I am just back from 5 weeks in New York, where I had a solo exhibition.

I was given an empty apartment in a very desirable neighbourhood, by Lincoln Center, just a walk to the Met Museum or the Met Opera, grand old apartment buildings between 2 parks and close to a main subway station.

But by day one I was ready to leave. I found the separateness between people disturbing, mobile phones ‘grafted’ onto their hands. So on one evening walk I started to break the rule; I actually talked to strangers! With the first couple, I said, “Good evening.” Taken aback, they replied the same. “I am allowed to say that because I live in Scotland!”, I said. They laughed heartily, understanding the NY code of silence.

By being in NY so long, every day I gained greater and greater recognition of what a haven the Ecovillage Findhorn is and what we have here: non-transactional friendships, people to go to for support, being a support and of service for others, fresh air, trees, woods, sea, a collective aim and purpose towards love, beauty, ecology, an aspiration towards Spirit, a context in which we can bring our hopes, our desires, our need for Spirit in our lives … a goal to lead a life of feeling, as opposed to the coping mechanisms supported and encouraged by urban life of shopping, alcohol, indulgences … these things can become a premium in city life.

As you may know I am friends with and follow people who have had near-death experiences. They all tell me that we incarnate for one reason alone: Love; to explore and expand love. Our community at Findhorn has been for me, a ‘laboratory’ of love.

The BBC Food Programme did a piece on the community 32 years ago, while I was focalising a meal. I was asked why I was here. I responded, to the unified hysterics in the dining room, “For Love … that pink-cloud that settles above you.” I was quite serious.

I am SO happy to be living in this haven. Yes, it is a haven. Let’s do everything we can to keep aiming at an even more heavenly haven!

Why the world is not now flooding in here is beyond me. I believe that we are offering – especially as the world goes into chaos – a proper haven … I prefer seeing stars rather than streetlights!!

Love, Randy