Let's talk!
Julia MacMonagle
The Mother Ranch
Friendship Rd, Apex, North Carolina
720-635-7015
•••Visitors by appointment only•••
Because of the confidentiality of the work, I require an appointment to visit the ranch.
And bonus!, I can then focus completely on YOU! :-)
•When you set up an appointment to visit, you will be given the address.
•Please leave your beloved pets at home. If you're feeling deprived, feel free to snuggle one of the many animals here :-)
About Julia
For as long as I can remember, I’ve understood my life through creativity. Whether I’m putting paint on paper or words on a page, that’s where I slow down to hear and understand what I’m really feeling.
Here at The Mother Ranch, I’ve created a small sanctuary where women come to breathe, create, and reconnect with themselves. This place isn’t just a location, it’s a feeling, a place where you can soften and not have to hold it all together.
Through my Women’s Circles and art gatherings, I guide women into a softer, more spacious relationship with themselves, not through pressure or performance, but through presence.
I blend my training in Equine Gestalt Coaching and intuitive creative work with a deep respect for each person’s inner wisdom. I’m not here to fix anyone. I’m here to offer space for what already lives inside you to surface with softness and understanding.
At The Mother Ranch, the ponies and mini donkeys lend their presence and steady nervous systems. Online, the act of making our small paintings brings you into your body and into the moment.
Whether you’re standing in the pasture or sitting at your kitchen table, the invitation is the same:
Slow down.
Notice.
Breathe.
See what emerges.
I believe that beauty heals.
That creative play reveals truth.
That women thrive in circles of soft, compassionate belonging.
And that when we make things with our hands and hearts, we tap into something deeper and wiser inside ourselves.
If you feel a little spark of curiosity, or a quiet little "yes," I’d love to create alongside you.
Much love from The Mother Ranch,
Julia
At The Mother Ranch, we believe in…
• Open-hearted curiosity
Rather than having “the answers,” we allow questions, intuition, and inner knowing.
• Many paths to meaning
People come here with different backgrounds and beliefs, all grounded in compassion and respect.
• The wisdom of the natural world
Animals and the land offer a calm, regulating presence that helps us access our Inner Voice.
• Creative expression
Art gives shape to what lives inside us more honestly than doctrine ever could.
• Nervous system safety
This is a space where you can soften and not have to hold it all together.
• Listening to intuition
Whether through reflection, art making, or just being present, answers often come from within.
• You are the expert on your own experience
No one here will tell you what you should believe or feel.
• Inclusive belonging
This is a community for women who value kindness, curiosity, compassion, and growth.
If you’re curious about my spiritual background, worldview, or the journey that shapes how I hold space, here are a few personal writings:
Telling the truth of it. A personal reflection on honesty, transparency, and becoming more fully myself over time.
Religious background. The story of my evolving spiritual worldview, from inherited belief to inner knowing.
We marched for her. A piece about compassion, justice, and the deeper “why” behind the work I do with women.
Why "The Mother Ranch?"
We bought our first ranch in Longmont,
Colorado in 2016. We had looked for over a year and nothing had felt
right but when we drove down that driveway, we began to feel
the calm wash over us. We toured the house and it was great but we
couldn't wait to get outside to see the 15 acres. Both my husband and I knew it was the one. We could just feel it.
It took us a few more months to figure it all out, moving from the
burbs to property was a big change but it was waiting for us when we were
ready! During those waiting months, I started asking for guidance on
the name of the property. "The Mother Ranch" came to me one day, out of
the blue and it was the same feeling, I just knew it was right.
It's not because I am a mother, although I am. It's not because I work with mothers, although I often do. It's because the land felt motherly, like a huge, warm hug.
When we began searching for a new farm in North Carolina to be close to aging family, we were hoping for the same feel. When we drove down the driveway here, the same feeling enveloped us. The motherly love is strong in this land as well. Come visit and feel for yourself ❤️
Certified Equine Gestalt Coach?
What does that mean? I was trained by Gestalt Psychotherapist Melisa Pearce, a pioneer in the field of human/horse healing. Her Equine Gestalt Coaching program takes 2 years. I've been practicing since 2016 and I complete yearly CEUs (Continuing Education Units) to keep my certification.
