When the Soul Says Go: Ana Zaharia on Choosing an Aligned Life
Interview by Heather Anderson
Ana Zaharia didn’t set out to become a transformational coach or astrologer. In fact, her path has taken more than a few unexpected turns—burnout in design school, a pivot into holistic health, a decade behind the scenes at one of the biggest astrology platforms, and a quiet but persistent knowing that there was something more she was meant to do. Her story doesn’t fit in a box—it’s real. And it’s exactly this winding, deeply human journey that now allows her to help other women reclaim their clarity, rewrite old stories, and build lives that actually feel alive.
Her work today blends coaching, energy work, and intuitive insight—offering not just information, but real transformation.
In this conversation, Ana opens up about the surprising moment that changed her career trajectory, how guilt can keep women stuck in invisible patterns, and why understanding your Moon sign might be the key to more sustainable self-care. She also shares what it’s like to raise two children while navigating life and business with her astrologer partner—and the moment she realized her daughter wouldn’t arrive until she fully stepped into her purpose.
Your journey has been anything but a straight line. Can you take us back to one of those defining moments when everything shifted and you had no choice but to transform?
Back in design school, I was studying to be a fashion designer and had already poured years into that degree. But by my third year, I had a massive wake-up call. I was totally burned out, dealing with anxiety, and starting to wonder if this was the life I actually wanted. Fashion was all-consuming. I kept thinking: Am I ever going to have time for love, family, a life?
What really hit me was how out of alignment it felt with the kind of future I wanted. My health was already falling apart, and I realized I couldn't keep going in that direction. That moment cracked me open and led me into the world of holistic health. I started studying nutrition and detox, and even while finishing my degree, I was already building a side hustle as a health coach. I knew deep down that if I wanted to be vibrant, present, and fulfilled, fashion design wasn't going to get me there.
“Astrology is the map. It gives you a framework to understand who you are and where you’re being called.”
So many people feel stuck, knowing something isn’t working but unsure how to change it. What was your moment of clarity—when you realized you weren’t just transforming your own life, but were meant to guide others too?
When I started sharing my story and recipes on a blog, things took off. It was just for fun at first, but people started reaching out, asking questions, wanting support. That’s when I realized this wasn’t just for me. The changes I was making in my own life were resonating with others.
Even when I first chose fashion, I made a deal with myself that I would use it to help people—my vision was to design clothes that made women feel beautiful and powerful. That intention never changed. The medium did. Now I help women feel empowered through self-awareness, alignment, and transformation.
Having transitioned first from fashion design to web and graphic design, I know you still help healers and changemakers beautify their web presence on the side.
Yes! That’s actually how I first got in with the detox nutritionist I worked for in New York. I basically showed up and said, "You’re doing amazing work, but your website needs an upgrade. I can help."
Ever since then, I’ve kept one foot in that world. I spent a decade in-house at a major astrology company, building and managing visual and digital educational content. And even now, I still help clients create websites that reflect the heart of their work. It might seem like a separate skill, but it’s all connected. When we uplevel our visual presence, we often find ourselves rising to meet that new version of ourselves. Design is transformation too.
You’re a transformational coach and an astrologer with expertise in energy work. How do you bring these together in your work?
Over the years, I’ve gathered tools from different chapters of my life: coaching, clairvoyant work, astrology, energy healing. They all weave together now. I don’t separate them in my own life, so I don’t separate them with clients either.
Astrology is the map. It gives you a framework to understand who you are and where you're being called. But it’s what you do with that insight that leads to change. My role is to help people take action—to move through fear, shift old stories, and align with the life that’s right for them.
Astrology is having a major moment, but your approach goes beyond memes and sun sign stereotypes. What do people often misunderstand about it?
People are starting to know their Moon and Rising signs, which is great. But real astrology goes way beyond the Sun or ‘Big 3’ (Sun, Moon, Ascendant or ‘Rising’).
It’s not about labeling yourself and using it as an excuse—like, "Well, I’m a Scorpio, so that’s just how I am." It’s about awareness and agency. For example, if you have a Moon in Sagittarius, you might need time alone to process conflict before reconnecting. Knowing that helps you navigate life with more grace.
Astrology also helps us understand ourselves better and truly honor our unique wiring. It also really helps put life cycles in perspective. We all go through hard seasons that are meant to be hard. When you understand what those moments are about, you can face them with more intention and come out stronger on the other side.
You mentioned you're creating a workshop called Mama Moon to help moms connect to their Moon signs. Can you give us a glimpse of what that actually looks like—how might someone's Moon sign shape their self-care?
Absolutely. Your Moon sign reveals what helps you feel nourished, grounded, and emotionally well. It’s like an energetic blueprint for how you self-soothe and refill your cup. And while your full chart adds nuance—like which house your Moon is in and what aspects it makes—even just knowing your Moon sign can unlock so much clarity. Here’s a little blurb for each one, with the caveat that there’s always more depth when you look at the full picture. But even this is a personalized gem you can implement today:
Aries Moon → Move your body.
You’re not meant to sit still with your feelings. Walk it out, dance it out, sweat it out—motion brings clarity.
Taurus Moon → Indulge your senses.
Light the candle. Eat the good chocolate. Wrap yourself in your softest blanket. Comfort is sacred.
Gemini Moon → Stimulate your mind.
Read something new, talk it through, write it out, shake things up. Your mind needs fresh air to settle.
Cancer Moon → Create comfort.
Nourish your nervous system with cozy corners, familiar meals, and space to just feel what you feel.
Leo Moon → Express yourself.
Get loud, make something beautiful, take up space. You’re meant to shine—don’t dim for anyone.
Virgo Moon → Prep something nourishing.
Chop veggies, brew tea, clean one corner of your world. Caring through doing calms your system.
Libra Moon → Find your balance.
Make things beautiful. Light some incense. Call someone who gets you. Harmony restores you.
Scorpio Moon → Write the thing you’re afraid to say.
Let it pour onto the page—raw, uncensored, unfiltered. Then burn it, keep it, or let it change you.
Sagittarius Moon → Get out and explore.
Leave the house. Take the long way. Find a new perspective. Movement clears your spirit.
Capricorn Moon → Make a plan.
Progress is self-care. Choose one thing you’ve been putting off—and take a real step toward it.
Aquarius Moon → Do something weird on purpose.
Break a rule, wear the avant-garde shirt, start the unconventional project. You weren’t built for boxes.
Pisces Moon → Retreat and dream.
Turn off the noise, light a candle, and drift into your inner world. Imagination is how you refill.
A lot of moms feel like they’ve lost touch with themselves in the constant demands of parenting. How can astrology help them reconnect?
There are so many ways! And the unique chart of each mama will tell a different story. I’m actually creating a workshop called Mama Moon all about this! The Moon in your birth chart tells you how you need to be nurtured—what makes you feel safe, grounded, and whole. Knowing that can change everything.
We give so much to our families, but we can’t pour from an empty cup. Understanding your Moon sign can reveal why certain self-care practices work for you and others don’t. It helps release guilt because you realize your needs aren’t frivolous. They’re essential.
You say you help people "release old patterns." Can you share a common one you see and how to start shifting it?
A huge one is self-sacrifice—especially for women and moms. Even when we know better, we get stuck in old patterns of putting everyone else first.
A first step is to ask: Where did I learn this? What was modeled for me growing up? Sometimes it’s something subtle that happened in childhood, but we carry it like a curse. Once we bring that into awareness, we can start rewriting the story.
Another big one is fear of failure. I personally held myself back from launching my practice for years because I had this inner belief that I wasn’t meant to succeed. It took inner work, energetic tools, and some truth-telling to unravel that. We can use astrology, energy work, and coaching to unstick those old stories and help people move forward.
You and your partner Brett are both astrologers. Do you ever use astrology in your relationship or parenting?
All the time, but we try not to overdo it. We use astrology more as context—when to move, when to slow down, when something our kids are going through makes sense based on their chart.
It helps us parent with more nuance. Every child is different, and astrology gives us clues about what they need, how they communicate, and how they process the world. It’s not about boxing them in—it’s about meeting them where they are.
You have a 10 month-old and an 9 year-old. Has anything surprised you about becoming a mother again?
I thought it would be easier this time around—less of an initiation. But it wasn’t. It was its own transformation.
I had several miscarriages before my daughter was born. During that time, I got very clear that something in my life had to change. I was still working at a company I had helped build for a decade, but my soul was asking for more. The message I received was, "Until you fully commit to your dream, she’s not coming."
The day I made the commitment to start my own practice, I got a positive pregnancy test. It was one of those sacred moments that confirmed I was on the right path.
Transformation often comes with loss. What have you had to let go of to step into the life you have now?
Leaving that job was heartbreaking. I helped build that company from the ground up. I loved the people, the work, the mission. But it didn’t fully honor who I had become. I wanted to work one-on-one. I wanted to guide people deeply.
Saying goodbye to that chapter was necessary for what came next. And I believe our children bring us lessons too. My daughter helped me see it was time. Her arrival demanded a new version of me.
If someone reading this feels like they’re at a crossroads but aren’t sure where to start, what’s one small shift they could make today to begin moving toward clarity?
Ask yourself: What do you want to do that feels just a little bit edgy? What’s right at the edge of your comfort zone? Do that.
It doesn’t have to be huge. Just take one aligned action and see what opens up. Maybe it’s taking a new dance class. Maybe it’s starting a podcast. Maybe it’s transitioning to a 4-day work week… you don’t have to know where it will all lead yet. You just need to say yes to the first whisper and the rest will follow.
Feeling the nudge to explore your own transformation?
Discover your energetic blueprint and your moon sign with her free birth chart generator.
You can also find Ana on The M List, The Mamahood’s searchable database of mom-recommended resources, or connect and collaborate with Ana inside The Club membership for women Founders.