Meeting My Friend Lesley

“How did you get into spirituality?” my therapist asked me a few months ago. I don’t think anyone has asked me that or even sat with me long enough to realize how spiritual and attuned I am – at least nobody else besides my partner. I had to sit on the question for a while because I couldn’t remember. Maybe it started when I was a kid? My mom and dad were constantly fighting in their own world. So, sure, then I would dabble in spells, protective rituals, and even astral projection. The latter was more of a way to escape without ACTUALLY escaping, if you know what I mean.

I played a bit in spirituality when I was young, but I didn’t start to honestly believe in my connection to the universe, like truly grasp the power of thought and intention, until my parents divorced. I felt alone, isolated, and surrounded by chaos so I would pray a lot. I tried to pray to the one god but saw multiple figures around me whenever I closed my eyes. I felt an army of spirit guides protecting me, so I began praying to them when I was 16.

However, I didn’t truly understand the power I had within until I met my friend Lesley. It was around 2015 in Portland, ME. During this time, I worked at the Public Market House. The four-story brick building housed small food vendors on the first two floors. On the first floor, where I worked, there was a bake and sandwich shop called Big Sky Bread Co., a cheese shop, and my favorite niche wine shop – where you could talk to the staff for hours about tannins and notes.

I was finishing my shift at Big Sky when all this went down. The day seemed relatively dull; nothing was new in my routine—no new insights on what to expect. I was cleaning off the counter when Lesley appeared. She moved so quietly that it almost startled me when she started to speak. From what I remember, Lesley wasn’t talking to me at first; she was talking to a coworker. Then, mid-conversation, she looked at me. She seemed hesitant initially, but then she explained how she was intuitive and needed to talk to me. I immediately put up a wall. I have never liked people prying in my business and don’t trust easily.

I wasn’t rude, though. Something told me to listen. So, I listened. Then, out of nowhere, this random woman began to read my life. I mean, it seemed like she knew everything about me. And it was no cold read; it was descriptive. She could get a read on my dad, my mom, shit my whole life, and I didn’t tell her shit. I barely even confirmed besides a nod here and there. She just knew.

When she started talking about my apartment, the real reason she approached me, I had no choice but to believe. I was living with a family member going through it by this time, so she gave me a cleansing spell.

She told me to get multiple pieces of black tourmaline, kosher salt, distilled water, and a spray bottle for the spell. She suggested using kosher salt to cleanse my room by sprinkling it in each corner, mixing salt with distilled water, and spraying it on the walls while vocally removing any negative energy. I was then supposed to sweep up the salted corners and dump them in the garbage far away from my apartment building.

I wrote everything down and bought it the next day. As I returned home from getting it all, I went to grab a cup of tea at the market house. I sat in the corner in disbelief. I really followed this random woman’s advice. But as I was second-guessing myself, I kid you not; I looked over to my left, and this woman was talking to one of the baristas at the shop. She eventually saw me, came over, and asked me if I had everything. I said yes pointing to my bags.

She smiled in approval and sat next to me. I don't remember our whole conversation, but we eventually got on the subject of crystals and energy. She showed me how to connect with my energy by rubbing my hands together, closing my eyes, and feeling the energy build. The best way to explain it was tight air -- like this invisible ball in between my hands. It boosted my mood -- like a little giddy with a head high. The only other time I felt like that was by the water.

While meditating on this new feeling, she instructed me to hold the tourmaline. I was in disbelief. It was vibrating. When I bought it, it wasn't that strong. But, this time, the energy was new.

Honestly, I felt like I was going crazy. It was all surreal...odd. But it was happening right before my eyes. I saw and experienced it. It was real.

After I settled down, we exchanged numbers, and I went home to perform the spell. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I immediately had clarity. The air was brighter, and my mind seemed settled. From that point on, Lesley and I became friends.