The Principles of Personal Alchemy by Dirt & Bones
A framework for easeful, effective change that works with our unique nature
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🦋 The Principles of Personal Alchemy by Dirt & Bones
Personal alchemy is the art of metamorphisizing ourselves with graceful intention.
Unlike traditional self-improvement methods that focus solely on actions and outcomes (How many steps did you get? How much weight can you lift? How many green drinks can you choke down?), these principles offer a more nuanced approach to personal growth - one that considers how we position ourselves in relation to change.
The Principles of Personal Alchemy offers a framework for change that works with you rather than against you, honoring your unique nature.
The overall goal? That we move with less effort and more ease towards that which is for us.
This approach is built on two key human needs: first, our need to feel loved and accepted for who we truly are, and second, our need to have autonomy and feel in control of making positive changes in our lives. When we honor both these needs - honoring our authentic selves while growing - we create lasting change that feels second-nature to how we move through the world.
The principles flow in a deliberate sequence: we begin by creating space (Spaciousness), which allows us to observe our patterns (Sleuthing). With these insights, we can recognize the right timing for change (Seasonality), determine appropriate intensity (Scaling), personalize our approach (Specificity), and finally implement change in the most easeful order (Sequence).
We’ll dive into each of them below:
Principle #1: Spaciousness
A principle that initiates the process of change
The Spaciousness Principle states that creating space is the first—and essential—step toward effortless, meaningful change.
Let me explain.
Before the Mona Lisa, there was a blank canvas.
Before the next great American novel, there's an empty Word doc with its cursor blinking on an empty page.
Even Marie Kondo knows what's up—you've got to take everything out first before you can add in what sparks that joy.
The Spaciousness Principle is the secret sauce of change. Without space, change feels like trying to parallel park in a spot that's just too small - it’s just not going to happen (or it will…with a lot of effort…and a small fender-bender).
What does this principle look like IRL?
Creating space shows up in all areas of our lives - both physical and non-physical realms.
Want to start a meditation practice? The first step actually isn't meditating—it's carving out those precious 15 minutes each morning on your calendar.
Want to become a home chef? The first step isn't whipping up a dinner à la Martha Stewart. Instead, it's clearing your kitchen countertops and blocking out time in your Sunday afternoon schedule.
Want to finally read that book you've been "meaning to get to" for the past year? Clear off your bedside table and your post-dinner schedule.
Because change needs breathing room. It needs space to stretch its legs and get comfortable. When we create space, we create possibility. And with possibility comes that spark of wonder that makes us think, "Hey, maybe something better is just around the corner.”
(Want to dive deeper? I've got some articles that really get into the nitty-gritty of spaciousness. Check out 🌌 the dirt on…why you need to nurture the nothingness, to value the void and 🌼 the dirt on…ctrl + alt + deleting the clutter this spring.)
Principle #2: Sleuthing
A principle that fosters curiosity and investigative awareness for change
The Sleuthing Principle recognizes that easeful change requires us to become curious investigators of our experiences, habits, and responses.
This principle nudges us to ditch the quick-fix mentality, don our Sherlock Holmes hats, and get compassionately curious about how we tick. Instead of immediately moving to “fix” or change, we first ask questions: "What's really going on here? What patterns keep showing up? What pushes my buttons faster than a child on an elevator?"
With this approach, we want to simply collect clues about what works, what flops, and most importantly, why.
This strategy helps us:
Spot patterns in our behavior
Decode our triggers
Uncover what truly resonates with our nature
For example, instead of declaring "I need to eat healthier!" while standing in front of an open refrigerator at midnight, the Sleuthing Principle might lead us to investigate our current relationship with food: What emotions are driving the wheel when we connect with different foods? What circumstances lead to the choices we make? What does "healthy" even mean to us? (because, believe it or not, ‘healthy’ is a social construct…but that’s for another time.)
The key to this approach is investigating with curiosity rather than judgment. We're not here to interrogate ourselves under harsh lighting – we're just collecting intel to make choices that actually fit into the quirky puzzle that is our life.
Principle #3: Seasonality
A principle to guide you in choosing when to initiate change
The Seasonality Principle acknowledges that change flows most naturally when we align our actions with the natural rhythms and cycles that govern our lives.
Just as nature moves through distinct seasons, our lives pulse with various cycles - daily, monthly, yearly, and life stages - each carrying its own energy and purpose.
A few key types of seasons we move through include:
Yearly Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Monthly Cycles
Menstrual cycles (for those who bleed)
Lunar phases
Daily Rhythms: Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night
Life Stages:
Childhood, Teens, Adulthood, Elder Years
Major life changes (career, relationships, location)
Like a surfer riding the waves, when we learn to recognize and work with these natural rhythms rather than against them, transformation becomes more effortless.
This principle also teaches us that timing isn't just about when to act - it's about understanding the subtle ebbs and flows of our energy, motivation, and capacity.
This doesn't mean waiting for perfect conditions - it means recognizing that different seasons call for different approaches. Sometimes we're in a season of active growth and expansion, while other times we're in a period of rest and integration. Both are equally valuable and necessary for sustainable change.
When we start or end things with seasons, whatever those may be, we tap into existing momentum, and can use less effort and achieve more easeful results.
Principle #4: Scaling
A principle for determining the appropriate intensity level for change
The Scaling Principle states that effective change comes from finding the right level of intensity for your current state. It's about matching our efforts to our capacity, allowing for flexibility in how we approach our goals.
Think about it like adjusting the dimmer switch on a light - sometimes you need full brightness, but other times, a gentle glow serves you better.
While conventional wellness might whisper that more steps, more intensity, and more rigidity equal more value, the truth is far more nuanced.
The real magic happens when we find that sweet spot that works uniquely for us, tending to all aspects of our being - mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Take someone seeking hormonal balance while feeling burnt out and sleepless - in this case, scaling back and focusing on gentle nervous system regulation actually gets them further, faster.
The Scaling Principle is like a dance between effort and ease, teaching us that sometimes less truly is more.
This principle aligns beautifully with the Qigong wisdom of "Two-Thirds" - a practice that suggests we should only use about 70% of our energy or capacity in any given activity. In Qigong philosophy, operating at full capacity (100%) constantly depletes our reserves and leaves no room for adaptation or emergency response. By maintaining around 70% effort, we preserve vital energy while still accomplishing our goals.
Think of it like a car's gas tank - you wouldn't want to run it until it's completely empty. That last third serves as our reserve, allowing us to respond to unexpected challenges and maintain sustainable long-term practice. This wisdom reminds us that leaving space in our capacity isn't laziness - it's strategic preservation of our vital energy.
It's about understanding that health isn't static- sometimes we need to dial things up, and other times, we need to ease off.
Principle #5: Specificity
A principle for fine-tuning change
The Specificity Principle recognizes that the most easeful change happens when actions resonate with your unique physical, emotional, and spiritual makeup.
Like a key fitting perfectly into its lock, solutions must be tailored to who you are as an individual.
What works brilliantly for your best friend might fall flat for you—and that's not just okay, it's exactly how it should be.
This principle shows up everywhere in our lives. Maybe your body thrives on morning workouts while your partner's energy peaks at sunset. Perhaps chamomile tea helps you drift off to sleep, but your sister needs lavender. These aren't random preferences—they're your body's wisdom speaking, telling you exactly what it needs.
Harm reduction is a perfect example of the Specificity Principle in action. Instead of taking an all-or-nothing approach, harm reduction acknowledges that change looks different for everyone. It considers your unique circumstances, challenges, and capacity when crafting solutions (for more on this, check out Harm Reduction in Nutrition)
The beauty of specificity lies in its permission to personalize. There's no universal "right" way—there's only your way. When we honor this truth, transformation becomes less about following rigid rules and more about tuning into our own inner compass.
(Want to see how this principle plays out in real life? Check out this article too: ☀️ the dirt on…why the sun isn't "bad"...and neither is your food.)
Principle #6: Sequence
A principle for scaffolding change
The Sequence Principle recognizes that the order of our actions profoundly impacts their effectiveness.
Think about something as simple as putting on and tying your shoes. There's a natural sequence: first you put on the shoe, then you tie the laces. Try to imagine doing it backwards—tying perfect bow knots in the laces first, then attempting to slip your foot into an already-tied shoe. It would be absurd, inefficient, and probably impossible.
This sounds silly; of course I wouldn’t do that!
But we often ask ourselves to have high performance when our sequence doesn’t make sense, unknowingly working against our natural sequence, creating unnecessary struggle.
For example:
We try to meditate after drinking two double shots of espresso, then blame ourselves for not being able to quiet our minds.
We do an intense workout immediately after eating a big meal, then wonder why we feel sluggish and uncomfortable.
It feels so unnecessarily hard. And it is (because we are trying to put our shoes on after we already laced them up).
When we follow the natural order of steps, change becomes easier and more effective.
Take hydration, for instance - yes, it can feel like a boring place to start when embarking on physical healing, but proper hydration forms the foundation for all bodily functions. Water is essential for nutrient transport, detoxification, cellular communication, and energy production. Without adequate hydration, other changes, like mineral supplementation, become less effective or may even cause discomfort. Think of hydration as preparing the soil before planting a garden - just as plants can't properly absorb nutrients from dry soil, our bodies can't effectively utilize nutrients or eliminate toxins without sufficient water. This is why establishing proper hydration habits creates the best environment for implementing more complex health changes (for more on water’s role in health, check out this Herb Chat guide, Hydration Station).
When we skip steps or rush ahead, we might miss the subtle cues our body and mind are giving us, making our efforts feel more like swimming upstream than flowing with the current.
Bringing It All Together
These six principles of Personal Alchemy - Spaciousness, Sleuthing, Seasonality, Scaling, Specificity, and Sequence - form a framework for approaching personal change with wisdom and grace. They remind us that meaningful change isn't about forcing ourselves into predetermined molds, but rather about understanding and working with our unique nature.
When we embrace these principles, we move from a place of struggle to one of flow. We learn to trust our intuition, honor our natural rhythms, and recognize that our experience of change is informed by how we engage with process.
In the comments below, I’d love to hear if one of these principles connects with you most?
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Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical provider. The information provided in this document is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health.
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