This is a CTP of initiative: Ecovillage Findhorn (UK)
In 1971, Eileen received the message from her guidance, that the guidance will stop giving messages for the community from now on. “When Eileen stopped giving guidance the power was given to each one. It was about empowering people to their own leading, also in contrast to other community leaders” (Interview Dürten Lau). The guidance stopped giving concrete instructions for action. Still, there was spiritual coaching and messages to support people in the contemplation and meditations.
Stopping the spiritual guidance had brought a turning in development of the community. People were attracted to come, work and live in the spiritual centre. The Findhorn Foundation and in the 1970s and 80s grew to approximately 300 members. In 1972 the community was formally registered as a Scottish Charity under the name ‘Findhorn Foundation’. Till today the ‘Findhorn Foundation Constitution’ (internal document) has hardly been changed. The following aims and values are stated:
- The further development of religion, religious studies by showing the essential truth in all religions and spiritual teachings.
- Encouragement for those who are truly seeking to evolve their wisdom and understanding of a broader purpose and meaning of their life and in their relation to God and the divine plan.
- Teaching and giving an example for a harmonious relationship between humans, nature and all creatures
- Worldwide aid against poverty and misery to an appropriate degree
- And all other purposes, which are legally charitable and for the benefit of the general public.
When the guidance was stopped, there was an enthusiastic growing of the community, starting with spiritual education on a broader base and kick-off of some start-ups.
The inner and spiritual work that been done in terms of connecting and networking started to express in organisational forms when establishing the foundation as legal charity. Many people and spiritual teacher like David Spangler came to support and work in Findhorn.
1966 First visitors, Peter starts sending out Eileens guidance messages monthly
1967-69 first book publications: Eileen Caddy: God Spoke To Me
1969 community center is built
1970 expansion into Pineridge area, first population increase from 20 to 50
1971 Companies starting: printing house, craft studios; establishing the first College educational programme
1972 Findhorn foundation is formally registered as Scottish charity under the name ‘Findhorn Foundation’
1975 first lecture tours in Europe and USA;
1975 purchase of ‘Cluny Hill’ where Peter had worked as hotel manager became the education centre of the Findhorn Foundation
1978 Purchase of Cullerne gardens and station house
1978 Sirius community founded by former Findhorn members; custodianship of Erraid island retreat centre
1979 Population of 284 members
The spiritual guidance by Eileen had been of central importance for the identity of Findhorn community. From now on everyone was reflected upon their own guidance.
Peter Caddy stayed a strong leader over the years. Conflicts arose when people started own initiatives conflicting with Peter. In the second half of the seventies a massive structural debt caused a collapse of the expansion of the community (in: Bijman, Adriana (ed.): Findhorn 50 years birthday book. Findhorn press, 2012, p.76). It later culminated in the leadership conflict (see next CTP).
The guidance had given direction for future development which was not always easy to understand and it can be interpret differently.
“Eileen’s guidance had said that we will grow from a family to a community and into a city of light: It is a crucial one: and I think we and I do not understand it. It is not about taking it literally. And it is still the question what this guidance means. It is not about imperialism, not about strengthening the impulse of this centre per se. It is more, what is the contribution of this impulse for the change process of humanity” (Interview Dürten Lau).
Dorothee McLean later reflected on the development of the community as follows in 1987: “I would say we started as a community after Peter went down to Sir George Trevelyan’s conference in England and talked about us. After that people came to visit this strange garden. To me, the community grew like topsy – I saw no pattern. It just seemed to attract people in an incredible way from all over the world” (in: Bijman, Adriana (ed.): Findhorn 50 years birthday book. Findhorn press, 2012, p.76).
The main issues of learning were about spiritual development and putting this into practice, for instance due to community, co-creational living with humans and nature, evolution and organizational development.
“I believe there is something that we need to learn and to practice in relation to taking the essence of the centre and take it into more current and appropriate organizational structures, into an ever growing system. How can we keep the light, love and co-creative action alive, no matter what kind of appropriate organization we chose? It is easier, when it is all one, but the bigger we are, we need to make sure that there are enough pathways. It is like in the connecting tissue in the body, where the cells need to be connected.
It is a bit like the evolution of the physical body: from a one cellular being into a very complex, highly elaborated system.” (Interview Dürten Lau).
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