03 Apr John Mongiovi

Where were you born/where did you grow up?
I was born in Tampa, Florida and moved away after graduate school.

Do you have any siblings?
I have one older brother, and when we were younger people would sometimes confuse us for twins.

Any unique family traits you would like to share?
My last name is Italian, but I am mostly of Spanish descent. My great-great-grandfather was a cook in the royal palace in Madrid before the fall of the Spanish monarchy. The next generation immigrated to Ybor City, an old section of Tampa founded by the cigar manufacturers that employed Spanish, Italian, and Cuban immigrants. Spanish culture and language are strong parts of my family identity.

When/how did your journey with hypnotism begin?
I started reading books on unexplained mental and spiritual phenomena when I was very young and have been interested ever since. In college I began using self-hypnosis and meditation to explore trance, out of body experiences, and remote viewing.

What made you want to become a hypnotist?
I saw a couple of stage hypnotism shows in person, which inspired me to learn how to hypnotize others. It’s important to help others however we can.

What are some things that people might be surprised to know about you?
I am a pianist with a graduate degree in music theory, and for six years was National President of the oldest and largest music fraternity. I have been a member of the clergy for sixteen years. In college I was heavily involved in DNA sequencing and was certified to handle radioactive isotopes!

Describe your perfect day.
A day at the beach. I wake up and have espresso on the balcony looking out at the waves. I spend most of the day in the water, walking on the shore, or reading a novel in the shade of a large beach tent.

What inspires you?
Music, and the western mystery tradition, especially ancient and classical Greek religion.

What are your favorite books/movies?
I love nonfiction books on esoteric subjects. My favorite books are Edourard Schure’s The Great Initiates and Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. As for movies, I love anything directed by Tim Burton.

What kind of music do you like?
I like many different types of music, but opera is my favorite, and I’m a Mozart fanatic. I once took a 5-week self-guided tour through Europe following a book In Mozart’s Footsteps.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Take my dog for a walk, read the news, watch television, and play the piano.

If you were an animal what animal would you be?
An ape, because they have opposable thumbs. They can communicate and walk upright too, but those thumbs are key. At first I thought a bird, because I would like to be able to fly, but I settled on ape. So maybe I could be one of those flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz.

If you could have one super power, what would it be?
The power to know the truth about anything.