ILLUSORY TIME
Connect • Learn • Explore
Join Maya Rook for Conversations on Cultural History.
Looking for our yoga & meditation offerings? They’ve moved to Firefly Studio!
Maya’s approach has been described as…
Welcoming •
Kind •
Vibrant •
Creative •
Playful •
Humorous •
Delightful •
Informative •
Fun •
Welcoming • Kind • Vibrant • Creative • Playful • Humorous • Delightful • Informative • Fun •
Meet Maya Rook
Maya Rook is the mind and heart behind Illusory Time. She is a trained historian and experienced educator who brings the past to life with classes covering an array of historical and cultural topics.
Private Events
Virtual and in-person events can be curated for any audience and adjusted to meet your needs and budget. Let’s collaborate!
Praise for Illusory Time
“I always enjoy the talks I attend with Maya Rook. Whether I am familiar with the topic or not, I find that I always learn something new. Her talks are both fascinating and fun. You can feel Maya's enthusiasm and love of history in every talk. She truly makes history come alive! I'm always telling my friends and coworkers about the presentations I've attended and recommend them to anyone who is looking for an interesting and entertaining way to spend an evening.”
~ Deborah
“Maya is a joy to learn from. Her calm and warm demeanor is really welcoming and a pleasure to be around. She has a wealth of knowledge and there is always something new to be learned.”
~ Xenia F.
“I can't say enough good things about Maya! She is a confident and practiced public speaker, a knowledgeable historian with an engaging sense of humor, and she peppers her talks with experiences from her own life.”
~ Cassie Guthrie, New Yorkers for Better Libraries PAC
“Maya's events are such a wonderful mix of scholarly research presented in an accessible way and shared group participation. The experience feels more like a cozy, fun hangout than an academic lecture, and yet I always learn so much. Maya's style is so engaging, warm, and playful, and she's a brilliant scholar. After the events I always feel like I've had a shared experience of connection with Maya and the other group members in attendance.”
~ Dan G.
“We've offered several of Maya Rook's Illusory Time presentations at our library, and will continue to offer more for our patrons in the future. And that's because the programs are fun and informative, which is a testament to the preparation that Maya puts into these. Although we've discovered Zoom fatigue is a real thing as far as attendance for virtual programs, that has not been the case when we've offered Maya's events. Attendance has grown because our patrons know the type of quality presentation they're going to take part in when they register for an Illusory Time program. I think what makes Illusory Time work is that you feel educated and informed afterward, but also walk away smiling because of the dash of whimsy and dose of magic that Maya adds to the mix. Highly recommend.”
~ Jim B.
“Maya's kind attitude and vibrant soul consistently reminded me I was right where I needed to be. She encouraged participation and creatively melded other's shares into the topic at hand. Her expertise and gentle guidance of meaningful conversation helped me learn new material and explore already understood concepts in a new light… I simply cannot wait to return to one of Maya's events, and connect to her wisdom and spirit once again. Thank you Maya!”