Leslieann Hobayan
Poet. Priestess.
Teacher. Coach.
If you’re feeling stuck or lost in your life, wrestling with trauma that you can't seem to heal and release, and/or have forgotten your magic and life’s purpose, you’re in the right place!
I’m Leslieann Hobayan, a poet-priestess who works with folks that are looking to drop the blocks that are holding them back (limiting beliefs, old traumas, scarcity mindset) and step into the full radiance of who they truly are! I guide those who are seeking more from this life they’ve created, to find their life’s purpose, which is way beyond the office job, 2.5 kids and a house.As the first-born (and a girl at that!) of Filipino immigrants, I’ve been told that I had to behave a certain way. “Look at how you’re sitting! Girls don’t spread their legs like that.” or “Girls don’t play in the dirt! They don’t play with boys!” (Nevermind that the boy in question was my brother! Ha!) I’ve heard that kind of tsk! tsk! throughout my childhood. I was told that I needed to be a doctor or lawyer so I could make money (which presumably equaled happiness - hah! Not!). I was told to do a lot of things. I was never given a choice. And out of fear for my safety, my nervous system said: we’d better do what they say!
Over the course of my life, I worked so hard to repress my true nature, my true self. But then it got to a point where my Higher Self wasn’t having it and she wanted to bust out our radiant light for all to see! The discomfort was so unbearable that I found myself in a yoga class after swearing I’d never do yoga again after pulling a muscle during my first yoga experience. Since then, all those years ago, I have worked to nurture my inner child to assure her that it was safe to come out, that it was safe for us to be our TRUE SELF!
And because of how incredible this feels, how incredible my life is now, I want to help other women learn how to hear their inner knowing, to connect with their divine Selves, and thrive in the lives they were born to live!
HELLO THERE!
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HELLO THERE! ᐧ
Tarot Readings
Tarot is a divination tool. It is guidance from your intuition. It is NOT a predictor of the future. It is a mirror. A mirror that is held up to show you what you already know but have turned away from because either you are not ready to receive this knowing or the conditioning that you have experienced in this human world has drawn you so far away from yourself that you’re not even aware about your inner knowing. Tarot brings you back to that knowing. It brings you back to You.
Leslieann’s Raw Drafty-draft
Poems
This publication is a work-in-progress in which Leslieann shares her daily practice of writing a poem a day. Raw, straight-from-the-page, unfiltered, unedited, unrevised. It’s a working document in which to record growth and evolution in writing.
Spiritual Grit Podcast
Welcome to Spiritual Grit, the podcast where we talk real-talk about spirituality through the lens of activism and social justice.
Grab your dancing shoes and let's get groovy with the grit!
New episodes drop every Wednesday morning!
You can find it on Spotify, SoundCloud, and everywhere else you get your podcasts!
Listen here on iTunes/Apple Podcasts:
Leslieann’s Adventures in Midlife
Self-explanatory. Be entertained by the stories & advice of this divorced, midlife woman of color, activist, single mom to 3 teenagers, daughter of Filipino immigrants. From the weirdness of dating apps to tarot magic and of course, menopause.
About me
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About me ᐧ
Leslieann Hobayan is a poet, essayist, healer, badass mama, a writing, yoga & meditation teacher, and host of the podcast, Spiritual Grit, a show at the intersection of spirituality and activism.
As an American-born daughter of immigrants, identity has always been at the forefront of her work. As a result, her work’s focus has been to help others facilitate their own healing in order to uncover and express their truest identities, their most authentic selves.
Nominated for a Pushcart Prize and a 2018 Best of the Net, her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Rumpus, Aster(ix) Journal, The Grief Diaries, The Lantern Review, The Mom Egg Review,The World I Leave You: Asian American Poets on Faith and Spirit, and elsewhere. Currently teaching creative writing at Rutgers University, she’s also a spiritual mentor for women of color, a yoga & meditation teacher, a tarot reader, and facilitates sacred healing circles for people of color.
What People Are Saying
J.D.
“Profound, compassionate, and possessed of much gentle wisdom, Leslieann heals as much as she enlightens and helps you bring together what is scattered and love what is disavowed. A life-alterer.”
Rene D.
“I feel more empowered now. I am exploring things I did not even think of before and am really enjoying it. I sat on my butt for a long time and it feels great to be part of my life again! It was totally worth the experience since the mind is such a trickster and to have the awareness of thought is a gift one can only obtain through study and practice..”
Rosie K.
“Leslieann invited me to her 40-day challenge exactly when I needed it, and she did so in her classic approachable and cheerful way. As a novice, I was looking forward to learning meditation techniques to help with stress management. Leslieann is a skilled and experienced guide. She imparted the techniques and wisdom I was yearning for, while giving myself and the other students space to explore our experiences. Leslieann is a MUST for anyone, beginner or experienced, seeking guidance and accountability in their practice. She helped me navigate my doubts, frustrations, as well as celebrate the milestones and acknowledge the breakthroughs. She catalyzed this important evolution within me, and I see significant changes in my deliberate listening of others, my concentration at work, and my ability to "take time for myself" - ultimately making myself more of a joy to others!”
Veronica C.
“Thank you, Leslieann, for being a steady presence and guide through this process of reacquainting myself with meditation, a practice I had not steadily practiced for many years! My daily practice now begins with prayer and meditation each morning. I highly recommend any meditation program offered by Leslieann. She is a caring guide and instructor whose robust knowledge base and experience are true gifts. ”
Tamiko N.
“When I explained to Leslieann in passing that I was going to “just slog” through the most difficult part of writing my book, her question stopped me in my tracks. ‘How are you going to take care of yourself while writing this section?’ Knowing Leslieann and her poetry, her deep training in yoga and somatics, AND her ability to talk about writing craft made me excited to work with her. She asked me pointed, deep questions and gave specific suggestions on how to start this work mindfully, paying attention to my body. I think about her questions a lot now while I’m writing and revising, and I’m so grateful that she encouraged me to work with her. I hope that I can work with her again in the future.”
Here’s a bit more about me:
Namaste! Sat Nam!
You can also connect on social media
Instagram Feed
Follow me at @leslieannhobayan
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Follow me at @leslieannhobayan ᐧ