Sight by Maegan McDowell
All photos by Maegan McDowell
This is Part One of the Six Senses Collection, written by guest contributor, Maegan McDowell from Oasis with Mae.
Let's explore the layers of sight, beyond the surface understanding we often associate with it. When we think of sight, we typically focus on our eyes' vision and what we physically see. We trust what our eyes show us as truth—the body language of a person, a tangible object in front of us, or even the thoughts in our minds that we believe are real.
But sight goes beyond mere physical vision; it’s also a tool for internal sight. Truly seeing ourselves requires a deeper vision—a kind of introspection that reveals what lies beneath the seen surface of ourselves.
For over 16 years, I’ve used sight in its most traditional form—through photography. As an introvert, I’ve always been deeply attuned to my surroundings, drawn to the beauty in the world, and passionate about capturing that beauty through my lens. My work has been about shaping light and vision to reveal beauty in its highest form, particularly in the women I photograph.
Over time, my relationship with sight deepened. As I began exploring psychology and spirituality, these paths helped me tune into my personal healing journey. I started to shift my focus inward, realising the importance of unmasking and truly seeing myself. Like many, I once sought validation from others—a desire to be seen, understood, and acknowledged by teachers, mentors, peers, partners, and society. We're often led to believe that success and self-worth are defined by how others perceive us. But how often do we pause to truly see ourselves first?
Photography became less about perfecting an ideal and more about giving women the space to see themselves, as they are—beautiful in their authenticity, gently reconnecting with their true selves.
For me, the journey was about coming home to myself. It meant choosing to see myself—authentically, without the pressures of who I ‘should be’ or what I ‘should do’ in the eyes of others. And as I grew into this more compassionate version of myself, my photography also shifted. It became less about perfecting an ideal and more about giving women the space to see themselves, as they are—beautiful in their authenticity, gently reconnecting with their true selves.
I also felt a deep pull to explore intuitive sight, bringing a spiritual element into my practice. Tarot readings became the tool through which I could offer this. Combining photography with tarot allowed me to share the gift of sight in a unique way—connecting both the internal and external aspects of seeing and healing the relationship to ourselves.
In doing so, I began to recognise the parts of ourselves that we often hide or suppress—the Shadow Self. This part of us carries the wounds of societal conditioning, generational patterns, and coping mechanisms. How many of us go months, years, even decades without looking at the parts of ourselves we feel ashamed of, or are simply unaware of? Ignoring these shadows often leads to patterns of unhealthy behaviour, strained relationships, low self-worth, overextending ourselves in work, or emotional extremities. These are all symptoms of not being in tune with ourselves—of not seeing and addressing our triggers, our pain points, and the unresolved trauma we carry.
Sight, then, is not just about what we observe outwardly. It’s about the courage to look within and to truly see—to witness our inner landscape with compassion and honesty. That’s where the real healing begins.
Sight, then, is not just about what we observe outwardly. It’s about the courage to look within and to truly see—to witness our inner landscape with compassion and honesty. That’s where the real healing begins.
Meet Mae
In Conversation with Maegan McDowell
