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Pennings From The Lotus Patch

Gary Danoff composed this during his retreat at Sevenoaks:

And The Oaks Spoke

As I was cradled in the hammock by their strength and with their wind as the medium, the Oaks spoke.
With tone that went from side to side and volume up and down, ‘twas in the wind the Oaks found their sound.
Not replicable. Unique. And like the breath, no two were the same. Their leaves spoke.
Their strength spoke and in so doing provided a platform for comfort and solace and calm. The Oaks spoke.

The birds chimed in... they wanted their say too.
And their voices were in fact heard, along with a distant plane and even the passing clouds.
From silence, the pebbles and stones spoke and with a whisper by the wind, the grass did too.

In their majesty, the Oaks offered up the steady chorus of sound which was the background allowing all others to find their voice; and me to find mine. The Oaks spoke.

Perhaps they are able to speak now because of how long they have listened. Or for how slow and steady they have grown. They have been patient. Through their patience, they have grown a well seated voice; a rooted voice. Imagine if I had 400 years to mature; to find myself. They have heard their own voice and taken the time to grow into it and become comfortable. The Oaks have spoken. They speak. They are here, now.

"What a beautiful and insightful message you've given us in the Summer issue of the Newsletter. Thank you. Or, as I still occasionally say: Right On!"
~ Mark Berman

"Really appreciated your letter this month. People speaking out publically about their concerns -- need to have more of it. We Washingtonians are so fortunate to have Unity Woods standing strongly in our midst."
~ Don Russell, Resource Center for Activism and Arts

"Your letter reminded me that I have neglected to tell you how much Unity Woods has meant to me personally... I know I am not alone in saying that your teachers through you, of course, have changed my life. Yoga is central to my well being since the classes at Unity Woods. Every one of the teachers is superbly and heartfully prepared and dedicated."
~ Gay Lord

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"The classes and my practice are threads I hold to in my life that help me remember who I am and what direction I should be going ~ even in the midst of an overwhelming schedule and busy life... The things I learn in class help me to deepen my limited practice, get me through tough times, and keep me sane."
~ Anonymous

"This is another reason to add to the long list of reasons why I am so grateful that I can take classes at Unity Woods. I appreciate the clarity and kindness with which John explained that yoga is a practice, not an exercise class. I also want to tell you that over the roughly ten years that I have taken classes at Unity Woods I have expereinced many different teachers and each one has been a skilled and devoted teacher. I started yoga because I have post-polio syndrome that affected the muscles in my right leg and I was having difficulty walking. Over the years, thanks to props and encouraging teachers, I have been able to increase my strength and balance. Without yoga I might be using a wheelchair or cane by now. Thanks again to all of you for your integrity, humor, and loving teaching."
~ S. H.

"John's teachers embrace his philosophy of encouraging students to explore to their fullest capabilitites the path of self-discovery... John is known for his creative sequencing which guides students to deeper self-awareness."
~ Anonymous

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