Sunsetting Wise Wednesdays and liberating the phoenix.

Sometimes we do things for a clear reason. And sometimes it’s an intuition.

Sitting across from me, the librarian commented on how lucky I was to be able to borrow the dusty leather-bound book she was processing. I said I liked old books and mentioned that the borrowing date above mine was from 1965. She looked up, wide-eyed, and said: that’s my year of birth. I smiled as I leafed through and pulled out a little leaflet from 1953 celebrating St. Gertrude. I gave it to her and said: I think you should keep this. Her jaw dropped and she whispered: that’s my mother’s name. She then told me how her mother was having an operation after a stroke and this made her feel inspired that there were unseen forces looking after her.

It's moments like these that have us want to believe in supernatural powers or universal benevolence. Personally, I don’t believe in an invisible hand orchestrating life, but I witness enough serendipities to know that wonder, awe, and mystery are part of our human experience.

And so, an intuition tells me that it’s time to sunset Wise Wednesdays, a beloved newsletter that’s approaching ten years. It’s been a channel for sharing my brightest creativity and deepest insight, even leading to a helpful book contract following a viral post back in 2019. I’m grateful to have received many messages expressing its impact on people’s lives and careers — from a young man in Chile who quoted me in his resignation letter to a mining company; to celebratory news of values-aligned promotions; or simply how it touched them that week.

Now something else wants to be born. I don’t know exactly what, but it evokes the archetype of the phoenix for me, and I’m drawn to explore The Phoenix Memos as an idea.

Why the phoenix? The phoenix myth originated with Egypt’s Bennu bird — an ancient deity said to have risen from the primordial waters to spark creation. It was reimagined by the Greeks and Romans as a fiery cycle of death and rebirth, embraced by Christians as a symbol of resurrection, mirrored by the Fenghuang in China and the Simurgh in Persia. It endures today as a universal emblem of resilience, renewal, and transformation. Not only does it have ties to my land of origin, it represents the principles that have helped me navigate change these past few years.

Can you see the phoenix(es) in this Chinese jade?

However, I also want to recast the phoenix not just as a symbol of transformation but of liberation. At any moment, it can free itself from the endless cycle of death and rebirth — by remembering a truth it forgot. I want to reimagine the phoenix as awakening by realising its true nature and releasing itself from the endless wheel of change, liberated from the unconscious drive to rise, fall, or begin again. The phoenix can also be liberated.

And so as Wise Wednesdays dissolves into the ether, the next phase of creative work has space to emerge and serve a liberational function. I hope you’ll stay with me as it unfolds.

Thank you for being part of Wise Wednesdays.

Have a great week,Amina

P.S. If you’re drawn to living and leading from liberation, here are 3 ways I can support you:

1. Double Agent No More! Imposter feelings aren’t a problem. They’re a portal to deeper clarity amid doubt and uncertainty. Join me for an intimate group exploration (max. 6 places). November 26th, 6pm UK / 1pm ET. Early bird until Nov 21st £75 then £95. More info and tickets here >>

2. Executive Ease: a 30-minute recalibration session to liberate your mind wherever you’re working. Nov 19^th, 2pm uk / 9am ET. Free registration here >>

3. 1:1 deeper work - Winter Revelations Sessions: Space to examine a decision or situation that's holding you back. I'll help you see through the noise to what's actually true. £179 for 60 minutes including prep questions. Book your 1:1 here >>