I first experienced Paneurhythmy in northern Indiana in July, 1994, in a class taught by Ardella Nathanael and hosted by Ann and George Dobie, whom I knew from our participation in the transformational programs of Landmark Education.  It was an inspiring and blessed experience.  I followed Ardella to Pennsylvania in September to learn the remainder of the first 28 movements, practiced during the winter and invited Ardella to St. Louis in June, 1995.  Since that time, we have "played Paneurhythmy" twice a week in our beautiful Forest Park. With Ardella's encouragement, I traveled to Bulgaria in 1996 and stayed in the "camp for foreigners" hosted by Maria Mitovska and Georgi (Joro) Petkov.  I was greatly inspired by their example of devotion and loving service and learned much from them and from Pavel Jeliazkov.  My experience there has served as a model for all my work in my own country.  I saw my mission clearly:  to bring my experience with the Brotherhood in Rila home to the United States.

It was in Bulgaria that I met Steve Bonn from California.  Toward the end of our visit, we were told that "the Master gave the Paneurhythmy to the Bulgarian people, but the Americans would spread it all over the world."  He and I looked at each other; we were the only Americans there!  He took on the task of making the books and music available to English-speakers; this became Evera Books.  I dedicated myself to studying to teach the Paneurhythmy; my training as a professional teacher of theatre and communication would stand me in good stead.  But there were spiritual tests as well.  After a time, I received  Ardella's imprimatur to teach, and later, Maria's and Joro's as well.

In 1997, I took early retirement from teaching so that I could be available to travel and teach.  In that first year, I joined Ardella in Hawaii, where Jan Nash and Elizabeth Weiss and I met with her for three intense days of work.  We crafted the following intention:  "To hold the highest good for all; to manifest the vision on the physical plane:  the presence of Love, Light, Peace and Joy."  This inspired our work in the following years, especially during the time when Ardella's health did not permit her to travel for a time.  I was blessed indeed to be able to teach in Australia when she was not able to go there in the spring of 1998.

In the following years, I presented Paneurhythmy and encouraged groups throughout the Midwest, as well as in San Diego, New England and Texas.  I go where I am invited whenever I can.  In addition, I have danced in Alaska and Florida as well, thus bringing the blessing of Paneurhythmy to the four corners of "Turtle Island," as it is called by Native Americans.

I learned of the work of Ernestina Staleva and Viola Bowman in New England, and of the group in Chicago supported by Marilyn Reddy.  Paneurhythmy was presented by someone in the 1980's at Jean Houston's Mystery School.  It was performed for a time at the Headquarters of the Theosophical Society in Chicago.  Since 1997, it has been presented regularly at Sancta Sophia Seminary in Oklahoma, first by Ardella and later by me.  A strong group has grown up in Tahlequah.

In 1999, told that it was an auspicious time to go to Rila, a group of about ten Americans went to Rila.  I was among them, the third of what would be more than a dozen trips.  The Bulgarian National Television produced a film of that event, and some of us were interviewed for it.

Ardella invited Maria Mitovska, who had studied with all the original Paneurhythmy teachers in Bulgaria, to come to the United States in 1999.  It was then, in Arizona, that David Fischer said:  "We need a National Paneurhythmy Day."  So we held our first official National Paneurhythmy Gathering in St. Louis the following year, and June 21 was designated National Paneurhythmy Day.  We had celebrated the first day of summer by dancing under our arch every year beginning in 1995; the ceremony was called HEARTLAND IN HARMONY.  After "playing Paneurhythmy, we stood in a circle and spoke our visions for a future of peace, harmony, Brotherhood and Sisterhood for all.  So the two ceremonies blended together.  This year, 2010, marks the 16th year that we have "played Paneurhythmy" together in this sacred place on the first day of summer.  We have been blessed by people coming from all over the United States as well as from Canada and Bulgaria to join us.  In the years that followed, we were delighted when Ina Dounova, Yoana Strateva and her son Bojidar, and Joro Petkov joined us.

Knowing the profound responsibility entailed in establishing an organization to support this work, some of us from the groups in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and in St. Louis, Missouri spent two years formulating an official group, a not-for-profit volunteer organization, with no official membership.  We carefully articulate our purpose of service in this way:  To enlarge the circle of Paneurhythmy and to encourage and develop understanding and appreciation of the methods given by Peter Deunov (Bulgaria, 1864-1944).  Founding board members still serving at this time are Carol Braford and George Kilmer, as well as myself.  We are glad to be of service and welcome the partnership of others.  We encourage communication among those who love the Paneurhythmy by sponsoring a free conference call each month.  We have a simple website, managed by Randolph Friend, which lists places throughout the U.S. where Paneurhythmy is performed.  We are honored to play our part in the great work of sharing the Paneurhythmy in the English-speaking world.  We are eternally grateful for the dedicated service of Ardella Nathanael.  When she came to the United States from England twenty years ago, she brought with her a priceless blessing for the American people and for the world.

With Love, Light, Peace, and Joy~
~Phyllis