aspects to one another at exactly 4 degrees. This is a very rare transit and I'm curious to see what will unfold because of it in the coming weeks - think revolutionary energy, big game-changing ways of using technology, and potentially collapsing of power-dynamics geopolitically. It's very powerful, in a good way. Then we move into the nodal shift - the past 18 months we have been working with Pisces North Node and Virgo South Node - a decompression societally of overworking, stress levels, and perfectionism guiding us more deeply into our relationship with spirituality and energetic hygiene. When this shifts, we start a new journey of 18 months of Aquarius North Node and Leo South Node. This is a very community-centric transit, while also unapologetic in creative expression and shining our light in the world. It's a heart-centred transit. It's also got that "age of Aquarius" revolutionary energy to it. Team that with Jupiter in Leo for the next year - luck and expansion in creativity, shining our lights in the world, taking up bold space, and generosity with our hearts - and we have a very beautiful next 12 months or so of collective heart healing, love, joy, play and creative brilliance.
M&E: If you could give any 3 people in the world a reading, who would it be ~ past or present?
HA: Oh my gosh I LOVE this question. Eminem. Taylor Swift. Noah Kahan. (I love music and lyrics and I analyse their charts all the time because of their beautiful poeticism! I'd also add John Mayer if I had a 4th, he has a LOT of Libra. So does Eminem!)
M&E: Best place to eat in the Northern Rivers, fav place to visit on the Northern Beaches?
HA: Lightyears is up there for me as an overall fav, you just can't go wrong. I love WOODS in Bangalow for a warm drink and brekkie, Capiche for steak and GF pizza, Slicks in Lennox for their burgers and Shelter in Lennox to impress someone. When I'm on the Northern Beaches I always squeeze in a Hugos visit if I can, and a walk over to The Boathouse at Shelly Beach for a coffee and brekkie. I recently tried St Alma in Freshwater for the first time and it was elite! And Chica Bonita for yummy lunch. (I'm a foodie if it isn't obvious, haha!)
M&E: You're a mother, a psychic, an author, a podcast host ~ the juggle is real. What does a "good day" actually look like for you now, and has that definition changed since becoming a mum?
HA: Look, it's a lot. And those first couple of years of motherhood were so messy - I was desperately clinging on for dear life trying to work how I used to, which was a recipe for disaster. I really had to let go of a lot - including the income I was used to making, the hours I was used to working - and lean right into this season of motherhood. I have been the sole carer and stay at home mum for my little girl for 4.5 years now. We don't have family living close by, she isn't in care - it's just her and I, and our nanny one half-days a week. A good day for me now is when I am able to be fully present with my little girl. I don't work on the days she is with me. Rather than squeezing work into the spare moments I have, I prioritise filling myself up - baths, a sauna, a walk, some quiet time alone. Then I allocate work to one day a week. This distribution of my time and prioritisation of filling up my cup has been a necessity to "do it all".
M&E: If you could sit in ceremony with your younger self ~ the one before Hollie Azzopardi was a name people knew ~ what would you want her to feel, more than anything?
HA: Safe. It took a very long time for me to feel that. And I didn't really even know that was possible for me. I'd want her to unclench her jaw, soften her face and take the biggest exhale of her life.
M&E: You're a performer at heart ~ theatre, singing, still very much part of your world. What else lights you up like that right now? Where does that performer show up in the work you're doing today?
HA: I love performance so much! Right now I'm co-producing A Streetcar Named Desire with Bangalow Theatre company. We have Madeleine West as Blanche Dubois and we're about to step into rehearsals for that which is absolutely where I'll be getting my performance hit! But also, the podcast for sure. Soul Talk is such a fun creative endeavour for me - I just get to be my fun and silly self, and it's such a joy to share! Also if we had a hidden camera of our mornings in the kitchen - my little girl and I LOVE singing and dancing to start our day, there's not a day that goes by where we don't!
M&E: Ok your turn to read me for a second ~ Leo Sun, Scorpio Rising, Sagittarius Moon. What's my strengths and challenges? And be honest, ha!
HA: Okay so firstly we obviously "get" each other so deeply because of our Leo Suns! But I also know people who know you get surprised when they find out you're a Leo. And it's not because of you - it's because of people's misunderstandings of Leo as an astrological sign. Leo rules the heart. They are deeply generous, loving and giving. They are creatively brilliant. They shine bright. These are all such embodied qualities in you! Then teamed with that Saggi Moon - our moon sign being how we process emotion and intuition, our inner world - tells me that there's a restlessness that could spur when you aren't moving, making, evolving. A fire moon burns - it needs physical activity to process emotion or it will become restless. You would also receive your intuitive intel via bodily cues and signals - like goosebumps, heart flutters, butterflies. And that Scorpio Ascendant - the way people perceive you but also the sign that just comes very naturally to you. You are not someone afraid of depth - be that the depth of your own life experiences, and processing all you have traversed - or depth in conversation. You're not here to talk about the weather! You are the alchemist - turning pain into pleasure, hardships into gold. You're also super hot! Haha! It's a very beautiful big three I have to say - Leo with the fabulous "lion's mane" and shine, Scorpio with the sexy, mysterious vibes. You're also probably super stubborn at times as you're double-fixed-sign! But very, very creative and VERY glass-half-full, sunshiney optimist. (Also keep in mind that this is a surface-level read as we're not looking at the houses or other personal planets here too!)
To stay close to Hollie's journey, and become part of the beautiful community she's created, follow along @hollie_azzopardi.
