Becoming the Main Character: A Map, A Journey, A Circle of Guides
The making of a co-created village for curious & courageous people on a journey toward personal growth, inner clarity, storytelling, and community building.
Preamble (if you just got here)
This post is about the Clarity Journey I’ve designed at Nest & north:
Clarity Journey (noun)
/ˈklær.ɪ.ti ˈdʒɜː.ni/1. A guided, transformational experience designed to help individuals reclaim, write, and share their personal stories as a foundation for meaningful self-expression, brand clarity, and community-building.
2. A process that cultivates inner clarity, renewed confidence, and creative direction—resulting in tangible outcomes such as a memoir, content strategy, or personal brand—while forming deep, lasting connections with a supportive circle.
Example:
“After completing the Clarity Journey, she finally felt ready to tell her story and found the village she didn’t know was possible.”
What makes the characters (and brands) we love?
Their layers. Depth. Contradictions. They're multifaceted. Like the best diamonds. So are the journeys behind them (and the stories they tell along the way).
As I shared in a recent article (here):
“If you’ve ever explored the Character Diamond framework, you know that compelling characters are multifaceted, built from their oppositions (strength and softness, chaos and clarity, fear and courage), as well as our flaws, core values, and direction.
The same applies to real people, and to brands. When we integrate our contradictions instead of hiding them, we create something that feels more raw, authentic, and human. Something magnetic. And in doing so, we not only become more whole: we invite others to do the same.”
To tap into that “main character energy” (or simply step into your fullest expression)—whether you’re craving space to create, navigating a life shift, or carrying a story that needs telling—you have to look at the many corners of your life. That’s why this journey weaves together everything I’ve spent years practicing: community building, narrative design, and soul-aligned branding.
But I knew that was too much for one person to hold alone. So I set out to find the guides: the ones who helped shape this experience with me.
"Everyone fails at who they're supposed to be. The measure of a hero is how well they succeed at being who they are."
— Frigga (Thor’s Mom) in Marvel’s Endgame
Meeting the Guides
I knew this journey wasn’t meant to be a solo sprint. It was a path to be co-created. I needed a Council of Wise (aka Board of Advisors) that reflected the nuance and complexity of becoming a main character: walking a transformative path toward inner clarity while crafting a compelling personal narrative about it.
So I invited six remarkable humans to walk with us: each a guide at a key moment in the journey. And they said yes. 💃
These aren’t just “guest speakers.” They’re wayfinders. Anchors. Catalysts.
Here’s a glimpse of who they are:
On life transitions:
From Estefania, a seasoned psychologist and certified career coach trained in Gallup Strengths, to Georgia, an artist whose medium became “customized poetry and ceremony as a service”—each helps people navigate major life shifts from radically different, yet deeply complementary, angles.
On branding and storytelling:
From Erin, an award-winning filmmaker whose documentary premiered at the White House and who was named one of Oprah’s SuperSoul100, to Emma, a brand and website designer whose intuitively tailored work blends soulful craft with strategic elegance—these women help give voice and vision to your evolving identity.
On authentic communications and connections:
From Natasha, a journalist-turned-PR powerhouse whose campaigns are built on truth, not clickbait, to Zvi, a master of meaningful conversation and strategic relational design—both help you amplify your message and sustain real, human connection.
These are people I admire deeply.
Each of them bringing their lived experience into the work of helping others rediscover theirs. They’re not here to lecture, but to light the path, spark insight, hold space, and offer perspective along the way.
Clarity isn’t found in isolation. It’s found in good company.
After all, the real goal of the Clarity Journey is to help you build an authentic village. One that grows. And lasts.
A quick map to that Journey (for context)
This journey is a transformational arc inspire designed to guide participants from reflection to creative expression through six core sessions, each building upon the last:
Call to Adventure (June 25) - You begin by grounding in your present reality, connecting with others, and setting intentions. It opens the door to curiosity and shared exploration.
The Long Road to Success (July 9) - You reflect on your past, honoring the milestones and trade-offs that shaped you, and begin discerning what to keep or release.
Breakthrough (July 23) - The most challenging part—shedding outdated roles and reclaiming parts of yourself with clarity and pride.
Reclaiming (August 6) - You reconnect with your essence, heal old wounds, and begin shaping a more authentic story and brand.
Integration (August 20) - Here, you align contradictions and bridge inner dualities, refining your narrative with strength and wholeness.
Return with the Gift (September 3) - You emerge with clarity, ready to share your renewed voice and vision through storytelling and creative output.
Each phase flows into the next with intention: honoring your past, shedding what no longer fits, reclaiming your truth, and returning with the confidence to create and contribute authentically. I wrote more about the overarching idea of it here:
How the guides show up in the Journey:
💡 Estefania Barsante, PCC (July 7)
Right after our Call to Adventure, Estefania leads us into Grounded in Strength, a session to gather tools for transition. She meets us just before The Road to Success, helping us pause and recognize the strengths we've already earned before we move forward with intention.
🎨 Emma Storm (July 16)
As we approach Breakthrough, Emma helps us begin expressing what’s shifting within. In Your Voice, Your Mood Board, she guides us through a hands-on process of visual identity, turning feeling into form.
🕯️ Georgia Wall (July 28)
Following the intensity of Breakthrough, Georgia invites us to Ritual as Portal, a poetic and participatory altar-making session that reclaims clarity and sacred meaning—helping us transition with care.
🎬 Erin Bagwell (August 13)
At the opening of Reclaiming, Erin joins us for a fireside conversation on storytelling, creativity, and spiritual unfolding. Her journey through identity and motherhood offers a powerful mirror for those reconnecting with voice and essence.
📣 Natasha Zolotareva (August 27)
Nearing Integration, Natasha helps us align message and mission in A Media Strategy That Feels Good. It’s not about visibility for visibility’s sake—but about communicating with heart, clarity, and resonance.
🤝 Zvi Band (September 10)
As we prepare for Return with the Gift, Zvi reminds us that transformation doesn’t end at insight—it deepens in connection. His session offers tactical tools to build authentic relationships and show up meaningfully, online and off.
In a Nutshell
We all need community on the road: people who help us remember who we are and what we’re capable of becoming. That’s what this council offers.
This circle isn’t big, but it’s deep. If any part of this journey speaks to something you’re navigating, I hope you’ll consider joining us. The next cohort begins June 25, with spots still open for Portuguese speakers and Europe-friendly times.
Or just hit reply and tell me which guide you’re most curious about—I’d love to hear from you.
Let's do this!
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❤️ Learn more here: nestandnorth.co/the-journey
❤️❤️ Next cohort kicks off on June 25th. We still have some spots available for the Portuguese speaking and Europe-friendly times (2:30 PM CET).
❤️❤️❤️ And feel free to DM if you're interested in a specific topic in particular! We will open limited spots for people within my personal community.