Deepen Your Inner Awareness with Monica Esgueva

Interview Episode with Monica Esgueva

Monica: [: 00:00:00

Because if, if you get so attached to them, then it becomes a constraint for your own growth. And we are here not to feel okay, I am right. And this is what gives me security and certainty. We're here to explore and to become bigger, more willing to adapt to the ambiguity and keep that open mind that is the truth. Okay, I'm here to expand.

o Curiously Wise. I'm Laurin [: 00:01:00

with me coming to us live from Spain, right?

Monica: That's right.

Laurin: And I'm going to introduce Monica and then I will officially welcome her here for our conversation today.

Monica is an advocate for inner peace and consciousness. A renowned self development teacher and spiritual guide known for bridging the gap between Eastern and Western philosophies with a profound understanding of the mind, Human consciousness and spirituality.

She has been helping the transformation of individuals for more than 16 years. Central to Monica's teaching and studies is the written word. She is the author of nine books, including the bestseller in Spain and Latin America, mindfulness and her latest book in English, the seven levels of wisdom born with remarkable spiritual awareness.

s, including the Dalai Lama. [: 00:02:00

Monica: Thank you so much, Laurie. I'm so happy to be here with you.

Laurin: Yeah. I'm looking forward to this, this combination of the Eastern philosophies and the Western mind. I saw a phrase about that in the, your book description is really fascinating to me. I have a very good friend who's very steeped in the Indian you know, traditions and not American Indian, the other Indian, it gets confusing here.

And, and. She has, she and I have a hard time kind of connecting with our spirituality because she comes from a very specific practice and I am more of a intuitive, just kind of figured it out as I went along kind of person. So so I'm really fascinated by that combination, your experience. With the Eastern philosophies, but being able to you know, translate it into something the Western mind can connect with is something I find really fascinating.

So I do wanna [: 00:03:00

Monica: Hmm

Laurin: And I really like you to just first off, you could just tell the listeners what, what you think of when you say soul, because I think we all have a little bit different understanding of that.

And then what journey are we here for? Yeah.

Monica: people use different names to refer to the same thing. So the soul, other people call it consciousness, and other people calling the being the essence of who we really are. So it's that part of ourselves that doesn't, is never born and never dies. Because it has always existed and will always go on existing.

rking society, you know, we, [: 00:04:00

We will always go on, because this is only part of our journey as souls. And we come here only for a while. We keep coming, that's for sure, because there's so much you can learn in only one lifetime. And we are very slow. Learners, I believe, so it takes a lot of times to come here and keep learning and can keep developing until we can graduate and and we graduate when we.

st or as we are using it now [: 00:05:00

And we are able to say, okay, all the experiences helped me to be where I am now. And now I don't identify with my body anymore. I don't identify with my feelings, with my emotions, with my mind, with my thoughts, with my possessions, with my ego, all those things. I understand them. And in a way I have transformed them, I have transmuted them, and I, I realize that I am oneness I am here playing this game, but as Jesus said we are in this world, but we are not from this world. And I think of, we are not of [00:06:00] this world either. So I think this is when you come to that realization and it's not just an intellectual realization, but you are able to live from that. point of view all your life, then it means that you are ready to graduate. And, and I think in Christian terminology, they will call it resurrection.

want to hear anything about [: 00:07:00

Then those points of, of those common points. That common ground is not going to be found. So I think it's good to have an open mind, you know, it's like, it's, and we cannot generalize I think people find that that that is their path. Well, that's fine. But I think, in my case, and it seems that in your case as well, Laurin, I like to keep an open mind.

And I, I like keep learning and keep open to new realizations and new knowledge because I think that is the way we can become wiser.

out the same thing as energy.[: 00:08:00

You know, we are energetic beings, so we are here having a human experience. And, and so I know that there's a commonality that can be found. But you're right. You have to have the curiosity to, to be open to it. And it's the thing. I think that's why I really like the word curious and curiosity is because it automatically opens up your mind.

If you get curious about something you're looking for to see what's there. And it's something we need to do in lots of ways in the world.

Monica: exactly. I think, I think it's important to, to question as well, you know, to, to not to take things at face value and not to take things because someone else said that it says, put it into practice, see if it works for you and be open to question everything and question your own thoughts, question your own beliefs.

l okay, I am right. And this [: 00:09:00

Okay, I'm here to expand. I'm not here to constrain myself. So, yes, sometimes it's scary because it's like, okay, I don't know what is on the other side. And what if I question things that I have been believing all my life? Where am I, you know, where am I going to stand? Yes, and this is what makes people get really trapped in their own certainties and securities.

it's all about. Okay. I have [: 00:10:00

Laurin: Yeah.

Monica: And, and if I get more parts of that puzzle, then my big picture is going to become much more interesting and more expansive. So that's my view of life. But of course, this is very personal. Yes.

Laurin: that commonality, excuse me, of experience where, you know, you go out and you do, you expand and you suddenly are able to go, you know, that thing I used to believe. It's, that's, that wasn't mine. Somebody put that on me or that was based on that time of my life and it's no longer serving me.

These limiting beliefs are the things that I'm, I really have had to work out a lot of myself. And they're, they, I find they're always self protective,

Monica: Yes,

e and you can open your mind.[: 00:11:00

Monica: And I think it's also we have to be very, very careful because we have been programmed since we were born here in this society. And we have been not just when we were, we were children, we have been programmed all our lives. I think it's very important to realize that, to be aware of it, because if you're not aware of it, then you think that all those beliefs and thoughts that you have in your head are yours, and they're not yours.

ing. And, and I think that's [: 00:12:00

Laurin: Yeah. It's, I, I mentioned before we got on that I was very, very fortunate to have a mother who was a, a travel agent and she took me to Europe when I was 11. I went with my grandmother, one of my great aunts, my mom and me, and we traveled all over Europe. So I'm 11 years old and I am fascinated by the language.

than the building, you know, [: 00:13:00

And, and I, I think that's part of why I've always had so much curiosity is because I got exposed very early. To all the different possible ways to live in the world, not just my little bubble that I was growing up in and we don't, I know as Americans, we're getting better about traveling. Probably Europe would like us to stop now since the pandemic. But we, we tend to be a very insular kind of society, even regionally here. And, and I find that that's what I bump up against a lot with you know, everything that's going on around me is it's like, if people would just get to meet each other and talk to each other one on one, That's a, that opens the door for expansion because you suddenly realize these are people.

And it's such a gift that we [: 00:14:00

Monica: But I think it's part,

Laurin: mind even more. Mm

Monica: right, but I think it's also part of this programming. We have been programmed to feel different and, and opposed, you know, it's like divide and conquer. So, so there are so many forces that, that. are looking for that. They want us, the population to be divided and so we will fight against each other and, and I think this is what have led to so many conflicts and, and wars and, and necessarily because we are the same human family.

t? You know, everybody wants [: 00:15:00

So if we help each other and we, we know that we are all in the same boat. And we, in a way, we just develop this kinship with, with human beings. Then there's, there are no differences that are really relevant.

Laurin: Yeah.

Monica: And as you said, it happened to me, you know, I, I always, I was always very international and I always wanted to travel the world and know other cultures and really get involved.

And I have traveled to a hundred, more than 110 countries. And for me, this is so important. It made me feel a brotherhood with everyone else. Because I realized that they are the same. Intrinsically, we are the same. Yes, we have some differences, which makes the whole thing more interesting. But it's not differences to hold against each other.

that mentality, I think, is [: 00:16:00

Laurin: Yeah.

Monica: just accept it as part of the programming, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Laurin: Right. And it's, I find it's driven by fear. You know, fear is a very powerful controller of, of ourselves and of, of, you know, groups of people and countries of people. And and yeah, when you get to know each other on a more personal basis that you are just a person and you happen to have grown up in a different place, maybe your skin's a different color, maybe your language is not one I can understand, you know, but we're still basically we're human beings having coming here to have a learning experience.

And to be happy, you know, to thrive we all have the same needs.

a human experience, you know [: 00:17:00

So I think it's also, it makes you more. compassionate and kinder towards other human beings because they're doing their best. Right.

Laurin: kinder and more compassionate to ourselves too. I know, especially, I don't know about women in Europe, but women in the U S we've been taught to be, to feel unworthy, you know, that, that we're not worthy of all the things the men have, that kind of thing. And we can be very self condemning or, you know, self containing, you know, instead of letting our light shine, we're like trying to, you know, play small.

s been really clear that the [: 00:18:00

I don't think it's women per se. I think it's the feminine energy because the feminine energy is the, is the creative energy. And. You know, if that energy is not allowed to flourish, then our world is lacking something that is very important. It's unbalanced. And I think we have to go at this time of our evolution.

I would say global evolution. Those two energies need to be balanced. So it's not about fighting each other. I think this is a big mistake. This is about balancing those two energies in the world and within ourselves. Thanks. Because we are, we both have both and this is not just here as human beings, this is how the universe works.

energies, the masculine and [: 00:19:00

Because otherwise, when, when we are unbalanced, then what we do is we project outside things that are really in our shadow

Laurin: Mm

Monica: we have not been able to face that because we don't like it. And that what we do is we vomit that onto others, which is really, really bad. a mistake is very damaging for the world.

ly stupid reasons, I believe.[: 00:20:00

Laurin: Yeah. No, I agree. I totally agree. I totally agree. So let's talk a little bit about this, this Ascension thing because you mentioned in your notes to me. Before we started that we're going through a shift and I, I, I know this, we, you know, it's been in the zeitgeist for a while now, but we're going through a shift from 3d to 5d. So D is dimension. I do. I'm sure I have listeners who are not like all up on the lingo. So that's why I try to make sure that we define our terms. But. Talk a little bit about that because that is something that I know I'm going through. I can feel it and I know that, you know, my vibration is lifted over the last few years and that kind of thing.

My baseline one. And but I don't really understand the difference between 3d and 5d. So you get to, you get to help me learn this too.

tually think that there are, [: 00:21:00

Okay. And to be able to go to 5D or 5, 5th dimensional Earth, instead of seeing that those two sides as opposed, we see them as part of the same coin, part of the same thing. So we integrate both sides, so we will not be a dual world anymore. And that means that you have to integrate that into yourself first.

x [: 00:22:00

So there will be a moment, a moment in time, obviously it's not going to be overnight, it's a progressive thing, Where Earth will be vibrating really high at five dimensional level. So humans that will stay on this Earth will have to have the same vibration. Otherwise you will not be able to sustain it.

n that talked about this was [: 00:23:00

Laurin: I've read a little bit of her stuff, but I know, I know who she is. She's

Monica: Yeah. She was fantastic. She was a trailblazer, blazer of her time. And I was the first one talking about this and it's not because of, of her own teachings.

It was, she was doing this hypnosis to people from all over, people from all over the world that have not heard about this. And during hypnosis, people will talk about this. Like, okay, sometimes with hypnosis, you can go, you can regress to past lives or you can progress to future lives. And people were talking about this is what is happening on earth right now, and it's going to happen more and more and I have seen it in my own experience and my own visions.

were the weirdos. You know, [: 00:24:00

They are looking for guidance. Why? Because they feel different. They have different interests. They want to progress. They want to grow and they need to find like minded people. and some guidance with it. So this is a process that is happening to the planet itself and is forcing us to do it as well because we become, we become, we have more help.

Let's put it away energetically to raise our vibration, but it will not be enough. You will have to do your own inner work. And that's the most important part because it's, it's not like, everyone will automatically ascend. This is not a collective thing. This is an individual thing. So if you do your inner work, you will have a lot of external help to be able to make it.

But if you [: 00:25:00

And, you know, all those things that we see around if you do that, that's fine, but you will not make it to 5D. So, going to this, I will say, next step in our collective evolution will be a choice. It is a choice. We have to use our free will. And no one is going to decide for you, you are going to be here or you're not going to be here.

ging moment for us, but it's [: 00:26:00

We need to work on this identifying with our ego, and we need to work on making a complete change, a transformation of our emotional structure from anything that is negative towards everything that is positive. And I'm from ill will to goodwill from. hostility to benevolence and kindness, from anger to patience, and from fear to love.

If we don't do that, we will not be ready for the Ascension.

rstand it, but you know, and [: 00:27:00

So now I do. Thank you.

Monica: Good. I'm glad.

Laurin: So, so we're talking about this doing the inner work and that's, of course, you and I both are practitioners in different ways of helping people to, to do that inner work and to, and to clear out the things that are blocking us, the limiting beliefs, the old emotional blocks, the traumas And believe me, we've brought a lot of that stuff in.

Monica: Yes, we did.

Laurin: I know I took on a lot for myself.

Monica: I know.

the water with the, with the [: 00:28:00

Who, who we really are. And so I'm just wondering if you have, because I like to talk about things that are very practical that people can use. So and I know I've got a few things. I always teach every, every new client I get, so those are the, my basics. But do you have things that you find yourself going back to again and again with people?

Monica: Well, there are two things that for me have been basic and very helpful in my life. And I do advise other people to do it. But. Of course, it's up to every person, but let's say one of them is meditation. You know, if you don't meditate is very, I would say it's almost impossible that that you go into a real spiritual path.

inner guidance, you will be [: 00:29:00

So you are never going to find your own path. And we all have that inner guidance within of ourselves. But If we don't listen to it, it's impossible that we will get any guidance at all. Of course, it can act as your most valuable compass to give you the direction that you should follow. But for that, you need to quieten your mind.

lf make my mind quiet when I [: 00:30:00

And intellectually, we understand that, but then it's very different when you try to do it. And, and it's, it's very, it doesn't have to do with, with, Intelligence or being, having spiritual beliefs, you know, it doesn't really matter. We all have the same, we are in the same predicament. So without meditating, it's impossible to have any progress, to make any progress in your life.

So I would say this is like the first step and it's not just a baby step is the step that we all have to go through every single day until we get enlightened.

Laurin: Yes. Yes.

your own inner dialogue and, [: 00:31:00

So I think it's very, very important. And the other thing I advised, sorry, go

Laurin: I was just gonna say, that's exactly where I started. I had to learn to quiet myself. I, I, one of my careers was as a novelist and so I always had other people's voices in my head too, you know, so so it really was a very powerful practice for me to, to meditate and, and I still find that I get off track.

You know, things happen. I don't have time to do that today, that kind of stuff. And I don't feel very good if I do go, you know, more than two or three days without my meditation. I just don't feel right. It's like, I'm not energetically in a good place or I'm just not, I'm off my game. And so, yeah, this morning I had about 15 minutes.

of people have trouble with [: 00:32:00

Sometimes I'll just have nature sounds going. Sometimes it's perfectly quiet. I'm not, I don't have anything in my ears. And all of those have worked for me and I can kind of gauge, I'm super distractible. I need somebody to make sure I stay on track, you know, that kind of thing. So I think we get a lot of I hear a lot of people go, Oh, I tried it and I just couldn't do that.

Monica: I know,

Laurin: Well, first of all, it's a practice for a reason,

Monica: Exactly. It's a practice. And I think and I also have a lot of people that say, okay you know what? I'm not doing it right. I know. I don't know. I don't know if I should continue. And I always say, okay, there's no way to get it right. You are, you do it because you want to be with yourself.

to quieten your mind of you [: 00:33:00

And the first one is, will be relaxing your body. So it's like, okay, if you relax your body, then because the mind and the body are connected, it will be easier for you to quieten your mind, to silence that, that inner chatter, that monkey mind. Then the second one is exactly relaxing the mind, silencing it, quieting it, and going to a calm state.

. It's the spiritual part of [: 00:34:00

And then you connect with the oneness and you realize that this is what, this is really who we are. This is our nature. But you cannot feel that with, with your awakened, with your normal awareness, because we're always doing things. We cannot feel that. That is much more profound. And you can only do it when you stop doing and you go into being. unless you have quietened your mind and you have relaxed your body, you cannot get there. So I would say, yes, the beginning is always with meditation, but you need to do it with enough regularity and enough time doing it, practicing it, so you can get to the third one. And that is what you, that's the part that makes a difference.

omething that is theoretical.[: 00:35:00

Laurin: Yeah.

Monica: And that changes the whole game. Because then you realize, okay. I have felt this boundless joy. I have felt that union with everyone else. I have felt that unconditional love for myself and for everyone on this, on this planet.

And then this is what can change your life. So it's not, it's no longer something that you have read or someone else told you. You have the experience and there's nothing like that. You know, that's what changes your life.

Laurin: Yeah. Yeah. And, and I often will get insights, maybe not while I'm meditating, but after. Because I, my brain is in, it's still connected to everything. And that's when a lot of interesting things come through for me. Yeah. Mm

able to make ourselves calm [: 00:36:00

But everyone is doing it. And so it's like everyone is. We're just dragged by our emotions and the programming we were talking about before. And the voice of the ego saying, okay, you need to do more. This is a competitive world. You know, you are in competition with everyone else. You need to compare yourself.

s external or internal, and, [: 00:37:00

I mean, I read that 20, 23 percent of, of Americans were having mental issues in the, just in the last three, last three years. So, so why? Because, you know, this is it, because they are not connected with themselves. And of course, when we look outside, the world is crazy, so are you going to be really directed by what you see outside, what you hear outside, or are you going to choose?

n our minds because they are [: 00:38:00

Laurin: Yeah. It's funny. I just wrote down the word choose, well, the phrase choose your life because that's what I was going to say is it makes room. For you to choose how you're going to react or how you're going to act or whether you're going to act as opposed to just being in that constantly hyper reactive mode.

And that's something that's really come into my consciousness late recently, that is the specifically the words choose. Because as long as you're right, as long as we're just reacting to what we've been programmed for, we're not making choices. We're just reacting in ways that we've been patterned to do.

And this idea that we have choice. It's something that I think most people don't think they have any choice,

Monica: No, no, no.

Laurin: but we really do. We came here to create this life.

rst step for, for change. If [: 00:39:00

To when something happened in your life and then it's like everybody is like that and then you act like that or I am not worth it because my mother was critical to myself and then you keep repeating that. So you people act like automats. They are like sleepwalkers, you know, they are like robots, they really don't make choices, they are just repeating and repeating and repeating.

Do we have to act that way? Do we have to be that way? Not at all. But it takes a lot of awareness and it takes effort. And most people don't want to make an effort.

ngs are not at least in our, [: 00:40:00

Monica: no, or commitment. You know, we need a lot of commitment. We need a lot of perseverance because the changes don't come over the night. And we are so used to wanting things for yesterday. So it's like, okay, if it doesn't come immediately, then it's not worthy. And then, but then you will fall into the trap of the ego, you know, and the ego always wants things right here, right now, and is looking for the immediate pleasure.

Instead of, of, okay, take into account medium and long term benefit. Is it going to benefit you? Is, is it going to benefit people around you? Maybe you will take a very different step here, but no, you know, it's like, it doesn't really matter. I listen to the ego. Okay. Then don't complain when you have to reap what you saw

Laurin: hmm. Mm hmm. Yep.

Monica: because he will come back.

That's for sure.

ere anything that we haven't [: 00:41:00

Monica: I think you know, your audience much better than I do. So I'm sure that this is probably what they needed to hear. And, and I'm happy to go with, with the flow. Absolutely.

Laurin: All right. Well then how about you, let's talk just a minute about your book. It's it's called The Seven Levels of Wisdom. There it

Monica: is the book.

Laurin: Yeah. And it is available on Amazon. I looked it up so we can get it there and we will have a link to it in the show notes of course. But tell us a little bit about this book and how you came to know you needed to write it.

sert. And I, I received this [: 00:42:00

And I was like, you know, it's difficult enough in your own language, in your own mother, your own mother language. This is a titanic experience for me. I don't know if I can do it. But then it's like, okay, when the inspiration comes and you as a novelist know it very well, it's because you have to do it. So I don't, I don't question those things.

It's like, okay, I feel it in my gut. I feel it in my heart. It's okay. There's something I need to do. And it's it was a very funny, well, funny, funny now, but it wasn't funny when I was, when it was occurring, it was difficult. Anyway, I finished the book. I didn't have any connections, any networks, any contacts in the U.

one was interested. So, but [: 00:43:00

So I don't think I'm in charge of this. So I just waited. And five years after I finished the book, I received this email. That that inner voice that is my guidance and the guidance of everyone else, of course, came through and it's like, okay, maybe it's time to reactivate the book. And he's like, okay, how, because I'm not going to write to the same people again, you know, and somehow within, you know, a couple of days I was, I was really shown a different, publisher that I did not know, I have never heard of. I wrote to them. I still have the same book and no contacts, no platform in English at the time, nothing. And they read it and two weeks later they offered a contract. So I was like, Oh wow, this is a [00:44:00] really, a sign that we are not in charge. when things happen like this, you just need to be perseverant.

And have faith because it's only when the right timing comes when things really work out. And, and, and that's how it happened.

Laurin: Wow. Yeah. Divine right timing. I call it my favorite time zone. Yeah. It's the

Monica: Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely.

Laurin: it does require patience sometimes, sometimes things happen very quickly, but sometimes you have to wait for a while and, and, and be alert for those messages that we receive. It's like, go now, go, go,

Monica: Yes.

Laurin: and and be,

low those intuitions, follow [: 00:45:00

You have done it before. It's a waste of time. You have better things to do, you know,

Laurin: Mm hmm.

Monica: it's like. Well, just in case I'm going to follow that voice

Laurin: Yeah. Let me just

Monica: and it always

Laurin: see what happens. Yeah.

Monica: He always takes you to a good place, that's for sure.

Laurin: All right. Well, this has been a wonderful conversation as I knew we would have. Can you let the listeners know where they can find you?

Monica: Sure. I have a website that is my name, so monicaesgueva. com, so it's m o n i c a e s g u e v a dot com. You will have the link

Laurin: Yeah. It'll be in the show

Monica: it will be easier. Exactly. And, and then I have a YouTube channel, I have two. Spanish and one in English. So if you look for it and you get the, the Spanish one, go to the English one.

And I, I do give [: 00:46:00

So every single human being will go through that. So it's interesting to know where you are and that this is a process and, and, and have a map. I think it's so important when you are in a forest, like we are right now, and you don't have a map. Of course you can walk, but it's much more difficult, and this is meant to be a map for people, for their own evolution.

So I think it can be interesting for you, for them. Ha

dy on my to be read list. So [: 00:47:00

And I just, I'm really happy that we've connected and I hope that you have great success with this book because it sounds like a book everybody's going to need to read sooner or later if they want to ascend.

Monica: Thank you, Laurin. I think it's, it's been a pleasure for me and, and thank you for the opportunity to have this very easygoing conversation. I think is sometimes we need to have that more and more in our lives and instead of becoming so serious, just let us, let's see how it goes. And I love that with

And I was really missing it [: 00:48:00

Monica: but you're doing a great job. You are doing a great job.

Laurin: thank you. Thank you. So it's I'm going to say goodbye to our listeners.

I hope you have gleaned as much as I have out of, out of Monica's wisdom and that you'll check out her website and her YouTube channel and her book and all of that will be in the, the show notes of course. And I would like to invite you until the next time we meet to stay curious,

Thank you so much for joining us today on curiously wise, I hope this conversation has left you feeling inspired and curious about the world around and within you. After all curiosity is the key to growth and understanding. So keep asking questions and exploring new ideas. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and or leaving a review. It helps us be found by others. If you're curious to learn more about me or my healing practice, Heartlight wellness.

Head [: 00:49:00