The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
My biggest challenge is constantly navigating the balance between holding space for others and protecting my own energy. The work I do is emotionally deep, and I believe strongly that you can’t offer that sustainably unless you’re also tending to yourself. “Fill your own cup first” sounds simple, but living it is an ongoing practice, especially in motherhood!
It matters deeply to me that I don’t just talk about this work, but live it. That means being honest about limits and about the reality of motherhood. I have two young children, and even with a supportive village around me, the way we live in modern nuclear families is essentially unsupportive of mothers. There’s very little built into our culture that sustainably supports women once they have children.
Balancing any form of paid work with showing up at home in the way many mothers long to is a real and persistent challenge. For me, my family is still my number one priority, and this work fits into the spaces that are available around that. I’ve had to unlearn the idea that growth has to be fast or constant, and instead allow this work to unfold in a way that feels aligned, sustainable and true to the values it’s built on.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The biggest advantage is flexibility. I’ve been able to build work that I genuinely love and that feels deeply meaningful. After years as a corporate lawyer, where I often felt as though I was selling my time and energy for something I didn’t truly believe in, that shift has been huge. Now, the work I do feels aligned with who I am, is creative, impactful and I truly love it.
I also just love people! I get to meet incredible women, learn and share rituals and traditions, and bring creativity into my work in a way I never could before. And, on a very practical level, hosting The Gatherings (Spa Edition) has the big perk of working whilst enjoying the jacuzzi!
There are some downsides, as is ever the case in life. When you run your own business, the ultimate responsibility for everything sits with you, including some of the more ‘drudgery’ aspects like resolving tech issues! I do sometimes miss the camaraderie of colleagues, and there’s no natural “switch off” unless you’re very intentional about creating it. Freedom and responsibility sit very close together, and learning to hold both is part of the work.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
What I’m most excited about next is expanding the Moonkeeper offerings whilst keeping the depth and intimacy. I’m launching the first Moonkeeper Book Club – the first will be in person, then they will be offered both in person and online. This will give women a chance to really delve deep into a seasonal topic and enjoy very different conversations to the day to day. I will also be launching an online circle to tie in with The Gathering.
I’m also planning to create more written and audio offerings, including reflective writing through Substack and guided meditations on Insight Timer, so women can connect with this work in their own time and at their own pace. Alongside that, I’m envisioning a more intimate container for women who feel ready to go deeper – a space that blends community with one-to-one support, and supports really deep, sustained and meaningful transformation for those individual women.
At the heart of Moonkeeper is creating spaces that feel like a respite from the day to day, are soulful and genuinely supportive – places where women can come back to themselves, again and again, through different seasons of life.
Visit www.katherinewinny.com to find out more, and connect with Katherine on Facebook and Instagram.
