We recently connected with Libby McGowan and have shared our conversation below.

Libby, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’m generally not a risk taker. I like to make sure when I land from whatever leap I make that there are several layers of mattresses to catch me when I fall.

Every risk I’ve taken I’ve been shown by the Universe that once I let my grip go and surrender I’m fully supported but I have to let go..

After 25 years of retail management I left. I began building my photography business in 2008 and was not able to leave retail fully until 2014. I had been working for Apple Retail since 2010 and went part-time there in 2012 and left fully in 2014. So maybe that doesn’t sound risky but for someone who’d had a steady income (bi-weekly check) for her whole life, it was a huge leap.

Being your own boss and owning a business was and still is the most incredible but also most challenging thing I’ve ever done and I was successful at it. I continued to run my photography business full time and still currently shoot regularly and just came off one of my busiest portrait seasons to date!

In 2018 I felt something was missing. I was also working on my relationship with my body and I went to a retreat and became certified to be a body image coach. I then created an offshoot of my photography business and opened up a studio to help people repair their relationship with their bodies through photography. Another risk.. Boudoir wasn’t something I’d ever really photographed. The studio lasted for about 6 months. I felt like a failure but I knew the way boudoir was marketed didn’t resonate with me. The Session fee, large packages, etc. Not to mention all the emphasis on the “every day” to the “slay” once the makeup and eyelashes were applied. It left me feeling icky.

Then covid hit. My wedding business took a nose dive and I had all this time on my hands I went back to something I really enjoyed and I dived deep. Tarot. Tarot had always helped me step out of my endless mind chatter and really see the full picture. I took several courses, and even after reading for myself for decades, I wanted to make sure I was knowledgeable to read for someone else. I ended up reading for Biddy Tarot online for 6 months and felt more confident in my intuition and reading for others.

A friend reached out to me and suggested I get certified in Reiki. This flipped the script. Here I was a struggling wedding photographer with cancellations left and right due to covid and I was going down a completely different path. I wasn’t sure exactly what I was going to do with it but like I’ve always said, I just followed the green lights. I was certified for Reiki I soon after Reiki II, I loved it. It was like I’d just stepped into my element. Where I was supposed to be.

Another green light, the owner of my studio space wanted to move someone else in and it was my out. I started asking around about a small space I could rent and then I found the most perfect space and it became Constellate.

None of this may seem risky up until this point but stay with me.

I shut down the studio and began to move to what would be my space on Main Street. I live in a small of 30K, mainly conservative, Southern, bible belt. I was pushing the envelope with Boudoir and here I go again opening a healing arts studio.

When I was interviewed by the paper the guy said. “You think these churches across the street pray for you?” I simply said, “Really? I’m closer to God doing this work than I ever have been in my whole life”

I was the first healing arts studio in my town. I joined the Chamber, I had a ribbon cutting and I put myself out there. That was the risk. Would I be accepted? Would I be threatened?

See I have a fear of being seen, and I’m working on that. So for me, this was terrifying, and still some days it is.

Most days, I have customers come through my door, eyes wide as saucers, “I had no idea you were here!” ” I didn’t know SANFORD had a place like this,,” and I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

I do all the things in this space, I help people heal, I plan body image retreats in Iceland, I shoot portraits, I sell hand-chosen crystals and metaphysical goods, I hold group get-togethers, I read tarot, and have energy healing sessions.

I’m a safe space for someone who just doesn’t have all the answers or maybe feels a bit lost.

We are growing.. slowly building a solid foundation in this little town. I have big ideas for 2023, excited to see them come to fruition.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I think I mentioned enough of the how in the last part..

I offer energy work.. tarot sessions, energy healing, Reiki and Archangelic light sessions. Both would fall under “energetic healing” but they are both very different. Reiki is more about aligning Chakras and AA is working with Angelic energy. It’s very intentional and specific. We call in specific Angelic energies to help with what the client is going through.

I feel what sets me apart from others is how I approach people combined with the way I can see people. I have the ability to help see what’s best for someone. I am a projector in Human Design and if you haven’t gone down that rabbit hole, it will blow your mind. I also love crystal consultations. Finding the right stone for someone to work with. I do not claim to know everything and I am incredibly approachable and down to earth. I feel that in the spiritual community you have to be careful. You’re opening up your energetic body to people who have no business connecting with others. I also can not stand know it alls. So I come from a space of wanting to help and teach and I love people who have questions.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

This was definitely 2020. When I had to shift and realize that the Wedding Industry was not stable, also I was getting too old physically to work weddings.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

That I had to know everything before I began. I have been a student through all of this. Every single session with a client is different.

I’m constantly learning and getting over feeling like a failure because I don’t know everything was and still is a super hard and difficult lesson

Contact Info:

• Website: www.constellatenc.com www.libbymcgowan.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/constellate_nc @libby.mcgowan @libbymcgowanphotography
• Facebook: Constellate.nc libby.mcgowan lmcgowanphoto