“Now we begin…”
Those three words burst into my consciousness as I sat alone in the woods— pouring out my story to the trees, the squirrels, and the sky above. It was desperation that had driven me to that mountain hermitage where I’d spent the last two days in silence and solitude listening for Divine guidance in the midst of a profound spiritual crisis.
My name is LeAnne Nesbitt, and I’m glad you are here. Scroll down to read the rest of my story.
The restful quietude did my body and soul some good, and while I was aware of the presence of Spirit, there was only silence. And then, in the final hours of my stay, those words came with such clarity and authority that a dam broke in my heart, releasing a torrential outpouring of tears that had pooled behind it over some forty-five years of life.
From the outside, it might have appeared I was having a breakdown. On the inside, I knew it was the breakthrough I had been seeking. With fresh eyes, I began to see where the path had been leading all along—not with complete understanding, but I became willing to surrender to the journey.
That was October 2010. Since then, the road has been a meandering one, with many unexpected turns, marked by brave choices and fearful resistance. In other words, just like life before that mystical mountain top experience. While this particular moment stands out in my memory as a crucial turning point and a new beginning, I’ve had to begin again and again and again many times since. That is the spiritual journey in a nutshell, is it not?
While my outer life remained relatively unchanged for many years, I said yes to each nudge of Spirit that felt in alignment with my true self and the slow revelation of my calling. It wasn’t easy. There were times when I was certain the way had opened, only to find myself staring down a dead-end road.
I kept my day-job in the corporate world while pursuing certification in Spiritual Direction and Dreamwork at the Haden Institute, which supported my spiritual formation. Most importantly, this training brought me into community with other dreamers and mystics who could relate to what I was experiencing and gave generously of their wisdom and encouragement. For ten years, I lived in the tension of a divided life, and pursuing my called vocation was a second full-time job.
It took a global pandemic for me to realize it was time for bigger, braver choices, and feel the urgency to make the big leap I had been resisting. That is another story for another time. Dreamers & Mystics is the culmination of ten years of preparation for the next new beginning.
And so, I begin again…
I’m sharing more stories on my blog if you care to follow along…