ABOUT US & The Name
Why Alchemy?
Alchemy is defined as “working within and through the dense darkness inside,” which is so much more than just turning lead into gold. In actuality, Alchemy is transforming heavy consciousness into light. Through Alchemy, we can quite literally transform the energy that we put out into the world into love; the kind of love that can heal yourself, others, and the earth.
We each have the power to transform energy. We can learn to exude so much of our own light that our literal surroundings change. This is Alchemy of the Soul. It is a way of finding a life filled with more depth and beauty, away from the superficial world. This is the true magic of our lives!
Why the Western Spirit?
We’ve always been drawn to the West and the land here - wild and free, playful yet fierce, open and vast, rough and rugged; the wind whispering stories about her past. We believe many people are drawn to certain areas of land, either for a brief period or much longer. Usually in these circumstances, the land has something to teach us, and together with the land, we can heal. For us, the lands of West and Southwest have provided an immense amount of both healing, hardship, and immense growth. Our spirits crave and need the land, and all of it’s seasons, lessons, and plant magick that it has to offer. We are so grateful to live here!
What we believe in
We believe that true healing happens when we address the whole person—spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Emotional and spiritual dis-ease often manifests as physical symptoms, and research has shown that unprocessed emotions, like grief or chronic stress, can contribute to illness in the body.
That’s why we approach healing holistically, honoring each person as an individual with their own unique story. There’s no one-size-fits-all path here. Every offering is tailored to support your personal journey.
We’re here to empower you to reconnect with your own inner wisdom and intuition—because healing isn’t about being fixed, it’s about remembering who you are. As you begin to feel more connected to yourself, your purpose, and your everyday life, something deeper begins to shift.
At its core, this work is about coming home: to your true self, to the love within you, and to the rhythms of the earth. We believe that healing within ourselves creates healing in our communities, and in the world around us.
And above all, we believe that you are the healer you’ve been searching for.
Natalie M Cowden, CHT
Western Spirit Alchemy was created to support women in all aspects of healing—emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental. It’s the kind of space I wish I’d had when I first started searching for answers and a deeper connection to myself.
Like many women, I spent years trying to do the “right” things—be nice, stay agreeable, fit in—but something always felt off. There was a quiet restlessness inside me that I didn’t know how to name, or even acknowledge. Over time, that disconnect began to take a massive toll on my emotional wellbeing. I struggled with major depression, constant anxiety, substance abuse, and a lingering sense that I wasn’t fully living my life.
Things began to shift in my early twenties, when life pushed me to slow down and pay attention. One day, I looked around and realized that I didn’t recognize my life; I somehow just knew that I wasn’t living in accordance with my soul. That day, I prayed for the first time in a long time. I prayed that I was ready; for what, I didn’t yet know. But as life goes, within two weeks, I lost my job, a long term relationship, my home, and moved back home to Virginia, feeling very emotionally raw and uncertain. However, that period cracked something open in me. For the first time in a long time, I had faith and I had hope.
Shortly after returning home, my physical health began to unravel—cystic acne, chronic debilitating fatigue, nerve pain, hair loss, horrible digestive issues, dropping blood pressure, and more seemingly “random” symptoms that no doctor could explain. It was as if all the stress and trauma that I never dealt with was finally surfacing, no longer having anywhere to hide.
That’s when I began to explore healing—not as a career path, but simply out of absolute necessity. Coincidentally (but not really), I started working for a holistic chiropractor who treated chronic illness through nutrition and lifestyle. The other woman who worked there was an incredible Reiki Master and psychic, who offered energy healing sessions for me. That brought a sense of peace and clarity I hadn’t felt in many, many years. Those experiences cracked opened a door. From there, I became endlessly curious about energy work, intuitive practices, shamanism, herbalism, and the idea that healing could be personal, layered, and deeply spiritual.
Natalie M Cowden, CHT, RMT
Owner of Western Spirit Alchemy
That’s when I began to explore healing—not as a career path, but simply out of absolute necessity. Coincidentally (but not really), I started working for a holistic chiropractor who treated chronic illness through nutrition and lifestyle. I was able to learn hands on with him through many of the patient cases. The other woman who worked there was an incredible Reiki Master and psychic, who offered energy healing sessions for me. That brought a sense of peace and clarity I hadn’t felt in many, many years. Those experiences cracked opened a door. From there, I became endlessly curious about energy work, intuitive practices, shamanism, nutrition, herbalism, and the idea that healing could be personal, layered, and deeply spiritual.
I vowed to heal myself and follow my soul’s guidance, which was to move. I bought a one-way plane ticket to Tucson, AZ where I was truly alone for the first time; I focused solely on healing. I began to notice patterns—how much I had been ignoring my own intuition, how much energy I gave away trying to please others, how disconnected I was from my body’s signals, and how by repressing trauma and emotion I had made myself sick. Slowly, through a mix of spiritual practice, energy work, food-based healing, and emotional processing, I began to feel more grounded and truly heal.
What helped me most was not one single method—but learning how to listen to my soul and follow what felt nourishing. I realized that healing is not about becoming someone new; it’s about returning to who we’ve always been underneath the noise.
Out of that process came the desire to support others on their own journeys. I became certified in Reiki, Hypnotherapy, and Spiritual Coaching. A forever student, I have since gone on to study Herbalism, facial reading and diagnosis, plant spirit medicine, Shamanism, and so much more. It’s all endlessly fascinating to me.
My goal with Western Spirit Alchemy is to be of service to you. To hold space, offer tools, and walk beside you as you reconnect to your soul’s wisdom and voice. My work is intentionally gentle, intuitive, and personalized. Together, we may work with energy healing, herbs, hypnosis, or soul-centered coaching, depending on what feels most aligned. No two healing paths are the same—this space honors that.
My hope is to support you in reconnecting to your inner clarity, self-trust, and peace—because healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone. Each and every single person deserves healing. I believe that is what our souls are here to do: progress and help each other along the way.
With care,
Natalie
Certifications/ Curriculum
Reiki Master Teacher
MindBody Wellness Practitioner (Emphasis in Spiritual Studies, Spiritual Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Ceremonies and Ritual)
Certified Hypnotherapist (CHT)
Certified Herbalist
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Extensive courses in Herbalism and Nutrition, Chronic Illness Healing
In Progress: Plant Spirit Medicine Practitioner
In Progress: Astro-Herbalist
In Progress: Plant Alchemy Practitioner
In Progress: Ayurvedic Facial Reading Certification