BIOPHILE 16 — JUNE/JULY 2007 R25 - Biophile Magazine

“So what do you thinkFindhorn is really about?Why is it here?”I turn towards the woman asking thequestion, and mumble through a fewsentences before realizing that I didn’treally have an answer. We are makingsweet-pea flower bunches in Findhorn’sorganic vegetable garden, Cullerne.Today is a harvest day and the rest ofthe staff, volunteers and guests arebusy picking summer vegetables for thecommunity kitchen, Phoenix shop andorganic food box scheme.I intend to be in Findhorn for oneweek. Now, five months later, I have takenon a seva (“service” ) position, andam a full-time gardener. I remember myfirst day, being dropped off at the foundationfor my Experience Week – as if itwas my first day at a new school. And allI wanted to do was cry.Most people start off their journeyat Findhorn on an experience week; aweek long program used as an introductionto the community and its wayof being. And so, with my nervousness,judgements, curiosity and newness, Iwas gently supported through a weekof sharing, dancing, discovery games,meditation and working in the community’skitchen.By the end of the week I could havefit a hundred planets worth of loveinside my heart. I was overflowing. AndI spent hours fantasizing about anddesigning the property I’d build formyself, and the friends I’d fly out. Afterchecking the prices, my double storycob house turned into the next bestway of being there, booking myself ontothe Living-in Community Guest programme.The community is in the north ofScotland and was started by Eileen andPeter Caddy, and their work associate,Dorothy McLean. The abridged versionof the story goes something like this:Eileen started receiving guidance fromwhat she called her “still small voicewithin”. Peter was a man of action andreadily put this guidance into practice.Dorothy connected with the naturespirits, and together, with no job andvery little government support, theystarted growing world famous vegetables.20kg cabbages and giant spinach.Eileen’s first little booklet (called GodSpoke To Me) and the talk of enormousvegetables attracted people from allover the world, and from there, thecommunity grew into what it is today.And what a thriving community, with150 people who are a part of the Foundation,and 450 people living in andaround the wider community. Around13000 guests per year, and almost 200week long courses ranging from livingincommunity guest programmes, innerwork, and eco-village design educationtraining to non-violent communication,5-rhythms dancing and astroshamanism.Seminars include UnitedNations training programmes, CarolineMyss, Joanna Macey, and Nealle DonaldWalsch…to name a few.Findhorn is abundant with activities…allthe time. From biodanza,chakra dance, Taize singing, journeyworkshops, trance dance, global changetalks, meditations, story telling, studygroups, festivals and celebrations –summer solstice and equinox, harvestfestival and Samhain. So many thingsare possible, and people make themhappen.Their awareness of living sustainablyhas made them one of the leadingeco-village education centres. Fourwindmills provide clean energy, as donumerous solar-panel systems. At theother end, by the caravan park, is whatthey call “the Living Machine” – a biologicalsewerage treatment plant. Thereare now 40 ecological buildings madefrom natural or recycled materials, andwith the intention of being as energyefficient as possible. In the cul-de-sacnear the forest stand three houses madefrom recycled whisky barrels. I am toldthat Findhorn’s next housing projectwill be built with a zero carbon emissionpolicy.So what exactly is Findhorn about?How does one begin to describe it? TheyThe magic offindhornby Ashleigh Gordon28 Biophile Issue 16