This image represents the so-called “Luther Rose” and was found in the quarters of Martin Luther who reformed the catholic church in Europe (Worms, Germany), with his famous 95 Theses, in 1517. “VIVIT” translates from Latin to “He Lives” or also, “Live!” However, before the days of the Internet and before ever having seen this symbol, here is the story—my own story—of how I was introduced to the word “Vivit,” which is now the name for my Holistic Life Coaching Practice.
The Story of “VIVIT”
Nearly 30 years ago, I was still an undergraduate student of Psychology, and enrolled in a series of weekend seminars on “Parapsychology.” As part of the course work, we had to record our dreams and then apply certain schools of thought in order to analyze these dreams. It was also at a time in my life when I was desperately seeking to re-connect with my spirit and a “Higher Power.”
Usually a very avid dreamer, I entered a period of being unable to dream, in spite of awakening myself several times at night and employing all kinds of techniques to interrupt dreaming and starting to record them immediately. I became increasingly frustrated and had already asked my professor for two extensions regarding the term paper. There would be no more extensions!
So, one Sunday afternoon—the day before my final deadline—I announced to my family that, “I am going to lie down to have myself a dream!” Angrily, I lay down, and the only thing on my mind was, “If you, God, really exist, then why don’t you just take me, right now.” Almost immediately, I had a spinning sensation, as if being inside a washing machine during the spinning cycle. It became difficult to breathe, but I didn’t care and let myself be carried away.
The breathing difficulty and spinning soon stopped, and I found myself in a colorless, sparsely furnished kitchen of sorts. I remember a big, white refrigerator and an elderly man, nearly bald-headed, sitting at a small table, reading a newspaper. I also noticed that a little girl with black patent shoes was holding my right hand. Reluctantly, the man folded the paper, gave me a long look, deeply into my eyes: I knew he could sense my urgency and impatience! He said, “Oh well, I guess we’ll go then.” Hand-in-hand, he and the little girl hurried ahead, so fast, in fact, that I had trouble keeping up.
We came to a very, very tall set of delicate stairs, in open air, it seemed. One could not see where they were landing, if on anything, way up high. The girl and man went up so fast, as if flying. I, too, had much energy at first, but took the stairs step by step, until a woman with very wide hips was blocking me. From side to side she swung her hips while climbing, just as I tried to sneak past here, on the right, or there, on the left. Finally, she noticed me and said in a singing voice: “By all means, DO go ahead… “ and let me pass. The couple leading my way, meanwhile, were but small dots way on top of the stairs, and soon I ran out of steam. It was then, only a few more steps to go, I felt a magical lift and was at once on top. From there, there was an unusual-looking bridge, curved, reaching far over…nothing. It seemed to be made of different shades of light! One step on it, and I was instantly across and saw my guides again, still leading ahead.
We came to a place, like a town square, where many people were gathered, in front of a remarkable building, with a few stone steps along the width of it, leading up to some Greek-looking stone columns and, presumably, an entrance. There was a banner all across the front of the building, in shades of orange, which read, “V I V I T” in very bold letters. There was also something looking like an enlarged keyhole, and a description in smaller letters underneath. I knew I was looking at something VERY important ! I tried to read and memorize it, while my guides disappeared into a tunnel to my right. Still, I attempted to understand what I was seeing and to burn it to my memory, at the same time: “Is this a movie theater,” I wondered. “Is ‘Vivit’ the name of a movie ?” Immediately, a female voice in the crowd answered me: “It’s like a CHANT… .” “Not knowing where the voice was coming from, I realized that, apparently, my thoughts were audible, as were the people’s. “No-no,” I said impatiently, “You don’t understand--Is this a movie advertisement?” Again, the same voice responded, “It’s like a chant…it is always there.” Confused and frustrated, I turned away, to catch up with my friends. I( thus rushed into the dark tunnel and could spot them again, far ahead, near a bright light in the distance. Yet, somewhere in the middle of the tunnel, this spinning sensation overcame me and then, with almost a “bang” and falling sensation, I found myself on my bed again. I was completely out of breath, heart racing, as if I hadn’t been breathing during this entire journey.
Finally, I had a dream to write about for class. I received an ‘A’ for my dream and analysis. Inadvertently, however, I had also discovered ‘astral travelling.’ When looking up ‘Vivit’ in the dictionary, I found only that it is Latin for, ‘He/she/it LIVES.” And then it hit me: I had gotten my answer!
God IS
He is Real
He is like music everywhere (“like a chant”)
Always there!
For all of you who may still be wondering the same question as I did, 30 years ago-- I dare you to start your own quest and experiment. Pose the question and ask for signs that you can understand. Whisper your question in the dark, or shout it in your bathroom or in the forest—mean it, with urgency! When we are ready to acknowledge God’s empire, and ask to enter it as a matter of birthright, we are sure to find our answers.
The Story of “VIVIT”
Nearly 30 years ago, I was still an undergraduate student of Psychology, and enrolled in a series of weekend seminars on “Parapsychology.” As part of the course work, we had to record our dreams and then apply certain schools of thought in order to analyze these dreams. It was also at a time in my life when I was desperately seeking to re-connect with my spirit and a “Higher Power.”
Usually a very avid dreamer, I entered a period of being unable to dream, in spite of awakening myself several times at night and employing all kinds of techniques to interrupt dreaming and starting to record them immediately. I became increasingly frustrated and had already asked my professor for two extensions regarding the term paper. There would be no more extensions!
So, one Sunday afternoon—the day before my final deadline—I announced to my family that, “I am going to lie down to have myself a dream!” Angrily, I lay down, and the only thing on my mind was, “If you, God, really exist, then why don’t you just take me, right now.” Almost immediately, I had a spinning sensation, as if being inside a washing machine during the spinning cycle. It became difficult to breathe, but I didn’t care and let myself be carried away.
The breathing difficulty and spinning soon stopped, and I found myself in a colorless, sparsely furnished kitchen of sorts. I remember a big, white refrigerator and an elderly man, nearly bald-headed, sitting at a small table, reading a newspaper. I also noticed that a little girl with black patent shoes was holding my right hand. Reluctantly, the man folded the paper, gave me a long look, deeply into my eyes: I knew he could sense my urgency and impatience! He said, “Oh well, I guess we’ll go then.” Hand-in-hand, he and the little girl hurried ahead, so fast, in fact, that I had trouble keeping up.
We came to a very, very tall set of delicate stairs, in open air, it seemed. One could not see where they were landing, if on anything, way up high. The girl and man went up so fast, as if flying. I, too, had much energy at first, but took the stairs step by step, until a woman with very wide hips was blocking me. From side to side she swung her hips while climbing, just as I tried to sneak past here, on the right, or there, on the left. Finally, she noticed me and said in a singing voice: “By all means, DO go ahead… “ and let me pass. The couple leading my way, meanwhile, were but small dots way on top of the stairs, and soon I ran out of steam. It was then, only a few more steps to go, I felt a magical lift and was at once on top. From there, there was an unusual-looking bridge, curved, reaching far over…nothing. It seemed to be made of different shades of light! One step on it, and I was instantly across and saw my guides again, still leading ahead.
We came to a place, like a town square, where many people were gathered, in front of a remarkable building, with a few stone steps along the width of it, leading up to some Greek-looking stone columns and, presumably, an entrance. There was a banner all across the front of the building, in shades of orange, which read, “V I V I T” in very bold letters. There was also something looking like an enlarged keyhole, and a description in smaller letters underneath. I knew I was looking at something VERY important ! I tried to read and memorize it, while my guides disappeared into a tunnel to my right. Still, I attempted to understand what I was seeing and to burn it to my memory, at the same time: “Is this a movie theater,” I wondered. “Is ‘Vivit’ the name of a movie ?” Immediately, a female voice in the crowd answered me: “It’s like a CHANT… .” “Not knowing where the voice was coming from, I realized that, apparently, my thoughts were audible, as were the people’s. “No-no,” I said impatiently, “You don’t understand--Is this a movie advertisement?” Again, the same voice responded, “It’s like a chant…it is always there.” Confused and frustrated, I turned away, to catch up with my friends. I( thus rushed into the dark tunnel and could spot them again, far ahead, near a bright light in the distance. Yet, somewhere in the middle of the tunnel, this spinning sensation overcame me and then, with almost a “bang” and falling sensation, I found myself on my bed again. I was completely out of breath, heart racing, as if I hadn’t been breathing during this entire journey.
Finally, I had a dream to write about for class. I received an ‘A’ for my dream and analysis. Inadvertently, however, I had also discovered ‘astral travelling.’ When looking up ‘Vivit’ in the dictionary, I found only that it is Latin for, ‘He/she/it LIVES.” And then it hit me: I had gotten my answer!
God IS
He is Real
He is like music everywhere (“like a chant”)
Always there!
For all of you who may still be wondering the same question as I did, 30 years ago-- I dare you to start your own quest and experiment. Pose the question and ask for signs that you can understand. Whisper your question in the dark, or shout it in your bathroom or in the forest—mean it, with urgency! When we are ready to acknowledge God’s empire, and ask to enter it as a matter of birthright, we are sure to find our answers.
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