Holding Space

 

Mony Dojeiji

To me, it is the knowing that there is nothing happening in my world that is separate from me.

Not one thing.

This is the meaning of Oneness. Of we are one.

So if in my world there is pain in any form, mine is to bring it Home.

Mine is to align with Love and, together with Love, look with courage upon all that I would rather look away from, and bring it in to be healed.

Because there is nothing that Love cannot transform. 

In the Love that I know to be God, I anchor... and bring it ALL in.

God knows what to do with it.

And in the Peace that settles upon my heart, Love can write its Truth and speak to me of what is mine to do.

This is my spiritual practice.

Each and every one of us who walks the path of Love can do this.

As always, let it begin with me. 🙏💕

~Mony 

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#monydojeiji #walkingforpeace #holdingspace #letitbeginwithme #love #BringitIN #oneness #WeAreOne #spirituality #spiritualityinaction #myspiritualjourney #myspiritualpractice

Looking Away

It’s so tempting to look away from all that we see in our world right now, source of much anxiety, fear and anger in our lives. We feel at a loss, helpless before a tide that threatens to overwhelm us.

In many (especially new age) teachings, we are taught to send love and light to these situations. I’ve done this too. As well-meaning as this is, I’ve come to realize that it also leaves me feeling disempowered, reinforcing a belief that the situation is happening “over there”, and has nothing to do with me “over here”; as if I am in no way implicated in the creation of that situation.

But if that situation is in MY sphere of awareness – if it has come to ME – then it is for ME to look at. Why?

So that I may fulfill the important task of bringing it to the Light. 

In so doing, I am taking the brave step of acknowledging my (most likely subconscious) part in its creation. I’m taking responsibility for any beliefs, thoughts, ideas within ME that have contributed to this situation. I’m taking responsibility for how I’m responding, with any emotion that is not love, compassion, brotherhood. I’m accepting that I don’t begin or end at the edge of my body, and that the larger world I see is part of my “self”. I’m accepting my part as the one who is projecting what I’m seeing in the movie of my world. I’m accepting that I was as a child learning to choose from love, and was unable to do so. I’m accepting my error. I’m accepting that I’m not judged for making this error. I’m forgiving myself, and accepting forgiveness. 

From this place of inner acceptance, I call unto me all that I have mis-created – my errors in thought and interpretation – to the One who can correct them.

My mind will insist that I am in no way responsible for what’s happening “out there” because I’m a good person and would never think, say or do anything that “they” are saying or doing.

That’s the refuge the mind offers us, protecting a heart unable to bear witness to the events of the day.

But the heart is stronger than the mind and its arguments. Our heart is a muscle, and like any muscle, it wants to flex! It wants to show its might, its power, its grandeur. It wants to be unleashed, but is kept locked up by a mind that wants to keep it – and us – “safe”. 

There is nothing that the heart cannot fearlessly look at because the heart is the seat of God Love. 

With God Love, I can look out upon the world and bring it in, rather than push it out; and give it the One who can transform it IN ME;

Who can take my fear and give me peace;

Who can take my helplessness and give me power;

Who can take my confusion and give me clarity;

Who can inspire me with whatever action is mine to take;

A few weeks ago, Alberto told me of a vision he had during a meditation. He was standing as a light himself surrounded by (absorbed in) a grander, more infinite light (like a sun) that he knew to be God. Alberto says he wants to go look at the “darkness” or “shadows” within him, and God says, “Let’s go together.” But they don’t move. Instead, a big movie screen appears before them, and they appear to be going down a spiral staircase into a dark dungeon with thick, rusted doors and bars. As the image continues to pass through them (remember, they’re not moving), the dungeon is transformed to gold, flowers and greenery. In one of the cages, they see a wolfman-type monster and a boy in rags. Both feel ashamed and guilty for what they have done, and shrink in fear; but they are pulled into the light, which transforms them into two beautiful beings of light who now reach out and extend their hands to be part of the greater light.

It is a powerful image which has stayed with me. 

I believe this is one of the most loving things I can do at this moment: 

Remember that I am One with my Creator, and all of creation. This is the source of my true power.

In that Oneness – in that state that is Grace – I open my heart wide and draw unto me all that I see that causes me fear or angst.

In loving gratitude, I allow Spirit to do the work of liberating me…and the world.

May these words serve you in your journeys.

Love, always.

Mony 

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#monydojeiji #walkingforpeace #consciousness #stillness #peace #lightworkers #innerpeace #awakening #light

FREE DOWNLOAD Walking for Peace - until 11/11/2020

Dear friends and pilgrims,

We know this is a time of introspection and inner journeying for many of us, a (forced) time of isolation where, in addition to our physical well-being, we are grappling with our mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, asking questions that perhaps we haven’t dared ask in a long time.

We have left our “normal world” behind, instinctively knowing that it is forever gone, and are on a journey with many unknowns, facing many fears and questioning the very meaning of all that we hold to be true and sacred. We may not know where we end up, but we know that we will be forever changed.

We are essentially on pilgrimage! Welcome...

This is inner terrain that Alberto and I have tread, wrestling with many of the existential questions that many of us are now facing. We did it during our pilgrimages on the Camino, and later walking from Rome to Jerusalem.

We offer you, during these times of many unknowns, our lived experiences walking through those questions, and the many lessons and revelations that resulted from them. 

That’s what our book “Walking for Peace, an inner journey” is all about.

We are offering the e-book editions – in English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese – for free, as our gift and contribution to these evolving times. 

Visit smashwords.com, search for the book you wish to download, and upon checkout enter code DS82X. For now, it expires November 11, 2020. All popular reader formats are supported.

Walking for Peace https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106033

Caminando por la Paz https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/271432

Pilgrimage (Chinese) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/650120

May these books serve your inner journeys.

All our love, and buen camino!

~Mony and Alberto  

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#pilgrimage #pilgrim #caminodesantiago #monydojeiji #albertoagraso #walkingforpeace #buencamino #consciousness #lightworkers #caminandoporlapaz #ebook

A Conversation with Death

"Befriending the Unknown" original illustration by Alberto Agraso

These last few weeks, the theme of death has been present in my life.

At Christmas, I received the memoir of Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, a pioneer in shifting how we think about death and the dying. A day earlier, I had a conversation with a good friend about this same topic and her interest in becoming a death doula.

Two friends also died on the same day, Dec. 28. Both had their services and celebrations of life on the same day.

Sylvana is playing music from her latest favourite musical: Beetlejuice!

It’s a curious thing to be speaking of death at a time that celebrates a great birth.

My first thought was: am I dying? Is this my time? Is the Universe trying to prepare me? I also happened to be watching The Good Place at the time, so ideas around what it means to live a good life were also dominant.

It was so tempting to give in to the fear that the mere mention of the word evokes; but instead, I decided to speak with Death and ask her what she wanted to say to me. She is, after all, a messenger, and I wanted to hear her message.

“Every moment, you are dying. The very cells of your body are continuously dying and being replaced at the rate of millions of per second. MILLIONS of new cells every second! It’s a cause for joy, for celebration. You don’t fear this process. You don’t question it.

In truth, you are not dying but being continually reborn and regenerated, in every instant. As are your thoughts, your beliefs, your emotions… in every instant, all that you are is being reborn.

And what drives this process of regeneration, of continual rebirth?

Love.

It is Love that wishes to fully inhabit your body. To be home in you, here and now. To express its glory through you.

It is also Love that knows when it is time to return Home.

And I, Death, respect the wishes of Love and fulfill my part so that Love may continue its journey, freed from this physical realm that it chose to experience for a while as you.

So that it may finally find Home.

It always does.

Whether inside the beating heart of a beloved, or the Infinite Heart of our Father-Mother God, Love remains alive, a vital force in the Universe, going on adventure after adventure, on a journey that has no end.

For the sole/soul purpose of being Love. Being at home in Love.

You will finally understand that Death is Love too. We are One.”

~Mony 🙏💖

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#monydojeiji #walkingforpeace #consciousness #love #death #birth #transformation

The World needs more HEART-fullness

The world needs more heart-fullness.

Hearts bursting with love, compassion, brotherhood;

Which elevate the mind to its fullness;

Lead it to its sacred destination:

The Mind of God.

Where only inspiration exists;

All-possibility;

The one most perfect for you at this moment;

To receive;

Give thanks for;

And put into action.

In service to the world.

Let Love raise your every thought to its highest expression. 🙏💝

~Mony

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#monydojeiji #consciousness #walkingforpeace #love #speaking #mindfulness #heartfullness #FridayFeeling #inspiration

Laying Down the Cross

           

  

 

 Today, Alberto and I went for a walk on the path near our home. It had become a ritual to visit a certain bench along the way but, for some reason today, I didn't feel like going.

More accurately, something was telling me to stay behind and let Alberto go alone.

We parted ways on the bridge, agreeing to meet up shortly.

As you can see from the picture, there's a concrete 'ledge' on either side of the bridge. As soon as I stepped onto one side - where the waters run rapidly - a fire truck and ambulance siren began to wail. Loudly. I stopped and waited, understanding this was not the way, for whatever reason.

I crossed the bridge to the other side. Here, the water appeared to be at a standstill, almost stagnant, but as I looked more closely, I noticed that the waters were indeed flowing.

"How true is that," I thought. "The water always knows where it's going. And, inevitably, finds itself merging into more infinite waters. There's wisdom in that flow, and I surrender myself to it."

I stayed for a while longer, appreciating the flow, then turned to leave. At that moment, my eyes caught sight of emerald-coloured beads hanging on the branch beside me.

A rosary.

Without the cross.

Mary holding an infant Jesus on one side.

On the other side, an adult Jesus holding a chalice, from which a heart can be seen and what looks like a fountain coming out of that chalice.

As I held the beads in my hand, I understood the message:

Love. The fountain of life. Abundant. Ever-flowing. Inexhaustible. It abides in the heart of (wo)mankind. It's what nourishes and blesses one, and all. The Holy Grail.

The cross of expectations, obligations, fears, limitations, judgments...all of it, laid down. Transformed by Love into wisdom, understanding, peace.

We all carry one form of cross or another in our lives. The invitation is always there to lay it down. To let Love liberate it so that you may stand - confidently, authentically - as the fully-realized child of the Divine that you are.

Love always, 🙏💕
Mony

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#monydojeiji #walkingforpeace #consciousness #love #wisdom #peace

U.N. Day of Nonviolence and Gandhi's True Message

Today (Oct. 2) marks the U.N. Day of Non-violence and coincides with the 150th anniversary of his birthday.

So many things to admire about this man but, in this picture of him, I see in him a fellow pilgrim. Humility. Humanity. Perseverance. Love. Compassion.

While many reflect on his many accomplishments, I am drawn to these words from spiritual teacher and author Eknath Easwaran:

"Gandhi’s mission was not really the liberation of India. That was a tremendous achievement, but India was essentially a showcase, a stage for the world to see what nonviolence can accomplish in the highly imperfect world of real life. . . .

In today’s language, Gandhi gave us the basis for a technology of peace. He gave us tools for resolving conflicts of all kinds, which anyone can learn to use.

But it is urgent to understand his message that nonviolence is a way of thinking, a way of life;

Not a tactic, but a way of putting love to work in resolving problems, healing relationships, and generally raising the quality of our lives.

We don’t begin on the grand stage he acted on; he did not begin that way himself. He began with his personal relationships, aware that he could not expect to put out the fires of anger and hatred elsewhere if the same fires smoldered in his own home and heart.

His nonviolence is NOT a political weapon or a technique for social change so much as it is an essential art—perhaps the essential art—of civilization.

In other words, nonviolence is a skill, just like learning to read. Love is a skill. The transformation of anger is a skill. All these can be learned...

Finally, for spiritual seekers of all persuasions, Gandhi showed us that the spiritual life need not mean retiring to a monastery or cave. It can be pursued in the midst of family, community, and a career of selfless service.

Even without reference to spirituality, if we look upon the overriding purpose of life as making a lasting contribution to our family and society, Gandhi gave us a higher image for ourselves, a glorification of the innate goodness in the human being, whose joy lies in living for the welfare of all.

This is Gandhi’s ultimate message for us, and no sentence of his is more significant than when he says—and remember, this is a man who never let even a word stand if he did not know it to be true from his own experience—

“I have not the shadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I have, if he or she would make the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith.”

From the book: Gandhi the Man: How One Man Changed Himself to Change the World (Nilgiri Press: 1972, 2011), 22-23.

May all beings know peace.🙏
~Mony

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#monydojeiji #walkingforpeace #consciousness #peace #love #ahimsa #Gandhi #nonviolence #UNDayofNonviolence #spiritual #loveinaction #pilgrim

Easter and the Inner Mysteries

Mony at the "Cross", found on a path near my home

To our Christian friends around the world, today (Good Friday) marks perhaps the most sacred time of the year.

My thinking about this time of crucifixion and resurrection changed radically when I began to read the more mystical interpretations of the life of the Great Master known as Jesus.

The teachings of White Eagle resonated especially deeply with me. Those who read our book know that he "appeared" to Alberto and I at the end of our Rome-to-Jerusalem pilgrimage, to give meaning to the true inner journey we were walking:

We are eternal beings of Light, on a journey of unfolding ever more Light;

Our sole/soul journey is to BE ONE with that Light (which is God-Love), so that we may pour forth its plenitude into the world.

Jesus was the perfected instrument for this Great Light; and he blessed the world not only with his teachings, but with his presence and example of BEING this Light - of BEING Love - in every moment; and in so doing, demonstrated the ultimate power of this Light, which is to overcome "death".

This is truly a very sacred time, a reminder that though we may suffer (or feel crucified), within that too is the seed for re-birth and ever-greater manifestation of the Light.

I share with you this quote from the teachings of White Eagle, which I especially love at this time. The pictures is of me at the "cross" that I encountered during my walk this Easter week.

Blessings to all, 🙏💖
~Mony

* * *
From White Eagle:

'We wish we could express in earthly words more of the inner significance of the life of the master Jesus.

So little is really understood of the inner meaning and the power of that incarnation of the Great White Light - we are speaking not just of Jesus the Nazarene, but the LIGHT which flooded his being and used his physical form.

This is the eternal Light in which you will learn to live in full consciousness; and Easter is the demonstration to all people of the inability of people to destroy God's life.

However much they try to destroy life, it just rises again like the phoenix.

There is no death, and life cannot be destroyed.

This is a most important truth for everyone to absorb into their consciousness.

We ask you to meditate on this; and as you meditate, to remember how you are linked on that higher level of consciousness with the eternal and infinite Light, the Son of God, the Sun."




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#monydojeiji #albertoagraso #walkingforpeace #consciousness #Easter #GoodFriday #resurrection #Light #Love White Eagle Lodge UK #ChristianMystics #AscendedMasters #GreatWhiteLight #GreatWhiteBrotherhood #pilgrimage #pilgrims #peregrino #peregina #BuenCamino #lightworkers #mystic #Jesus #innerjourney #WayoftheSoul #Soul

Shine On!

Mony Dojeiji

Those of you on this path of awakening with me know that the journey is not usually a straight line.

Often, what you thought was fully healed comes back under a different guise to confound you. The fear and hurt that you were confident had been brought back to love surprise you with their ferocity and persistence.

If we - as individuals - find our journey to wholeness arduous, imagine what it must be like for a family, a community, a nation.

So, we keep on keeping on, putting one step in front of the other, celebrating the positives and the gains, strengthening the bridges to the heart, pouring love into every crack, baring our souls to the world. We walk on. We shine on.

It's a good day to be alive...

~Mony


#monydojeiji #consciousness #walkingforpeace #light #love #shineon

Making Peace - the way of Ho'oponopono

For those of us on the path of unfolding Spirit, it may at times feel as if the world of Spirit and the world we witness are indeed worlds apart. The divide appears to be expanding, with few means of bridging or reconciling that separation.

How can we live in the world, and love it?

In this talk at Unity Spiritual Centre Ottawa, I share some thoughts on how to do just that.

It all begins within.

~Mony







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#monydojeiji #walkingforpeace #consciousness #ho'oponopono #peace #innerpeace #iloveyou #iamsorry #pleaseforgiveme #thankyou #love #weareone #speaker

Day 5 of my Water and Broth Fast

I confess that this 5-day water and broth fast has been challenging. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to quit, and to convince myself that I had done enough fasting for one day.

My 4th day was especially tough, for some reason. The thought of food would not leave my mind! No matter how I meditated, breathed, visualized, read inspirational text…every tool in my spiritual toolkit failed me.

So, I decided to indulge my mind – because this IS a mental game – and to watch videos of cooking shows.

For over an hour, I watched one mouth-watering show after another. And at first, I was salivating, I won’t kid you.

But after about half an hour, the shows lost all appeal. They all started to look the same. I kept watching for the sake of watching, but then turned everything off and went to bed, feeling satisfied.

I didn’t break my fast. I didn’t cheat. But I gave my mind and my thoughts some room to play; and that seemed to appease them. I was still in control, though, and felt very confident in that. But it was enough for me to continue my fast.

Today is my 5th day, and I feel great. My mind is clear, and I have more energy than I had in previous days.

I’m tempted to continue one more day, but I have many commitments this upcoming week, and I want to be fully present for them. I will have my diluted fruit juice tonight to break my fast, and tomorrow I will combine the juice with some fresh fruit. Then, it’s veggies and rice, and slowly adding in some eggs and nuts once my digestive system has started working again.

This has been an exercise in discipline – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual – and one that I’m glad that I undertook.

Thanks for joining me :-) .
~Mony

* * *
#monydojeiji #consciousness #fasting #walkingforpeace #lightworkers #spirit #heart #MindBodySpirit #power #personalpower

Day 3 of my 5-day water and broth Fast

So, here I am on day 3 of my 5-day water and broth fast.

I had done this fast last year, and shared with you my day-by-day reflections. This time, I felt the call to be more silent and so have tried, with mixed success, to disconnect from the outer world and focus inwards.

One of the big themes that has come up in these days is:

Where does true nourishment come from?

Is it from what you consume, or from what nourishes your spirit, your heart, your soul?

Is this nourishment (of and from the spirit) enough to sustain you on all levels?

The growling in my stomach pulls me in one direction, while the stillness pulls me in another.

In the stillness, I feel a warmth seeping into every atom of my being, and wish only to remain there. The hunger and mental chatter dissipate, and in that moment, I know the true source of my nourishment.

The work is to stay there, of course. That's the practice and discipline I'm developing.

I'm going offline again and will see you on day 5, Friday evening, when I break my fast.

Have a great week!
Mony

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#monydojeiji #consciousness #walkingforpeace #fasting #power #courage #love #food #MindBodySpirit #nourishment #Spirit 

The Author's Journey hosts Dr. Lesley Harman

Join me for this fascinating and insightful conversation with Lesley Harman, as she she shares her journey from the world of academia (Professor of Sociology at King's College in London) to that of a simple pilgrim; the importance of Presence and meditation when writing; and the power of using your words and voice as the means to express your authentic self.

A beautiful interview with a beautiful person.

To learn more about Lesley's books, please visit http://ursuspress.ca/.

Listen to the PODCAST on https://soundcloud.com/mony-dojeiji/sets/the-authors-journey.

Enjoy, and thanks for sharing!
~Mony





#TheAuthorsJourney #monydojeiji #books #writing #authors #consciousness #love #Canadian #CanadianAuthor #CanadianWriter #Canada #Presence #Spirit #walkingforpeace

Announcing..."Walking Alone: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Inner Journey" book

In the many presentations I’ve done over the years, one of the consistent themes that arises is how to walk alone.

Not only on pilgrimage, but in life.

What I have learned is that key to walking alone is having the courage to look beyond the physical, and to delve into the workings of our inner world – mind, emotions, spirit – so that we can better understand ourselves, and walk in confidence and curiosity of the world rather than in fear of it.

In this personal guide, I offer you insights and reflections based on my personal experiences of having walked alone (as a pilgrim on the path and in life), and how you can begin that journey towards self-knowing that only you can tread, starting now.

"Walking Alone" is available as an e-book and paperback, in the Amazon of your country.

I will also offer workshops in the new year, in person and online. Stay tuned! :-)

May this book serve you in your personal journeys, wherever they may lead you.

~Mony


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#walkingalone #innerjourney #emotionalpreparation #spiritualpreparation #mentalpreparation #beyondthephysical #mentalemotionalspiritualhealth #Spirit #Mind #Emotions #BodyMindSpirit #monydojeiji #pilgrim #pilgrimage #CaminodeSantiago #Camino #WayofStJames #consciousness #walking #alone #guide #personalguide #innerguide #Mastery #selfknowing #SelfMastery #courage #confidence #curiosity #Amazon #Ebook #paperback #book #walkingforpeace #buencamino

Pointing the Way

I’ve recently been introduced to the work and magnificence that was Nikola Tesla. A man truly ahead of his time. This particular quote got me thinking…

Of course, the comments don’t apply to scientists only, but to any and all who choose a vision for themselves and the world that doesn’t fit into the mainstream.

There will always be those tweaking the systems and structures we hold dear; and then there will be those who upend them altogether to show another way.

Many of you reading this, I know, consider yourselves to be light-workers, bringing a vision of our world and a consciousness that is grounded in love and Oneness. I count myself among them. Sometimes, it’s easy to feel that we can’t change anything because the traditional, often fear-based, systems appear too strongly entrenched.

This quote from Tesla, however, breathed new life into me.

Our work is to show the way. Paint a vision of how we can be, and how our societies can be. It may sound Utopian, but we are here for no less a task than to mark a path.

I believe the technology exists today to eradicate poverty, hunger, illness. Free energy, free WIFI, free communications, free education, universal basic income, the right to contribute your highest without worrying about economic contribution… by today’s models, all these are considered utopian and unattainable.

But just because today’s models don’t support these ideas doesn’t invalidate them. It doesn't mean we give up.

Enter the dreamers, the artists, the poets, the healers, the visionaries, the misfits, the compassionate ones, the quantum physicists, and all those who dwell in the realm of possibility.

Your ideas may not be taken up today, but no matter. Our sacred task as souls on a journey of exploration and expansion is to lay down the foundation anyways for those to come, and point the way.

Ever onwards. <3 
~Mony


#consciousness #Love #WayofLove #Wayshower #peace #builder #dreamer #visionary #tesla #creator #light #lightworker #myfuture #myworld #souljourney #souls #theway 

Small Circle, Big Circle

While in Spain, Alberto (my husband) surprised me with this beautiful necklace for my birthday. I loved it, and was immediately drawn to those circles.

Curiously, our daughter Sylvana had bought a necklace for herself a few days earlier with the exact same design, which Alberto had not seen.

My spider sense was tingling! :-D…Feeling that, hidden somewhere in those symbols, was a message for my continuing soul journey.

A few days ago, Alberto and I were having another philosophical conversation about yet another aspect of the spiritual quest. I will confess (and my apologies to my Law of Attraction friends) that I’ve always had a resistance to anything that requires visualizing, repeating affirmations, or anything that keeps the energy in the head rather than in the heart (which I believe to be the centre of all creation and what needs to unfold first, before meaningful creation-manifestation can happen).

In a moment, I finally understood what those circles were telling me.

Of course it’s wonderful – and good – that we visualize the life that we want, or the things we wish to have. This gift of creation is a powerful one, given by a loving Creator/God. To deny it is to deny our very existence as children of that loving Creator. 

But this power (small circle) exists inside a bigger context, and a bigger journey.

The bigger context is that you and I are grand souls, eternal beings of light who have come to this Earth at this moment in time to explore, to play and to use the tools of creation not merely to satisfy our material desires (again, nothing wrong with that!), but to bring our soul’s unique experiences and interpretations of the Divine (which I define as Love) into this life. That’s the big circle.

We, as grand souls on a journey of exploration, come here to add our energies of love to the love that already exists. Our unique light adds to the expanding light. Our highest conceptions (our biggest dreams, impossible ideas, crazy innovations, etc.) add to the highest consciousness. THAT’S our soul’s true journey. 

The Universe evolves because of our soul’s contributions. It doesn’t need us. No one needs us. No one needs to be saved by us. But I do believe our lives matter. They are sacred, the vessels through which Love plays. And I do believe that Love is the true nature of each and every one of us, no matter that some may have forgotten it. And our Light matters, for it is our gift back to our Creator. 

When I decided to walk the Way of the Soul to Jerusalem, my mind believed that it was walking for peace in Jerusalem and beyond; and on one level, it was.

But now, I understand that it was my soul that led me there, tracing a path it had marked long ago, drawing unto itself the experiences it knew it would need to awaken, so that it may bring its wisdom to the world.

Small circle.

Big circle.

And as we grow on our journey, our small circle expands to become that big circle, itself the small circle inside an even larger circle, rippling ever outwards towards infinity.

Towards Oneness.

And so it is.
~Mony 

VIDEO and AUDIO - The Hidden Camino, episode on Pilgrim Story Hour

During my first pilgrimage in Spain, I met pilgrims who spoke about a "hidden camino", and who were playing an esoteric game called "el juego de la oca" (the game of the goose).

I thought it strange, since this is a child's board game similar to snakes and ladders, and dismissed it.

Years later, I would learn it to be a metaphor for the camino, where the images and symbols point to an inner journey that the pilgrim is walking at the same time as they are walking an outer journey.

In this episode, I share with you the meaning of some of the images and symbols.

You can also listen to the audio podcast on iTunes.

Buen camino, and please feel free to Like and Share!
Mony

#pilgrimlife #simplelife #CaminodeSantiago #pilgrimage #WalkingforPeace #RometoJerusalem #Jerusalem #Rome #InnerJourney #SacredTravel #Travel #Adventure #AdventureTravel #walking #spirituality #initiation #transformation #love #consciousness #TrueStory #Italy #WayoftheSword #WayoftheHeart #WayoftheSoul #buencamino #theway #storyteller #lightworkers

Instagram -- Daily Pics and Stories of Rome-to-Jerusalem Pilgrimage

Our 5000-km walk for peace fascinates people. The most popular questions we are asked relate to our route: where we walked, how many kilometres a day, where we slept, what we ate, who we met.

In this photo series on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/walkingforpeace/), I share with you those details, day by day.

There were many days where we didn’t take photos. The camera still needed film, so every shot was precious!

Where is there is no photo, I will use stock images or an illustration by Alberto.

I hope you’ll join us on this journey!
~Mony and Alberto

True Nature of the Material World is Spiritual

There are moments when an idea comes with such clarity that you are left in awe of its power and simplicity.

This morning was one such moment.

Alberto and I had been reflecting on the kinds of experiences (work and life) that we wish to have in our lives; and each, in their own way, began working on bringing them forth. As I wrote in my diary about the feelings these experiences evoked – and actually feeling them – I thought to myself:

“This is great, but I get these same feelings when I am connected to Spirit, when I am anchored in that place of all-possibility.”

Then the following words flowed through me, uninterrupted:

“…That’s because your material world is spiritual in nature.

It is not “material”. That does not exist.

Every object, every dollar bill, every house, every car, every thing desired, is spiritual. Its very essence is Spirit.

When you align with the Spirit in ALL things and understand them to be Spirit in essence, then the great puzzle makes sense.

Spirit can only call more of itself unto itself.

The Spirit that YOU ARE calls forth, recognizes, acknowledges, blesses, celebrates, bows in gratitude to…the Spirit in the object desired.

You want a bigger house filled with modern furnishings and luxuries that make you feel energized at the mere thought of them? See them not as material objects, but as Spirit. They are God. They are immaterial.

Just as you are.

See them all as your spiritual birthright.

See them as the Spirit-objects that your Spirit-self wishes to have-hold-experience.

Feel that Spirit in them.

Appreciate it in them.

And as you do, they come to you – willingly, freely, lovingly offering themselves to you, wishing only to align themselves with the beautiful Spirit that has called them.

For that is what Love does, in every instant.

And so it is."
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I can’t tell you how much these words impacted me, and how their energies have stayed with me.

I hope they serve you in your journey <3
~Mony

#spirituality #channeling #ancientwisdom #creativewriting #Matter #Spirit #consciousness #love #inspiredwriting

Our Story of Love

Many people look at us and say, “You guys are so lucky to have found each other. You don’t know how hard it is to find someone these days.”

We have now been together for fifteen years. We have gone through the trials of every relationship, including parenthood. What people don’t know, perhaps, is the story of how we met.

Ours was never a romantic love…not in the beginning anyways. 

We met when each of us was on a personal journey of self-exploration, self-knowing and above all, self-love. We were determined to stay away from romantic entanglements because we knew how distracting they were and how far they can pull you away from your own inner quest.

Mony: I had just come out of a divorce that had left me shell-shocked. No woman wants to be told that the man she loved was now leaving her for another. My self-esteem, and dignity were felled in one swoop. I can look back it at now as the greatest gift of my life because it forced me to look at myself, at my beliefs, expectations, childhood…all of it. And my journey became one of healing and transformation, and of learning to love the person who walks this earth simply as Mony.

Alberto: I too had come out of a marriage and a few relationships that had left me wounded, but wiser about what love really means to me. Above all else, I knew that a relationship had to give me the freedom to continue my own personal quests. I didn’t think, at that moment, that I could make that journey successfully with another person, and I was determined not to take that risk so readily any more.

When we met as pilgrims, and began walking from Rome to Jerusalem, we were companions on this path of inner exploration. No one believed we weren’t romantically involved, which is why we always learned how to say the word ‘only friends’ in the language of every country we walked through. There was no attraction then, since our focus was very much on what the journey was revealing to us about ourselves; what every encounter was teaching us; what every argument between us was bringing to the surface to be healed. We looked at EVERY THING that happened on that journey as an initiation: a shedding of the old, and an emergence into that part of ourselves that was grounded in love, compassion, wisdom. 

We walked in this way for six months, until we arrived in Greece. By then, we had experienced so much, lived through so many intense moments. We had already been rejected more than once when asking for shelter. We had already separated and walked apart for forty days. We had already broken down and rebuilt ourselves a hundred times over. We were each standing more confidently in who we were as individuals and what we believed about ourselves and our world – even when we still disagreed on some things.

The romantic shift happened unexpectedly, when the masks we were wearing finally fell; and they fell, because we had each been insistently peeling back our personal layers of fears, judgments and shame. When you commit to shedding those layers that no longer serve you, EVERY aspect is brought forth. 

Which now meant that we were also ready to examine our understanding of what it means to be in relationship.

How do you remain loyal to who you are and your beliefs when you are with someone?

How do you walk your own path, while still sharing it with the one you love?

How do you continue sharing the path, while remaining anchored in your own journey?

How do you continue the journey of self-love, when your disagreements threaten the fabric of your relationship?

How do you continue believing in love, despite the hurt we inevitably caused each other?

These are the questions that our relationship allows us to explore, to this very day. 

This is the opportunity for personal growth that Love offers us.

This is the infinite gift of relationship. 

It’s been said before, but remains a great truth: we found Love when we stopped looking for it “out there”, and began seeking it and honouring it in ourselves.

Love of self, anchors our relationship. 

Love for the other, gives it wings.

With infinite light and blessings,

Mony and Alberto 

#love #loveistheway #valentinesday #everydayisloveday #loveyou #loveyourself