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LIKE MANY FOLK I have met in Findhorn in the three years since I first arrived, I was going through a huge transition in my life, having walked out of my marriage of 38 years.

I left with virtually nothing but a few clothes and my van, driving 580 miles north to visit my sister who lived in Findhorn village and had been involved with the Findhorn Foundation for 23 years.

I also walked away from all my regular photographic work contracts and any likelihood of new commissions. Yet the freedom and energy that came in the wake of that decision and the distancing from what I experienced as an abusive relationship, was palpable. And much, much more was to come.

That first weekend here, the ParkFest was taking place in The Park and Hinterland, offering food and drink, crafts, live music, comedy, entertainment and a variety of activities.

Over those two beautiful, warm, late summer days, I had conversations with so many people I chose to photograph and was impressed by their acceptance, openness and lack of judgement. This was such a change from my previous life and marriage. I knew in my heart that this was somewhere I could relax and be me, while finding creative and useful ways to act on my inner essence.

Being quite sociable, I have always liked the idea of being part of a village/ community/extended family and here I have been able to adopt a very large, diverse, interesting, engaging and accepting community. My experience of this acceptance spoke intimately to my heart. It not only nurtured me through a transition but helped heal some of the damage I had suffered through my earlier choices and lifestyle.

My wife had been a closet Christian, and soon after our marriage I hesitantly joined her and we became part of a fundamentalist, charismatic church fellowship. We went all the way to explore and experience this new ‘truth’ despite being confronted by all kinds of mixed messages, inconsistency and more

Often I ended up agreeing to punitive fasts and commitments of penance demanded by my wife. Leaving this behind and stumbling into the Findhorn community was a total paradigm shift for me.

I am constantly inspired by the diversity, energy and commitment to change oneself and our world for the better.

Everywhere I turn, there are opportunities to engage with others on matters of the heart and spirit, as well as conversation and sharing around our impact on our beautiful and forever surprising Earth and how we can help. Help each other, our community, our country, other species and the planet.

I believe that the legacy that co-founders Peter, Eileen and Dorothy have bequeathed this community is one of perpetual motion, expansion and revelation. Following a path of inner enquiry and sharing allows each person’s light to illuminate and warm others.

My first experience of the process of attunement really impacted me. I was astounded by how it opened up my learnt behaviour, habits and mental restrictions, helping me to view more possibilities. I don’t come from a meditative culture, rather one of devolved responsibility and obedience to the edicts as understood by a hierarchy of others. So to sit with myself and open up to any chosen issue, question, response or task is truly enlightening.

My faith is based on my own construction and extrapolation from all that I have learnt, experienced and felt within my heart. Though I would call the centre of everything God, my perception does not align with that which the church had encouraged me to believe in, though I see much truth in various scriptures and Hebrew and Christian writings. My first few initiations into attunements allowed me to go somewhere more freely than prayer had often allowed, mostly because I had less expectation.

This seems to be where I started to tap into a deeper dive into a wonderfully expanded universe. As a vegan and an animal and climate activist, I feel a strong connection to visible Nature, and despite believing in the energetic presence of other intelligence, being here in Findhorn and witnessing the connection many have with these other realms, has brought that connection closer, making it more real and visceral.

Findhorn Bay has also played a very big part in my deeper connection to the planet and all its inhabitants. Walking out early in the mornings and watching, hearing and feeling the passing of the vast numbers of pink-footed geese, chattering and taking to the skies in their thousands, in search of food in the nearby barley fields, is a deeply humbling and connecting experience.

Being able to offer my photographic experience to the community has unwittingly enabled me to make so many connections and good friends in an unusually short time.

For me the best of Findhorn has been to be welcomed into a place and space where I was accepted ‘warts and all’, safely and lovingly held and encouraged to dig as deep as was comfortable into who I was and where I was going.

I find myself swiftly assimilated and very much at home, a healing journey from ‘sin’ to sanity!

Mark Richards
commercial photographer
from England & Wales
first Findhorn visit » 2017

Mark Richards

Originally from Surrey (born Kingston-upon-Thames) lived primarily in West Wales before visiting here and staying. A freelance commercial photographer since late 1970s. Supporter of AV, XR, AR & JSO.