The Alchemy of Being | The Other Way Edition | Issue 03

Don't Find Yourself, Curate Yourself

'THE OTHER WAY' EDITION

Welcome to the September edition of The Other Way.

October asks: How do you stay rooted in your truth without severing connection?

As October draws near, many of us can feel a subtle shift, not just in the seasons, but in the soul. There’s a rumbling beneath the surface. A sense that something old is dissolving and something new is asking to be lived. Not louder. Not brighter. But truer.

This month, the sky isn’t shouting. It’s whispering. Asking us to get honest about what it means to belong. Not just to a place or a person - but to ourselves. The kind of belonging that doesn’t require performance, but presence. The kind that doesn’t contort, compare, or collapse.

So our theme this month is Grounded Belonging - a soft yet steady recalibration of how we root into truth, relate with others, and reconnect to the felt sense of “I’m allowed to be here, just as I am.”

Let’s walk into October together - barefoot, honest, and no longer trying to be someone else’s version of ‘enough.’

Celestial Compass

In Celestial Compass, we chart the cosmic currents for the month ahead. Dive into a celestial sea of moon cycles, planetary dances, and stellar surprises that may shape your journey. Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or a curious cosmic novice, our astrological forecast illuminates the path, helping you navigate the ebb and flow of celestial energies. Let the stars guide you as you curate your month's adventures!

October’s Sky Notes

October opens with a bold full moon in Aries (Oct 6), spotlighting the dance between self-expression and shared experience. You may feel a surge of independence, but don’t mistake defensiveness for clarity. Real belonging doesn’t require a mask.

Mid-month, Venus moves into Libra (Oct 17), nudging us toward connection, but with boundaries intact. Where have you over-given to keep the peace? Where can beauty and balance come from deeper truth?

Meanwhile, Mars continues its retrograde in Cancer, tugging our attention inward. It's not about shrinking, it's about choosing softness without losing your spine. Emotional safety isn’t passive. It’s built.

Theme Emerges: Grounded Belonging

The astrology of October doesn’t just stir insight, it stirs integration. This month, the stars invite you to:

Speak your truth without leaving yourself

Choose connection without contortion

Build safety from the inside out

🔭 Want to go deeper?

Trusted voices we recommend:

→ Moon Omens

→ Pam Gregory

→ Alex Myles

Curated Treasures

In Curated Treasures, we gather soul-stirring resources from across the web, be that articles, podcasts, talks etc, that echo the month’s energetic theme. Each selection is chosen not to instruct, but to invite: a perspective to consider, a voice to sit with, a truth to feel into. Whether it sparks reflection, ignites curiosity, or simply soothes your system, let each piece be a gentle companion on your journey through The Other Way.

This month’s picks invite you to explore what it really means to belong - not by performing, conforming, or proving, but by rooting deeper into who you are.

🎥 Video - It’s Not THEM, It’s YOU – Belonging as an Ability – Jacqueline Duong, TEDx Valencia High School

A disarmingly powerful talk reframing belonging as a skill—not something granted by others, but something you can choose to practice.

👉 Watch here

🎧 Podcast - The Problem with Self-Improvement – Glennon Doyle, We Can Do Hard Things

This episode dismantles the illusion that we must 'fix' ourselves to belong. What if being yourself is the whole point?

👉 Listen here

📖 Read - Why You Don’t Need to Earn Your Place – Tara Brach

A short, soulful piece on how radical acceptance leads to real connection. No need to prove, perfect, or polish.

👉 Read here

Whether one of these speaks directly to your current moment, or simply lingers in the periphery, trust what lands.

These aren't instructions. They are invitations. Just like everything else in The Other Way.

Myth and Mindfulness

In Myth & Mindfulness, we shine a light on common misconceptions in the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) world, then shatter them with the hammer of science and reason. Each month, we'll tackle a well-established myth, dissecting it with neuroscience, evidence, and logical analysis. Our goal? To empower you with knowledge, challenge assumptions, and open new pathways of understanding. Get ready to have your mind expanded as we separate fact from fiction in the realm of wellness and transformation!

How to Feel Worthy of Love: Unravelling the Myth of Earned Connection

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that love had to be earned. That connection was a reward for good behaviour. That to belong, we had to become: more polished, more helpful, more spiritual, more something.

This month’s reflection is a gentle unravelling of that myth.

In truth, connection is not a currency. It’s a current. It flows not when we prove ourselves, but when we allow ourselves to be seen as we are. The belief that we must do

something to be worthy of love keeps us stuck in performative loops, cut off from real intimacy.

This piece invites you into the quieter knowing: that you are already worthy of belonging. That your breath is enough. That connection isn't earned - it's remembered.

→ Read the full reflection on unlearning the myth of earned connection

Giggle Gallery

In Giggle Gallery, we explore the incredible benefits of laughter and share insights on how it can enhance your well-being. Each month, we’ll present a fun challenge to help you increase the joy and laughter in your life. We encourage you to embrace these moments and share your experiences with us on social media—let’s spread the joy together!

Self-Compassion and Humour: Laughing With Yourself

Let’s be honest: self-growth can get unintentionally hilarious. From crying about your ex in a cacao ceremony to falling asleep mid-breathwork, the path isn’t always polished.

But here’s the gift: when we laugh gently at ourselves, we practise self-compassion. Laughter roots us in belonging, grounds our nervous system, and reminds us we’re allowed to be here - messy and real.

This month’s Giggle Gallery explores why giggling at your human-ness is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself. And, as always, we’ve got a playful challenge to bring more compassionate laughter into your daily life.

→ Read the full blog on Humour as Self-Compassion

Witty Wonders

In Witty Wonders, we share a cleverly curated meme, cartoon, or humorous video that resonates deeply with us. Each selection provokes thought through its cleverness, sarcasm, or revelatory nature, reminding us that a good laugh can spark insight and add a touch of joy to our lives. Get ready to chuckle or reflect!

Enlightenment Lite™

This ad promises zero karma, zero calories, full-bodied stillness. The robe is pristine, the gaze unfocused just right, and the brand? Spiritual bypassing, now in minimalist packaging.

This cheeky spoof of a wellness ad takes aim at the increasingly marketable - and performative - side of spirituality. In a world where inner peace comes with a promo code and enlightenment is reduced to a brand identity, it’s easy to forget that awakening doesn’t come lite, and it certainly doesn’t come from a shelf.

We love this image because it lets us laugh at the absurdity without losing the thread. It’s not mocking the journey - it’s mocking the shortcut.

Reflection Prompt:

– Where are you tempted to present a polished version of your growth?

– What does real spiritual nourishment look like to you (and would it sell well)?

Because sometimes, the wisest path to clarity starts with a laugh at ourselves - and our marketing.

Some paths ask you to rise above. To manifest harder. To clear every block before you’re allowed to exhale.

But this? This is The Other Way.

Here, we don’t see groundedness as something you earn by being good. We see it as a birthright - messy, embodied, and real. Belonging that doesn’t depend on fitting in. Clarity that doesn’t require you to float off into transcendence.

So this month, if the world tells you to glow up, rise above, or detach from the noise, maybe just sit down instead. Put your hand on your belly. Feel the ground. Let that be enough.

Not because you’re escaping. But because you’re arriving.

Blessed Be,

Charlotte

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