What My Week at the Monroe Institute Taught Me About the Power of Love

As the founder of Love Is Project, I've spent years exploring the many ways love connects us, through kindness, community, travel, and shared human experiences.

But recently, I experienced love in a completely different way.

I spent a week at the Monroe Institute, a world-renowned meditation retreat nestled in Virginia's beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Founded more than 50 years ago by Robert Monroe, the institute has become known for its pioneering work in the exploration of consciousness and human potential.

People often describe it as the "Hogwarts for Adults."

After spending a week there, I completely understand why.

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"Love is the highest frequency we can share. This week reminded me just how powerful that energy can be."

Exploring the Nature of Consciousness

The Monroe Institute is known for immersive programs that explore expanded states of consciousness through guided meditation and sound technology.

Throughout the week, we explored practices including:

Deep meditation
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs)
Lucid dreaming
Remote viewing
Connecting with intuition
Exploring consciousness beyond ordinary awareness

Whether you're a lifelong meditator or simply curious about the mysteries of the mind, the experience invites you to ask bigger questions—not necessarily to find all the answers, but to become more open to possibility.

One of my favorite parts wasn't the curriculum—it was the people.

Participants came from around the world, bringing different backgrounds, professions, beliefs, and life experiences. Yet we all shared one thing in common:

A genuine curiosity about what it means to be human.

There was an openness and kindness that felt incredibly refreshing.

Meeting a Pioneer in Remote Viewing

One unforgettable highlight was meeting Joe McMoneagle, often recognized as the first military remote viewer and a key figure in the U.S. government's Stargate Program.

Hearing him speak about decades of research into consciousness reminded me that humanity has been asking these questions for generations.

What are we truly capable of?

How much of reality have we yet to understand?

The conversations were fascinating—not because they claimed certainty, but because they invited curiosity.

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The Spoon That Changed My Perspective

Then came the exercise I'll probably be talking about for years.

Psychokinesis.

Or, more simply...

Bending a spoon.

Yes, I know how that sounds.

But here's what made the experience unforgettable.

Before anyone attempted to bend anything, everyone in the room focused on one thing:

Sending love.

Imagine a room filled with adults directing wholehearted encouragement toward one person. No judgment. No pressure. Just unconditional support.

It reminded me of the "Care Bears Care" beam from childhood—a room filled with loving intention.

Then...

The spoon bent.

"I am the spoon."

Was it psychokinesis?

Was it focused intention?

Was it something science has yet to fully explain?

Honestly, I'm less interested in proving what happened than in understanding what I experienced.

What stayed with me wasn't the spoon.

It was the overwhelming feeling of collective love.

The Science Behind the Experience

Throughout the retreat, we explored research suggesting that extraordinary states of awareness may occur when the brain enters deep Delta-wave activity while simultaneously producing bursts of Gamma activity.

These states are associated with profound relaxation, heightened awareness, creativity, and expanded consciousness.

While many aspects of consciousness remain an area of ongoing scientific research, experiences like these invite us to remain curious rather than certain.

Sometimes curiosity is where growth begins.

Surrounded by Healing Energy

The setting itself felt magical.

Nestled in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, the Monroe Institute sits on quartz-rich land believed by many to amplify healing and energetic practices.

Walking the peaceful campus each morning, surrounded by nature and enormous quartz crystals, it was impossible not to slow down.

Whether the energy comes from the crystals, the mountains, the meditation—or simply stepping away from the constant noise of everyday life—the environment creates space to reconnect with yourself.