“All the fishes in the sea, could not be happier than me.” -Jewel
Changes are coming in my business. It’s about to become even more, well, authentically me.
(TLDR version: starting very soon, HappyFishTarot.com will become CarrieMallon.com and I’ll be conducting business under my own name. I wanna explore this shift further, so here we go!)
Authenticity is not a state you can peg down and then just hang out there forever. Your authentic self evolves, expands, changes. Sure, you probably have some solid traits that remain consistent, but others will morph as you experience life. What felt authentic to you a year ago (or a decade ago, or yesterday) might now feel stifling, less like the truth and more like a role you’re playing.
Expressing yourself authentically also inevitably makes you vulnerable. It may sound a bit wonky, but it helps to ask yourself what is the worst that could happen – and remember that these worst-case scenarios are often far hairier in our heads than they are in reality. Let’s look at a few “bad” things that could happen when you show up authentically:
This is why devoting to authenticity requires resilience and courage and a healthy dose of bad-assery. Maybe you’ll experience some of the things listed above…but you might not experience any of them. Despite the “risks,” humans seem to be magnetically drawn to the downright MAGIC that comes with authenticity. Because here are some more things that might happen when you become more you:
Time for me to get a little more personal with all this theoretical stuff!
When I started my business, using a business name – Happy Fish Tarot – did feel authentic. I was launching a tarot business, after all, and a business needs to have a name…right? I liked the name Happy Fish Tarot. It developed multiple layers of meaning for me over time, and it served me well.
But as my business grew and taught me more about myself, the name Happy Fish Tarot started to feel a little more like a fortress protecting vulnerable little ME from the frontline. I liked the name, yes, but it was also a way to take the attention off…well, the woman behind the curtain.
Of course, there are instances in which it is completely logical to use a business name. But Happy Fish Tarot is, and has always been, something deeply personal. It’s a platform that allows me to express and explore my views. It’s a ship I run completely on my own. It’s a business based around on-on-one client work. The common denominator in all this is…well…me.
As much as that makes me kinda blush and want to hide from the spotlight…there you have it. I won’t hide. I’ll even use a bigger font size! Happy Fish Tarot is, and always has been, Carrie Mallon.
The thing is, I’ll continue to change and become even MORE me, but I’ll always be me. Using my name in business is liberating. Tarot is something that’s here to stay, but this change is my way of giving myself permission to branch out. Using a business name – especially one with the word ‘tarot’ – was starting to make me feel a touch boxed in. I already blog about all kinds of stuff under the personal growth umbrella: creativity, spirituality, tarot and so on. Using my own name seems more fitting in that sense.
So, yeah. That’s what’s happening! Within the next week or so, happyfishtarot.com will forward to carriemallon.com. There will be a few little changes to my site, but my services – tarot readings and mentorships – will remain the same.
Thanks for hanging out with me on the ride, and remember: it’s ALWAYS worthwhile to make adjustments that allow you to feel more like yourself. In fact, that’s what life is all about.
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I'm a tarot reader and mentor. 
I did the exact opposite- I went from my name to a brand, after 3-4 years operating under my name. It does feel liberating.
I love your spark and inspiration, Carrie! Keep going! I can’t wait to see what else you have to offer the world.
The little fish jumped out of the cup 🙂
It made me smile that you did the opposite. It just goes to show that what works varies! Thank you for your kind words, Fiona 🙂
Hi Carrie,
I am absolutely THRILLED to hear of this step forward! I really resonate with everything you say, and I must admit that thanks to you and your VERY authentic, nurturing wonderful voice, I have been allowing myself to explore more of this authenticity with myself and what it means to me… maybe even to launch a blog of my own, but in the meantime, I simply cannot wait to see what your new platform looks like, because I am a HUGE fan of your work, you are without reserve my number one favorite blogger and an inspiration to us all! So I wish you all the very best with this new leap forward, which, might I add, coincides perfectly for the year of the Monkey, a supple, fluid, joyous time, and being a Monkey myself, I am super excited! Lots of love and blessings to you, Nirmala xxx
Hi Nirmala, this comment is so lovely! You gave me a HUGE smile. Thank you, and I’m cheering for you as you explore your own authenticity. 🙂 <3
Big smiles here for finding out what is you and doing it. And the incredible picture, wise words, and heartfelt intention – WOW! Holding space for people to find their authentic selves and bring that out to the world is what our center is all about so I LOVE this!
Any plans to be in Colorado this year? I have a great idea. 🙂
Thanks, Marcia! It is actually possible I will be in CO at some point this year. I have a good friend who moved to Colorado Springs and I want to visit her at some point. I’m not sure when, though – likely spring or summer.
Hi Carrie,
I found your blog half a year ago when I purchased the Wild Unknown tarot deck. And by now, I’ve probably read all the posts you’ve ever written. 🙂
Your blog is definitely my favourite tarot blog, because you are so nice and authentic. I’m so happy for you and really excited about your plans! It’s amazing that you decided to step forward under your own name, you deserve the spotlights!
xxx Nicole
Hey Nicole, aww, you are making me blush. It means a lot to me that you like my blog. I put a lot of energy into the Wild Unknown posts in particular so it’s always nice to hear they are useful! I appreciate it. <3
Exciting! I love following your growth. Look forward to seeing the new site Carrie!
x
Thank you <3 🙂
Hooray! I love your blog, as you know, but I also deeply adore the woman behind it. I am looking forward to seeing you blossom even further into your whole, expansive, wonderful self and continue to inspire us to do likewise 🙂
Thank you for being such a supportive part of this process. Seriously!
I love it Carrie! 🙂 I did the same thing recently, though my business is much smaller than yours. I went from Swedish Tarot Girl to Tarot by Ania to just feel like my business/my online tarot persona would reflect ME fully.
Love, Ania
Good for you, Ania! I adore your Instagram, by the way.
Ahhh. *So happy* I stumbled upon this. Thanks for holding the light for all of us, Carrie. Big love.
<3