INDEPENDENCE DAY Pledge: "I Claim Freedom from ________________." (you fill in the blank)
"Each indecision brings its own delays...
And days are lost lamenting over lost days...
What you can do or think you can do, begin it...
For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it."
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
A year ago today, on July 4th, I was feeling sorry for myself and wondered how come my immediate family never got together on the Fourth of July. Why didn't we make something of this holiday? In the years past, I would go with my husband to his family for July 4th festivities so it was never an issue for me.
However, since I was in the divorce process, I had to find another way to make something of the holiday. Also, my daughter was spending the weekend with her father so I really was free to create a new experience for myself. I decided to call my older brother, Bob, to ask what he was doing that day. "Nothing special. Just cooking on the grill. You're welcome to come over if you'd like," he had said. I decided to drive on over to Long Island, NY. That was the best decision I could have made! I am so glad I didn't hold back. My hosts, Bob, and his wife, Heidi, were so gracious. I felt unusually pampered by Bob, who, in the past, seemed to have a hard time around me. I could never really get close to him because he was too quick to make short, tongue-in-cheek comments, always putting me off, or so it felt to me.
That was not the case this time. There was something unusually relaxed 2009 07 04 Bob reading newspaper on Balcony  | about him. He casually prepared food for us (his special quiche), served us, was pleasant, interested, and sincere. Bob and Heidi ended up inviting me to spend the night and I did. I felt as if I were in an exclusive Bed and Breakfast place. I felt special and cherished.
How was I to know that THAT was the last time I would see my older Brother alive at his home? As some of you may know, he passed away this past January.
2009 07 04 VV displaying Bob's Famous Quiche  |
Fast forward to today... I went to a nearby town to see their parade because my girlfriend and her son were going to be in it. Even though my daughter wasn't with me this Fourth of July either, I decided to go anyway. I was not prepared to become emotional while watching the marching band perform (See my FaceBook photo album). You see, Bob used to play the Sousaphone and the French Horn in the school band while we growing up in PA. I had to spiritually guide myself through the emotions that came up and brought myself back into the NOW, relaxing back into the lazy day rather than reminiscing and torturing myself with thoughts of "should've, would've, could've"...
My life is today. I chose to drop "my story" and all those expectations of how things should've been, would've been, or could've been if only... I can't wish my brother back into life. I can't wish I had seen him more often or wish we had gotten along better in the past. That is not what IS REAL. Today's hawk sighting, the smiles of the kids and adults, the shiny fire engines in the parade, the intricate spider web in a girlfriend's backyard, the yellow swallow tail butterfly in my backyard, the cantaloupe, blueberry, strawberry smoothie lovingly made at home by me (and now in my belly).... Now, THAT's real!
Are you ready to go beyond your story? Would you like to start now? Check out our free teleclass schedule (on the right) or contact us to set up a lovely, complimentary, one-on-one personal Path of XPR assessment and let's see what develops! Call 201-487-6910 or email us at
verena@vibrantcoach.com.
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Quotation of the Month
Put Everything at Stake
by Osho
Put everything at stake
Risk everything Because the next moment Is not certain. So why bother? Why be concerned? Live dangerously, live
joyously. Live without fear Live without guilt Live without any fear of hell Or any greed for heaven Just live. |
Indigo-Rainbow-Crystal
Children + Magic 2010 06 Delphine, 9, Birthday Card drawing, markers  | 2010 06 Delphine, 9, birthday card (Kassandra), markers  | 2010 06 Verena, 52, Acrylic and glitter painting  |
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Animal of the MonthHAWKS
2010 Red-Tailed hawk  |
Today I spotted a glorious hawk above after the Fourth of July Parade...
Hawks are the most intriguing and mystical of the birds of prey. They are the messengers, the protectors, and the visionaries of the air. hawks and owls have the keenest eyes of all raptors. The red-tailed hawk's red tail is very symbolic. It has ties to the kundalini, the seat of the primal life force. In the human body it is associated with the base chakra, located at the base of the spine, the coccyx, or tail bone.
Those who have a red-tailed hawk as a totem will be working with the kundalini. It can also reflect that this bird becomes a totem in your life, only after the kundalini has been activated. It can also reflect that the childhood visions are becoming empowered and fulfilled. It may pop up as a totem at that point in your life where you begin to move toward your soul purpose more dynamically. The hawk's ability to soar and glide upon the currents is part of what hawk can teach. Although it is part of this species, it is most often seen perched on treetops and utility posts, using its phenomenal eyesight to locate prey. It teaches how to fly to great heights while still keeping your feet on the ground.
The red-tailed hawk is usually a permanent resident in an area, although occasionally it may migrate. This permanency reflects that as a totem, this hawk will be with you permanently once it shows up. It is generally accepted that red-tails mate for life. Both the male and the female help care for the young. They can live up to 14 years in the wild. The 14th card in the tarot deck is the card for Temperance. This is the card that represents the teaching of higher expressions of psychism and vision. It can be used in development of astral projection - new flights out of the body. It has ties to the activation of your vital energies (kundalini) and the bold expression of it. It is tied to the archetypal forces that teach beauty and harmony in moderation. It holds the keys to higher levels of consciousness.
Source: Ted Williams' Animal Speak
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Photo Gallery
Monthly, Delphine and I go to Denville for Orthodontic care. We always have a great meal afterwards at Mara's Desserts. Recently, we discovered a new consignment store:
Restyle Renew
At the end of the month, we made our annual journey up to NY state and added a new stop:
Corning Museum of Glass.
2010 06 Echinacea Pink Flower-Teaneck, NJ  |
2010 06 04 DA at Restyle Renew-Denville.JPG  |
2010 06 04 Mara Cooke VV-Mara's Desserts-Denville, NJ  |
2010 06 28 Corning Glass Iridescent Vase, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY State  |
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NEWS FLASH! Verena, a licensed XPR Advisor and Integrity Coach, is offering Empowering Now LLC's Introductory Teleclasses related
to their cutting edge Course entitled "The Path of XPR... Nature's Path
to Let the Integrity of a Higher Power Bloom in You." 2010 06 VV Four Leaf Clover - Clyde, New York State  |
Join us for a free introduction to the Path of XPR (XPR is
the evolution in Roman script of the Hebrew word for "sound, number,
letter, light!")! Our time together is going to be highly interactive,
lively, fun, and revealing. Please bring an open mind and/or your most
skeptical questions. There is no preparation required for this event. The Path
of XPR - to emPower you to receive, develop and
maintain the state of mind where all things are possible.
Free Introductory XPR Teleclass Schedule
(TeleBridge)
What Will it Take for Your Voice to be Heard? (Teleclass)
Monday, July 5th from 12-1pm EST Wednesday, July 21st from 8-9pm EST
Introducing PaRaDiSe Mystery School (Teleclass):
Friday, July 2nd from 12-1 pm EST Tuesday, July 20th from 8-9 pm
EST
The BIG Question (Teleclass:)
Thursday, July 8th from 8-9pm EST Thursday, July 22nd from 12-1 pm
EST
Wisdom REALLY at Work (Teleclass)
Thursday, July 8th from 12-1
pm EST
Facilitator: Verena Visser Aibel, Visionary, Shaman, XPR Advisor, Integrity Coach, and President, Vibrant Visions International.
For more information or to register: call Verena at 201-487-6910 EST or email her directly at Verena@VibrantCoach.com and specify preferred teleclass, date, and time. Once you have registered we will email you the bridgeline information.
For in depth information on the Path of XPR, please check out EmPOwering Now's incredible website: www.emPOweringNOW.com.
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Vibrant Visions International's Calendar of Events & Top Picks
Scroll down to see Verena's Top Picks from our VIBRANT VISIONS INTERNATIONAL ONLINE CALENDAR which is updated daily*. NOTE: All events are
subject to change. Please call and confirm event details prior to
traveling. Contact us if you receive conflicting dates or data. Thanks!
*Go to the Vibrant Visions International LLC website and click on "Calendar of Events" and scroll through our calendar. Contact information and registration information is also listed per event. Calendar listings also includes events hosted by professional associations such as the New Jersey Professional Coaches Association (NJPCA), New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO), Institute for Sustainable Enterprise (ISE), etc. Please also check their websites for latest details.
2010 06 19 Norma Trevino & Verena at NJ Botanical Garden Fundraiser at Edgecroft (private home) River Edge, NJ  |
Newsletters are now archived: Check them out via "Newsletter Archive" on our new website.
Appointments: Please feel free to make your private coaching appointment or complimentary assessment with Verena directly via our Online Appointment Scheduler. Please note that Verena's Vibrant Visions International LLC offerings are in Purple. Additional listings are in red.**********************************************************************
New Jersey Association of Women Business Owner's (NJAWBO) Bergen Chapter Breakfast Networking
July 8, 2010 (Thursday): Time: 8:00 am - 9:30 am
2010 06 17 Leslie Wilson-Laria Marable-Sandra Ramos (founder, Shelter our Sisters) & Verena - NJAWBO Dinner  |
Location: Panera's Bakery Cafe, 165 Route 4 West (in Kohl's Shopping Center), Paramus , NJ
Fee: Members: $10.00; Non-Members: $15.00 - CASH ONLY
For reservations and information, call the Bergen Chapter hotline at 201-444-8773, ext. 4 or e-mail Joanne Clark at jcwills@optonline.net or check out New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners-Bergen Chapter.
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Open Mic Night
July 17, 2010 (Saturday): Time: 8:00 - 11:30 pm
Location: Rest Stop Rejuvenate, 21 Maple Ave
Rockaway, New Jersey
www.reststoprejuvenate.com
2010 06 19 Kathy Miller-Vicky Mullicky-Verena at Open Mic Night-Rest Stop Rejuvenate, Rockaway, NJ  |
Cost is $10 - $20 (donation). We are a gathering place for well-being. Upon entering you will find a living room atmosphere that nurtures and replenishes your wellbeing as soothing aromas fill the air and mood-enhancing music assists in addressing life's daily stress. Rest Stop Rejuvenate is a place that enhances life by bringing people together and offering enriching conversations, thought provoking exercises, transformational games, creative classes, workshops, and entertainment.
When we care for and nurture ourselves we are better able to make choices that are not driven by the stress and discord of daily life.2010 06 17 Caryn Starr-Gates of Starr-Gates Communications, Verena, and Alyssa Lebovic CPA & Profitability Consultant, Keller & Lebovic  |
For more information contact, Vicky at 1-862-209-1439.
Photo: Starr-Gates Communications (Caryn handles Verena's press needs)
Keller & Lebovic (Alyssa handles Verena's business accounting needs)
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Northern New Jersey Coaches Group Monthly Meeting
July 19, 2010 (Monday) (tentative-call to confirm)
Location: Wayne Public Library, 461 Valley Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470-3557; (973) 694-4272
We'll
be providing support for one another, sharing resources, and learning
more about marketing ourselves, as well as promoting the community
spirit among coaches! Contacts:
Abigail Gary, 201-689-9095, agary@optonline.net or
Renee Sussman, 551-206-9019, reneecoach@gmail.com
Photo below: Dr. Rob Gilbert spoke on "How to do the impossible!"
2010 06 10 Dr Rob Gilbert, Speaker, and Verena Visser Aibel-NJAWBO.JPG  |
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HACKENSACK RIVER ECO-CRUISE (Sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited)
July 25, 2010 (Sunday) 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Eco-cruises are fully narrated 2-hour boat tours of the Hackensack River and the NJ Meadowlands conducted by the Hackensack River Keeper organization. The cruise will depart from Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus, NJ and will tour the lower Hackensack River and several Meadowlands marshes. You will learn about the area's ecology, preservation projects, and will see all sorts of local wildlife. The highlight of every trip is a tour of the Sawmill Creek Wildlife Management Area, a wonderful place that teems with wildlife throughout the year. Join us for this scenic and informative boat ride.
COST: $20 per person. Reservations required.
Please call Wild Birds Unlimited at (201) 599-0099 for more information or to make reservations.
Rain Date: Saturday, August 7, 2010. If the initial cruise is not rained out, a second eco-cruise will be conducted on this date.
2010 06 19 Jose Lemos & Arlety Alarcon of Beautiful Concrete Solutions, Kimberly Jupin & Flutur Nitting of Affinity Federal Credit Union and Verena at AFCU (AFCU is handles Verena's business & personal banking needs)
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Photo: Beautiful Concrete Solutions; Affinity Federal Credit Union
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Cynthia Summers & Gregory Lynch Live!
July 31, 2010 (Saturday): 8:00 - 10:00 pm EST
Location: Orchard House Café, 58th and First Avenue in Manhattan, NYC
Cynthia has been performing with Gregory Lynch for awhile now, and he'll be joining her. Gregory plays a whole lot of instruments, including guitar, mandolin, and violin. And, of course, Cynthia will be singing and strumming away. They will be inaugurating some new songs, including some brand-new originals, so it'll be different and fun. 2010 Cynthia Summers  |
Cover: $15 ($10 students; seniors)
www.orchardhousecafe.com/
For more information contact Cynthia Summers:
www.cynthiasummers.com
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New Jersey Association of Women Business Owner's (NJAWBO) Bergen Chapter Breakfast Networking
August 12, 2010 (Thursday): Time: 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Location: Panera's Bakery Cafe, 165 Route 4 West (in Kohl's Shopping Center), Paramus , NJ
Fee: Members: $10.00; Non-Members: $15.00 - CASH ONLY
For reservations and information, call the Bergen Chapter hotline at 201-444-8773, ext. 4 or e-mail Joanne Clark at jcwills@optonline.net or check out New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners-Bergen Chapter.
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"Alcatel-Lucent's
Eco-Sustainability Programs and Green Touch"; Speakers: Barry Dambach
and Tom Okrasinski, Alcatel-Lucent - Institute for Sustainable
Enterprise/CHRMS Breakfast
Sept. 18, 2010 (Friday) 7:30 - 9:30 am EST
Location: Fairleigh Dickinson University, the Mansion Bldg 1, Hartman Lounge, 285 Madison Ave, Madison, NJ 07940
Information: Call ISE/CHRMS at 973-443-8577.
Fee: $40 ($25 non profit organization members).
Register: www.fdu.edu/forms/chrmsregister.html or email your rsvp to pniewski@fdu.edu
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"Hat" Card Reading: PEH; The ULTIMATE: What will it take for you to ask and answer the only question: Who Am I?
80-P-PEH-Maha's Top Hat.jpg  |
This is the card I picked today. Interesting that it has the word "Mate" in it... 16 years ago, on July 4th of 1994, I flew from Germany to New Jersey, USA, to be with my then "mate." I came back on the 4th of July because I was reclaiming my American rights. I thought it was poetic. I didn't realize that would also be the day I lost my independence. I happily accepted my mate's offer of a place to stay, thinking I would realize a long forgotten dream of becoming a Jungian Analyst. I didn't realize that there were really extensive prerequisites that I simply didn't have. My mate and I did marry the following year. I depended on him for food, shelter, friends, family, and business capital. I mirrored his traditions, interests, values, and eating & drinking preferences, etc. Although this dependency allowed me to explore and grow several unique businesses, I did not earn "in earnest." I even went back to school to become a professional coach at the time I was becoming a mother at the age of 44. Through years of suffering (doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results), consistent coaching, introspection, and plenty of trial and error, I now experience clarity and serenity and am able to hear and heed (be a champion of) the quiet voice inside. How perfect is this? Now, although my second marriage has come to an end, I realize that the only MATE that matters ("mate" is in that word too!) is my inner mate!
Now, I can ask and answer the only question: "Who am I?"
Let me start with what I am not. I am not "my story" (things we repeat mindlessly such as "I was born in ..., I was raised by.... I had ___ siblings... we didn't have much money/we had too much money... I went to college/I didn't go to college... I was sexually abused/I was neglected... I am not good at math/reading... I am young/old, hard of hearing/have trouble walking... I live in a house in a suburban area/I live in a poor neighborhood..." ).
Nor am I my looks, my body, or any set of statistics (Height, weight, hair color or type, eye color, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual preference, body type, state of health). I am not the roles I assume such as mother/father, ex-wife, daughter/son, sister/brother, friend/co-worker, coach/boss, shaman/priest/rabbi/lawyer. I am not my gifts or skill sets (artist, photographer, swimmer, trainer, speaker, Empath, multi-linguist, closet-psychologist). I am not what others think of me.
So, if we take away everything that we use to typecast who we think we are (or who we think someone is), known as profiling, what are we left with? When someone loses their health, their memory, their homes, their jobs, their families, are they any less than who they were before or do they just "have" less, so to speak?
In my opinion, "Who am I?" becomes more a question of "What am I?" Strip us from all the ego attributes we are so desperate to keep or attain or not lose, and we are pure Essence, Light, Spirit, Joy, Energy, Passion, Vibrancy, endless Heart, Power, 100% Integrity/Certainty/Faith, Sustainably linked to GRace, Free, Clear, Rich, Consciousness, without limits, Creation, Grace, and understand that we really are all One... We can See/Hear/Feel/Touch/Know ourselves and thus we can See/Hear/Feel/Touch/Know each other. There is no longer a separation between us and the rest of the world/God/Goddess/Higher Power/Inner Voice, etc. How cool is THAT?!! If you are clueless as to what I'm speaking about, call us at 201-487-6910 or email us at verena@vibrantcoach.com and let's bring some Light onto the subject!
This Hat Card deck was created and illustrated by Mahalene Louis, my coach. Decks are available for purchase via www.empoweringnow.com.
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