Like so many of us, I spent years trying to do what I thought was “right” (fitting in, staying agreeable, staying busy) while ignoring the quiet restlessness and need for connection to something greater. Over a long period of time, that disconnect took a heavy toll. I struggled deeply with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. I knew something had to change, but I didn’t know where to begin.

Alas, life has a way of pushing us forward, whether we think we’re ready or not. In my early twenties, I suddenly realized that I was deeply unhappy. I felt something bubbling up within me, and I prayed for the first time in a long time. Within two weeks, everything that I had built (my job, my relationship, my home, my health, and my friends) fell away at once. I moved back to Northern Virginia, raw and completely unsure of who I actually was. Over the coming months and years, I became increasingly physically sick, with symptoms that doctors couldn’t explain or understand. And yet, that loss and illness brought me to my knees and opened the door to something far greater: faith, hope, and the willingness to really listen.

As I began to pay attention, I noticed how much I had ignored my body’s signals, how much energy I gave away trying to please others, and how repressing my emotions and soul’s voice had actually made me sick. Out of necessity, I began exploring healing (nutrition, energy work, herbalism, shamanism, psychic practices, and more) and found myself drawn again and again to practices that taught me how to reconnect with my intuition. Slowly, I realized that healing was about coming home to myself. It was about realizing that I knew how to heal myself and what I needed; In fact, it was me that could select the modalities, practitioners, food, herbs, books, environment, and more, that my healing required. How fun!

What helped me most wasn’t a single method, but the process of learning to follow what felt nourishing, true, and alive. From that place, my depression eased, my body began to quickly strengthen and repair, and I felt a deep sense of connection I had been missing for years. It sure wasn’t glamorous, but damn I felt every cell in my body come to life!

That journey is what shaped Wild West Herbals & Energetics. Over time, I became certified in/studied (and still study!) Herbalism, Reiki, Hypnotherapy, Spiritual Coaching, Shamanism, and many other traditions. But more than techniques, what I bring to this work is the belief that every person carries their own inner medicine, and that my role is simply to help you find it.

I genuinely love what I do. In fact, sometimes I find myself legitimately questioning “you mean other people don’t want to do facial and tongue diagnosis all day long?!” (in case you were wondering, the answer is no, haha!) That said, I love love love learning and researching, reading, plant foraging, or just meandering (read: not hiking) through the woods with my pup Wilson. Honestly though, I just think it’s pretty rad that I get to eat yummy food and put my feet in the water and feel wind and sun on my face and laugh really hard in this life. I try not to take it for granted.

When it’s all said and done, however, I do think our work here together on earth is important. Yes, I am helping you, but you are teaching me back. Each person, case, symptom, is different. If I can help you connect the dots, reconnect with your soul voice and your own inner medicine. Well… I’d say that is pretty dang neat. Thanks for the opportunity.

~ Natalie