The seeds of Spiritual Traveler Guides were planted years ago. I toyed with the idea of creating a series of guides focusing on the how, what, why and where of spiritual traveling. But with a busy schedule that included being a public relations consultant for non-profits, writing a monthly column, Cyberweave: Spirituality and the Internet for Conscious Community Magazine and a new significant other in my life, I put the project on the back burner.
This spring, however, marked a big turning point in my life. Illinois State budget cuts caused me to lose my main non-profit client and I broke up with my guy. My life was suddenly turned upside down. It was and is a difficult time.
However, my grounding in positive spirituality came to my rescue. I looked for a silver lining and found it. My passion for that Spiritual Traveler Guides project was rekindled. The spectacular growth of eBooks, self-publishing and Social Media in the last few years opened the doors of previously unheard of possibilities and opportunities.
More opportunity presented itself when I was invited to attend my aunt, Sr. Alice Montgomery’s 97th birthday party in San Francisco. Since I have family in San Francisco, I have been there many times. But this time, I went as a Spiritual Traveler. While in the Bay Area I made it a point to have one or two deep spiritual adventures each day. The insights and resources that I gleaned from those adventures will be the starting topics of this blog. And I am working on my first eBook in the Spiritual Traveler Guides series: The Spiritual Traveler Guide to San Francisco and the Bay Area.
But who am I, and what is the deeper story of how I got to this point? I think it is important that we share our stories. By doing so, we can glimpse the depths of each other’s souls. Here, therefore, are some highlights of my own personal journey.
I am a writer, author and spiritual explorer. For several years, I have explored spirituality via the World Wide Web and Social Media through my column, Cyberweave: Spirituality and the Internet. I am finding that my expertise at exploring the Internet and Social Media is helping me on my present spiritual travels.
My spiritual philosophy can be summarized in this quote from Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Eat, Pray, Love: “I think you have every right to cherry-pick when it comes to moving your spirit and finding peace in God. I think you are free to search for any metaphor whatsoever which will take you across the worldly divide whenever you need to be transported or comforted.”
This philosophy has led me to create my own magnificent spiritual garden filled with the cherries and other fruits of my life-long search for spiritual nourishment, development, enlightenment and transformation. This spiritual garden is deeply rooted in a wide variety of spiritual and religious experiences. These include:
An M.A. in Religious Studies and extensive work toward a Ph.D. with research focused on the link between Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) and unlimited love.
Co-founding the first bilingual Spanish/English community newspapers in the United States with the goal of building bridges between neighbors and between generations.
Spreading the good word about the good works of non-profit organizations that are serving at-risk youth and their families during my years as a Public Relations Consultant.
Receiving in-depth inspiration from many sources including: the Course in Miracles; Spiritualism (my community of faith); the International Association of Near-Death Studies; the Institute of Noetic Sciences; Robert Moore Ph.D. who shared his deep insights into Paul Tillich and Carl Jung; Stephen G. Post, President of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love who opened my eyes to the scientific research that is proving the value of altruism, love and compassion; Diandra who introduced me to the teachings of Salem, The Great Light; the Rev. Marrice Coverson for leading me to a place of forgiveness and helping me understand the principles of Spiritualism; and the many authors and spiritual guides and teachers (both human and Divine) who have helped me—and continue to help me—along the way.
Gratitude for all things great and small from the smile of a child and the birds who visit my feeders; to the prosperity, abundance and love that surround me; to the challenges that sometimes rock my boat. And through it all, I know that I am surrounded by loving, caring and supportive soul-sister/soul-brother friends, family and colleagues. All these gratitudes are lovingly recorded on my iPhone in my Thank You Universe Journal.
My spiritual path diverged from the traditional long ago. That journey was summarized recently in a poem inspired by a writing exercise during a Hay House Writers Workshop:
I remember… A Spiritual Journey
by Mary Montgomery
I remember that little girl sitting with her grandfather as he painted word pictures on her mind—grateful now that she was taught to see by a blind man.
I remember that little girl tagging along with her father as he chauffeured the parish nuns on Saturday visits: Old churches, smells of incense and that special Virgin Mary. The whispered invitation: “Say a prayer and make a wish.” And that little girl, in her childish wisdom, making the only wish that made fool proof sense. Spoken: “I wish that everyone will be happy.” Unspoken: “Then I will be happy too.”
I remember that girl, older now on the family’s Michigan cottage porch somehow at one with the darkness as it slowly lifted into dawn. Silence, then the faint rustling of leaves and the chirping of one bird and then another and another until a whole chorus crescendoed to greet the sun as it topped the trees.
I remember that girl in seventh grade suddenly knowing deep in her heart and soul that God did not want our glory or care about which or whether we had religion. The only thing that matters is how we love each other.
I remember that girl, a teen-ager now, branded a heretic by Sr. Kathleen for asking the wrong questions. Two years later. Vatican II. The same nun. The same questions. This time acceptance. Hope springs in the girl’s heart soon to be dashed. Pope John opened the window. She flies out.
I remind myself to remember that it is not about the destination, but about the journey.
And so, I invite you to join me on my journey and share your own stories of your spiritual journeys too. By incorporating the spiritual and transformative into every journey that we take, we will nourish and replenish our spirits and our souls.
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