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“A group of individuals who act and share together create strength and release knowledge surpassing the contribution of any single member.”
Viola Spolin

There were a number of mothers now, with children under five and we decided to start our own playgroup in the mornings, taking turns and working in pairs to look after the children. When the big house behind the new bungalows came up for sale that Captain Gibson the site owner had lived in, it was bought for the community to use as its emerging educational centre. Set in lovely grounds of mature trees and water features; there was a perfect space with picture windows and wooden floors that we could use for the little ones. There was also a well-equipped kitchen, a library, Sanctuary and offices and whoever helped purchase it – there were many generous benefactors at frequent intervals – really benefited the community.

The newly formed Maintenance Department offered to make some wooden play equipment, someone gave us a lot of Montessori learning aids as well as a talk and books on the work of the educationalist Maria Montessori, which we found very helpful. Each evening we took turns to make fresh the ubiquitous play dough the kids loved (using different food dyes). Each and every week day morning we created a happy routine for them, allowing mums to get more involved in the life of the community.

I’m not sure how ‘attunement’ came to be a consistent thread in our lives. I recall David giving a talk on the subject of attunement, how it was simply a way of reaching a more uplifted state together in order to summon harmony and clarity into the daily nuts and bolts of getting things done. It became a catchphrase, that caught on to be attuned was to be ‘in the flow’ and as work departments came into being, greater communication became essential, so any discussions and planning would begin with an attunement; to me, a more heartfelt approach to business.

Our play group mamas would meet every so often to talk about what worked and what didn’t and find happier outcomes if things were hard. Activities and meetings would begin in a circle, holding hands for a few moments of silence and centering. Simple guidelines were observed, of taking turns to speak and within a parameter of so many minutes, helped meetings to be effective and not too long! It always amazed me how much ground was covered, ideas and inspirations shared to create something new and often unexpected together. There was no anguishing about how ‘things’ should or could be. If anyone was having difficulties, as mothers often did, we would listen and give support. The bottom line, was that we were all there to give and share in the smooth running of things, with fun and enjoyment, an enhanced sense of wellbeing; we were doing it together and no one was telling us how to do it. This really was synthesis and love in action.

Ruby, Daniel

My lovely wee girls were growing apace and as different as chalk and cheese in every respect. Amber, a lovable dumpling, happy to simply Be, I could take her anywhere, even with adult time and lots of chat, Amber would be content to sit and take in the people, the present and be perfectly happy. On the other hand, Ruby was a restless little soul, constantly seeking creative play and attention and a real outdoor type. Both of them full of life and laughter, bringing love and joy to every new day.

There was an emphasis on joy. For many of us raised in the Christian traditions, suffering was seen as a path to awakening, the hair shirt, the crown of thorns, the often unconscious belief that nothing good or worthy could be realised, without pain. Peter maintained that this was ‘old age’ thinking and in order to usher in the new, a commitment needed to be made, to joy and peace, hallmarks of the New Age; creating the conditions for healing to occur. Dorothy’s ‘messages’ from the devic realm were full of joy and encouragement for us ‘poor mortals’ to change our mind-sets and focus more on the celebration of life, as they did. Eileen’s guidance too, reinforced this sense of our blessedness and how the New Age was about gratitude in being incarnate, joy in exploring our spiritual nature in the physical realm and each morning in Sanctuary we would be reminded of this.

It became apparent that for many of us, to some degree, the challenge was to let go of old defeatist attitudes; living in the past, regrets, grievances, fears and depression, perceived at last, simply as counter-productive. We were here to build the new, not in false joviality or ignoring our difficulties our human limitations, but by becoming aware of the strength inherent in attitudes that were new and empowering, based on the more transcendent virtues of being alive and human. There was a lot of opportunity to explore these positive aspects, in our daily lives, our work, attunements and the talks and discussions available in the early evenings. Also, we had a reservoir (so to speak) of shared knowledge, inspiration and empathy, on which to draw.

Many of us grappled with our inner demons. Opening ourselves to share and becoming vulnerable was new to nearly all of us, but amazingly, healing to some degree. It was often immediate in any situation where ‘old stuff’ had been ‘triggered’. And of course, Peter often reminded us, that being in a “Centre of Light” was akin to a pressure cooker for change and awakening, but where there is love and compassion, change can come in the twinkling of an eye. Just being around so many of those who were awakened exerted an influence on me, and others, of my generation, reminding us of who we are in our better moments; beings of power and love.

I’m not sure when the community ‘hug’ began, quite early on, as we coalesced, let down the defences. It may have come with the Californians, their culture being a warmer and easier place to be, it wasn’t obligatory. ‘The hug’ between men, or women, or of the opposite sex, or even group hugs, especially after a long or difficult attunement, were always a validation of our shared humanness and growing friendship with one another. Not everyone felt this way…

An elderly lady, Mary Coulman, had made her home in the community; she was a bit of a puzzle, a very grumpy person, always ‘carping’ about things, sometimes coming into the kitchen when I was helping with a meal and finding fault with the way things were being done, this seemed to be her contribution and one day I had the temerity to ask Peter why she was here as she didn’t seem to get on with anyone. I wasn’t the only person to puzzle and Peter responded by saying how Mary served a very important purpose, likening her to the grit that works away inside an oyster shell, in time, helping to create a pearl and if we could see difficult people as a sort of ‘worthy opponent’, who kept us on our toes, so to speak, challenging our limitations and comfort zones, then there was a potential for growth and resilience enabling us to develop compassion and patience rather than responding in kind, which never helps. After all, difficult people have to live with themselves, all the time, whereas, we only have to put up with them temporarily. This was an important lesson for me, as difficult people would increasingly become a feature of my later life. Over the following years and before her death, Mary did soften and learned to be more tolerant.

Amber, Ruby

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About the photos: A big Thank You to my grandson Ziggy for enhancing the appearance of many of my somewhat battered and ancient photos from the ’70s.

Anniese Worth Giuntini

I live very simply in this land I love. On returning to the area with my daughter Jade, I found joy in volunteering in the life of the Community; until Covid, then everything changed.