The rare, beautiful light in previously impossible darkness: so grateful to Anne Brown

I am heartbroken to hear of Anne's passing--I just found out today and waves of tears have been pouring through me. Her presence, her help, that strength underneath the beautiful, beautiful voice: not only did she heal me of things that no other attempts at doing so even quite touched, but she showed me the kind of woman I want to be.

I signed up for coaching with Anne for about six or so sessions in 2006. I was in a desert, in chaos, a serious tangle of so many issues that required a lot of different kinds of expertise & a big heart to see through. Something big happened in my life---a shocking betrayal, but also a big self-betrayal, the pinnacle of a hidden but vicious lifelong pattern--and I was devastated, on my knees.

I will always remember that day---I was actually literally on my knees, in a friend's apartment in the West Village. It was maybe my third coaching session with her. And on that phone session, we did a cycle, but she first said something to me, explained something to me, with such clarity, such compassion, that I will remember for the rest of my life and that is a cornerstone of my healing, of my moving forward into having any kind of decent life at all. I will always remember the words, her voice---crystal clear, no padding, no softening the truth, but in this beautiful, Southern, soft, elegant, loving voice.

The few times I have told someone the long, painful story of that year, of that strand of my life finally transforming, it all comes down to Anne Brown. She turned it around for me.

She knew what I needed to hear, and how I needed to hear it, and delivered it in a way that would never leave me. In one session, she transformed me by giving me a foundation nobody else had ever thought to give me.

The enormous healing I've done in the past two years, it all really started that day. She unlocked it. That day, her words, are like a hinge in the story of my life: I finally was able to open the right door.

Bit by bit, doing this work, things come together in a sort of vision, or a template, of a life that is worth living, that is hopeful and has enough space for me to be in it. In my heart---not by choice, but by what truly touches, inspires, moves me--pieces of the picture slowly come together, over these past years, of what I really want. She is one of those pictures that is a part of my heart forever---these pictures are the rare, they are exceptional women, exceptional hearts, strong, good, clear, hopeful, brave.

This past August, after not having had sessions with her in over a year, I called for one. A bunch of things happened and I was climbing through some necessary, difficult stuff, and I was on my knees again. She was flying back and forth to LA, obviously had a lot going on but I had no idea what. She was booked, but she said, but for you, Elizabeth, I always have time. That one sentence meant so much to me then, and now it means more, and I can feel moving forward how it inspires me to treasure and appreciate with abandon the real, true good things I have in my life. I am just so sad that we have lost her, and I will always, always be grateful to the beautiful Anne Brown.