Emerging after her Saturn Return - Katies Story
Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm Katie, a qualified Naturopath, Medical Herbalist & Nutritionist. I'm super passionate about empowering women to take charge of their health + wellbeing, honour their natural cycles, & feel strong, confident & connected to their bodies. I started my business with a vision to empower women through holistic, evidence-based naturopathic care that honours and nurtures the fullness of their unique selves. I believe every woman has the innate wisdom and ability to thrive when given the right support, guidance, and tools.
In terms of my astrology I'm a Gemini sun, Sagittarius moon & Taurus rising. I feel like my mind is very Gemini, I always have a million tabs open at once & love diversity within my work life + always have multiple offerings on the go. I have a big love for travel and thrive being in different + new environments and am always moving around to different place. My Sagittarius moon loves adventure & new experiences. However my personality is very Taurus - I come across as very grounded, relaxed & easy going.
What made you desire to do a shoot for yourself?
I'm currently in the process of moving my life to Europe and wanted to do something special for myself before leaving New Zealand. The last few years I have been deep in the underworld, navigating a very challenging Saturn return & getting myself through multiple painful experiences. I've learnt so much about love and loss & feel like I've come out the other side a much more grounded, empowered & authentic version of myself. Sometimes our most challenging experiences turn out to be our greatest blessings. I've also just finished 5 years of intensive study & have launched my business into the world. So this shoot was really to signify the closing of a chapter and the opening of new, much more expansive one.
How was your Saturn Return in Pisces, what major downloads/learnings did you discover about yourself?
My Saturn return in Pisces was really challenging. I had to give up and let go of pretty much every single aspect of my life.
The end of a long term relationship, leaving my home, community, work & life that I had spent years building for myself. However as you know, Saturn doesn't allow us to hold onto anything that is no longer in alignment or has not been built on solid foundations. I've come out the other side a much more grounded, confident, empowered & authentic version of myself.
I'm so happy and content with where I'm currently at, but I've definitely had to work hard for it. Saturn really taught me the art of letting go & releasing the strong grip I had on life. At the end of the day we really don't have control over anything & the best thing we can do is simply surrender to life and the way in which it wants to flow.
What drew you to book your shoot with Oasis?
I've secretly always loved being in front of a camera & really enjoy having my photo taken. I loved Mae's philosophy & felt it very much aligned with my own work of empowering women. I also wanted to do something very special for myself to signify the ending of a very challenging chapter and the beginning of a new more empowered one.
What were some doubts leading up to the shoot? and how did you feel afterwards?
I didn't have specific doubts about the shoot, it was more of a matter of trying to find the time to fit it in before leaving the country. I am so glad I did as it was such a fun & empowering experience. It was so nice to get out of the mind and drop into the body with Mae's amazing guidance.
Did you have a stand out favourite part of the shoot?
I loved all of it. Although I particularly enjoyed being on the rocks with the waves coming in. I felt deeply connected to the ocean & so immersed in the natural world. It reminded me of the wild, untamed & unapologetic aspects within myself - free, powerful & completely alive.
Can you share a piece of advice or insight that has been instrumental in your journey of self-acceptance and self-love?
The best thing I have ever done for myself was stop looking for validation, approval, and acceptance outside of myself.
It takes courage to walk to the beat of your own drum, but when you start living a life that is true and authentic to you, everything seems to fall into place & unfold with ease.
Life is so much better when you stop caring about what everybody else thinks & start focusing on giving yourself the love & approval you desire.
Are there specific people, role models, or communities that have been influential in your journey back to self and body love? How have they supported or inspired you?
I think different people and spaces have supported me in different ways along the journey. Some role models, whether through books, social media, or real life have helped me see new perspectives on self-worth + acceptance, and what it means to live authentically.
They have challenged the idea that I needed to fit a certain mold to be worthy or accepted. At the same time, being part of like minded communities with people who hold similar values has given me the confidence to become more of myself.
More than anything, though, the biggest shift came from within, learning to listen to myself, trust my myself, and reconnect with myself in a kinder, more compassionate way. The external influences helped guide me & inspire me, but they ultimately led me back to myself.
What advice would you give to other women who are at the beginning of their journey to 'coming home' and embracing their bodies?
Be patient with yourself. “Coming home” to yourself isn’t something that happens overnight, it’s a process of unlearning, softening, and rebuilding trust with yourself again. Surround yourself with voices, spaces, and people that feel supportive and uplifting. People that empower you to become the best version of yourself.
Would your younger self be proud of the woman you are today?
So proud. I'm exactly where I once desperately desired to be. It’s so easy to look ahead and focus on how far we still have to go, but we often forget to look back and see just how far we’ve already come. Although I have big dreams and goals ahead of me, I am so proud of the woman I am, what I have achieved & what I have overcome to get to this place.
You can find Katie online through her business Well Woman she says: “I’ll be spending the EU summer working at retreats & festivals mostly around the UK, offering my holistic chef services, body work & herbal medicine workshops, while still running my Naturopathic clinic online.”