Ongoingness Meets
Maegan McDowell
Photographer, Visual Storyteller & Tarot Reader
Ongoingness Meets
It all started with this deep desire to express myself authentically. I yearned to be ‘seen’ in this way but I was afraid to really show myself. This was a personal project yet not just for myself to be seen, but to advocate for women to join me in this process of healing and celebrating beauty.
I already have 16 years of photography experience behind me, this was part of my offering, but I focused on this new version of me that was developing; of internal spirituality mixed with depth psychology, opening up and merging this new creative outlet. Oasis is a sanctuary and space held for women to embrace personal growth, liberation and femininity.
Astrology has been around my life for a long time, I think even back to my childhood. My mother was and is still very interested in the esoteric and fantasy realm which would have unconsciously made me feel quite at home when I reached this point myself. I love exploring peoples charts and helping others see their unique tools and gifts they’ve been born with. I’m interested in Evolutionary Astrology but this isn’t something I have as an offering just yet.
Tarot came into my focus in 2021, and I’ve been drawn to the symbolism, the messages and the accuracy of this medium, finding my own relationship with it. I wouldn’t label myself as psychic or a fortune-teller, I work with the cards in a grounded holistic way with a focus on psychology and spirituality. Utilising it as a self-analysis tool to help guide people into their own awareness, keeping the power in their own hands.
Ooh this question gave me goosebumps. I’m always moving in 100 directions, I’m a Manifesting Generator and Capricorn Stellium. I’m very aware that one of my gifts is to continuously move, and continuously evolve. The period from 2023 onwards when I moved from Auckland to Whangarei Heads was to simply get to know myself (again), and bravely show this outwardly.
To those who know astrology, I’m a Pisces Rising, and Saturn has been in this sign since March 2023 until May 2025 so I would say this chapter is all about sculpting my identity into new forms. Oasis was launched Oct 2023 and I can see how much it has developed since then; how much I have developed. I’m more vulnerable, I speak up more about my passions, I’m no longer living in the spiritual closet, and I’ve started running events which I never thought I’d ever do! I’m evolving and I’m curious of the unfolding.
How to just choose one!
The most prominent I would say was not feeling seen as a child during a very prominent and vulnerable moment in my life. Speaking to a parent and not having them really hear/see me was more devastating that I had realised.
I had always held more space and understanding towards others, most of the time to my own detriment. Opening my heart so wide has given me many painful experiences, but I’ve also experienced. Over the last few years I’ve really given compassion to myself, and the biggest gift was to see myself, that’s what I truly needed, not someone else to see me, but for me to see me. This has always been a gift to hold space for others, I’ve just learnt how to do this in a way that allows me to have boundaries, whilst still inviting others in too. It’s an unconditional gift.
Allow yourself to be human.
That means to be messy, to not get everything perfect all the time, to allow yourself to be vulnerable and to share that to others. It’s been difficult for me to be in my feelings and emotions around others. It’s a very private thing for me, I hadn’t felt seen by others therefore I never felt safe to be held by others in vulnerable moments in my life.
So, what I can do is give compassion to myself when I feel a lot, and towards moments when I’m feeling messy. We’re all just trying to navigate this life we have been gifted, and we’ve been given emotions and feelings, so why try and suppress them?
I wish all women to really feel safe in their bodies so they can embody themselves fully and authentically. To follow their joy and feel free in this life, allow themselves to grow and learn about themselves. To have community with other women, to feel seen and heard and held.
I love this question too—I’m such a nerd when it comes to books.
I’m into mostly inner growth, psychology with a touch of spirituality and creative expansion podcasts, so here is a list that covers all of them!
