The Practice of Dynamism With Maryam Montague

A truly multi-faceted woman and an inspiration to many, Maryam Montague is a visionary and an entrepreneur who is limitless in her creative expression. Through her vast capabilities and her successful businesses, Montague is both a force and a foundation. She is a catalyst for the creativity and empowerment of others.

Montague’s connection to culture begins with her personal draw to new ideas, thirst for a challenge, and execution of different ways to interact with the world around her. In our interview, she mentions, “When I am outside of my comfort zone and working on a challenging project, that’s when I feel the most alive and inspired, particularly when my ideas start to come together in new ways.”  Through this stimulation and a commitment to humanitarianism, Montague has grown many projects under her self-titled brand, explaining, “I created my brand to be an aspirational lifestyle destination for the modern nomad. It is under that umbrella that I have my blog, My Marrakesh, my shop, my hotel, and my charity, Project Soar.”

“When I am outside of my comfort zone and working on a challenging project, that’s when I feel the most alive and inspired, particularly when my ideas start to come together in new ways.”

Each venture began as a curiosity, manifested into an idea, and was put into motion as a personal practice. “I look at the world through curious eyes and am constantly traveling, studying, learning and collecting… A decorative detail, ritual, or belief will often act as a springboard for a series of actions or products.” This momentum flows freely within her own home — a Moroccan boutique hotel appropriately named, Peacock Pavilions. It is within these walls that Maryam, her husband, her children and even her pets open their hearts to guests from around the world.

Nestled among olive groves in Marrakesh, Peacock Pavilions is a hot bed for inspiration, interior design, and personal connection. Built in nomadic fashion and with carefully curated wares, the hotel makes conscious living and artisan goods accessible to all. By focusing on wellness and creativity retreats, Peacock Pavilions continuously attracts leaders and individuals seeking what Montague knows Marrakesh to source, “inspiration and renewal.” Through the hotel and the education shared on its grounds, she “encourage[es] people to contemplate a nomadic-inspired lifestyle… [by providing] a safe and beautiful space for them to try it.”

If you can’t cross the globe, you can access Maryam’s collaborations, reflections, and locally sourced products from her shop, blog, social media platforms and her latest book, “Marrakesh by Design.” Each endeavor supports the work of Project Soar, yet another facet of Montague and her generous spirit. Her non-profit organization provides art, sports, and health education programming to “keep [local] girls in school, breaking the cycle of girl brides and early motherhood, while preparing girls to lead full and productive lives.” As she continues to share this work and her personal disciplines, she hopes her children learn to “view the world compassionately and make a real contribution to making the world a better place.”

 “I believe that women lead far more unidimensional lives than they were created for.  Too often they limit themselves to motherhood, marriage and their one 9 – 5 job.  I believe that multiple worlds reside in each of us.”

Montague is an example that each of us is capable of living a life of social influence, creativity, and connection with our community. As women, Maryam believes it is especially important that we explore the idea of our own dynamism. She mentions, “I believe that women lead far more unidimensional lives than they were created for.  Too often they limit themselves to motherhood, marriage and their one 9 – 5 job.  I believe that multiple worlds reside in each of us.” We can all share in the abundance of life if we are willing to use curiosity to fuel our own potential. By sharing our ideas, supporting one another and trusting in our unique abilities, we can shape our world.

By Leah Lou

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