Findhorn Foundation 2018 Transforming human consciousness in everyday life In this issue: Restoring Inner & Outer Nature The Efficiency of Silence Ecovillage Living Finding Your Purpose FINDHORN f O U N D A T I O N
Contents Who We Are 3 Inner & Outer Nature 4 Co-Creative Spirituality 6 The Efficiency of Silence 8 William Bloom 10 Spiritual Retreats 11 Ecovillage Living 12 Climate Change 14 Finding Your Purpose 15 Robert Holden 16 Seven Gifts 18 Connect With Us 21 Calendar of Events 22 Location 24 Support Us 25 A New World is Calling It is easy at this moment in history way forward emerging for us as to find old systems and ways individuals and as a collective. We of being that are falling apart. discover that nature is conscious Environmentally, politically and and we can work with it.. We find economically, upheaval and that our inner work affects the disruption are now the norm. But outer world, as well as inspires this unpredictability that our minds us to right action. We find that, cannot grasp does invite us to find instead of feeling at the mercy a deeper knowing. The truth the of events beyond our control, we 55 year old Findhorn Foundation gain ways to shape our individual and community on the Moray Firth and shared future. There is a in Scotland demonstrates is that world of potential within you. when we take time to become How will you answer its call? still and turn within, we find the Who We Are The Findhorn Foundation is a living laboratory for transforming human consciousness. We welcome you to come be a part of the ongoing exploration. Centre for Sustainability The Findhorn Ecovillage, one of the oldest and most successful in the world, grew out of this community s close partnership with nature. It is now one of the Foundation s key partners in our sustainability education. 12 The Findhorn Foundation The Findhorn Foundation The Park, Findhorn, Moray IV36 3TZ, Scotland Tel: +44 (0)1309 690311 Email: enquiries@findhorn.org We bring three core principles into everything we do Spiritual Community Our full-time, international, residential community seeks to Centre for Transformational Learning We seek to demonstrate a way of living in bring spirit into all our activities and honours all spiritual traditions and practices. 18 partnership with our own wholeness, each other, nature and spirit. The community holds retreats, findhorn.org Being at Findhorn always reminds me that powerful and positive visions for the future can be realised... I constantly ask myself how I can integrate this sense of joy, connection and inspiration into my workshops and events to support people from around the world to experience this way of being and to live into their full potential. 22 The Scottish Highlands is home to our four locations: The Park, near Findhorn village, Cluny Hill in Forres, our satellite community on Erraid and Traigh Bhan, our retreat centre on the sacred island of Iona. 24 daily life, both personally and professionally. Ed Gillespie, Co-founder and Creative Director, Futerra. 2 3
Restoring Inner & Outer Nature Why Being in Nature is Even Better for You Than You Thought by Thomas Miller, Editor There may be more happening when we connect with nature than just changes in vitamin D levels and healthier blood flow, however. After all, hormones, pheromones and neural circuitry play a part in human relationships, but few of us would say that they completely explain what happens when you put slipperiness of a forest stream, look out at the splendid colours of a sunset or hold a newborn child in our arms, we are experiencing other consciousnesses. The world is alive and conscious. In this consciousness-focused view of life, it s not surprising that stepping into a midsummer forest seems similar to slipping your arms around a loved one. What we are doing in both cases is coming into contact with another conscious presence, like ourselves. As Dorothy Maclean s experiments in Scientists and shamans agree on something: being in nature is good for you. bathing, nature retreats and other ways of immersing themselves in nature, they are finding that their creativity and walking a path in a summer woodland, smelling warm, fallen leaves, hearing the soft burble of a nearby stream and your arms around a loved one. The world s shamanic and indigenous traditions, as well as modern spiritual teachers like Findhorn founder Dorothy The world is alive and conscious, shamans tell us, and the way to understand and relate to it is by paying attention to our inner experiences. the Findhorn Garden show, sometimes deepening this connection can lead to extraordinary external results. The possibilities that unfold when we Studies have linked even relatively inspiration return. bird song. Did you notice any change Maclean suggest what that more Listening to intuitions and our sense cultivate our relationship with nature small amounts of time spent in nature Even thinking about being in nature within yourself? One study indicates might be. of when meaningful coincidences are endless. But perhaps the best to better mental health, improved is enough to benefit people. For that just thinking about nature like this When we look into the eyes of a happen are ways of touching the other place to begin is just by going for empathy, lengthened attention span instance, notice how your body feels at is enough to lower your heart rate, pet dog, dip our feet into the cool lives we are present with in nature. a walk. and boosted immune system, to name the moment. Then think of a busy city change your breathing pattern and only a few benefits. As more artists, street, cars whooshing past, sounds of improve your energy level. Clearly, writers, business people and others construction, rushing people. How did there is no shortage of benefits being wake up to the benefits of forest your body react? Now think of yourself in nature provides us. Ways to Deepen Your Connection with Nature Try taking off your shoes and noticing how your feet feel in contact with the ground. Notice your breathing - does it change when you enter nature? Relax and notice what images, words or feelings come up for you. 4 5
Traigh Bahn A retreat house on the sacred island of Iona, Traigh Bhan hosts spiritual retreats. Shaping our Future with the Unseen Worlds 22-27 September, 2018 Follow-on workshop: 28 September Engaging with the subtle worlds isn t simply to experience or explore the nonphysical dimensions. The larger purpose is to engage the underlying wholeness that ties the physical and non-physical domains into a living, creative oneness. -David Spangler Sacred Places At this turning point in our planet s life, the world is calling us to enter a new level of relationship with its subtle and spiritual dimensions. Come join with non-human and human fellow adventurers to explore emerging possibilities for our shared future. This event weaves Findhorn s 55 years of work with the unseen worlds with your loving commitment to our planet. Together we will explore a next level of Gaian consciousness and venture into the worlds of: Devic and Nature Beings The Subtle Realms The Sidhe Six day conference: 750/ 890/ 1250 Follow-on workshops: 100 if booked in advance, 120 during the event Nature Sanctuary This hand-built sacred space is designed for meditation, spiritual practices and connection with the intelligence of nature. findhorn.org/co-creative Facebook.com/co-creativespirit Email: enquiries@findhorn.org Tel: +44 (0)1309 690311 FINDHORN f O U N D A T I O N Erraid The rugged, unspoiled hills and beaches of this tiny Hebridean island hold a Findhorn satellite community that hosts visitors year round. erraid.com 6 7
The Efficiency of Silence by Lisette Schuitemaker, Chair of Trustees Getting everything in our busy lives done has us running faster and faster. Instead, we could also take a minute, close our eyes, go within and find wisdom. What is alive in you now? More and the seemingly disconnected jumble of their thoughts or their feelings, but more meetings these days begin with people of a moment ago turns into a that they have them - and that they this question. People come in to the group with a common focus. What do can change stance on topics as more room with a phone still pressed to these busy people do in that minute information becomes available. their ear motioning the rest to start as or two of silence? They might close This inner journey of just a few they will join momentarily. Others are their eyes as they draw their attention minutes allows them to focus their full typing away at an email that needs inwards. They engage their witnessing attention on the subject of this particular to be finished and sent before they mind to observe tumbling thoughts of meeting from a place of calm wisdom. can focus their attention on anything to-do s. They gauge any feelings that Taking turns sharing about what is alive else. Someone else may just come out might be running through them - they in them, a picture will already begin to of an intense conversation that had their emotions flare up. Now they find themselves in this meeting that was planned before any of these pressing issues showed up in their lives. How to concentrate on the issue at hand? Taking a few deep breaths helps. Closing the devices, sitting down, looking around at present company, heaving a sigh is all very helpful. Then, if the chair of the meeting asks everyone to go inside for a moment might be insecure as they haven t prepared for this meeting, or adamant that their solution will be adopted. Taking a few deep breaths helps. Identifying these feelings, naming them, considering them, they will notice that the waves of their inner sea calms down. If they are able to go deeper inside still, they will find a place of peace that is unperturbed by all that is form about the direction to be taken with the matter under discussion. This may seem like an ideal office in a place far removed from daily reality as most of us know it. Such ways of conducting business have indeed been pioneered by the likes of the Findhorn Foundation, but a growing number of mainstream organisations are discovering the efficiency of taking time before plunging in. They, too, realise that all of us carry an inner wisdom that is a Be still, go within, and draw forth the priceless treasures within you. and gauge what is alive in them, silence descends in the room. Within a few seconds the atmosphere changes. going on in their busy lives. Hitting this spot, they can see their thoughts and feelings more objectively. good guide to follow. This makes inner listening one of top skills to develop not just for a personal life of purpose but - Eileen Caddy An acute observer might notice how They become aware that they are not also for professional success. Six Benefits of Silence 1. A wider smile 2. A wiser approach 3. Acts of kindness 4. No sweat 5. Done with drama 6. Knowing what to do Being silent, even for as short as a Whatever the turbulence around or Even in a short moment of silence we What if everything always happened In the words of the 13th century Three minutes of sitting still, going minute, has us recoup our breath, inside us, through a moment of silence can come out of a narrowed awareness exactly at the right time? What if things poet Rumi, Out beyond ideas of inside and listening to the small voice connect again to what gives our lives we can access our inner wisdom that that focuses on what we gain, and could not happen differently than they wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a and what was unclear, becomes clear. meaning and purpose, and smile. helps us respond more openly and expand into wanting to give without did? Notice the relaxation in the system field - I ll meet you there. In silence, we Our inner wisdom acts like a compass lovingly to what is occurring. needing to get. when we entertain such an idea. can move beyond our need to judge. to a life of purpose and fulfilment. 4 Findhorn Foundation 2017/18 Findhorn Foundation 2017/18 5 8 9
Truly there is something magical about the Findhorn community. In the middle of gardening, or cleaning, or teaching, or administering, a shift may suddenly happen and a wave of love and magic starts to flow through the people and the situation. In these wonderful and joyful moments there may be unplanned silence and healing, or song, dance, music, prayer, or impromptu comedy, as hearts open and people feel a serendipitous exhilaration at the sheer wonder of being alive; and everything can be sensed as possessing sentient life: plants, rocks, clouds, washing machines, buildings, the pulsing and spiralling hum of the universe. These blessed happenings may last only a few minutes or continue for weeks. For some people their whole experience of Findhorn is suffused with this exhilarating grace and creativity. William Bloom Spiritual Teacher and best-selling author of The Power of Modern Spirituality and Soulution: The Holistic Manifesto Findhorn Spiritual Retreat Weeks Diploma in Applied Spirituality Beginning 13 October 2018 Jointly developed by William Bloom and the Findhorn Foundation College, this is the first nationally accredited diploma course in applied Spirituality & Wellness. findhorncollege.org/programmes/applied-spirituality Take time apart to be still, replenish and deepen into what is truly essential. Findhorn Spiritual Retreat weeks give you an opportunity to explore your own spiritual and personal journey within a supportive, caring community environment. Give yourself the gift of a week of renewal, connection and inspired action. Return home with greater purpose, creativity and joy. Findhorn Spiritual Retreat Weeks run year-round. findhorn.org/spiritual-retreats 10 11
Ecovillage Living Co-creating a regenerative culture The Park Ecovillage, an essential community partner of the Foundation, is one of the oldest and most successful ecovillages in the world. Designed through locally owned, participatory processes, it aims to regenerate its social and natural environments through addressing all levels of sustainability. Our Biomass Boiler provides heat from renewable local woodchips Whisky Barrel eco houses made of recycled vats from local distilleries The community only maintains a few light structures on our Hinterland so nature spirits, trees, wildflowers and people have ample space The Living Machine processes the community s wastewater through recreated marsh ecosystems of local plants and fauna Chemical-free gardens produce much of the community s vegetables and provide a teaching space for guests Eco houses in the Field of Dreams are models of green building The Park Ecovillage hosts ecovillage training for groups ranging from day visitors to university students Inspired by Nature Findhorn Spiritual Retreat - Permaculture 7 April, 6 October 2018 findhorn.org/spiritual-retreat-permaculture The community supplies a substantial portion of its energy from wind and solar power Workshop leader, master permaculturist, author of Permaculture: a Spiritual Approach, potter and community feral elder Craig Gibsone beside his hand-built whisky barrel house. A community meal from local produce Harvest Festival in Cullerne Garden celebrating Autumn Equinox 12 Findhorn Foundation 2017/18 12 13
Finding Your Purpose Thomas Miller interviews Robin Alfred, a Findhorn Foundation alumnus and organisational consultant to the UN, PricewaterhouseCoopers, BP, Greenpeace International and the Carbon Disclosure Project. He helps both organisations and individuals align their lives with their true purpose. How do people know they are and relationships that support us, our soul, our purpose, and we re not connecting with their sense where we can sit and feel we belong fulfilling that appointment. Another of purpose? in the world. And we need a sense of thing is that being connected with your If you re aligned with a sense of becoming, we need to be evolving - purpose does not mean you do not purpose, there s usually a sense of what am I evolving into? Belonging and have doubts, fears, rocky moments We can build durable and even graceful ways to inhabit this new planet. Bill McKibben vitality, electricity, you vibrate at a higher level. You might experience times of flow, of synchronicities. These becoming - two balancing energies. I think we often sacrifice becoming for belonging and then we don t fulfill our because when more light comes into your system it means more shadows are illuminated too. My experience of An international conference, 20-26 April 2019, Findhorn Scotland are feedback from the universe that you re doing the right thing. So you potential. Maybe we need to cultivate new friendships, maybe we need to the spiritual path is that when more light comes in you have more access CCC19 will be a participatory investigation into how we can steward a sustainable future on a radically changed planet Earth - how we will survive and how we can thrive! The event will bring together eminent scientists, wisdom keepers, activists, artists, poets, young people, parents and parents-to-be, to envision and begin to inhabit our future. It will be an international, intergenerational and multi-disciplinary gathering. Charles Eisenstein, internationally renowned speaker, philosopher, programme facilitator and author of several books, including The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible. Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) who directed events that led to the historic Paris Agreement of 2015. Polly Higgins, holder of the Arne Naess Professorship at Oslo University and a lead advocate for Ecocide law. Ecologist Magazine named her one of the top ten visionary thinkers in the world. Awake Celebrate Act Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, 17 year-old indigenous (Aztec) climate change activist, hip-hop artist and Youth Director of Earth Guardians, a worldwide youth-led environmentalist organisation. Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, instigator of the fast-growing fossil fuel divestment movement and passionate voice for the contemporary grassroots climate change movement. Jonathon Porritt CBE, eminent environmentalist, author, commentator and the founder and Director of Forum for the Future, the UK s leading sustainable development charity. need to cultivate the conditions for deep inner listening, whether that s through meditation, or paying attention to our hunches in our daily life. You can do it for five minutes a day, you can do it on the bus, when you re driving, at the gym, gazing at a flower... a million different ways. We need to create a practice of spaciousness where you can sense the deeper calling, the deeper river running through your life. And it s a whisper, it s not strong, so you have to be very quiet to hear it. move to a different place, maybe we need new skills or awarenesses to honour the call to become more. You need to cultivate the conditions for deep inner listening. What are some of the symptoms when people aren t living into their full potential? Irritation, as if people are irritated with life, because they know that some part of them isn t fully expressed, but really it s a deep irritation with their to intuition, inspiration, but also your shadow is illuminated and also gets stirred up: more levels of anger, for example, might be felt. If someone feels out of touch with their sense of purpose or calling, what s a first step they can take? It s really good to welcome the irritation you feel. Irritation can be two things. It can be an evolutionary stress: I m not living my full potential, something s calling. I m going to experience that as stressful. I need something else. Naomi Klein, award winning syndicated journalist and best-selling author of several seminal books including: The Shock Doctrine, This Changes Everything and No Is Not Enough. Vandana Shiva PhD, world-renowned environmental thinker, activist, physicist, feminist, philosopher of science, science policy advocate and author of over twenty books. How do you often see people keeping themselves from living their purpose? own self, their own soul because they aren t living fully into themselves. Depression, boredom, anxiety, all It may also be a sign that some shadows are getting activated that need integration. I have swept this I think we often decide for safety the symptoms of dis-ease with life, under the carpet for too long and now CCC19.org Email: CCC19@findhorn.org Tel: +44 (0)1309 691933 CCC19Findhorn @CCC19Findhorn FINDHORN f O U N D A T I O N and comfort, rather than living on our edge. So we cultivate and then sink into habits, like an old pair of shoes. We need a warm base of friendships because we re not really honouring what life is calling forth from us. So we carry that as, literally, dis-appointment. We have an appointment with our self, it needs attention. Welcome irritation as a teacher and inquire into it. 15
Robert Holden Living Your Purpose Enneagram Retreat on Soul Calling & Life Purpose Sat 31 March 2018 (three days) Join Robert Holden for a spiritual retreat featuring nine soul meditations on your life purpose using the Enneagram, a map of consciousness over 2,500 years old. This retreat features discussions on each Enneagram archetype (ennea-type) and how it affects your life, whether you are conscious of it or not.. Key themes include: Purpose of the Enneagram - how to use the Enneagram in your daily life and work You are Your Purpose - daring to express more of the real you I ve been presenting talks, workshops, and conferences at Findhorn every year since 2005. I love to sit in the original garden. The beautiful, empty beaches of Findhorn are ideal for a walking meditation. The forests offer me shelter and rest. The community of people here inspire me in so many ways. Robert Holden, author of Happiness NOW, Shift Happens! and Life Loves You. Make Me an Instrument - surrendering to the bigger plan and a higher power Opening Doors Within - opening up to inspiration, grace and soul guidance Doing the Inner Work - meeting the inner blocks - the basic fear, fixation and passion - that hold you back Honouring Your Soul Gifts - embracing the Virtue of your ennea-type Living your Dream - sharing your purpose with the world findhorn.org/robert-holden Robert Holden with Hollie Holden plus special guests Love & Fear A Course in Miracles Retreat Sat 27 October 2018 (three days) Robert & Hollie will share key teachings from the A Course In Miracles text, lessons from the workbook, and inspiration from The Song of Prayer and other ACIM literature. The emphasis will be on how to apply the teachings to your daily life, your relationships, and your life purpose. findhorn.org/robert-holden 16 17
Seven Gifts in Seven Years Lessons in Community Living Seven years ago after meeting a friend who had lived at Findhorn in the 70s, I woke up with the phrase Findhorn Life Purpose on my mind. I discovered a workshop of that name, booked my place and a few weeks later returned to Findhorn s Cluny Hill. I instinctively knew the Foundation was the place where I could most learn and most contribute. I innocently thought I d stay a few months and return to Australia. My soul knew otherwise and here I am still. The Foundation has been and still is my University of the Soul. - Christine Lines, Network Weaver Inner Authority 4 Through the three year journey of leading the community s council I discovered my inner authority. I invested my natural enthusiasm and commitment into the role, along with my passion for community life. Leadership required me to step up and I did that slowly over time simply by showing up. I listened to my intuition and asked for feedback when I felt uncertain. I firmly believe there is strength in vulnerability and this community is an amazing playground for exploring that. Resilience 6 My capacity to grow and learn continues Deep Listening 1 I still remember sitting in my, an introductory programme to the Foundation, surrounded by new friends, my heart so open to life. The practice of deep listening to each other was introduced from the beginning, creating a safe space, and that felt deeply healing for me. I could sense everyone give their genuine attention. Over time I ve learnt to share more of myself, as I discover more about who I am, and how I think and feel. Through this, I can be more present with others. Attunement 2 I savour stillness, and here I found attunement, a practice of pausing and connecting with my innermost self, becoming aware of those around me and breathing in the ever-present spirit of life. From this space, I can act with clarity and intuitive certainty. I believe it supports me to live in a more grace-filled way and it allows the uniqueness of each one of us to flourish. Group Skills In my role now of Education Director of the Holistic Centres Network, I appreciate how much my time at Findhorn has shaped me. With peers at a recent gathering in Hawaii I could draw upon what I learned here about facilitating groups, feel sustained by my spiritual practice, witness each moment and embrace the growing pains. 5 to expand and I feel deeply grateful for the strength and resilience I ve developed over the years of living in community. I followed my soul calling into the transformational journey from my first week here to staff and beyond, through the shattering of old beliefs about myself. It s no fun to do so publicly in community, but thankfully, community also offers a tremendous amount of support. I feel a new resilience that can more easily withstand the emotional ups and downs of life. Finding my Voice 3 I m naturally soft spoken and feel more comfortable with the written word. I knew speaking in groups was my growing edge. During the Findhorn apprenticeship program, LEAP, I asked my mentor about public speaking. Soon afterwards she nominated me to focalise Council and I found the willingness to say yes. When I first stepped up to do this, my body shivered with the unknown, tears rolled down my face out of fear, and I felt the love and support of those around me. Listening more deeply, I ve developed my intuition and strengthened the connection between all aspects of who I am, healing the disconnect that occurred early in life. I ve learned to voice my perspective in ways that transcend early conditioning, with less self doubt. The Foundation seems to create opportunities for each one of us to feel nudged out of our comfort zone and actively engage in our personal path. Love 7 I ve developed a self acceptance and discovered a sense of wholeness that has firm foundations in love. From that place I share and experience love more easily than before and more often find a peaceful way of being in the complexity of life. It s not always easy or perfect being here, but it s the learning journey of a lifetime. 18 19
C O N N E C T Workshops and Events See our calendar of events for our complete list of workshops and special events. Sign up to connect with the workshop or event that will catalyse your next step in life. findhorn.org/programmes Short Term Visitor Come and immerse yourself in this dynamic living experiment, surrounded by the beach, bay and forest of our Scottish Highlands home. findhorn.org/visit Blog Join the conversation about inspired living, connecting with the consciousness of nature, health, love and more. findhorn.org/blog Love whatever you do. Learn to love the place you are in, the people you are with and the work that you have to do. 20 Peter Caddy Find Inspiration Join the thousands of people around the world who receive weekly inspiring messages. findhorn.org/inspiration The best way to experience our experiment in new ways of living is to be part of the community for a week. Answer the call to open your heart, mind and soul to a world of new possibility. Held by our expert facilitators, the week invites you to join a group of fellow adventurers as you explore spiritual practices, community dynamics and your own dreams and identity. findhorn.org/experience-week Network of Light The Findhorn Foundation is part of a worldwide tapestry of holistic communities. Find out about our global network of partners. findhorn.org/globalnetworking 21
2018 Calendar of Events January Saturday 6 No Living in Community (LCG) Saturday 20 Walking the Amazonian Shamanic Path Saturday 27 *A Gift to Cluny - Spring Clean Celebration Amazonian Magical Sounds February Saturday 3 *Sprinklings of Light - Spring Cleaning at The Park Game of Transformation - 4 days Saturday 10 Saturday 17 Saturday 24 march Saturday 3 Game of Transformation - 4 days Project Earth - Balancing the grid of our planet Saturday 10 *Findhorn Spiritual Retreat *Life Purpose Saturday 17 Saturday 24 Saturday 31 Ecovillage Game of Transformation - 4 days *Iona - Easter Retreat Living Your Purpose with Robert Holden Living in Community (LCG) starts on every Saturday unless otherwise stated. * These programmes require prior participation in april Saturday 7 *Findhorn Spiritual Retreat - Permaculture *Iona - Transformation in Retreat Saturday 14 Iona - Lifting the Veil Saturday 21 Being with the Inner and Outer Spirit of Nature The Children s Fire: Ancient wisdom fuels a new story Saturday 28 *Findhorn Spiritual Retreat - Introduction to Meditation *Iona - Wholefoods and Detox Retreat Spiritual Intelligence - Next Level Leadership may Saturday 5 Experience \week *In Perfect Timing - Gardening at Cullerne Game of Transformation - 7 days Saturday 12 German *Coming Home to the Garden - Gardening at The Park Animal Communication and Nature Connection I Music and Consciousness Yoga and Meditation Retreat Week Saturday 19 The Longing to Belong - Listening to the Call of Your Soul The Dancer within - Dance training with The Harmony Method Saturday 26 Fire in the Heart - Writing and Living the Poetry of Your Life *In Tune with Nature - Springtime Abundance in Cluny Garden *Iona - Spring Garden Retreat On the Wings of Art - An Ensouled Glass Workshop june Saturday 2 Hinterland *Coming Home to the Garden - Gardening at The Park *Iona - The Way of the Pilgrim Spiritual Activism - Leadership as Service Saturday 9 *Iona Spiritual Retreat - Co-Create a new I Nature as a Spiritual Path - Journeying with the Four Elements Saturday 16 *Findhorn Spiritual Retreat - Wild Nature *Iona - Transformation in Retreat Saturday 23 Game of Transformation - 4 days Reconnection and Renewal: A programme run in partnership with Way of Nature Saturday 30 Music Italian *Iona - Japanese Summer Retreat july Saturday 7 Brazilian *Iona - Creations in Nature Cultivating Life Force - a weeklong Chi Gong Retreat Saturday 14 *Findhorn Spiritual Retreat - Mindfulness *Iona - Summer Retreat Festival of Sacred Dance, Music & Song Saturday 21 French Family Game of Transformation - 4 days *Iona - Summer Retreat Saturday 28 Family *Iona - Summer Retreat Creations in Nature The Alchemy of Transformation The Elusive Obvious Your Exquisite Body of Light august Saturday 4 Ecovillage German Youth *Family Follow-On *Iona - Summer Retreat Animal Communication and Nature Connection I Saturday 11 *Iona - Summer Retreat Whole Body Mindfulness - Increasing the Power of Your Intuition School of Youth Saturday 18 *Findhorn Spiritual Retreat *Iona - Summer Retreat Game of Transformation - 7 days Embracing Change - An Open Floor Movement Workshop Saturday 25 *Iona - Summer Retreat *Life Purpose september Saturday 1 *Iona - Introduction to Meditation Chakra Constellations Essence and Empowerment - The TARA Approach Learning to Lead Sacred Dance Saturday 8 *Findhorn Spiritual Retreat - Living Intuitively Animal Communication and Nature Connection II Working With Subtle Energy: Embodied Skills and Capacities for Life Saturday 15 *Iona - Transformation in Retreat Advanced Essence and Empowerment Saturday 22 Co-Creative Spirituality - Shaping Our Future with the Unseen Worlds *Iona - Space for the Heart No Living in Community Guest (LCG) Saturday 29 Ecovillage *Love in Action - Maintenance at The Park *Iona - Autumn Retreat Game of Transformation - 4 days Drawing Out Your Soul -Touch Drawing and Sacred Expressive Arts This Being Human -Telling True Life Tales october Saturday 6 LGBT *Findhorn Spiritual Retreat - Permaculture Sacred Dance - Ariadne - Transformations in Dance and teachings of the Dervish Turning Saturday 13 Essentials of Psychosynthesis Introduction to the Healing Art of Esalen Massage Saturday 20 *In Perfect Timing - Gardening at Cullerne Esalen Massage - Deepening Your Presence Exploring Reality - Living Reality Saturday 27 *Iona - Autumn Garden Retreat Love & Fear with Robert Holden Integral Mondo Zen Retreat november Saturday 3 *Findhorn Spiritual Retreat - Clay *Iona - Transformation in Retreat Saturday 10 Game of Transformation - 4 days Saturday 17 *Spiritual Deepening - Living from Purpose and Soul The Alchemy of Transformation Saturday 24 december Saturday 1 *Findhorn Spiritual Retreat - Primal Painting Saturday 8 Saturday 15 A Christmas Retreat Saturday 22 No Living in Community (LCG) *Christmas Retreat on Iona Saturday 29 *Living in Community Guest (Restricted intake week. Only those who have done LCG before can apply for this week.) Game of Transformation - 7 days New Year Celebration - Crossing the Threshold New Year Retreat - Turning Within and Moving Forward 22 23
LOCATION Only 75 minutes from London airports - and a world away - our centres welcome you to the awe-inspiring beauty of the Scottish Highlands year round. THE PARK London to Aberdeen or Inverness, connections to Forres Our Park site, five miles away from Cluny Hill and near the village of Findhorn, sits within The Park Ecovillage and blends into the local duneland ecosystem on the rim of the Moray Firth. CLUNY HILL Our Cluny Hill site is a former Victorian spa hotel set amid forested hills near the historic town of Forres. national express.com citylink.co.uk uk.megabus.com IONA The Foundation runs a retreat house on the sacred island of Iona, a historic destination of pilgrimage. Guests can visit the local Abbey or enjoy the wild solitude of the island, its rugged hills and white beaches. Iona Erraid Belfast London to Inverness 75 minutes Inverness Aberdeen Glasgow Edinburgh Bristol ERRAID Liverpool Birmingham London FINDHORN Four hours from Edinburgh and Glasgow Within sight of Iona, the tiny island of Erraid hosts a vibrant offshoot of the Findhorn Foundation. The Erraid family hosts guests year round to experience working and spiritual retreats, or simply to enjoy the island s stunning beauty and peace. Meeting the Carrot of Plenty at Findhorn By Molly Mettler Wall Street Journal contributor, Friend of Findhorn The carrot I held was as big as my forearm. As a volunteer veg chopper in Cluny Kitchen, my task was to transform that glorious carrot into a lunch salad. Findhorn staff and guests would soon be trooping into the dining room, ready to be fed and have a bit of a rest before their afternoon shifts. I figured this impressive orange giant would feed just about everyone. This Carrot of Plenty could serve as a reminder that we live a life of abundance. Findhorn Then and Now Giant vegetables brought me to Findhorn. I first came as an Experience Week Guest in the summer of 1979; I was 25 years old. It was the story of cabbages and community, gardens and angelic guides that lured me to Scotland to see the magic of Findhorn for myself. I fell in love with its energy and kept coming back. In visits over the past 38 years, I ve witnessed enormous growth and change. The sandy rubbish tip is a teeming garden spot. An ecovillage has risen; wind machines whirr, lovely eco houses have replaced funky caravans and the venerable old Cluny Kitchen is now as sleek as a spaceship. Despite the changes, it is when I am at Findhorn that I most clearly see my place in the chain of Creation and Spirit. I see how my energy - in terms of service, of prayer and contributions - keeps the manna flowing from Spirit to physicality, back to Spirit and then around again. For me, the Carrot of Plenty was yet another reminder of this connection to Source. All the energy that went into that carrot: the seed, the soil, rain and sun; the gardeners with their careful tending and harvesting; the driver who brought it to our door; the cooks in the kitchen, and the diners we were all part of a chain of creation that was needed to keep abundant and generous energy flowing. We all played our part. Till, Sow, Harvest As much as I love Scotland and the community, it is not my patch of earth in which to take root. I am, however, grateful for the opportunity to return periodically to renew and recharge. I give my love and support to Findhorn because it gives me joy in return. It gives me joy to relive my time at Findhorn. I ve been my best me there. It gives me joy to financially support the place, people and purpose of the Findhorn community. Many have given years of their lives to help people like me find their best path in the world. It gives me joy to actively support the Findhorn principles of Inner Listening, Co-Creation with Nature and Work as Love in Action, all of which have become important in my life. In English, the word carrot also serves as a metaphor for inducement, encouragement, persuasion. My hope is that these words might inspire you to connect with Findhorn in significant ways. Your gifts, large or small, from your own abundance helps nurture and sustain the Spirit of Findhorn. In the meantime, keep calm and carrot on. See findhorn.org/support for ways to support the Findhorn Foundation. If you truly get in touch with a piece of carrot, you get in touch with the soil, the rain, the sunshine. You get in touch with Mother Earth and eating in such a way, you feel in touch with true life, your roots, and that is meditation. If we chew every morsel of our food in that way we become grateful and when you are grateful, you are happy. - Thich Nhat Hanh 24 25
HAND CRAFTED WITH LOVE IN THE BEAUTIFUL FINDHORN POTTERY STUDIO Home of the beautiful Findhorn Sanctuary candle/flower rings.. 273 PINERIDGE, THE PARK, FINDHORN, MORAY - IV36 3TZ open every day including Sat & Sun ( Tues. closed) Our pottery is also available from our online shop. www.findhornpottery.com- phone: 01309 691601:- email:findhornpottery@yahoo.co.uk Follow us on Facebook. 01309 690203 info@findhornbayholidaypark.com findhornbayholidaypark.com Become the Next Regeneration Designer! Immerse yourself in one of our transformational programmes and discover how Design for Sustainability can help you address today's global challenges. All our online and face-to-face programmes cover Social, Economic, Ecological and Worldview aspects and integrate them through a regenerative design approach, to unlock your capacity to be an agent of positive change in the world. gaiaeducation.org The New Findhorn Association is the voice of the community that has evolved around the Findhorn Foundation, supporting our collective engagement with purpose and service. For more information or to subscribe to our newsletter, The Rainbow Bridge, please contact: nfa@findhorn.cc findhorn.cc EXPERTS IN ALL THINGS ECO The best ethical news and Hero products that help you put your money where your heart is! MyGreenPod.com 䈀䔀䌀伀䴀䔀䄀䘀刀䤀䔀一䐀伀䘀䜀䔀一 䌀愀琀愀氀礀稀椀渀最挀漀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀攀猀昀漀爀愀爀攀最攀渀攀爀愀琀椀瘀攀眀漀爀氀搀 䰀䔀吀 匀䌀刀䔀䄀吀䔀䄀一䔀圀倀䄀刀䄀䐀䤀䜀䴀 匀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀琀栀攀攀挀漀瘀椀氀氀愀最攀洀漀瘀攀洀攀渀琀琀漀 漀甀爀椀猀栀 Holistic Education for sustainable living Further & Higher Education and continuing Professional development. courses in English as a second language, Ecovillage design, Facilitation, Permaculture, coaching and Well Being. Bespoke Field study Visits offered for academic groups and independent researchers curious about sustainable settlement and community studies. Findhorn Foundation College is a short course provider with the British Accreditation Council 圀圀圀 䔀䌀伀嘀䤀䰀䰀䄀䜀䔀 伀刀䜀䜀䘀刀䤀䔀一䐀匀 26 27
The Foundation is honoured to have been chosen by the P.E.A. (People. Environment. Achievement.) Awards as their charity of the year, for its work in helping people to reconnect with nature, themselves and their spiritual path. The P.E.A award recognises the Foundation as the UK s pioneering entity and force in this work, which it considers the crucial work of the next ten years for individuals and businesses. To learn more, visit www.peaawards.com findhorn.org Transforming human consciousness in everyday life FINDHORN f O U N D A T I O N