When we walk the path of our Dharma, the universe is always conspiring in our favor.

In December of 2025, my alchemy crystal singing bowls, along with other instruments, were stolen from my car.

At first, it was devastating: emotionally tied to them, and financially crushing since I’d let my insurance lapse. Lesson learned, of course, but I realized something important.

In that month and a half without them, I moved through grief, surrender, and a deep exploration of non-attachment. And I trusted: if something of that worth left my life, it was making space for something greater. And it did.

During that time, a dear friend, CD, offered me a ticket to NAMM, the world's biggest music conference (I had to look it up, lol). He encouraged me to go, network, and make new connections for instruments. With immense gratitude, I accepted.

And in that immense, overwhelming sea of creators, tools, and sound, the universe guided me.

In ten minutes, I stumbled on the most breathtaking display: Meinl Sonic Energy, a German brand with the finest gongs and bowls.

And just like that, I fell in love. They told me they had different programs and ways they work with sound healers, and so naturally, I DM’ed them on Instagram wanting to learn more! They informed me I needed to apply, and so I did.

And not only did they want to find ways to collaborate, but they also invited me to train with them in Germany to become an ambassador!

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So, not only did my alchemy bowls (magically) return, but this entire portal opened: prosperity, expansion, abundance.

✨

Side note: You may have read about it in a previous Substack- after a beautiful ceremony with 30 of my closest friends, holding a vision of return, 4 days later, the Santa Monica Police Department called: They found my bowls.

I’ll share more about what I learned from a Sound Bath Facilitation perspective, but fast forward to today, I’m surrounded by new beautiful instruments

(I shared the unboxing of them on my instagram)

… I also am now connected to a global community of sound healers, and the biggest lesson I’ve learned is this:

1. Never underestimate the power of redirections.

2. When a door opens, step through. If it’s in alignment, it will take you somewhere beautiful. And I can’t wait to see where this chapter leads.

3. Trust: the universe is always conspiring in your favor.

Rooting for you always,

Natalie

It’s a question I’ve been sitting with deeply over the past few weeks. The last two years, I’ve been building a nonprofit alongside my co-founder, something that feels deeply aligned with my Dharma, guided by Spirit, and rooted in purpose.

And at the same time, I won’t romanticize it: building something from the ground up is a tremendous amount of work.

Alongside this, I’ve continued to hold my own work- work that also feels meaningful and intentional. But even when everything is aligned, the reality is that overwhelm can still creep in. The edge of burnout is real. And when you layer on the daily weight of global events, the constant stream of news that can make the world feel like it’s unraveling, it’s no surprise that my nervous system begins to feel stretched thiiiin.

Recently, I hit my edge.

SO, I took a mental health day- something that, as someone who is self-employed and working in “wellness,” can feel paradoxical. Yes, I have the freedom to create my own schedule. But that freedom can quickly blur into working all the time. The lines dissolve. Rest becomes optional. And often, it’s the first thing to go.

But in that intentional pause, I remembered something simple and profound:

We don’t always need a complete escape to restore ourselves. Sometimes, we just need a moment.

What I’ve come to understand is the quiet, steady power of microdosing pauses.

Because the truth is, living life as a constant sprint is not sustainable. And yet, many of us are in seasons where we are being asked to show up: consistently, fully, and without much space for extended rest.

My ideal is at minimum of a week in nature, unplugged, immersed in meditation, movement, and prayer. And while that vision is nourishing, it’s not always within reach in the immediate future.

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So the question becomes: how do we meet ourselves where we are?

For me, it looks like carving out small, intentional moments throughout the day. Moments that may seem insignificant on their own, but over time, create a powerful shift.

It’s stepping outside for a short walk and leaving my phone behind.

It’s holding my mala beads and moving through a cycle of japa meditation, even if it’s just for 6-10 minutes.

It’s allowing myself to pause between tasks, to take a few cycles of boxed breathing, to reconnect with my body instead of pushing through.

These micro pauses are not a replacement for deep rest- but they are a bridge. A way to regulate the nervous system in real time. A way to remind ourselves that even in the midst of demand, we are allowed to soften.

And what I’m noticing is this: these small moments have compounding benefits.

They bring me back to center.

They create space where there was contraction.

They allow me to continue showing up- not from depletion, but from a place that feels more grounded, more present, more sustainable.

Thriving in chaos doesn’t mean we eliminate the chaos.

It means we learn how to be in a relationship with it, without abandoning ourselves in the process.

So if you, too, are in a season of intensity…

If you feel the pull of purpose, but also the weight of it…

If your nervous system feels like it’s hovering at its edge…

Consider this your invitation:

You don’t have to wait for the perfect conditions to rest.

Find your micro pause 🌀

Take the walk.

Close your eyes.

Breathe.

Pray.

Be.

Even for a moment.

Because sometimes, a moment is enough to begin again. 🌿

- Natalie

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I’ll be honest, I’m usually someone who feels deeply attuned to these transitions; the shifts, the cycles, the subtle changes in light and energy.

But this season of my life? It’s full.

Beautifully, overwhelmingly full.

I’m managing multiple projects, holding space in many directions, and living inside the reality of seeds I planted long ago, finally beginning to sprout. (If you know me, you know I’ve been using this analogy like it’s going out of style)

And as any gardener knows, new growth doesn’t just happen; it requires attention. Care. Presence. Consistency.

And lately, that has meant keeping my head down- chopping wood, carrying water.

Today alone, I taught three classes and moved through four meetings in between. By the time I finished my final class, I was exhausted.

The kind of exhaustion where the couch calls your name and nothing else sounds remotely appealing… Currently, my show of choice is “The Palm Royale” on Apple TV.

But earlier in that class, a question came to me that my dear friend, and non-profit Co-Founder, Paula, had asked during our time in Colombia:

How can I be my own best ally today?

And I knew, deep down, that the answer wasn’t the couch.

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So I texted my husband and asked him to bring me my sneakers to the yoga studio. My plan? A sunset hike.

Not because it was easy.

Not because I felt energized.

But because I knew it would serve me.

Because being your own best ally doesn’t always look like comfort.

Sometimes, it looks like choosing the thing you don’t feel like doing, because you trust who you become on the other side of it.

So I drove out of the parking lot, laced up my shoes, and made myself a promise:

You don’t just get to talk about it (the holistic lifestyle, mindfulness, movement as medicine, nourishing your spirit, etc), you have to live it.

And out there, walking through the effervecent and lush Topanga Canyon, surrounded by wild green life reborn after the rains, I remembered.

I listened to frogs singing in the creek.

Watched the sky shift colors as the sun disappeared.

Moved carefully past the poison oak I now know so well after five years here.

And somewhere in that walk, I softened.

I reminded myself, “Being your own best ally isn’t about perfection or constant discipline. It’s about discernment.”

It’s about recognizing the difference between the voice within myself that chooses from exhaustion, fear, or convenience…

and the voice that chooses from clarity, intention, and self-respect.

If you’re reading this, I want to remind you that your highest self, the version of you that sees the bigger picture, doesn’t always choose what’s easiest.

But they do choose what’s most aligned.

And in a world that can feel heavy, where injustice, uncertainty, and constant noise can pull us down into overwhelm, this practice matters more than ever.

So today, after this equinox, I’ll leave you with the same question I asked myself:

How can you be your own best ally today?

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If you’ve been following my story, you might remember that on December 10th of 2025, after leaving my final sound bath of the year, I stopped to get dinner at Urth Cafe in Santa Monica. Within the 10 minutes that we stood in line and ordered, someone broke into our car and stole my collection of Crystal Tones Alchemy Singing Bowls that I’d been building and working with over the last 7 years.

I did all the things:

• Filed the police report

• Looked into my insurance only to remember that I procrastinated renewing it, and it had now expired

• Tried the homeowners’ insurance route, but they were determined to prove it wasn’t a personal property loss, but a business property loss since I used the instruments for my work- therefore, they wouldn’t cover it.

On December 31st of 2025, I decided that this must be the final shed of the year of the Snake for me, afterall the lunar new year was only a month and a half away. So I entered 2026 feeling confident with a new daily affirmation that I wrote in my morning pages:

“I am divinely supported and held, and things always work out in the highest alignment of my path and my Dharma.”

I continued with my life, and support from my loved ones and community started to pour in- friends were encouraging me to start a GoFundMe, but my pride was very resistant towards it. And then my friend had the brilliant idea of hosting a fundraiser event, so it felt more reciprocal, so that’s what I did.

The moment I knocked on that door, the Universe conspired, and the most beautiful event I’ve ever co-created started to materialize.

Eve Gaines, founder of Rituel, offered to host the event on her beautiful land in Topanga. Mel Nahas (founder of Conscious City Guide) offered to pour tea and hold a tea ceremony, and Amber Lee (a healer whose work I’ve admired from afar for a long time) offered Reiki during the Sound Bath.

This is when things start to shift: during the event, we opened a portal.

Eve led a blessing ceremony for the attendees to call in new energy for the year, and what I didn’t know was that she was also going to have everyone offer blessings to me.

The feeling of 30 of my friends, soul family, dear clients, and students all coming together in collective prayer for my well-being is a feeling I will never forget. One by one, each person came up and dropped a red rose and wrote prayers and blessings in my bowl.

Leaving that event, I knew one truth: “I am divinely supported and held.”

4 days after the supercharged event, I received a text message from the Santa Monica PD Detective: “I believe we have some of your instruments that were stolen.”

My jaw dropped. For a second, I thought to myself, “Is someone messing with me?!”

I had to wait until the next day to pick them up because the office was already closed, and the anticipation of waiting to see if it was actually my bowls, and if they were in tact/ didn’t break was almost too much to bear. But when I arrived at the police station, all of my crystal bowls were there, perfectly packed just how I’d left them - intact.

When I asked the detective where they found them, I couldn’t believe what he said.

The night that my bowls were stolen, the people who took them abandoned them about a block away from where they took them. For whatever reason, something within them told them not to take them.
The next morning, a woman walking her dog stumbled upon them and decided to bring them to her apartment. She told the police she contemplated keeping them, knowing what they were and their value, but something within her told her she didn’t need them and decided to turn them in to the police instead.

A month and 2 weeks later, the report of the found items was matched with the report of my stolen items…. and that brings us to now.

The cliche saying “if you love something, let it go…” has never felt more true or resonated so deeply.

I am still processing everything that happened, but the miracles that have come from this are clear. Since the recovery of my bowls, I decided to refund everyone who donated via Zelle and Venmo, and donate the GoFundMe to organizations helping people impacted by ICE.

One of my closest friends donated a large sum, and when I returned the donation to him, he texted me this: “Talk about the universe giving us signs. I was so hesitant about spending money to repair my spine via physical therapy, but I guess I’m being told I should invest in myself lol.” The amount I refunded him was the exact amount he needed to invest in his health.

While I don’t have answers, and I know that not all stories end like this, what I do know is this:

• Collective prayer works

• Miracles are always available to us; they may just not manifest in the way we expect them to

• We are divinely supported and held, even through hardship

I am so grateful and in awe of how everything unfolded.

May your angels and divine support make their presence as clear and felt as I’ve felt mine in the last month.

And next time you’re praying for a miracle, just know, it’s already done.

And the truth is, my phone has always given me a certain degree of anxiety, but between the violent headlines and ourcries of injustices, my nervous system finally landed in a nearly catatonic state.

In this state of feeling emotionally numb and wanting to completely withdraw from the world, I found myself hardly recognizable. As a proud daughter of El Salvadorian immigrants, an Aquarius moon ( emotions very much rooted in humanitarianism), and a Mercury in Scorpio (communicating in unapologetic ways), speaking up on injustices has never been hard for me. So when I found myself at a loss for words, wanting to retreat, I knew something was severely wrong.

According to research, on average, individuals interact with their smartphones around 2,617 times daily, with heavy users touching their devices up to 5,427 times per day. This equates to receiving, on average, 74 GB of information daily from various digital sources, causing severe brain overstimulation.

To put that in digestible terms, 74 GB of data is a massive amount of information, equivalent to streaming roughly 16-18 high-definition movies, playing 700+ hours of online games, or listening to over 1,000 hours of music.

Ok, now couple that with extremely heart-wrenching, triggering, and extremely graphic news- it’s no wonder so many of us are feeling numb. Cruelty is loud. Fear travels fast.

Our nervous systems are not and have never been bombarded in the ways they are now.

So what are we to do?

A wise teacher of mine once said to me, “When you don’t know what to do, do nothing”.

So often, I look outwards for answers and solutions- and sometimes I find them, but more often than not, I find myself in an echo chamber, reposting, regurgitating what I’ve heard, and adopting perspectives that seem righteous.

So, for the last few weeks, I’ve decided to limit my intake of information and focus on bringing joy and light into my day through practices, nature, and connection.

From that stillness, two nuggets of wisdom emerged:

1. There is merit in practice during dark times; ESPECIALLY during dark times.

   1. A teacher of mine, Janet Stone, said it best: “Practice is not denial, nor is it passivity. It is preparation. When we slow down enough to feel what is actually here - the fear, the heartbreak, the urgency - we begin to regain clarity. We interrupt the knee-jerk reaction. We remember how to stand without hardening, how to act without burning ourselves out.”

      Staying centered in times like these is not indulgent.

      It is an act of protest and sustainability.

   2. When a warrior, key player, teammate is wounded, we don’t need them out in the arena- we need them healing, recovering, resting, so they can show up stronger than before. If you’re in a state of fight or flight, you need to first recalibrate, to strengthen the capacity to respond rather than react.

2. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.33

   (मैत्रीकरुणामुदितोपेक्षणां सुखदुःखपुण्यापुण्यविषयाणां भावनातश्चित्तप्रसादनम्॥३३॥

   maitrī karuṇā mudito-pekṣāṇāṁ-sukha-duḥkha puṇya-apuṇya-viṣayāṇāṁ bhāvanātaḥ citta-prasādanam

   Translation: friendliness toward the happy, compassion toward the unhappy, joy toward the virtuous, and indifference toward the wicked.

   1. The key here is defining what indifference toward the wicked means. To me, this isn’t passive. This is standing firmly in love, as a warrior of light, not allowing the wicked actions of immoral humans shake our foundation and steadiness in love. Not allowing the illusion of division blur the vision of Unity. I think this notion is so perfectly encapsulated in what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said.

      

If you feel numb, immobile, helpless, and want to withdraw from the world, this is your wake-up call.

This is your permission slip to sit in stillness and silence, becuase the truth is, we need you.

We need your heart-centeredness.

We need your voice for the voiceless.

We need your light.

We need your medicine.

We need your joy.

We need your resistance.

We need your resilience.

And just to be clear, abolish ICE- Power to the Peaceful. ✊

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Many of us started this year of the Snake (which we’re very much still in until February) in a very intense way, and the waves kept coming.

As someone with a spiritual and meditation practice, impermanence is a part of my vernacular and a lens through which I try and see life: the loss of a job, the ending of a friendship, misplacing my favorite necklace, it’s all impermanent, isn’t it? But what happens when the BIG moments in life ask you to surrender to impermanence?

When your first pregnancy ends in a miscarriage, when your grandmother and last grandparent transitions, when your collection of Alchemy Singing Bowls you’ve been building for 7 years gets stolen from your car… just let it go… right?

WOOF.

As I write this, I am on the other side of my first miscarriage, my last grandparent passing away, and my precious Alchemy Singing bowls being stolen. And while yes, there was a lot of grief, pain, anger, confusion, and sadness (some of which still have ghosts wandering the deepest chambers of my heart), I bow to my practice in reverence.

Non-attachment means not clinging to any one state, and it can be spontaneous, but for the most part is happens through the application of it in real life.

Contextual Impermanence Awareness (Anicca) is lovely to read about, bring into topics of conversation, and share with my yoga class and sound baths. The PRACTICAL APPLICATION of it… HA. Now that’s a tall order. And one that must be taken with gratitude and reverence. Don’t be afraid to accept life at face value and let yourself expand to the mindset that it all serves your greater purpose.

I often refer back to this quote: “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” And I want to offer my expanded version:

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering within the human experience is inevitable, sometimes optional. But they’re both temporary.”

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So my friend, if you’re reading this, hurting, with the ghosts of your grief still very much present, I see you, and I invite you to let yourself hold it all. Cherish it all.
Ask those ghosts to sit down for tea, and share the wisdom they have to give, for one day won’t be there, and only their lessons will remain.

So as we navigate the final month of the Year of the Snake, and the Universe has a few more things for you to shed up It’s sleeve, I offer you this:

Anicca. Practical application:

• Notice that challenging emotions eventually pass.

• Treat wins and losses as temporary, not as your self-worth.

• Try: “This is here now, and it will change.”

• Observe the constant arising and passing of all experiences: sensations, thoughts, sounds, and emotions, without grasping or resisting, recognizing everything as temporary, and allowing yourself to flow with reality rather than trying to control it

• Let your heart and your breath be your home base. There, you are always safe. There, you ARE always.

May the brilliance of your heart illuminate your path.

With love,
Natalie

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Enjoy 🙏🏽

Natalie

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For me, that moment arrived earlier this year, sitting cross-legged on the cool stone floor of an ashram in Rishikesh, India, a Rudraksha mala with the deity Lakshmi at the end, wrapped loosely around my fingers.

It was the beginning of my teacher training, and although I had practiced meditation for years, I had always carried a quiet belief that I needed to try my way into stillness. “Chitta vritti nirodha” was something I had to earn.

Chitta vritti nirodha is a foundational concept from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras that defines yoga as “the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind”. It means calming the mind’s “modifications” or “fluctuations” (vritti) of the “mind-stuff” (chitta) through the practice of yoga, leading to a state of stillness (nirodha)

So one evening, I had my initiation into Japa.

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Japa meditation: the ancient practice of repeating a mantra bead by bead.

I didn’t realize at the time that this single morning would become one of the most defining threads in my personal practice.

Today, Japa meditation is one of the core rituals that holds me—when I travel, when I’m driving (one hand on the wheel, the other holding my mala), when I feel scattered, before I teach sound, and even on the days when I need to drop into my heart before opening my inbox. It’s a simple practice. Elegant in its structure. And deeply powerful in its effect.

I want to share with you what it is, how it works, and why chanting a few soft syllables can shift your entire nervous system into peace.

Using prayer beads isn’t a new concept, nor is it associated with one specific religion or region of the world- from Catholicism to Buddhism, prayer beads are a part of many rich rituals and traditions.

So, let’s talk about mantra meditation- many in the West associate it with Transcendental Meditation (TM), which was popularized in the West by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and is taught by certified instructors.

Unlike meditations that focus on emptying your thoughts, mantra meditation gives the mind something to rest on. Something steady. Rhythmic. Almost like a melodic anchor.

Why Japa Meditation Works So Well

What makes Japa uniquely powerful is its combination of sound, touch, and repetition.

1. Sound (or silent internal sound)

A mantra creates a focal point for the mind. Instead of spiraling in thoughts, your attention follows a simple rhythm, helping you enter a meditative state with ease.

2. Touch

The mala beads engage the body. Touching each bead adds a tactile layer of grounding, which is especially helpful for anyone with an active mind or a sensitive nervous system.

3. Repetition

Repeating the mantra 108 times creates momentum.
Repetition is a form of devotion.
Repetition is how the mind learns to quiet itself.

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The Technique: Japa Meditation

1. Choose a mantra

You can begin with one of these:

• So Hum – “I am that / I am”

• Om Shanti Shanti Shanti – a mantra of peace

• Om Namah Shivaya – connection to inner Self

• Or simply “Om”

Choose what resonates with you.

2. Hold your mala in your right hand

Let it drape over your middle or index finger. Use your thumb to move from bead to bead.

3. Start at the bead next to the guru bead

(That’s the larger bead where the loop connects.)

4. Repeat your mantra for each bead

You can chant out loud or internally. Let the sound guide your breath. Let the breath guide your body into softness.

5. Move through all 108 beads

If you reach the guru bead, do not cross over it. Instead, turn the mala around and begin again in the other direction if you want to continue.

6. Close with gratitude

Thank yourself.

Thank the lineage.

Thank the small synchronicities that led you to this moment.

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Thank you for being here, for reading this, and for choosing to walk this path with me. May this practice bring you home to yourself again and again.

With warmth, devotion, and so much love,

Natalie

When we practice gratitude, we become the bridge between the cosmic and the human—fully present in our lives while attuned to the subtle magic that surrounds us.

To honor the theme of gratitude in November, enjoy this brief and heartfelt meditation to cultivate thankfulness.

with love,

Natalie

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I discovered yoga at 19, and it catapulted me into a slow, steady, and almost subtle healing journey that changed the trajectory of my life.

In 2018, I completed my very first modality certification: Soundology. At the time, I was 27, embarking on my Saturn Return, and stepping into a new chapter of my life — one filled with curiosity, courage, and a longing to align with my truest authenticity and soul purpose; to be of service to something greater than myself, greater than just collecting a paycheck.

Love and Alchemy became the vessel through which I explored healing, well-being, and the power of evolution /transformation. 🦋

But as life unfolded, so did I.

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Over the past seven years, I’ve grown through seasons of expansion, stillness, and profound change. My path has taken me deeper into my own healing — and this year especially, I’ve experienced the greatest grief of my life.

Grief, though painful, has a way of stripping everything back to truth.

It recalibrated my values and reminded me of what really matters.

For me, it revealed a clear, unwavering call:

to live and lead in full authenticity. 🙏🏽

As I sat with that truth, I realized that Love and Alchemy had become a chapter I had already lived and integrated. It was the cocoon that supported my early evolution — but I am no longer who I was when I began.

This transition to my name, Natalie Valle, is not a departure from what I’ve built.
It’s a return — a homecoming. And though it might seem insignificant to an outsider looking in, to me, it is the marker of a deep inner transformation.

A reclamation of my voice, my story, and my truth.
A reflection of the woman, teacher, and guide I’ve become — grounded, tender, and deeply human. ❤️

Love and Alchemy will always live within me. It remains the heartbeat of everything I create: love as the foundation, and transformation as the path.

But now, the work moves through me with more intimacy, simplicity, and soul.

This shift marks a new chapter — one where I continue to bridge the mystical and the human, the inner and outer worlds, but from a space of embodied truth.

Thank you for growing with me.

For walking this path of love, alchemy, and remembrance — together.

Here’s to what’s next.
Here’s to coming home.

With love,
Natalie

Let’s break down some terms before we go any further:

Ikigai (生き甲斐):

A Japanese concept that refers to having a sense of purpose, a reason for being, or a reason to get out of bed each morning. It encompasses the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Essentially, it's about finding joy and meaning in your life through a combination of passion, mission, vocation, and profession.

And while that is truly a gift and privilege to uncover within oneself, it’s easy to confuse our Ikigai as our only Dharma.

Dharma:

One's soul's purpose or unique path in life, a concept deeply rooted in Eastern philosophies, Hinduism and Buddhism. It's not just about what you do, but how and why you do it, encompassing your unique energetic signature and how you contribute to the world.

OK, now that we’re all on the same page, I want to preface by saying that it’s a valuable thing to do, to live life from a place of Ikigai and Dharma, but we get into trouble when we think that they are the same thing.

Let me explain. Ikigai is often related to what we do and get paid for; ie, our work, our craft, our offerings.

Dharma, on the other hand, is much, MUCH bigger than that.

While yes, it encompasses how we are of service and get compensated for it, it also encompasses the other aspects of our lives: how we show up in our relationships, the role we play in our family dynamics, the beauty we create through art, and the life we live in our day-to-day.

Dharma is everything and anything your soul encarnated into the physical body you’re in, at this exact timeline, to live out the exact life with the exact people you’re meant to.

In our western capitalistic society, it’s a slippery slope to think our Dharma is ONLY our work. And I say this from LIVED EXPERIENCE.

BUT, as of lately, I’ve been focusing on living my Dharma in other aspects of my life:

• Marriage/ partnership

• Family

• Friends

• Travel and adventure

• Creativity

• Emotional Wellbeing

• Physical Wellbeing

  

If you’re like me, the 7 categories I just listed get easily put on the back burner and are deprioritized under work.

Work will always be there, and divine timing is E V E R Y T H I N G.

There are seasons to plant seeds, seasons to harvest, and seasons to allow the soil to be dormant and recover.

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I’m slowly emerging from a season of watering my soil, nurturing my roots, and prioritizing my authentic joy. I allowed my work to go into a dormant state, especially compared to the amount of energy and momentum I put into it last year.

And the most surprising part of this whole experience has been that my work naturally evolved, clarity and alignment came with ease, and my passion has once again been reignited.

So even if you don’t take 3 months to be like Ganesha, and enjoy the sweetness of life, my invitation to you is to carve out just 3 days- to maybe rent an Airbnb, or pitch your tent and camp somewhere beautiful, inspiring, where the signal is low, and the nature is rich. My suggestion: go where the cows are- they never steer you wrong. (If you know me, you know I’m currently obsessed with cows lol)

PS. If you’re wondering who Ganesha is, Ganesh is a widely revered Hindu deity known as the remover of obstacles and the deity of beginnings, wisdom, and good fortune, who also enjoys the sweetness of life.

Rooting for you, always!

With love and gratitude

Natalie

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Don’t turn a blind eye

Don’t think for a moment your spirituality can’t also hold your sacred rage

Don’t close your eyes and heart to the collective grief and suffering.

Observe it, hold it, then alchemize it.

If your love and light are a deflection to not feel and see what’s happening,

it’s not spirituality.

It’s bypassing.

If you’re not feeling it, you’re not listening

If your inner fire isn’t activated yet, it’s time to stoke it.

If you think that oppression towards a “different race” doesn’t affect you,

the work isn’t working.

What does it actually mean that we’re all interconnected?

How do you define unity consciousness?

Maybe it’s time to revisit the books and teachings and realize the time for data collection is over

The time for action is upon us

Maybe it’s time to have a better understanding of our shared humanity.

To look deeper into the collective pain and realize, aggression towards others is an aggression towards oneself.

To be silent in moments where the voiceless need your voice is violence.

From Gaza to Los Angeles.

Violence is not the answer

but neither is silence.

Dig deep and find your medicine

fan the flames of your inner light

Be kind, be patient, be compassionate with one another.

It’s time.

We’ve known better.

It’s time to do better.

And finally, rest. This is a long road ahead.

The tides are turning in front of our eyes

We need you fully embodied, fully present, fully in your heart.

May the prayers from the depths of the chambers of your heart, waiting to be spoken, find the weaver of your voice

May the whispers of our ancestors become so loud that we can’t do anything other than let them steer this ship.

May we find common ground and plant seeds of peace in that fertile soil.

And so it is.

Upon my arrival in Delhi, I could feel the energy shift- all of my senses were stimulated as I navigated my way to customs for my 30-day visa to be activated.

Immediately upon stepping foot on the retreat grounds of Sattva Yoga Academy in Rishikesh, I felt my entire being settle into the unexplainable knowing: "I'm home."

Rishikesh is recognized as the yoga capital of the world and one of the most sacred places in India. It calls thousands of pilgrims and spiritual seekers from around India and many countries of the world.

For the 30 days to come, my schedule would settle into what I considered to be yogi bootcamp:

5:30 am wakeup, 6:30 am Puja ceremony

7 am meditation, 8:30 am yoga practice

10 am breakfast, 11 am yoga /kriya breakdown

12:30 lecture, 2 pm lunch

3:30. pm wisdom talk, 5:30 pm break

6 pm yoga practice, 7 pm dinner

8:15 pm evening meditation, 9 pm bedtime

Pretty quickly, I realized the absolute privilege it was to learn from my teacher, Anand, and how eternally grateful I would be to be a part of this lineage.

Anandji's teachings come from the Vedic tradition and merge with the pure Tantric roots as taught by the ancient Masters in the far reaches of the Himalayas, where he was born and raised.

This wasn't a hatha vinyasa yoga teacher training as most people in the West are accustomed to; it was a Tantra-Kundalini-based training, learning different forms of Pranayama (breathwork), kriya (techniques), mantras, and meditation, with a little bit of asana (physical postures).

It's hard to put into a single newsletter all that I am still very much integrating after only 5 days of being home, but I will try to summarize what I've been able to digest so far:

• ⭐️ I was initiated into Tantric Kriya Yoga, rooted in Vedic tradition, and Kriya Yoga contains technology (yes, technology) that helps refind our consciousness and access higher/transcendental states of consciousness (similar to states I've experienced in sacred plant medicine journeys).

• ⭐️ There is so much power in communal practices because when a group hits critical mass, they quite literally shift the potential in the field.

• ⭐️ To expand upon the previous point, it's exactly why India is a motherland for spiritual seekers- there have been many wise beings that have cultivated deep states there, so the field in parts of India holds that memory.

• ⭐️ This one is a bit more meta, but life is a game (Lila), and the game of life has no prize at the end; the playing of the game is the prize itself.

• ⭐️ …and finally, the journey to the heart is the single most important pilgrimage a person can take.

There's so much more I could share, but to be honest, I'm still processing it all.

Although it's going to take me some time to integrate all of this, I feel deeply called to share this knowledge and wisdom. I have a feeling I'll offer these as workshop-style classes, both in-person and virtually.

So stay tuned for that!

memories that will live in my heart forever

• Cuddling with a baby cow- safe to say I'm a vegetarian again.

• The intoxicating joy of chanting and singing, and dancing at a Kirtan night, which ended with more than half of the group jumping into the pool fully clothed.

• Activating my inner poet and channeling a piece of writing that I recited as spoken word during "open mic night".

• The many tears of joy I cried during our yoga journeys when I tasted the sweetness and nectar of life, gratitude, and presence- cosmic consciousness.

May your inner light shine bright

And continue to guide you on your path

-N

Today reminds us that balance is not a fixed state—it's a dance. 

Light and dark meet as equals, inviting us to embrace renewal, growth, and alignment.

As we find ourselves in between Eclipses and entering Aries season, this season marks a powerful shift, one where we shed the last fragments of winter and welcome the revitalizing energy of spring. 

It's a potent time to release what no longer serves and step into the visions we've been nurturing in the quiet months.

Just like nature we, too, are ever-growing, ever-evolving. Lean into the magic of this season—you are exactly where you need to be.

Here are a few ways to honor this sacred transition in a way that is both spiritual and practical:

So whether you arise with sunrise or sweet intentions at sunset, here are a few prompts to get you started:

• What am I ready to release from the past season?

• What dreams am I planting in this new cycle?

• How can I honor both my practical needs and my spiritual growth?

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Rooting for you 🌱

Natalie

As one of my teachers, Jack Kornfield puts it, “In Buddhism, the concept of "suffering and not letting go" refers to the idea that the root cause of suffering lies in our attachment to things, experiences, and even our sense of self, and that the key to alleviating suffering is to practice "letting go" or non-attachment”, which means accepting the impermanent nature of life without clinging to desires or resisting change; essentially, recognizing that holding on to fleeting things is what causes suffering”.

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Last year, I embarked on quite a few projects- I launched a micro-community, “Latinas Who Meditate”, co-founded a non-profit “Wellness for the People”, created a high quality video format of Sound Alchemy Method, a Sound Practitioner Training, and released a podcast episode every Tuesday on Practical Alchemy Podcast.

In between all of that, I tried taking care of my mental health, physical well being, nurtured my relationships, continued hosting events for my offering Love and Alchemy, held sound practitioner trainings, and fulfilled my Nike Well Collective Mindfulness Coach projects.

Yes yes, I know what you’re thinking- I also am exhausted just re-reading that. 🥵🥵

Don’t get me wrong, I’m insanely proud of all I was able to achieve in 2024, and it didn’t come without the incredible support from my husband, family, and community.

I’d also be lying to you if I didn’t say that I reached burnout at least 3 separate times this year, which led me to realize I was always in a state of minor yet chronic burnout.

So, when this year kicked off with fires a mile from my home, 9-day evacuation orders, a new government that has everyone wondering wtf is happening, and the transition of my grandmother, my body reminded me that at some point mid last year, I had to get an emergency appendectomy because I didn’t digest life properly. 😓

The truth is, being an entrepreneur, a generator, plus a first generation daughter of immigrants, and just generally a highly ambitious and creative person, I am so invigorated by projects, new ideas, and endeavors.

It took divine intervention from my Higher Self to stop me in my tracks and I decided to give myself some space to breathe, and to clear space, which led me to stop recording new podcast episodes.

To release the podcast has been the biggest test between which voice is louder, my ego or my Spirit.

My ego didn’t want to let go of a project that was 3 years in the making and had brought so much joy and fulfillment; that is, up until the final 4 months, when it felt like it was my biggest energy leak, and my passion for it had completely vanished.

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The podcast launched on my 32nd birthday in 2022 and has been a wild ride ever since, when it started in the Alo HQ recording studio, where they graciously offered to sponsor my recording space, aka let me use it for free. (Shoutout to Sophie and Izzie) 🙏🏽

Shortly after, in 2023 I signed with Nike, and due to the exclusive nature of our contract, I stopped recording the pod in the studio, and switched to a virtual recording platform, which opened the door for video podcasting.

Through this podcast journey, I've had the opportunity to deepen my relationships with friends and colleagues and meet some leaders, movers, and shakers in the wellness space.

I'm so grateful for everything it has taught me, and the growth that has come from it.

The truth is, the battle of my ego and higher self has been hard to reconcile. For months I've been asking myself the question:

"What is next with Practical Alchemy?"

My ego wants to keep the podcast, not quit on a project that has potential and legs, and is afraid of what happens/ what it means if I let it go.

My ego wants to push harder and against the natural flow of my life, get brand sponsorships, and make it something HUGE.

My higher self knows I am teetering with burnout, the podcast doesn't inspire my highest excitement anymore, and I'm not showing up 100% for it because it feels out of alignment.

So often, we stay in chapters of life whose expiration dates have already passed, but we're so comfortable in the narrative that we are afraid of letting go and moving on.

OR, we hold ourselves to our expectations of what we should do, and who we should be, that we limit our ability to see our full potential. We are all, after all, multidimensional and multifaceted.

It's like that favorite pair of shoes when we were little; they're snug and uncomfortable, but we're so accustomed to wearing them that we ignore the fact that we've grown out of them and don't realize that our next pair of shoes are so much better... and cuter. 💁🏽‍♀️

This is a very bittersweet decision to come to, but in the process of surrendering, shedding (wood snake energy🐍🐍🐍), and trusting, I've decided to stop recording podcast episodes.

Who knows what will come from this, and if I ever decide to pick up podcasting again down the road?

For now, I am eternally grateful for everything and everyone that the Practical Alchemy Podcast brought into my life. And I'm excited to see the alchemy that comes from this.

If you are curious about the pod, I’ll give it one last plug, at least for now:

Listen to Practical Alchemy on Spotify

Listeno n Apple Podcasts

Following the inklings from the heart can be hard, and at times very confusing, but I'll leave you with one of my favorite Rumi quotes:

"Only from the heart can you touch the sky." ❤️

So I leave you with these prompts for inquiry:

• What are you holding on to for your ego’s sake?

• What has already reached the expiration date in your life?

• Where can you create space for yourself to breathe, integrate, and digest life?

Yours humbly,

Natalie

That’s usually how we see other people’s lives when they have something we desire for ourselves. They just woke up one day and “poof” they manifested what they desired.

To become, evolve, and grow, we take a solo journey into the depths of our shadows to realize our potential.
Our shadows can take make forms, for example:

• Negative Habits

• Unkind self-talk

• Our perspective on who we are and what we’re capable of

• Trauma (both big and little T)

• And a fan favorite: Comparison that leads to Jealousy

I am actively listening to “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins- and am so grateful to have her voice reminding me of what we already know and need constant reminders of.

Chapter 10 was about Comparison, and I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear it.

First things first, can we agree that social media is a comparison catalyst?! I mean, wasn’t Facebook originally invented to compare the most eligible and attractive people at a university!? At least that’s what I gathered from the movie “The Social Network” lol.

So if you ever find yourself in rabbit holes of comparison when you see someone who is XYZ more than you- let me first say, I see you, and I feel you.

AND, it’s completely human and normal.
What we do with this visceral reaction though is where it can get interesting.

According to Mel, when we compare it likely catalyzes one of two reactions: torture or growth.

When we allow torture to be the reaction, we become resentful, feel awful about ourselves, and can even feel paralyzed.

When we allow comparison to catalyze growth, we can acknowledge the individual for the hard work that we don’t see yet undoubtedly went into their manifestation, detach ourselves from the situation, and even be grateful for them.
YES, GRATEFUL.

Babes, gratitude is the ultimate ingredient for Alchemy.

Hear me out:

Success usually follows a formula, and if someone figures out that formula, it’s likely that they are either a genius, OR they borrowed the formula from someone else.

And now YOU have the opportunity to apply that same formula and blend it with your unique embodiment and frequency, to create your very own fruits of your labor. But this wouldn’t be possible without gratitude first.

If we can’t shift our perspective from how “unfair” things are and compare ourselves, as Mel puts it, we waste our very precious energy and time. This mindset prevents us from taking the steps we need to take to have our success.

But when we realize that if they can “do it”, so can you, you can feel grateful for having expanders in your life who show us what’s possible, and turn that inspiration into action.

So let’s turn this into a formula.

If at the moment we have Comparison + Jealousy = Feeling Stuck/ Bad about ourselves

Let’s replace “Comparison” with “Witnessing” and “jealousy” with “inspiration” to make:

Witnessing + Inspiration= Taking Inspired Action

So next time you’re doom-scrolling and find yourself comparing your life to someone’s highlight reel, try this formula out.

And if you still find yourself having a hard time, its possible that you need to take a break from your relationship to social media and rewire some neural pathways to create a healthier relationship with it.

So here’s to your highest timeline!

The expressions of nature that soothed her soul most were the ocean and birds.

Ever since I can remember, my grandmother always had parrots at home; and she would speak to them, and they loved her. ONLY her to be specific- those little beasts would bite off anyone else’s finger who tried to approach them.

But not Victoria, for she was their queen.

I was in Florida with my family during her final days and was fortunate to spend her last day with her. Although she could no longer speak and was mostly unconscious, there were moments when she’d open her eyes- her final way of communicating with us, letting us know she could hear us.

Sidenote: It’s quite beautiful actually- the relationship between death and birth to sound. The inner ear is one of the first sensory organs to develop when we’re in the womb, and one of the last things to go is our hearing before we die. Sound is the doula for the two most important moments in a soul’s incarnation.

The day she passed, I went on a walk to begin to process and resource with the tools I know support me- movement and nature. During my walk, I saw the most astonishing phenomena- a flock of what seemed 100 birds was swirling over me.

They stopped me in my tracks.

I stood below them watching for 10 minutes and felt deeply that it was the Spirit of my grandmother saying her final goodbye- or perhaps saying hello in her new embodiment.

Many people report animals coming to them, and although science can’t explain it, and no one else can confirm it, they feel deep in their being that this is a loved one who has passed, coming to them in the form of an animal.

Just before writing this, I sat at my dining table and realized pigeons were sitting in front of my window- and they kept looking into my home as if they could see me.

My grandmother had a special place in her heart for pigeons, so much so that she’d catch them on the streets in Virginia, AND THEY WOULD LET HER. (see photo below)

In the last 3 weeks, birds have been very present in my field. I have been seeing and hearing pigeons cooing all around me.

Could be my subconscious looking for them?

Or could it be something deeper? Something more mystical and inexplicable?

Either way, I’m grateful. I feel her in my heart and field.

Have you ever felt a deep connection to an animal and felt there was a message there for you? I encourage you to lean in and let yourself explore the magic that rests just below your perception of reality.

Close your eyes so you can see. 🪶

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For you to be born, you needed:

• 2 parents

• 4 grandparents

• 8 great-grandparents

• 16 second great-grandparents

• 32 third great-grandparents

• 64 fourth great-grandparents

• 128 fifth great-grandparents

• 256 sixth great-grandparents

• 512 seventh great-grandparents

• 1.024 eighth great-grandparents

• 2.048 ninth great-grandparents

For you to be born today from 12 previous generations, you needed a total of 4,094 ancestors over the last 400 years.

Think for a moment:

• How many struggles?

• How many battles?

• How many difficulties?

• How much sadness?

• How much happiness?

• How many love stories?

• How many expressions of hope for the future?

Did your ancestors have to undergo for you to exist in this present moment?

As the circle of life continues, I am reminded that I am the future ancestor and how, through epigenetics, conscious choices, and healing, I can rewrite my DNA to carry forward codes of light and love.

Understanding Epigenetics has been groundbreaking for those on the healing path.

Epigenetics is the study of how environmental factors and behaviors can change how genes are expressed without altering the DNA sequence.

Epigenetic changes can affect a person's health and may be passed down to their children.

As a daughter of immigrants, I know that all of those struggles, battles, sadness, and survival are deeply encoded in my DNA.
I also know that from that came resilience, hope, perseverance, and triumph that came from the struggles.

Recognizing that our choices not only impact our wellbeing but also the wellbeing of the future- specifically if we choose to have children is so empowering.

So, thank you to our collective ancestors. 🙏🏽

And may we be great future ancestors. 🪶

In this final episode of the manifestation mini-series, host Natalie Valle dives into what it truly means to live as a manifester. It’s not just about attracting big wins; it’s about embracing a daily lifestyle of intention, gratitude, and trust in divine timing. Natalie shares personal stories, practical habits, and the power of collective manifestation to inspire you to create your dream life—one aligned step at a time.

Highlights:

✨ Manifestation as a Lifestyle: It’s not just about material success—it’s about shifting your mindset to gratitude, trust, and alignment every day.

✨ A Full-Circle Moment: Natalie reflects on how a journal entry from years ago unknowingly mapped out her dream life today.

✨ Daily Practices that Strengthen Manifestation: Intention setting, gratitude, meditation, and community support play a key role in aligning with abundance.

✨ The Power of Collective Energy: Manifesting within a group amplifies intentions and can even create positive ripple effects in the world.

✨ Expanders & Role Models: Surrounding yourself with people who have achieved what you desire helps you believe it’s possible for you, too.

🔗Get in touch with Natalie Valle:

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ loveandalchemy_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LoveandAlchemybyNatalieValle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠loveandalchemy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And, as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please show us some love by leaving a review and sharing it with your fellow seekers of wisdom. We're here to spread the magic! 🌿

2025 (as we know it in the Gregorian calendar) has gotten off to an interesting start, to say the least. I feel more connected to a Lunar Calendar, as an individual who experiences 28-day cycles just as the moon does, so the last 4 weeks have felt more like the ending of the previous chapter.

This opportunity to start anew feels more like the beginning of a new year to me.

Traditions:

In Chinese culture, the Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations. Families gather to celebrate, exchange gifts, and prepare food. According to Chinese tradition, the Snake is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity, and honoring the Snake is believed to invite positive energy into one's life. Celebrations also involve decorating homes with red, a color linked to luck. This is a time for reflection, celebrating the present, and manifesting a prosperous year ahead.

In Chinese culture, the Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations. Families gather to celebrate, exchange gifts, and prepare food. According to Chinese tradition, the Snake is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity, and honoring the Snake is believed to invite positive energy into one's life. Celebrations also involve decorating homes with red, a color linked to luck. This is a time for reflection, celebrating the present, and manifesting a prosperous year ahead.

Rituals:

1: Deep Clean & Declutter: Clean your closets, garage, living areas, and even tech (Computers/phones). Let go of what no longer serves you to make space for abundance, opportunities, and connections.

2: Cleanse the energy in your space: Burn a sacred herb to clear your space (ie. incense, sage, palo santo), and keep the doors and windows open to let the stale air and smoke waft out)

3: Decorate with Red and Emerald Green: Red decorations symbolize luck, joy, and prosperity. Michelle Lee, a Feng Shui Expert also mentions “Adding a touch of emerald green, the color of nature, harmony, and growth will be aligned to the time: It’s the color the Chinese associate with the wood element, the main element of this year.”

The Moon also joins this auspicious party:

The first New Month of the new year is upon us lining up with the Lunar New Year- if you haven't set your New Year Intentions yet, don't worry, the most auspicious time to do that is starting today. With Aquarius season here, you have access to the power of the forward-thinking, progress-loving fixed air sign to support your path. And there’s no better time to set an electrifying intention than in the days around the Aquarius new moon.

Cheers to the Lunar New Year!