In the stages of my photography journey in early 2020, I was entering a period of transformation. I was getting to know myself, and shedding the parts of myself that weren’t my pieces to carry to begin with. My relationship with photography naturally changed in that time as well. At first I was set on modeling and being a self shooting photographer, then I wanted to be a creative photographer for influencers and celebrities, then my mind kept going back and fourth with all the possibilities, but during that time of chatter in the mind the one constant theme that I soon realized to be my anchor was nature photography. 

In the midst of my ego craving attention and seeking ways to find it through my love for photography, my truest energy was always present and waiting for me to dive into it; my natural state of being. Nature reflects that pure energy which is present within us all. Nature is the foundation of what makes us who we are. But how does photography blend with alchemy? It’s a question that doesn’t have a definite answer. It is a force I have felt take a hold of me as I’ve grown throughout my journey. When I was able to sift through the thoughts in my mind, and really decide to invite my soul to express itself through my photography, that’s when the waves of the Divine came rushing in. 

Spiritual Alchemy is the process of freeing your spirit from the fears, limiting beliefs systems, and lack of self-acceptance you identify with. Alchemy is the art of transformation, inner liberation, and change. It is used to achieve an ultimate level of happiness, peace, and awareness by liberating one’s essence from the acquired personality, leading to enlightenment. It’s about transmuting the dark into light. The personality over time can mold into an inauthentic ego consisting of one’s beliefs, concepts, opinions, wounds, and fears. We often may carry certain unconscious traits and survival tactics that we’re taught throughout growing up or self form as a trauma response from a young age. 

Nature Photography has led me deep into the natural world and opened my eyes to the many intricate ways nature flows. Along with researching the scientific names of plant and animal species, and learning various facts of my subjects, I also began to tap into the spiritual side of what I was learning about. The spiritual significance and meanings of plants, and certain encounters with animals. Everything in Nature is spiritual and is synchronistic with where we’re at in life, or where we’re headed. Photographing Nature taught me a whole new level of being in the present moment. Nature makes my life better, in times of crippling depression and anxiety my medicine is and comes from Nature. The healing sounds and colors align me to the frequency of Nature, and alas I’m home. 

Nature was the key to many doors of introspection and deep healing that I’ve needed and will continue to need throughout this life. It’s shown me that everything we can ever truly need comes from Nature and within ourselves. Spiritual Alchemy is a lifelong practice of self awareness, and I’m forever grateful for Nature as my spiritual guide.