This is an interview that Diggers and Dreamers did with me about the community here at Findhorn last November. It begins with something of my own background, but then moves on to trace the development of the community here up till last November. Of course, things have moved on since then (at the time of the interview, Cluny was for sale and some community people were exploring buying it, which in the end didn’t happen), but up till last November, it’s pretty comprehensive.

In the interview I’m sharing my journey within our community here at Findhorn, a place I’ve called home for over 50 years. I arrived in 1973, drawn by my deep interest in group dynamics and the human potential movement, having previously worked on social change initiatives in South Africa and Northern Ireland.

Early Days and Evolution

When I first joined, Findhorn was a small group living in caravans. The founders, Peter and Eileen Caddy, received spiritual guidance that shaped the community’s development. It was fascinating to witness this organic growth, as what started as a few individuals following their inner sense of direction quickly expanded. We were seen locally as a “hippie commune,” and I even heard that people coming here were categorised by the home office as “harmless eccentrics!”

As the community grew, so did its structure. From a single charitable trust, the Findhorn Foundation, it evolved into a more complex system with various independent businesses and initiatives. It was a journey from a divinely guided experiment to a self-organising intentional community. I remember a point when the community outgrew the ability to know everyone, transitioning from an intimate “clan” to more of an association. This shift, while challenging, also fostered a new level of self-organisation and individual responsibility.

Challenges and Transformation

The community has certainly faced its share of challenges. The pandemic hit us hard, particularly impacting the Foundation’s finances. This led to difficult decisions, including redundancies. A truly devastating moment was when the community centre and sanctuary, vital gathering spaces, were lost to fire. It was a huge blow to our collective heart and soul.

However, even in the midst of disruption, there’s been an incredible surge of creativity. While the immediate aftermath was painful, we’ve moved past the blame and are now actively working together. We’re exploring new organisational models, like acquiring land and developing collective governance structures, to ensure the community’s future. It’s a time of significant change, but also of incredible resilience and the forging of new pathways.

***

We Thank Diggers and Dreamers for the permission to share this podcast as part of our collective autobiography.

A brief intro written by the Diggers and Dreamers team: D&D has been the face of communal living in Britain since the 1980s. Whether you’re interested in joining or starting an intentional community of some kind… perhaps it’s a commune in the country, a spiritual community, an urban housing co-op, an off grid settlement or a new build cohousing development… Diggers and Dreamers is where you begin. The D&D website features a directory of existing communities and developing groups within the UK plus many noticeboards as well as an increasing number of podcasts. There’s also information about the wide range of D&D publications. Their main book – “Diggers and Dreamers” – has often been referred to as the communard’s bible. It’s made up of half articles and half of a directory of communities. If you don’t already have a copy then you can order it from their online shop.”

To find our more about Diggers and Dreamers go to their homepage, you can click here to listen to more podcasts.