Pilgrim Story Hour

Best known for bringing Japanese arts and culture to Ottawa, artist, teacher and author Rebecca Cragg of Camellia Teas​ stops by to speak about her latest books and artistic creations, while serving a cup of delicious chrysanthemum tea. A delight to speak with!

Join me for this fascinating and insightful conversation with Dr. Lesley Harman, as she she shares her journey from the world of academia (as 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 to express your authentic self. A beautiful interview with a beautiful person. To learn more about Lesley's books, please visit http://ursuspress.ca/. Watch the VIDEO on my YouTube channel youtube.com/monydojeiji. ~Mony

Are you a music and trivia buff? Do you love Canadiana? Then you will love this interview with Randy Ray, one part of the team that makes up the Trivia Guys, as he talks about his latest book "As the Years Go By". Based on interviews with musicians, managers, producers and promoters, the book offers an inside look at the trials and triumphs, good times and bad encountered by performers, managers and producers, including many who hit the big time on the international stage. To learn more about this book, visit http://triviaguys.com. Check out the video on YouTube (youtube.com/MonyDojeiji) and Facebook (facebook.com/MonyDojeijiTV). Enjoy, and thanks for sharing. ~Mony

In this personal #interview, Dr. Gita Baack uses her lens as a Holocaust survivor to offer insights on how to move forward from trauma that is passed from one generation to the next. An insightful and informative conversation on my TV show, The Author's Journey.

At the age of 70, Guy Thatcher embarked on his first pilgrimage, walking the 800-km Camino in Spain. In this interview, he speaks about his journey , the power of learning how to flow with the unforeseen, and the life lessons he learned. Watch the video on YouTube:

Kevin Johns is a writer, ghost-writer, podcaster, writing coach... and punk rocker! Join me on this episode of The Author's Journey as Kevin shares his passion and extensive knowledge not only as a writer, but as an entrepreneur in the business of writing. Enjoy! ~Mony

On this episode, I share the story of Zelko, a Serbian man who had driven up and down the road wanting to meet us and to make sure we took away his message of the true heart of the Serbian people. Our encounter with him would be a stand-out moment in our journey, and a reminder to not allow the fears, prejudices and anxieties of others to influence my experience. I hope you enjoy it, and buen camino! Mony P.S. You can also watch the video on youtube.com/monydojeiji or facebook.com/monydojeijiTV.

Camila Reimers is an international award-winning Chilean-Canadian author who writes in English and Spanish across many genres. It was a pleasure listening to her story and having her share her journey as a writer. Enjoy, and please feel free to Like and Share! ~Mony You can also watch the video on my YouTube channel (youtube.com/monydojeiji) or Facebook (facebook.com/MonyDojeijiTV).

Dr. Ian Prattis is Professor Emeritus at Carleton University in Ottawa, Zen teacher, peace and environmental activist, and author. Ian​ shares with us his journey with the written word, his muse (and how she insisted on being acknowledged!) and his book "Redemption" which is about to be made into a movie. A fascinating conversation that I hope you enjoy. You can also watch the VIDEO on my YouTube channel (MonyDojeiji) or Facebook page (/MonyDojeijiTV) ~Mony

Hugh B. Long is an award-winning Canadian journalist and author. He writes full-time and is passionate about Science Fiction and Fantasy infused with Mythology. He also writes Norse and Viking-themed non-fiction under his pen name – Eoghan Odinsson. To learn more about Hugh, please visit http://hughblong.com/.

Evelyn Voigt is a Tanzanian-born Canadian author, poet and spoken word artist. Evelyn shares her journey as an author, and how growing up in Africa shaped her worldview and the memoir she has written: "Flying Snakes and Green Turtles". To learn more about Evelyn, please visit voigtbooks.wixsite.com/evoigt.

Jamieson Wolf is a award-winning Canadian author and poet who has published over sixty books in various genres. He shares with us his very personal and inspirational journey as a writer, and how a sudden diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis affected his journey with the written word. To learn more about Jamieson, please visit http://jamiesonwolf.com/. If you enjoyed this interview, please give it a Like and a Share! ~Mony

Walking along the trails near my home, I couldn't help but feel the flow of everything around me, and how flowing during my pilgrimages brought me all manner of wondrous surprises and connections. Here, I share one such short story. Thanks for tuning in, and please feel free to share and give it a Like if you enjoyed it. Buen camino! ~Mony

Many people know that I am married to the pilgrim who walked from Rome to Jerusalem with me, Alberto Agraso. But few people know the full story of how we met, and the divinely orchestrated events that conspired to bring us together. Enjoy our story of love, and buen camino! ~Mony

We all have anchors, those rigid beliefs and ideas that keep us stuck in our old ways of thinking rather than liberate us into the fullness of our being. In this episode, I share the story of a most kind-hearted priest who was so generous of spirit but could not look beyond the confines of his religion's dictates to serve the spiritual needs of two pilgrims.

On my first Camino, 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. Buen camino! Mony

On this episode, I speak about the three great journeys of initiation, those journeys towards self-knowing that invite us to unite body, mind, heart and spirit to become whole human beings in the service of the highest good for all. I hope you enjoy it, and please feel free to share it. Buen camino! ~Mony

Long before pilgrims walked this modern path called the Camino, ancient ones and truth seekers followed this Way of the Stars, reenacting with each step the journey of the sun as it rose (was born) and set (died) every day. In this episode, I share some reflections on death and rebirth as a key element of pilgrimage. Enjoy, and buen camino! ~Mony "The Call" - original painting by Alberto Agraso Art of the Spirit (http://albertoagraso.blogspot.com)

While walking in Croatia, I was interviewed by a reporter in English for the evening news. It's rare footage from my time as a pilgrim, and one that re-enforces that this was indeed, for me, a journey of inner exploration.

In this video, I share some reflections on the true temple that I was walking towards during my pilgrimages along the Camino de Santiago, and walking 5000 kms from Rome to Jerusalem. When I recorded this video, I didn't realize that the sun would create this light effect, and I thought about re-recording it. But it somehow seemed to add to the message of this episode, which is that the temple that we seek (and all its promises and secret teachings) is within our own heart, and it is to that temple that we journey when we walk. Enjoy the video, and please feel free to share. Buen Camino!