How Findhorn Inspired My Life and Work

Findhorn will always have a special place in my heart. I still remember my first day there in 1975: I was amazed at how many people were joyfully singing to themselves as they worked. And I’ll never forget the most beautiful, free-form dance to the music of Pachelbel in the Hall, before the roof was erected, with stars sparkling through the fivesided beams. I was inspired by a powerful sense of group consciousness as people flowed in and out, playfully dancing in pairs or groups. In a flash, I glimpsed the inner dimensions of Findhorn and its place in the higher evolutionary plan. I knew I found my soul group, and I’d come home. I had the most powerful spiritual experience of my life in a meditation in Findhorn sanctuary on Christmas Eve, when I rededicated my life to service and released my obsession with finding the perfect relationship. And surprisingly, making this inner commitment is what drew the love of my life, my husband and partner for the last 35 years, Gordon Davidson. We co-authored several books (including Spiritual Politics which Findhorn Press published) and co-founded a spiritual community and a leadership institute. We left Findhorn in 1976 to give presentations around the US with Peter Caddy, and then unexpectedly were guided to start a community called Sirius in Massachusetts. And yes, we were a little too ‘serious’ in the early days!

Findhorn was a major influence on our community, as we based it on principles we learned there — daily group meditation; the presence of God within; listening to inner guidance; creating organic gardens; attuning to the devas and nature spirits; and seeing work as love in action. While at Findhorn, I had difficulty with Peter’s powerful will, but I later valued his demonstration of the importance of will and purpose in anchoring and sustaining a community, to keep clearly spiritually aligned.

Sirius Community is still going strong 33 years later, because of the principles we learned at Findhorn. Gordon and I now live in the San Francisco area, working with our Center for Visionary Leadership and lecturing around the world. Gordon’s brother Bruce and his wife Linda, also former Findhorn members, still live at Sirius. Understanding the need for demonstration centres is what led us to write Builders of the Dawn, a book about spiritual communities.

During nearly three years at Findhorn, I worked in the bookstore, in publishing and in the college group. I also served in the Core Group, which was my first experience of governance based on inner guidance and consensus-building, and it was both fascinating and frustrating. I later applied what I learned in many groups I’ve worked with.

Gordon and I have returned to Findhorn numerous times over the last three decades, and in 2003 hosted an invitational conference of leaders of meditation groups from 17 countries. We’ve been inspired to see how Findhorn has grown and become more grounded and connected to the world: from the local town council to the United Nations.
Our work has also become more grounded, as we help people become more effective practical visionaries (as we called our recent book), connecting with their vision and their higher self, and also with their subconscious to enlist its resources as their co-creative partner for joyful evolution.

Corinne McLaughlin