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That parallels nicely with the skills of director Glory Mirabello of Rochelle Park, a former educator who has been associated with the Center for 40 years.
“Many of our instructors have their New Jersey State certification in teaching,” said Mirabello, who has been the group’s director since 2013 and who formerly taught in the New Jersey public school system.
“An important axiom I brought with me from one of my college professors was ‘Teaching isn’t telling, learning is discovering.''' That is, true learning takes place through one’s own experience.”
The Center's history as a 501(c)(3) organization began with Donald H. Yott when he was directed to establish a Metaphysical Center in Northern New Jersey.
A history teacher in the New Jersey public school system and a scholar of World Religions and Esoteric Philosophies, Yott taught the initial MCNJ curriculum in the Pompton Lakes Adult Education Program.
Sixty years later the center is celebrating its anniversary.
Having been in continual service to the community, MCNJ still offers monthly lectures at the Central Unitarian Church in Paramus and events such as field trips and Psychic Fairs, as well as its core teaching of a 13-level course of study in Metaphysics and Parapsychology.
This core study is taught in many adult education programs in Northern New Jersey. MCNJ also has an adjunct teaching program which includes workshops in Tarot, ESP, Numerology, Spiritual Psychology, Meditation, Healing with the Angels, Higher Consciousness Work, and IET.
The mission of the center is to educate, enlighten, and encourage spiritual evolution. “Through our classes and events, our aim is to be the sign-posts so people can evolve in consciousness by learning to apply the principles taught in the classes and to apply those principles to their daily life,” Mirabello said. “MCNJ believes in presenting people with many points of view so that they can choose what seems right for them, we respect and honor each person’s belief system. “Our motto is ‘When the student is ready, the teacher appears.'''
Mirabello leads a Governing Board of 12 volunteers that she says “are the ‘heart and soul’ of MCNJ’s continual functioning and services to the community.” She also is grateful for the many other volunteers who give their time and services unconditionally to the organization. Having been asked about skeptics, she said: “Come see what MCNJ is about, then make your own decision. We respect the right of one’s own individual decision to follow their personal beliefs.”
Mirabello enjoyed her career as an elementary school teacher, but took time off for several years to raise her two children. When she ventured into teaching for The Metaphysical Center, she knew instantly it was the right choice. “I knew that this was in my heart and soul,” she said. “I knew it was the right thing, destiny called, and I answered.”
She still retains the passion for teaching at the center that she discovered more than three decades ago. Part of her passion stems from the positive messages she gets from people who have participated in the various programs MCNJ offers. “I get letters, cards and emails from people telling me how grateful they are for the skills and wisdom MCNJ has provided for them to cope with whatever situation comes up for them, and how it has changed their lives,” she said, “All I did was present the information, they did the work. They embodied the principles or what is also called the ‘Ancient Wisdom Teachings’ and put them into action.”
Click here for more information about the Metaphysical Center of New Jersey.
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