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| Zeynep (left) and her twin sister Ayse, age 3 | One year birthday, Zeynep on her father's lap |
Zeynep Tufekci (Suben) and her sister Ayse were born in Istanbul, Turkey March 27, 1951. Her parents, Tarik and Mujgan Suben, dynamic and innovative, have always been a source of support and encouragement for her. She was named Zeynep, meaning "glorious", at birth by her grandfather. She moved to England with her family at the age of eight, when her father accepted a position at one of the major international tire companies. They were moved back to Turkey in 1964 by the same company where her father assumed responsibility of their Turkish operations. Zeynep and her identical twin moved back to England in 1967 to attend college.
Zeynep moved with her parents to Syrace, New York, USA in 1971 and has been
back to Turkey several times since and married and moved to Gainesville Florida
in 1981. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and spent several summers
in Vienna attending summer school. Educated in England and Turkey she has been
a facilitator most of her professional life (Sheraton International-Credit Manager,
Saudi Arabian Airlines-Station Accountant in Istanbul Turkey to Report Atlantis-Sun
International Bahamas - Asst to VP, University of Florida Admin Asst Chemistry
Dept. Gainesville FL) dealing with people issues and conflict resolution. Mother
of two sons Ismail Cem 22 and Kenan Tarik 19, she resides with her older son
and parents in St. Petersburg, Florida. She is currently working at the University
of South Florida St. Petersburg as an Administrative Assistant, which she calls
her "Clark Kent" job, as she pursues her "Super Woman" passion
of Cheek-e-booming the world to the ONEness.
Raised with the traditional teachings of Islam and Rumi, she still upholds and
practices her teachings. She traveled to the Holy Lands in 1977 to perform the
Haj, Islam's most important religious pilgrimage, while she was residing and
working in Istanbul Turkey. She is a member of First Unity Church in St. Petersburg,
Florida, P'Nai Or - Jewish Renewal Group in Gainesville, Florida, Center for
Conscious Living (Science of Mind teachings of Dr. Ernest Holmes) in Largo,
Florida and attends Zikr at the Sufi Center, The Rising Tide in Sarasota, Florida.
Zeynep has always been keenly interested in studying and experiencing all of
the existing traditional and new age spiritual paths. She is a student of A
Course in Miracles, she has also participated in several workshops with Donald
Neale Walsch author of Conversations with God and Alan Cohen author of The Dragon
Doesn't Live Here Anymore. She volunteers regularly with the Omega Institute
conferences and have attended lecturers by many renowed spiritual teachers of
our time.
Music and dancing has always been her passion. She has been an avid participant
of folk, popular and ballroom dancing. Through the teachings of Rumi, she has
been keenly sensitive to the relationship between spirit and dance. Presently,
Zeynep performs at various nursing homes, assisted living facilities, bridal
showers, parties and events inspiring and empowering her audience with interactive
Belly Dancing. She teaches and holds workshops on spiritual belly dancing using
traditional/modern international music at City Centers, Healing, Fitness and
Spiritual Centers and is always willing to take her passion to public gatherings.
Zeynep also dances and teaches 'dance to prayer' expressing Spirit through movement.
May 1st, 2004, Zeynep has been ordained a healing/minister. She has studied
the different healing techniques such as Magnetic Theraphy, Chakras and Colors,
Reiki I and II, Aromatheraphy, Therapeutic Touch, Crystals and Sound with Rev.
Rose Lenore from Temple of Angelic Healing. She is currently studying the wisdom
of the Celtic Shaman, recalling her genetic memory as warrior,maiden, mother,
crone, sovereign, shapeshifter.
Zeynep has dedicated her life to God, to His service and His expression in and
through her. She carries a message of "Global-Oneness" through Cheek-e-Boom
belly dancing, inspiration, expression and her words of Eternal Love and Healing.
As a catalyst for global peace and unity, she bring into all her interactions
a unique blend of the exotic East and West.
Zeynep's knowledge of the Masters and their teachings, her passion for music
and dance and her love of Life is truly exhilarating.