What A Fabulous Journey by Penny Johns

I am not going to start at the beginning; this Journey starts in the middle. Over the years I have been a daughter, wife, mother, employee, director, community volunteer, church volunteer, advocate of children, and many other terms, labels, and titles we gather along our path. Although many of those activities brought pleasure I still didn’t feel the deep serenity I was craving.

In 2001 life changed on may levels. I told my husband of 23 years I wanted a divorce; the children were spreading their wings and moving on; my job (which I thought would be everything I could want or imagine) was filled with power struggles; and menopause peaked. Over the years I have attended workshops and retreats, read self-help books, gone to support groups, and taken continuing education classes. My path had been filling everyone else’s expectations. This was not a crisis; it truly was time for rebirth. Every part of my body, mind and spirit called for change. I risked exploring a new road. The path I had been on served others very well, this new road was about bringing balance to me.

My deep faith, belief, spirit, whatever you want to call it, was seeking a connection of deeper quality, one that I experienced only a few times before. I knew at the core of my being it could be attained on this road of rebirth, but not alone. I wanted a companion to walk this path with. That companion, Doug, appeared that same year. It should be no surprise to any reading this “WIC ezine” that he is a “Warrior.” Like many Warriors have done, he suggested that I attend the “Woman Within Weekend Training.” The “Weekend” opened a gateway for me to this new road. Both of us are very active in MKP and WWI, we use the tools we have learned from those organizations to build our relationship.

While MKP and WWI tools helped us in our relationship, they did not offer that deeper connection with spirit, or soul. We were both seeking this deeper awareness. We have found the deeper balance, serenity, and awareness we were seeking in “Hollow Bones” Sesshins. A Sesshin is a Zen meditation retreat. Hollow Bones is a Zen Order that was originally for men in MKP. Our personal practice includes many weeklong Hollow Bones Sesshins, daily meditation, physical practice (Yoga, Qi gong, walking, hiking, etc), progressively more organic living, genuine insight, and environmental stewardship. We began offering open meditation practice in 2004 at Doug’s home in Thiensville, WI. That same year Doug was ordained as a Priest in the Hollow Bones Order of Rinzai Zen Practitioners and I received Lay Ordination.

The road has now taken us to our new 40-acre space in Random Lake, Wisconsin called “ Still Point Zen Center.” The serenity I have sought all my life was with me all the time, I just didn’t understand how to access it consistently. I am learning each day how to become more balanced and centered by opening my awareness to the interconnection and interdependency of all sentient and insentient beings everywhere through meditation.

Still Point Zen Center is open to people of any faith; we sit in community meditation every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning from 7 – 8:30. Beginners Meditation is taught once a month. The third Wednesday of every month, we offer an evening of “Sacred Poetry”. During the evening between 7pm and 9pm, we read Poetry, practice Qi gong, and meditate. We offer Zen Coaching with Doug (Rev. Meru Danda) or myself (Khyati) by appointment. We will be starting a book discussion group once a month starting this fall. As an ordained Priest, Doug is available to perform wedding services, commitment ceremonies, and baby blessings in our Zendo (meditation space) or at any other site that people would like. All services are offered for free, but we gratefully accept tax-deductible donations to Still Point Zen Center. If you are unable to offer a financial donation we encourage a donation of time and talent. No one will be turned away due to inability to offer a donation.

Still Point Zen Center is located about 40 miles North of Milwaukee and 60 miles South of Green Bay just off of Hwy 57. We are in Sheboygan County near the Kettle Moraine State Park, Long Lake State Park, Kohler Andrea State Park and many golf coarses.

We invite all who are interested in learning more about Zen Meditation to contact us and visit our center. I hope our paths will cross in the future at a WWI, MKP event or at Still Point Zen Center.

Currently we are seeking volunteers to work on clearing and improving our walking meditation tails in the woods. Your help/donations are sought in obtaining canvas tarps and quilted blankets (various sizes) for the newly built sweat lodge. We offer overnight space to anyone traveling a distance for a small donation. If you are looking for a location to hold an I-group, E-circle, workshop, meeting, one-day event or retreat, contact us for more information. Additional retreats and workshops will be posted on our Web Site: www.StillPointZen.com

Blessings,
Penney Johns (Khyati)
Still Point Zen Center
N1811 Knorr Rd
Random Lake, WI 53075
920-994-8650
E-mail: nickay54@earthlink.net

Penny Johns did her WW weekend in Delavan, in Sept. 2003. She is currently the Empowerment Circle Director for Wisconsin.

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