In the mid-eighties I spent some time at Greenham Common, the women’s Peace-camp in the UK. I had been studying medicine, became a full time social activist in Amsterdam, and was an active part of the very successful squatters movement. Greenham marked a shift between social activism and a focus on inner life. Sitting around the fire, someone mentioned a Community in Scotland called Findhorn, next to an airbase. “Do they fight against the airbase?” I asked. The answer was no. I dismissed it immediately, expecting the women around me to do the same. To my surprise there was a powerful silence. Years later I would describe it as the Angel working on me. Then a friend in a Tai Chi group mentioned she had done an Experience week, at Findhorn. I remembered the name, and when I asked her how her week was, the only thing she said was “Very good’. Her words had a lot of power. At that moment I decided my next trip would include a visit to the Findhorn Community. I had no idea what I was stepping in to, as I had never read any books about the Community, not heard what it was about.

I joined the Experience week in the summer of 1988. It was profound, powerful, and heart opening. I was extremely shy and quiet. During the Park tour we visited the Nature Sanctuary. It was there I heard an inner voice for the first time. “You are going to live here”. Cute! I had no idea what a Sanctuary was, so people explained it was a place for meditation. I did not mention this guidance to anyone until years later.

I visited again the next year, now doing a month LCG, and 2 months the following year. I experienced Community life with its many joys and challenges. For example people wholeheartedly joining a song in the Sanctuary “You’re beautiful”.

Cullerne Garden team around 1992-1993

I had to speak up about my desire to work in Cullerne Garden, after overhearing a conversation in the bus that another LCG was leaving. I loved that garden. I was very happy there, delighted to become the compost focaliser for a few weeks, my first area of responsibility. A short but intense drama with lots of hurt feelings that could be expressed resulted in my decision: next year I would come back to live here. In those years deep listening was part of Community life. How have things changed!

I had been saving up some money, released my belongings in Amsterdam, and bought a one way ticket to Scotland by ferry. I joined CAP 3 in September 1991, moved to the Park within 2 months. I have lived in the Community where I still am.

Margo van Greta

Silvertrees, my eco home at the Park, just opposite the Phoenix. Photo by me, 2022.