There are moments in life when something touches us so deeply that words seem almost too small.
On August 5, 2026, I took this photograph at the Nepal–Tibet border crossing, shortly before we continued our journey toward Mount Kailash.
On August 12, we returned through this same building. From there, we flew by helicopter to Kathmandu, carrying an incredible sense of joy, gratitude and richness in our hearts after our Mount Kailash pilgrimage. We had completed an extremely powerful, successful and life-altering mission, held in incredible protection and blessing throughout the entire journey.
Throughout our pilgrimage, continuous prayers were held for us by Shambhala Monks. These prayers continued even after we left, holding the intention that everyone in our group would be safely guided and protected on our journey home across the Globe.
Looking back now, we feel deeply blessed. Every single person in our group was so incredibly blessed and protected. We returned home carrying not only the memories of Mount Kailash, but a profound sense of gratitude for the unseen support from the Shambhala Monks, prayers and blessings that accompanied us every step of the way.
At that time, we could never have imagined what would happen there just two weeks later.
Mount Kailash — a place of pilgrimage
Mount Kailash has been regarded as sacred for thousands of years. It is revered in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bön, with each tradition carrying its own understanding of the mountain and its spiritual significance.
For many pilgrims, being in the field of Mount Kailash is not simply a physical journey. It is a pilgrimage of purification, devotion, humility and inner transformation.
For me, this journey was also a living expression of what Nathalie and I speak about and teach.
It is one thing to speak about spirituality. It is another thing to walk the path. To follow our hearts. To look within. To purify what no longer serves us. To open our systems to more light, wisdom and consciousness. And, most importantly, to embody what we believe.
Soul Ascension is our path — grounded, embodied and lived.
This is also why our website carries .earth at the end.
Because spirituality, for us, is not about escaping Earth.
It is about bringing consciousness into our lives here — into our bodies, our relationships, our choices, our work and the way we walk through this world.
And then, two weeks later…
On Wednesday, August 26, a catastrophic flash flood struck this very border region.
The flood swept through the Bhote Koshi River area, destroying bridges, roads, buildings and entire sections of the landscape. The devastation continued downstream into the Trishuli River valley.
Our group was already safely home.
Mohanji's group was safely on the Chinese side.
But another group of pilgrims was not so fortunate.
80 people from Sadhguru's Isha Foundation pilgrimage group were at the immigration centre in Gyirong, Tibet, preparing to return toward Nepal and Kathmandu when the disaster struck.
They were people who, like us, had travelled to Mount Kailash. People with similar interests. People walking a spiritual path. People who had gathered in this remote part of the Himalayas with the intention of seeking something deeper.
And some of them and other groups did not return home.
Alongside them, many Nepali people, workers, travelers and citizens from many different countries were caught in the disaster. The full human cost continues to unfold as rescue and recovery operations continue.
This is the part that touches me most deeply. We had stood there. We had walked through that building. We had travelled along that road. And only two weeks later, everything had changed.
What can we do with something like this?
For two days, we kept a white candle burning.
We prayed.
We sent our love and compassion into the affected region and held the intention that as many people as possible would be reunited with their families and friends.
And we prayed for those who had already left their physical bodies — that they may find their way home, according to whatever understanding of the Divine, the sacred or the afterlife speaks to their hearts.
In our meditation and prayer field, we experienced the presence of thousands of angels accompanying and supporting those who were transitioning.
Whether you understand this literally, symbolically, spiritually, or simply as an expression of compassion, there is something deeply human in allowing ourselves to feel with others while remaining grounded and centered within ourselves. We can honor what they are going through without taking on their pain as our own.
Every person processes grief differently. There is no right way. There is no single belief system that can explain everything that happens in life.
And perhaps one of the greatest truths this tragedy confronts us with is this:
There is no guarantee for life.
A catastrophe like this can sweep away in minutes things that seemed permanent — buildings, roads, borders, plans, possessions and the illusion that we are completely in control.
It can also make us look at our own lives.
What truly matters?
I have spoken about this in previous newsletters. At the end of this life, we cannot take our possessions with us. Not our money. Not our houses. Not our status. Not the things we collected.
What remains, in the spiritual understanding that Nathalie and I live and teach, is the consciousness we have cultivated, the experiences we have lived and the inner transformation we have undertaken.
For those who believe in reincarnation, this journey of the soul continues beyond one lifetime.
We may understand karma, conditioning and our deeper imprints in different ways. We may belong to different traditions, or to no particular tradition at all.
But regardless of our belief system, we can ask ourselves:
Am I truly living the life that my heart is calling me to live?
Am I growing?
Am I becoming more loving?
Am I releasing what keeps me small?
Am I willing to face my own patterns?
Am I becoming more conscious of the way I affect others?
Am I using this life to become more awake?
Because perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts a tragedy can give us — not because the tragedy itself is a gift, but because it reminds those of us who remain that we are still here.
And every day matters.
Spirituality is not a label
I want to say something again that I have shared before:
It is not enough to say, “I am spiritual.” Being spiritual and actually walking a spiritual path can be two very different things.
The path asks something from us. It asks us to look at ourselves. To become responsible for our own consciousness. To question our conditioning. To make choices from the heart rather than from fear. To keep walking even when the path becomes uncomfortable.
And sooner or later, in one form or another, we all walk this path.
Because whether we call it spirituality, consciousness, wisdom, awakening, human evolution or simply becoming a better human being — inner growth is part of the fundamental journey of our existence.
I want to live my life in such a way that, when my time comes and I stand at that final gateway, I can look back and say:
Thank you. I have no regrets. I always followed my heart.
A photograph has become a memorial
Today, August 31, I transformed my photograph of the Nepal–Tibet border into an image of mourning.
Not to create fear. Not to sensationalize what happened. But to create a moment of remembrance.
A candle for the lives that were lost.
A prayer for those who are still missing.
A prayer for the families waiting for their loved ones.
And a reminder to all of us:
You are still here.
Your life is happening now.
Every breath is an opportunity.
Every day is an opportunity to love more deeply, to become more conscious, to release something old, to forgive, to serve, to grow and to walk a little closer toward the truth that lives within you.
How can we help?
If you would like support on your own journey of inner transformation, you know where to find us:
www.SoulAscension.earth
You don't have to know exactly what you need before you reach out. A replay can be enough to open a conversation. From there, I am happy to speak with you about your wishes, your path and the possibilities of working together.
And if you would like to support the people directly affected by this disaster, I add the donation link for the Temple of Shambhala here:
The Temple of Shambhala is supporting the preservation of authentic wisdom traditions, sacred temples, monks and monasteries, humanitarian projects, spiritual education, and initiatives dedicated to compassion, inner transformation and service.
The immediate focus following this disaster is on basic human needs — food, shelter, clothing and support for children and families in need. Shambhala monks are present in Nepal and are supporting people on the ground.
If you feel called to contribute, every act of support matters.
Let us keep the prayer field alive
Let us continue our prayers for those who are still waiting to be reunited with their families. Let us pray for the missing. Let us hold the families in our hearts.
And let us remember those who have already transitioned from the physical. May every soul find its way home. May those who are suffering receive strength and support. May those who are searching find their loved ones. May compassion reach every person affected. And may this tragedy awaken something within all of us — not fear, but presence. Not separation, but connection. Not postponement, but the courage to live our lives fully and consciously now.
We honor every soul who has passed through the veil.
May they be held in love. May they be guided toward the light, according to their own path and tradition.
And may we, who remain, remember the preciousness of this life.
With all our LOVE,
Nathalie & Uta