In this inspiring episode of the Avoiding Average podcast, Susan Gates sits down with Candace Evalenko to share the deeply personal and transformational story of her Soulo Pilgrimage — a journey guided by the wisdom of astrocartography.

Candace opens up about her shift from working as a nurse during the COVID pandemic to embarking on a healing journey that reconnected her to her power, joy, and purpose. She reveals how traveling to a specific place connected to her astrocartography map, recommended through Susan's Soulo Pilgrimage, allowed her to revisit old wounds, transform past trauma, and experience the freedom of reclaiming her own power.

They discuss the courage it takes to embrace vulnerability, the surprising joy that comes with self-discovery, and how solo travel can become a profound act of reclamation. If you’ve ever felt the pull to break free from old patterns, heal deeply, and step into your most empowered self — this conversation will show you that your journey is possible too.

✨ If Candace’s story resonates with you, explore how The Soulo Pilgrimage can guide your own path of transformation, healing, and empowerment.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How astrocartography can guide your transformational travels

• Why revisiting places of past trauma can lead to powerful healing

• The connection between energy and location

• How to reclaim your story and inner power

• The joy, nostalgia, and spiritual growth found in a Soulo Pilgrimage

• Why trusting the universe is essential in your healing journey

Resources & Links:
🌍 Begin your own Soulo Pilgrimage → www.avoiding-average.com/soulo-pilgrimage
🌟 Book an Astrocartography Reading with Susan → www.avoiding-average.com/travel-astrology
📸 Follow Susan on Instagram or Tiktok → @soulcoachsusan
🎧 Listen to more episodes of the Avoiding Average podcast → Avoiding Average Podcast

Connect with Candace's purpose → www.thefireunleashed.com

thefire.circle.co

youtube.com/@thefireunleashed

Watch the YouTube video about Candace's experience with Wilmington → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHmS0BmKLQg

In this episode of the Avoiding Average podcast, host Susan Gates explores what it truly means to live authentically and in alignment with your personal values. Susan shares powerful insights on how your values shape your decisions, relationships, and overall fulfillment — and why self-discovery is the foundation for creating a meaningful life.

You’ll learn how to uncover your deepest values, the role they play in reclaiming your power, and why honoring them can lead to more clarity, confidence, and purpose. Susan also offers practical exercises to help you pinpoint what matters most.

Whether you’re seeking personal growth, navigating a life transition, or simply want to feel more aligned in your daily choices, this episode will guide you toward living in a way that’s true to your soul.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The real meaning of authenticity

• How to reclaim your power through value alignment

• Practical tools for identifying your personal values

• Why it can be difficult to identify your own values

• How to make hard decisions with more ease

• Resources & Links:
  ✨ Book an Astrocartography Consultation with Susan: www.avoiding-average.com/travel-astrology
  

• ✨ Learn more about Susan's signature coaching program, the Soulo Pilgrimage: www.avoidingaverage.com/soulo-pilgrimage✨ Follow Susan on Instagram: @soulcoachsusan @avoiding.average
  

  
  

  
  

✨ Episode Summary:
In this special astrocartography episode of Avoiding Average, spiritual coach and astrologer Susan Gates shares the astrology behind the journey Carla Maldonado, a spirit baby channel, took from Germany to California. From overcoming postpartum challenges to rediscovering her soul purpose, Carla shares how moving across continents shifted her energy, supported her healing, and activated a deeper spiritual calling.

They dive into astrology’s role in motherhood, career, family dynamics, and creative purpose — as well as the astrological signatures (like Pluto and Uranus) that shaped Carla’s decision to live non-traditionally. Whether you're called to move, create, or reconnect with your spiritual path, this episode is a deeply validating and expansive conversation.

Susan Gates is a transformational coach, astrologer, and host of the Avoiding Average podcast. She blends strategy and soul to help clients break free from burnout, reconnect with purpose, and embody radical authenticity through astrology, coaching, and conscious self-discovery. Connect with her on Instagram/Threads/TikTok @soulcoachsusan

Explore your own soul-aligned geography:
🌍 Book an Astrocartography Reading with Susan → www.avoidingaverage.com/travel-astrology

✨ Sign up for the email list to be the first to know about pop-up mini readings -> www.avoidingaverage.com
📖 Connect with Carla Maldonado and learn about her Spirit Baby Deck → @iamcarlamaldonado

✨ Episode Summary:

In this deeply personal episode of Avoiding Average, Susan Gates opens up about her journey of self-discovery, healing, and what it truly means to live radically authentic. Sharing powerful insights from her spiritual path and coaching work, Susan challenges listeners to question the ways they’ve settled for average and to reclaim the truth of who they really are.

If you've ever felt like you're living a life that’s too small for your soul, this episode will inspire you to embrace your uniqueness, break free from societal expectations, and step into the expansive life you came here to live. From generational healing to embracing individuality, Susan lays the foundation for what it means to live a life of true empowerment and soulful alignment.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Discover the mission behind Avoiding Average and why it matters now more than ever

• Learn how radical authenticity leads to deeper self-acceptance and spiritual freedom

• Understand how societal conditioning creates internal disconnection

• Explore how embracing your individuality can heal generational patterns

• Get inspired to take aligned steps toward your most empowered self

💬 Quotes:

• “You are a unique human being.”

• “You came here for a reason.”

• “Self-acceptance makes you less judgmental of others.”

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• 📌 Chapters:
  00:00 – Introduction to Avoiding Average
  03:14 – The Journey of Self-Discovery
  06:16 – Radical Authenticity and Its Importance
  08:42 – Embracing Your Unique Self
  11:10 – Empowerment and Breaking Generational Cycles
  13:01 – Closing Reflections and Invitation to Explore
  ✨ Ready to take the next step in your own journey?
  Download the free Burnout Decoder to begin reconnecting with your intuition and power: soulcoachsusan.kit.com/burnout
  🌍 Book an Embodied or Travel Astrology Reading to discover your soul-aligned path: www.avoiding-average.com/travel-astrology
  🌀 Explore the Soulo Pilgrimage transformational program here: www.avoiding-average.com/soulo-pilgrimage

🎧 Episode Summary

In this episode of the Avoiding Average podcast, host Susan Gates dives deep into the emotional and energetic roots of burnout and how it often stems from a misalignment with one’s purpose. Susan explains how burnout isn’t always loud and obvious—it can show up subtly as emotional numbness, physical symptoms, or a quiet sense of dissatisfaction, even when things look successful on the outside.

By weaving in insights from astrology, Susan reveals how understanding your birth chart can illuminate your unique path, natural energy rhythms, and how to navigate personal challenges. This episode empowers listeners to reconnect with their authenticity, reclaim their energy, and reimagine success through the lens of self-awareness and soul alignment.

🔥 Key Takeaways

If you’re feeling stuck, uninspired, or like something is "off," this episode is your reminder: you’re more than just one thing, and your path to fulfillment is written in the stars.

• Burnout can be a signal that you're disconnected from your true purpose.

• Success on paper doesn’t equal emotional or spiritual fulfillment.

• Emotional numbness and physical symptoms like headaches or digestive issues are often overlooked signs of burnout.

• Your astrology chart can offer clues to how you uniquely experience stress and depletion.

• You are multi-dimensional—and honoring all parts of yourself is key to healing and wholeness.

• Different "burnout styles" call for different support and resources.

• 🔊 Sound Bites“Your purpose is more than just one thing.”

• “Success does not equal happiness.”

• Episode Chapters00:00 – Understanding Burnout and Purpose
  04:32 – The Connection Between Astrology and Burnout
  07:29 – Finding Balance and Resources for Burnout

  🌟 Resources Mentioned

  • 📘 Download the Free Burnout Style Guide to uncover your unique burnout pattern and learn how to realign with your purpose: soulcoachsusan.kit.com/burnout

  • 🌌 Schedule Your Embodied Astrology Reading or Astrocartography Session: soulcoachsusan.as.me/embodied-astrology

    www.avoiding-average.com/travel-astrology

  • ✨ Learn more about Susan Gates and transformational coaching: www.avoiding-average.com

  📲 Connect + ShareLoved this episode? Be sure to subscribe, rate, and leave a review!
  Tag me on Instagram @soulcoachsusan with your biggest insight.

  💫 Final WordsBurnout is feedback from your body.
  Your body, your emotions, and your soul are asking for more alignment. Let astrology and self-awareness be your compass on the journey back to yourself.

You are more than your sun sign.
In this solo episode of Avoiding Average, host and astrologer/transformational coach Susan Gates takes you deep into the real magic of astrology—exploring how your moon sign, rising sign, and planetary placements shape your emotional world, behavior, relationships, and life path.

Susan breaks down how to read your birth chart, why understanding the full picture matters for self-discovery, and how astro-cartography (the astrology of location) can illuminate opportunities for personal growth and alignment. She also shares how shadow work—guided by your chart—can help you heal and become more fully yourself.

Whether you're new to astrology or already obsessed, this episode will expand your understanding of how the stars mirror your soul’s journey.

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• 📌 Keywords: astrology, birth chart, sun sign, moon sign, rising sign, astro-cartography, self-discovery, personal growth, planetary placements, shadow work

  🎙️ Subscribe to Avoiding Average for more episodes on astrology, intuition, transformation, and living a soul-aligned life.

  
  

  🌟 About Susan:
  Susan Gates is a Travel Astrologer and Transformational Coach who blends astrology, subconscious work, inner child healing, tarot, and soul coaching to help high-achievers break through limitations and live extraordinary lives. With a background in engineering and deep intuitive gifts, she helps clients merge structure with spirit for lasting change. She’s also the host of the Avoiding Average podcast and creator of immersive spiritual travel experiences for personal growth and transformation.

  Schedule a live astrocartography reading with Susan HERE

  Recorded Natal Chart Mini Readings can be purchased HERE

  Astro 101 Blog series can be found HERE

  
  

  👇 Let’s Connect
  🔗 Website: https://www.avoiding-average.com
  📸 Instagram:@soulcoachsusan @avoiding.average
  🎙️ More episodes: Avoiding Average Podcast