Meet Victoria Ancis, Baroness, Entrepreneur, Author, Artist
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Sedona?
The spiritual energy of the Sedona surroundings makes it a unique location where to live in the world, enriched by an eclectic mix of residents. I believe Sedona invites you to be here and I am extremely honored to be a resident of our wonderful Sedona. My husband Roberto and I have lived here since 2006.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Sedona?
My answer to this question is Danette Wolpert ~ Founder and Executive Director of the ILLUMINATE Film Festival. I admire her kindred spirit, strength, her spiritual commitment to transformation and film with the Illuminate Film Festival and her like-minded devotion to make a positive difference in Sedona and the World.
Q: Is there one thing that you wished you learned earlier in life?
Reflecting on my past experiences, I would have to say that I wish I could have discovered Yoga, earlier. I have now been practicing for the past 20 years. I feel you are not ever too young or too old to practice Yoga; it gives one a healthy balance of physical and spiritual nourishment for their being. Yoga is one of my passions and what inspired me with the onset of the COVID-19 to create my new virtual live online company YogaWebClasses, LLC (Website: www.yogawebclasses.com). YWC is a forum of specialists in disciplines whose practice yields internal tranquility and internal peace, away for all that is happening in the world today. Our certified live online yoga instructor Danielle Holman has Sedona roots that date back three generations. We also offer Qi Gong ~Tai Qi live online classes with Master Lyn Dilbeck, a resident of Sedona for 25 years and a Qi Gong ~Tai Qi master for 36 years. Truly an enlightening experience in this new life challenging age of COVID-19.
Q: How would your closest friends describe you?
My closest friends use these words to describe me: KIND, CARING, SUPPORTIVE and FUN
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Sedona?
I must say that it is ‘Reds’. I love the open environment, the small plate menu and of course their Cosmo!
Q: What would you consider as your best accomplishment?
One of my best accomplishments has been writing Our Book – The Journey Of Choices ~ City of Knowledge. It took my husband Roberto and me, six years to write (Website: www.thejourneyofchoices.com). The book was inspired by our seminars; in the last 35 years, we trained more the 85,000 participants in the area of self-discovery, self-improvement, the comfort zone, breaking through barriers to get to the next level. Rather than writing a ‘how to book,’ we stepped out of the box and wrote a fictional story where talking animals and mythical characters teach us life lessons. My second accomplishment has been a life-changing journey to the Amazons in 2018. I lived off the grid, with two indigenous tribes for 2 weeks (a great accomplishment for a room service girl!) While spending time with local shamans and participating in ancient ceremonies, I discovered a new portal of light and empowerment to guide me through the rest of my life.
Q: If you could choose anyone with whom would have dinner with, who would it be and why?
There is no doubt in my mind that the person I would choose for such a special dinner would be: His Holiness The Dalai Lama XIV, for the profound experience of being in his presence.
Q: What one thing gives you the most significant sense of purpose?
I receive a great sense of purpose when I post daily on my Facebook wall my graphic composite artwork, designed to make a positive difference in the lives of people who visit. Inspired by quotations found in my research, I then associate these quotations with the visual renderings that I create from my photo collections. By the way, my love for graphic work became apparent when I founded my graphic design company 15 years ago, named, Victoria Graphic Designs LLC (Website: www.victoriagraphicdesigns.com), that also delivers Websites to demanding clients.
Q: How did you acquire your title ‘The Baroness’?
My husband Roberto Ancis was born and raised in Florence (Firenze) Italy. His mother, is a Baroness. She is currently 101 years old and her sister was a Countess, in 2009 her sister passed away and did not pass her title on to her daughter (thus the title of Countess died with her). My mother-in law decided in 2009 to pass her title to me, as ‘The Baroness Victoria De Bernardi Ancis’ (I may currently utilize the title of Baroness) and then when ‘the Baroness De Bernardi passes away, the title will be transferred to me permanently I will record the change of title accordingly.
Q: How did you meet your husband?
I love this story and find that woman are inspired by it.
I was raised in a real estate family in Manhattan Beach and Palos Verdes in Southern California. Working for my family, I was sitting on an open house in Manhattan Beach. My now husband Roberto, at that time, was looking for a Mediterranean style home at the beach and had just purchased a new car. His brand new car pulled in front of my open house and stopped working (would not start). He looked at the open house and thought to himself this is not what I am looking for. However, he believes whenever people have resistance, they should follow the path of resistance. So he got out of his new car, walked into my open house, saw me and thought to himself … “WOW! Now I know why I am here.” Twenty-Six years later we are in love, happily married and living our dream in beautiful Sedona. Oh, by the way when he left my open house, his car started!
