A captive audience of over 50 people filled Cullerne House to hear reflections on the Community’s early years from John Willoner (arrived 1967), Craig Gibsone (1968) and Jonathan Caddy (1962). Full of great anecdotes, they gave a sense of the immense energy of the time.

We heard of Peter, Eileen, Dorothy and Lena‘s relationship with Sheena, their spiritual teacher, who brought them all together originally, and of the difficulties of that relationship for Eileen. Jonathan remembered his arrival and living with his parents and siblings packed into the original caravan with Dorothy. Lena and her three children lived in a small caravan and Robert Ogilvie Crombie also had a tiny caravan in the original garden. Jonathan remarked, “When you start with nothing it makes you grateful for everything in life.”

John arrived for a visit and was put to work by Peter, breaking rocks for the foundations of the first chalet, ‘Ross Stewart’. I don’t think he has stopped working since! Craig journeyed from the remote Australian outback via treatment for cancer and Samye Ling Monastery. After meeting two respectable British men, Peter and ROC, at the monastery, he visited Findhorn and wondered what he had come to! He recalls a desolate, barren duneland without trees, in contrast to the green of today.

Lena was the cleaner at Cullerne House, which helped build relations with Captain Gibson the caravan park owner. Eileen received guidance to build a community centre for 200 people when only 20 lived here.

The publishing of God Spoke to Me and the surge of visitors in 1970, following the arrival of David Spangler, dramatically increased the number of residents to that 200. No matter how many times one reads about the early days it feels even more amazing to hear personal stories.

Community Learning Spiral is a joint project of EF CBS, Education Circle and NFA.