Rather than a headline or press release, Rory McAuliffe’s presence first caught my attention during a quiet conversation at a small community gathering near her restaurant in Ojai. She spoke with attentive curiosity, as if she were mapping the invisible contours of someone’s thought rather than just hearing what they had to say. It was ordinary in the finest sense of the word; it was a moment that stayed in memory because of how sincere her interaction with another person was, rather than demanding to be remembered. She seems to base her approach to life and work on this trait, which is listening as an active and giving practice.
Her early years spent in her mother’s bakery, where the aroma of freshly baked bread served as the backdrop for teachings about patience, craft, and service, influenced her creative and caring upbringing near the coast of Southern California. More than just childhood memories, those Saturdays spent in a little kitchen with dough and the soft sounds of patrons became the foundational education of a person who discovered that food can serve as an unsaid language of compassion. Years later, Rory’s Place, which she co-founded with her sister Meave in Ojai, carried that legacy forward as a living, breathing location that feels purposefully nourishing rather than as an homage to nostalgia.
Rory may have continued to work behind the camera, creating images and tales, after completing her undergraduate studies in Film, Video, and Photography at Hampshire College. Rather, she also studied psychology formally, striking a balance between her artistic storytelling and her comprehension of the human psyche. Her varied jobs, whether in wellness facilitation, community workshops, or managing a space where presence and nourishment are intricately linked, have always incorporated this blend of artistic sensitivity and clinical concern.
Rory McAuliffe: Profile Snapshot
| Full Name | Rory McAuliffe |
|---|---|
| Profession | Wellness Practitioner, Restauranteur, Filmmaker |
| Known For | Co-owner of Rory’s Place (Ojai), Reiki healer |
| Education | Hampshire College (Film), Regis College (Psychology) |
| Personal Life | Married to Rose Schlossberg since 2022 |
| Notable Affiliations | Kennedy family (in-law of Caroline Kennedy) |
| Public Presence | @wellnesswithrory (Instagram), Venice-based |
| External Source | People.com: Rose and Rory’s marriage |
The restaurant’s food reflects a thoughtful selection of ingredients and subtle pairings that seem warm yet imaginative; the restaurant itself is not flashy, but its ethos is intentional. Instead of being treated to a theatrical production, dining there is like being welcomed into a quiet, contemplative circle. Many customers see the experience as more about acknowledging that food may touch something underlying hunger, something tender and relational, than it is about following a trend.
Beyond hospitality, Rory has taken a subtle yet effective approach to wellbeing. Her Instagram feed, @wellnesswithrory, is a collection of breathwork cues, grounding reflections, and sporadic insights into her process of being present with herself and others rather than an aggressively curated lifestyle broadcast. There, she has a conversational yet grounded voice that sounds more like she is guiding a close friend through a difficult time than pitching a program. It’s a strategy that encourages participation rather than performance, which seems very effective.
When her presence was mentioned in the public announcement of Tatiana Schlossberg’s untimely death in late 2025, everything changed. Tatiana’s life and achievements were highly regarded, and her death at the age of 35 following a valiant fight with leukemia garnered national attention. The fact that Rory’s name was listed among the signatories on the family’s message was not incidental; rather, it signified how she had joined a group of people who had experienced both great happiness and deep sadness. Something that was not explicitly said about her function was made clear at that moment: she is a partner and companion in times of gravity, and her steady demeanor provides a feeling of stability that is especially helpful while things are changing.
One afternoon, soon after the news, I came across a picture of Rose Schlossberg and Rory strolling down a peaceful street, their shadows lengthening in the late sun. The idea that presence and support don’t necessarily need to be demonstrated by ceremony or spectacle, and that sometimes the most significant accompaniment in grieving is just showing there and walking beside someone, is what made that image stick with me as representative of a broader trend. I found myself reflecting on how uncommon and uplifting it is to witness such poise stemming from grounded engagement with reality rather than avoidance of hardship.
Her tale is further enhanced by her clinical work, which has included positions assisting adults in institutional settings in overcoming personal obstacles. Although it is not the type of work that makes headlines, there is a recurring theme: she makes investments in environments where individuals develop via nurturing rather than coercion. These practices—breathwork, Reiki, and psychological inquiry—are not quick cures; rather, they encourage people to reflect on their own experiences, identify patterns, and develop a level of self-awareness that feels more and more pertinent in a distracted society.
At one afternoon workshop, I watched her conduct a breathwork session. The courtyard floor was covered with intricate overlaps of sunlight and shade, and there were maybe a dozen people sitting on couches. Like a stream navigating stones in a riverbed, her steady, deliberate voice led the group through breathing cycles with an ease that seemed both vast and anchoring. Despite its subtlety, the impact was evident in the softened faces and the almost audible release of stress.
Friends have characterized her relationship with Rose, which was confirmed in marriage in 2022, as being more based on mutual support and curiosity than on public performance. In order to avoid a spectacle that could detract from the day’s true significance, they selected a gathering that felt small and intimate. By making that decision, individuals are directing their lives in the direction of an internal, lived relationship as opposed to an outward, manufactured one.
Public personalities are sometimes described as “relatable,” but Rory’s presence seems to be more about resonance—a person whose actions and ideals coincide, inspiring others to create their own rhythm of presence—than relatability as a notion. Although she doesn’t present herself as a model of wellbeing, her deliberate involvement has a grounding impact on everyone who comes into contact with her or sees her work.
Rory McAuliffe exemplifies a purposeful lifestyle that feels uncommon and has significantly improved over time through her many professions as a restaurateur, health practitioner, therapist, and partner. Her journey demonstrates that power does not always have to be cloaked in status; it can result from shared breathwork, careful attention, and the gradual development of a community via consistent acts of presence.
