Where the Heart Leads – music video

I’m excited to announce that I just published a music video for the second book in my “Journey of a Spirit Healer” spiritual fantasy series. The video’s title is the same as the that of the second book.

Watch Where the Heart Leads.

Once again, I had a blast creating the video. I worked with ChatGPT to create the lyrics and had great fun using Music AI Generator to create a song that felt more cinematic and adventure-driven than the first one.

The song follows Thom as his world continues to expand while he attends the Acadium, a school for children with a passion for learning. Life continues to lead him toward experiences he could never have anticipated. One is encountering a dragon, and the other is finding himself drawn to a boy his age,who is also studying to be a healer.

One of the themes running through Where the Heart Leads is something I’m quite familiar with: having experiences and learnings that point to different directions we might take, ones that we hadn’t imagined before. In those situations, sometimes all you can see is the next step. Yet, when you listen to your intuition, guided by your angels, you find the courage to take that step, trusting that the path will reveal itself.

Creating the video also gave me an opportunity to bring Thom’s world to life visually: Jonathan, Tovah, Mekial, Kami, the Acadium, and some of the experiences that shape Thom’s journey.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch it. And if you know someone who enjoys young-adult fantasy, stories about spiritual gifts and discovering one’s purpose, or LGBTQ+ characters finding their way, I’d be grateful if you shared it with them.

Where the Heart Leads, Book Two of Journeys of a Spirit Healer, is available on Amazon.

p.s. I’m hard at work on book 3 in the series, which make become a 6 book series rather than 5. The current plan is to release it early in 2027.


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The Dream I Had Upside Down

Two nights ago, I woke from a dream about being in school again. In this one, I was studying for a test, reviewing chapters from the assigned book and reminding myself to go through my class notes next.

School dreams have been frequent for me over the years. In my frustration, I called out to my divine advisors, “What the hell are you trying to tell me this time? What am I failing to understand? Where am I lacking?”

Their answer came immediately and was quite lengthy.

You’re interpreting the dream upside down. You’ve been seeing it as a sign that there’s some deficit you have to overcome and feeling shame as a result. But it simply means that in some aspects of your life, you are a student. Think about it. Is there something wrong with a fifth grader because he isn’t a ninth grader? Is a senior in high school somehow a failure because she isn’t a junior in college?

No. The fifth grader is learning at a level appropriate for his developmental stage. The senior is studying topics fitting for someone about to graduate and pursue an advanced degree.

There’s no lack. There’s no failure. You’re right where you need to be. Embrace it and recognize those dreams not as something negative, but as a marker revealing that you’ve reached a transformative point and are about to enter the next stage of your development as an incarnate spiritual being.

Over the last twenty-four hours, I’ve been holding those messages tenderly, really trying to take them in. As I’ve written elsewhere, for much of my life I believed I wasn’t good enough and had to make up for some faulty or broken part of me. I believed the school dreams reinforced that.

How different might things have been if I’d recognized the true message behind them?

You might have noticed that even that question implies a lack on my part: a regret over something I should have understood. It’s a challenge to let that negativity go.

Have you ever had school dreams like mine? Have you also interpreted them negatively?

As my divine advisors explained, we are all beings in development, each at some stage in our lives according to our path. We are where we need to be. We’re not lacking. We’re learning, and before us are opportunities that invite us to grow and expand.

And my advisors have a final comment:

Celebrate who you are in this moment. You’ve come a long way. And that’s some achievement!


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Beyond What We Can Imagine

I was raised in the Catholic faith. And honestly, even with a Catholic education, I didn’t spend much time considering what I believed. That changed when I went to college.

My first roommate was also Catholic but didn’t seem to follow some of its doctrines, particularly the prohibition of sex before marriage. His behavior confused me. My next roommate had also been raised Catholic but had become a born-again Christian and attempted to convert me. When he challenged my beliefs, I couldn’t answer why I believed them.

Thus began a time of faith exploration.

During that time, one thing that always annoyed me in books and homilies was the use of the word ‘mystery’ as part of their explanation, thus ending the conversation. Since I was studying engineering, my mind was being trained to think logically. Calling something a mystery felt like a ‘lame’ copout used by someone who didn’t have the complete answer.

Later, I studied theology in the seminary and had the opportunity to dig more deeply into Catholic beliefs and their origins. In the process, I discovered that the interpretations of every theologian or scriptural scholar didn’t always match. It freaked my engineering brain out until I realized each based their understanding on their experience and knowledge. That realization freed me to explore my beliefs from the perspective of whether they made sense to me and my experience.

For the next forty years, I continued my exploration through workshops, books, and podcasts. One thing remained important to me: everything had to fit together. In fact, it was frustrating when they didn’t. But a few months ago, I had a major aha moment.

As remarkable as the human brain is, it’s still part of a physical world and thus limited by what it can conceive as possible. Now some of you know that I love SciFi and fantasy. You would think it would enable my mind to go further. It might, in some ways, but beneath that it is still constrained by what is believable.

And suddenly, I found myself back where I started.

Mystery. Perhaps there really are things my mind cannot imagine or comprehend.

Now, that doesn’t stop my questioning. In fact, it opens that process up to allow things not to make sense and allowing my understandings to change and expand as the unexpected unfolds.

So maybe those scriptural scholars and homilists weren’t so lame after all. Well, some of them still were.

What about you? How do you hold the idea of mystery? Do you think minds are limited because they are contained within a physical existence? Can something you don’t understand still be true?

After all, we never know what’s waiting around the corner.


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The Belonging We Never Lost

A download changed everything.

That’s an odd thing for me to write. After working twenty-six years in the software industry, I used to cringe a little when someone spoke about receiving a “download” from spirit. Yet it’s the best word to describe the insight I received.

For much of my earlier life, I never quite felt I belonged. I was quieter and more reflective than most of my family. I was also a sensitive, clumsy, gay boy growing up in a straight world. There were moments of connection, like singing in my college chapel choir, but they were only glimpses of what I longed for.

Years later, I realized my path was leading somewhere different. Leaving the Paulists to pursue a committed relationship was one of the hardest decisions of my life. Although I knew it was the right one, I didn’t recognize until recently that part of me was still trying to hold onto that identity and that family. I continued searching for that same sense of belonging through spiritual workshops and communities, grateful for the friendships I found, yet sensing something was still missing.

Then came the download.

The message was simple: perhaps the belonging I have been searching for is the belonging I experienced before incarnating, when I was part of the great oneness of God and fully connected with all that is. It was an experience without limitations. Human life, by its very nature, has limitations.

What if the longing so many of us carry isn’t because something is wrong with us? What if it is a faint memory of the complete belonging we once knew?

The insight continued. That divine belonging was never lost. It remains part of who I am, and one of my tasks in this life is to remember it and gently remind others. That’s really what Remember Your Divine You has always meant to me.

At the same time, I felt another invitation: appreciate the belonging available here on Earth. Human relationships may never mirror the complete unity of the divine realm, but they offer something equally precious. We not only share the same divine essence, we also share the joys, struggles, disappointments, and blessings of being human.

I’ve begun wondering whether I’ve sometimes held back from fully giving or receiving love because I unconsciously expected human relationships to satisfy a longing they were never meant to fulfill. That’s something I’ll continue reflecting on.

What do you think? Have you ever felt that you didn’t quite fit in? Perhaps the belonging you’ve been searching for isn’t something you need to find. Perhaps it’s something you’ve always carried within you. And then bring that awareness to the relationships you have today.

Full disclosure: I used ChatGPT to edit and condense this blog post. The experiences, insights, and message are my own, but it helped me express them more concisely.


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When the Outcome Isn’t Yours

These days so much is chaotic. We don’t know what will happen next. In such a world, sometimes we hesitate to start something new unless we’re certain of the outcome. Otherwise, we fear we’d be wasting our time and effort. As a former engineer, that kind of thinking is familiar.

Recently, I was reminded of a decision I made that ran counter to that. Years ago, while searching for what being a spirit healer entailed, I enrolled in a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a personal agreement: if, at any time, this path didn’t feel right, I could stop and not judge myself a failure or the money spent a waste.

Now, after publishing two books in my spirit healer series, working on the third, and contributing to several spiritual books, I’ve come to recognize that part of my calling is to be both a storyteller and story-receiver, creating space for people to see themselves in the story and share their own.

While I treasure these accomplishments, I’ve been disappointed that the books and their messages have reached only a limited number of people.

That disappointment was complicated by something that happened years earlier. Shortly after I began writing book one, my divine advisors warned me about becoming arrogant because of my future success. The message seemed odd given at the time, but I took it seriously and made expressing gratitude a daily practice.

Fast forward a few years, and I found myself wondering if I hadn’t done enough because that success hadn’t arrived.

The message I heard from my advisors the other day was simple: I needed to let go of the outcome, just like I had with my Counseling Psychology degree.

They further encouraged me to continue with my story-receiving effort, as I was truly offering healing in the process. The image of a farmer planting seeds came to mind. Once planted, the farmer must trust Mother Nature to do her part.

That perspective helped me release the belief that my lack of success was not because I hadn’t done enough.

Then, two days ago, on a flight home from vacation, I watched the musical “Merrily We Roll Along.” The next morning, a song from it, “Our Time,” kept playing in my mind. Since my advisors often communicate through music, I paid attention.

Something is stirring,
Shifting ground
It’s just begun.
Edges are blurring
All around,
And yesterday is done.

It’s our time, breathe it in:
Worlds to change and worlds to win…

And you and me,
We’ll be singing it like the birds,
Me with music and you the words,
Tell ’em things they don’t know!

Our turn coming through,
Me and you, man,
Me and you!

To me, it seemed to suggest that the success they had spoken of might be unfolding through our joint effort. Yet the lesson remained unchanged. My focus still had to be on planting the seeds and letting the outcome to emerge as it will.

Where do you stand with your own calling, path, or work? Are you willing to take a risk, do something you’re drawn to, regardless of the outcome, even if it doesn’t make sense at first? Sometimes, we’re invited to proceed anyway and just see how things unfold.

June 11, 2026


I watched another podcast today with Lee Harris. His guides also mentioned releasing a need on specific outcomes. Moments after I finished, I received a message, whether from my own intuition or guides, I don’t know. Here’s the message:

For those who are lightworkers or trying to make life better for all,
it’s so easy to get discouraged when we don’t notice that what we’ve done has an impact or makes a difference. Relying on outcomes only leads to giving up.

Rather, continue praying, envisioning a better world,
and doing what makes sense for you and your path.
Then, let go of the rest.

Trust me; it does make a difference even if you can’t see, feel, or sense it.


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For the Highest Good

A handful of days ago would have marked the 37th anniversary of my ordination as a priest with the Paulist Fathers. When I left, it wasn’t that I no longer felt called to serve. I left because I realized that the means through which I served had to allow me to find a life partner: a spouse.

Faced with the need for income, I found a job in the software industry.

A bit of a surprise, huh? How would I live a life dedicated to service in the corporate world? Why not look to another faith that allowed married ministers, work at a non-profit, or become a therapist?

Good questions. I considered them and even obtained a Counseling Psychology degree, but none fit. I was searching for work that supported the same passion that led me into the priesthood: helping others experience God as loving and supportive rather than punitive and condemning.

After years of searching, full of questions and doubts, I found a way to live my passion and serve the highest good: as a spirit healer, storyteller, and story-receiver. So many people yearn to be seen and heard by someone who understands the ups and downs of their life. In my novels, I write of a character whose path mirrors elements of my own journey, even though our lives unfold in very different ways. My hope is that readers might see pieces of their own journey within his and discover hope along the way.

What about you? What fuels your spirit and brings you fulfillment? It might be as a parent, teacher, house cleaner, accountant, salesperson, or through countless other roles.

If you haven’t yet identified your passion, take a step back and reflect on what brings you joy. From within that, you may discover your calling.

And if I’m any example, that search can take you along many paths. None is a waste, for each one teaches you something valuable.

Looking back over the thirty-seven years since my ordination, I can now see that every turn in the road was guiding me toward a different expression of the same calling: helping others feel seen, supported, and connected to the divine.

I send you all loving support that you identify your passion and live it out with great zeal, for the highest good.


If you’re curious about my novels, the first book is Shadows and Light: Journeys of a Spirit Healer.


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What Survives the Storm

Check out What Survives the Storm, a new collaborative book released a couple of weeks ago, featuring my chapter, Standing at the Edge.

The description on the Amazon page is as follows: In life’s most difficult moments, we often discover a strength we didn’t know we had.

What Survives the Storm is a powerful collection of real stories from individuals who have faced loss, uncertainty, illness, heartbreak, and life-altering change—and found a way through. Each chapter offers an honest glimpse into what it means to navigate hardship, listen inward, and keep moving forward when the path is unclear.

These stories are not about perfection or easy answers. They reflect real experiences of resilience, personal insight, and the quiet decisions that shape who we become in the midst of challenge. From moments of deep uncertainty to unexpected clarity, each voice brings a perspective that is both deeply personal and widely relatable.

Readers will find themes of inner knowing, healing, courage, letting go, and rediscovering meaning in the aftermath of life’s storms. Whether you are in the middle of your own difficult season or simply seeking connection through shared human experience, this collection offers something steady to return to.

This book is a reminder that even in the hardest moments, something within us endures.

Here’s a link to the book page on Amazon: What Survives the Storm.


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Beneath Two Moons

What if the very thing that made you feel different was also the beginning of your purpose?

That question lives at the heart of Beneath Two Moons, an original fantasy-inspired song set in the world of my Journeys of a Spirit Healer series.

The song follows Thom, a young boy who often feels alone, misunderstood, and unsure where he belongs. Yet beneath a sky lit by two moons, he slowly discovers that the wounds, doubts, and struggles he carries may be leading him toward healing, love, courage, and the light of his soul.

To bring the song to life, I used creative AI tools for music, imagery, and video to create a visual journey filled with angels, mystery, danger, hope, and the first hints of dragons still to come.

If you enjoy fantasy worlds, meaningful stories, spiritual themes, and music with heart, I invite you to experience Beneath Two Moons.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/Vz6Q9fPON7A

And if it speaks to you, please share it with someone who may need a little hope today.

— Joe McMonagle

Full-disclosure: For this, I used ChatGPT to help generate the wording. I’ve got a few things going on right now and wanted to post this quickly. Sorry.


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Not Gone, Just Elsewhere: Video Blog

This month, I created a short video blog about staying connected to those who have passed on—considering how they might still be present with us in a different way. It’s two and a half minutes long.


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When the Old You Sneaks Back In

Do you ever find yourself reacting in a way that reflects the old you?

You’ve done a lot of work on yourself. Maybe you’ve spent time with a therapist or done deep inner healing, and you’re proud of how far you’ve come. Then something happens, and suddenly you respond in a way that feels like the old, unhealthy version of you.

And you want to scream, Dammit! I thought I healed and released all that nonsense. Why does that sh* still creep up?*

Then another consequence follows close behind: shame. That quiet but painful feeling that something’s wrong with you.

That happened to me recently. My shame felt like an old, smelly, wet blanket thrown over me, weighing me down and casting a dark tinge over life.

When I turned to my divine advisors for guidance, I expected comfort. Instead, they reminded me of something important. A key part of my path is learning to accept myself as I am in this moment. Sometimes I will make mistakes or react in ways I thought I had moved beyond years ago.

That doesn’t mean I stop working on myself. Growth and healing still matter. But it does mean recognizing and loving who I am along the way.

You and I are, after all, sometimes fickle human beings trying to live our best selves, and we won’t succeed every time. And that’s OK. In fact, it’s part of the beauty of being human.

At our core, we are innately good. Yet sometimes we still miss the mark.

So the next time you mess up or don’t act in a way that reflects the best version of you, pause before shame takes hold. Offer yourself the same compassion you would give a dear friend.

Accept yourself. Love yourself.

You’re doing the best you can.


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