Manda, whose name is an abbreviation of a given Sanskrit name that means ‘river of love’, takes us on a journey from rural Essex, to Blackpool, Newcastle, Liverpool, the Lake District, Hebden Bridge, India and finally Findhorn.

Having grown up in rural Essex Manda moved to Blackpool aged 16 because her parents bought and ran a small hotel there – a theme that repeats itself for Manda.

She enjoyed her college years in Newcastle, married, became a teacher and then a mum, The family moved to the Lake District to run a small hotel. Following an inner calling Manda separated from her husband, and moved to Hebden Bridge, the hippy town. Whilst life was difficult as a single parent she found the stepping stones of her spiritual journey. Playing the Transformation Game led her to do the Game Facilitators Training and started her spiritual journey in the late 1980s.

Even as a child she had been irresistibly drawn to the Taj Mahal, so when the relationship with an Osho follower offered the opportunity to travel to India she took it. In the ashram in Pune she found her tribe in the followers of Osho and returned there as often as she could manage. She did see the Taj Mahal and on one trip saw the Dalai Lama.

A family tragedy forced her to refocus on her family at home. She managed to weather this tremendous challenge with the loving support of her mother which brought deep healing.

Eventually her two sons were old enough for her to wonder ‘what next?’ and a voice clearly stated ‘a B&B in Findhorn’.

And so it came to pass that for about 20 years she now lives at Findhorn and has a B&B. Her older son, Michael, lives nearby with his family, whilst her younger son married in Vietnam and just had his first daughter.

One of the many inspiring teachers coming to Findhorn, Joana Macey, facilitated an exercise where she found her vocation as teacher and ambassador of Laughter Yoga. This allowed her to travel and teach all over the world, bringing purpose, and sunshine into her elder years.

Her musical journey is also wide ranging, from the music of her parents, to folk music, the Beatles, Indian chanting and Taize songs, to the Waterboys and Bongo Bongo.


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