“We lose ourselves in books. We find ourselves there too.” Anon.

March 6^th is World Book Day and this set me thinking about ‘Findhorn’ and the incredible collection of related books and magazines that have come out of this Community since the 1960s.

As a member of the Global Community, I have never actually visited Park Ecovillage Findhorn since my discovery of the ‘Magic of Findhorn’ back in 2020. While much of my connection with the place, the people, the wisdom and the history has been via the wonder of modern technology and numerous Zoom workshops, courses, and meditations, there has been something else which has also provided an invaluable link – the written word, and the library of fascinating ‘Findhorn’ inspired and generated books. Each day a number of these books fill me with inspiration, motivation, advice, comfort, and connection.

So, with a good selection of such books now on my shelves at home, which ones would I say are my favourites? Which ones really resonate? That’s a tough question because, to me, they’re all amazing but, if pushed, my Top Three Favourite ‘Findhorn’ Books would be:

• Footprints On The Path by Eileen Caddy (the first ‘Findhorn’ book I purchased)
• Waves Of Spirit by Eileen Caddy (packed with useful advice for challenging times)
• Growing People by Kay Kay (a book that gives a fascinating insight into all things ‘Findhorn’ over the years.)

So, how did it all begin?  What is the story of books in the Community? Copies of the Findhorn News publication from the 1970s give us an amazing insight into the evolution of printing at Park Ecovillage Findhorn and the importance of developing this service to the world.

The following is an extract from Findhorn News February 1971 (pp 17-18):

PRINTING

Printing started with a second-hand offset litho machine in a small building. Early in the year it became apparent that we would need to expand our premises and equipment.

On 8th February 1971 Elixir received: “Tell Peter to take one step at a time regarding the expansion and development of the printing side of the work. It will come and at great speed but it must be allowed to unfold. Peter is to go ahead and order a building. He is to see that it is big enough because the printing will play an important part in the over-all plan.”

A large cedar-wood building, 20′ x 15′, was swiftly erected and painted. An electric stapling machine and a paper-cutting machine were purchased and installed.

The message above was received before the arrival of David Spangler, who was soon to become editor of most of our publications and to produce a flood of material on New Age subjects.

Elixir received: “This is a tremendous leap into the New Age. These booklets are a necessity; therefore nothing must hold them up in any way. If new equipment is needed to print them, then it must be obtained.”

In September it was realized that the equipment was again inadequate to produce perfectly the book David was writing and the future publications.

A new Gestetner 211 offset litho machine, which could do colour printing and photographs, and an IBM Selectric Composer, costing nearly £2,000 each, were required. This was a staggering amount of money.

Elixir sought guidance and received: “This printing you are doing and are going to do in the future is of vital importance to the world. Expand your consciousness and think big. Let there be no limitations in you to hold up the work. Speed, efficiency and perfection are essential; therefore it is necessary to have the right machines for the work in order to bring this about. Go ahead in absolute faith.”

The August 1971 edition of Findhorn News (pp 26) updates us further:

BLESSING OF THE PRINT ROOM

The printing of the February 1971 Findhorn News on our new printing machines and the steadily increasing number of proposed publications soon made it obvious that the print room needed re-organization. As soon as the February God’s Word was completed, we re-designed the interior and our “on the spot” carpentry team (Jonathan and Nigel) set to work immediately. On the morning of April 30th, just after the work was completed, David was asked to bless and consecrate the print room and those who work in it.

After Sanctuary, we all assembled in the print room and David spoke these words: “Our Beloved, in the name and power of the Christ, we invoke Your Presence, Your Light, Your Love, Your Wisdom and Your Perfection upon this building and upon all that is done within it, that it may be a centre from which will radiate all the blessings which You have for man, the gifts of eternity given freely to Earth; that the printing machines and all who work with them shall be perfectly blessed and strengthened and that all who have given of themselves to make this possible will be equally blessed. All that does Your work comes under Your consecration and is a place of joy and a holy place. In the name of the Christ, in the name of the Beloved, so affirm the holiness of this room, all within it and all who work here. It shall be and is a place of power. We proclaim this in Christ’s name and give thanks that it is so. This room becomes consecrated as we, in our consciousness, realize that it is our avenue of service to the world.”

September 1972 sees even more expansion as explained in this edition of Findhorn News (pp 10 and 11):

THE GROWTH OF FINDHORN PUBLICATIONS

Like everything else at Findhorn the printing and publishing side has grown rapidly from very small beginnings. We started off with a hand stencil machine. Then came the offset litho printing machine in a small building of its own which proved inadequate and we moved to a larger building with a new offset litho machine and an IBM composer plus ancillary equipment such as a guillotine, binder, folder, stapling machine, etc. However this building also has now become too small for our requirements.

On 13th May Elixir received the following guidance: “A new extension to the print room is essential and should be placed high on the list of building to be undertaken.”

The present printing building could be turned into offices and a new printing workshop built at Pineridge alongside the studios.

On 3rd June Elixir received: “Go ahead and design the new print shop and then get planning and building permission for it. It is right to have it up at Pineridge with the other studios. It is a real need.”

This project offers a sound and proven profit making potential for the support of the Community as well as a further training ground for young people. Costs of building, machinery and working capital are estimated at £35,000 at present prices. It is hoped that the new print shop will be in operation next Spring, enabling us to cope with the expansion of our own publication work and to offer a high quality printing service, including typesetting, artwork and platemaking, to other centres and outside customers.

And in the autumn of 1974 we have the following in Findhorn News (p 3):

NEW PUBLISHING BUILDING

The steady growth in the activities of the community has necessitated alterations to existing buildings as well as the addition of new ones. The new publishing building, which is at least four times as large as the old one, was completed on July 24th 1974 and now houses the new printing presses and auxiliary equipment which will enable us to meet the constantly growing demand for literature from Findhorn.

The New Publishing Building in 1974

READ MORE…

• Our Reading and Media Topic has all you need to know about the many incredible ‘Findhorn’ books and publications. Please click here to read more.
• Discover Books and much more by going to this section of our website.
• The Education Circle has created a fantastic self-study programme that lists some top reads on all that is ‘Findhorn’. To find out more please click here.
• Explore our free online elibrary by clicking here. 

Suzanne Farmer

I’m a member of the Global Community and discovered ‘Findhorn’ back in 2020. Since March 2024 I have been a COIF volunteer.