Natalli Amato is a poet and journalist who explores how we relate to ourselves, others, and the natural world through her writing. Natalli’s first full-length poetry collection, On a Windless Night , was published by Ra Press in 2019. Her second collection, Burning Barrel , will be released in 2022 by Finishing Line Press. In both collections, wild, rural landscapes serve as teachers showing us how to live, love, and let go. Her chapbook, Gone Walking and Other Departures, grapples with grief and loss and has recently been accepted for publication by Illuminated Press. Natalli’s poem “ Price Chopper, Alex Bay ” has been nominated for the 2020/2021 Best of The Net Anthology.
As a working journalist, Natalli regularly writes for Rolling Stone, Vice, and Taste of Country. She covers music and entertainment, news, and lifestyle across the publications. For two years, she was the assistant to the editor-in-chief of Rolling Stone and during that time she helped produce the magazine’s hugely popular 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, where she studied Sociology and Public Relations. She was awarded the university’s Edwin T. Whiffen Poetry Prize for her poem “When I am Shucking Corn.”
Currently, Natalli is working on her first Young Adult novel and is preparing to pursue her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. You can read her poetry and prose at www.natalliamato.com
Gratitude is a universal presence. Whether you make a point to spend time with it each day or it bubbles up spontaneously in a moment of contentment or wonder, you probably already know many of the gifts it brings. Gratitude makes us aware of the preciousness of our lives, puts us in touch with the love we have for those we share it with, and reminds us that we are already whole.
We treasure our intimate relationships for an infinite number of reasons. With our partner, we experience joy, rapture, safety, friendship, and pleasure. We create a safe haven from the outside world in which we can nourish and be nourished.
Deepak Chopra has notably said, “There are no accidents … there is only some purpose that we haven’t yet understood.”
In a culture that has commodified the fruits of creativity to the degree that ours has, it can be easy for us to feel cut off from our inherent creative energy if we are not producing something tangible. In reality, creativity is not a special stream that only some of us can tap into and enjoy. By the very virtue of being alive and human, we have the ability and power to create. In our everyday choices - from preparing a meal to planning our weekend activities - we engage with our imagination and, in the process, we shape and build our lives. This is creativity in its most essential form. You do not have to identify as an artist to enjoy this power.
For most professionals, the feeling of burnout is a familiar one. The energy that once filled your workday slowly trickles away. You notice your efficiency slip but cannot find the inspiration to regain it. The fatigue settles into your body. You can feel it in your back, your temples. Even if you entered your profession with lofty inspirations and a sense of fulfillment, you notice your inner dialogue around your job becoming increasingly negative. Experiencing burnout isn’t a reflection on you or your professional worthiness. It’s a consequence of a culture that encourages people to put work ahead of their personal needs. According to a recent trends report from the American Psychological Association, burnout and work-related stress are at an all-time high. That’s why it’s never been more important for professionals to practice mindfulness.
So often, spiritual journeys feel like solo ones. Whether we’re wrestling with our dark night of the soul or finally feeling the liberation of our loving, awakening heart, these are experiences that belong to our own consciousness, our own awareness.
Las intenciones son como semillas: desde el momento en que se plantan, el potencial de crecimiento está plenamente presente. Pero, al igual que las semillas, se necesita algo más para que ese potencial no se vuelva latente. Tiene que haber suelo: suelo que sea fértil y hospitalario para el crecimiento.
Intentions are like seeds: from the moment they are planted, the potential for growth is fully present. But, also like seeds, something else is needed lest that potential becomes dormant. There needs to be soil: Soil that’s fertile and hospitable to growth.
“If you love love, look for yourself.” - Rumi