ROC

ROC lived in Edinburgh where he had an amazing library of over 5000 esoteric books lining his walls. He knew where every book was located. He lived simply with a tiny kitchen and a raised bucket for his daily cold shower. ROC always dressed immaculately. He was a true gentleman. He had a gentle nature with much inner strength. He was a man of few words. He didn’t talk for the sake of talking, however, if asked a question he would answer it politely. He had sparkling blue eyes. His dramatic background came to the fore when he was on stage. From time to time ROC would visit Findhorn and stay for up to a week. He would travel by train from Edinburgh and Peter would meet him at Aviemore station most times. Occasionally when Peter was too busy he would ask me to go. He would have lengthy conversations with Peter. ROC stayed in an old caravan, where Naomi had previously live, when he visited Findhorn. This was where we would meditate daily together.

ROC would sometimes give a talk on topics such as music or astronomy or the elemental world. He was a very private person with whom it was not easy to engage in conversation. He always knew what was going on at Findhorn even when he was in Edinburgh. He was known to phone Peter and ask ‘What are you doing in the Wild Area?’ This was the section of the garden to the east of the sanctuary which, it had been agreed, was to be kept wild for the Nature Spirits with whom ROC was in communication. Peter would have to own up that he had been pruning in that area. If Jan and I were travelling near Edinburgh we would often call at ROC’s flat. He would pick up Findhorn energies from us.

ROC was a very powerful person, not physically but he was highly sensitive and in communion with unseen subtle beings in the elemental kingdom. He was able to ‘fight’ the forces of darkness that were located on the Black Isle and were trying to block the establishment of the Findhorn community. Peter had met ROC in Edinburgh through friends interested in UFOs. ROC’s background had been as a scientist during the war so when he began to have encounters with subtle beings he was his own worst critic.

When at Findhorn, ROC would visit the beach each day. He would connect with the ‘Angel of the Moray Firth’ and have a splash in the water in all seasons.

He first visited Findhorn in 1966. ROC passed away in 1975 aged 75 so he had his final decade associated with the fledgling community. The centre would not have been established without his essential work on the inner realms. ROC held a big picture and Peter had total respect for what he had to say. Peter saw ROC as a reincarnation of St Germain, the same seventh ray that Peter had been trained in by his teacher Dr Sullivan in his teenage years. If Dorothy wanted Peter to do something she would first talk about it with ROC. ROC would then inform Peter who would always follow his advice.

In early 1967 ROC told Peter he had to climb a mountain in the Highlands called Ben Macdui, the second highest peak in Scotland, where he was to perform a ceremony. I was to be his guide. We did a training climb up Cairngorm in April and experienced a blizzard near the summit.

The real ascent up Ben Macdui in June had perfect weather conditions. From Findhorn ROC could see an etheric temple on the summit where Peter was to perform a ceremony to link East and West. We walked all the way up in silence and I stopped just below the top. Peter went on alone to perform the ceremony explained to him in advance by ROC. He carried a ring that came from Tibet. Amazingly no other walkers appeared during the ten minutes it took for Peter to perform his ritual. This was Peter’s final initiation.

Another day ROC informed Peter he was to climb Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro in Scotland. Jan, myself and Peter climbed the mountain whilst ROC found a special waterfall on the slopes of the mountain where he had a cosmic experience by himself.

A pointed mountain called Morven, which can be seen across the Moray Forth, was scaled by over 20 community members in 1971. Morven is located on an energy line which links to Ben Macdui to the south and passes through the Findhorn community.

Alec McInnes lived nearby in Nairn. He was a fascinating person of ROC’s generation. He had developed a product that he called the ‘essence of flowers’ which had healing properties and was used successfully by many people and animals. Also he had a sensitivity to the subtle worlds, similar to ROC, and they would be able to confirm each other’s experiences.