Author’s Note: This post is based on a summary I wrote in April 2011 as the Findhorn Foundation (FF) started preparing for the 50th Birthday celebration in the following year. I worked in S&PD (Spiritual and Personal Development Department) at the time and wrote this for a new ‘intake group’. The references to Findhorn refer to the spiritual community and community culture in and around the FF rather than the traditional fishing village of Findhorn. In 2011, working in the FF and writing for the staff and guests, I didn’t differentiate much between FF and the Community.

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The history of any individual or organisation that is on the edge of turning 50 is bound to be a complex and many-tiered story. The history of the Findhorn Foundation is definitely that!! And there are dozens of different ways to tell the story. There is the story of the spiritual foundations (and of those who laid them) and there is the story of the social, political, economic and spiritual evolution as the years unfolded.

The history of Findhorn is still more held in an oral tradition than in a written one. Of course there are the biographies of Peter, Eileen and Dorothy to read. Flight into Freedom tells the tale from Eileen’s perspective and In Perfect Timing tells it from Peter’s. With Dorothy there are two books to choose from – To Hear the Angels Sing which is primarily the story of her inner contact with the Divine and the development of her relationship with the Devas and Angels, and the more recently published Memoirs of an Ordinary Mystic.

All three stories are slightly different and the way in which they are told reveals to the attentive reader much about the personalities and the personal challenges each of the three faced as they undertook their own personal journeys to Spirit. Their varying perspectives on the unfolding of the events that lead to the creation of the Findhorn Foundation make for interesting reading. All three books help us to remember just how ‘cutting edge’ these three were in their day and how extra-ordinary their lives were. The revolution of thought and the relationship to the Divine they embodied seems much more common-place and ordinary to us now – but in their day they were unlikely revolutionaries.

Of course the history of Findhorn is also the tale of a dream and a vision for a new future for humanity. This is an accidental Community in so much as they did not set out to create a community – they were three people who were doing their best to follow their own inner promptings and guidance. Their intention was to live a life with God at its centre. In so doing, they created a Community – as much to their own surprise as anyone else’s.

There is no way to summarise in a few paragraphs the history of the development of this place you now find yourself a part of. Over the years many catch phrases have been used to try and capture the essence of what it is – or at least what it aspires to be: University of Light, Planetary Village, Training Centre for Planetary Servers, a Mystery School (with much debate as to whether it is a kindergarten or a university!!!), an eco-village, an educational centre, an intentional community are just some of the titles collected over the years.

But the founders were clear in their vision about the purpose for this collection of people who gathered in this remote northeast corner of Scotland. The founding purposes were twofold:

  • everyone of us can have a personal and direct relationship with God (insert your favorite term here – The Universal Principle, Presence, Limitless Love and Truth, The All, The One, The Cosmic Christ, The Self-Organising Something at the centre of all things, The Masters, etc etc).
  • The second principle was that each of us can also have a direct relationship with the intelligence of Nature and, as such, we can each enter into a co-creative relationship with those realms. That co-creative relationship can create miracles that would provide a way forward into the future for humanity.

The purpose of ‘Findhorn’, as they saw it, was to promote and foster those two principles in everyone who came here. Out of that basic impulse everything else grew.

Along the way many mistakes have been made, some of them many times over, as new generations of folk moved through the place. We expanded, contracted, and faced financial crises in repeating cycles. We got older, more middle class, less international, and more diverse in our activities. We bought properties, sold them on again; publications and newsletter formats got created and then closed down.

We have reinvented our procedures and our structures endless numbers of times, each time with a different take on how to meet the challenges of the times we were in.

The wonder and the miracle is that we are still here, still doing all those things and hopefully still learning. You are part of the current, and possibly the next generation to be entrusted with the care, maintenance and development of this amazing organism called ‘Findhorn’.

Welcome and good luck!

Timelines of some key events in the history of the Findhorn Foundation

Please click on the arrow on the left to expand the sections.

1960’s
  • November 17, 1962 our founders arrive at the Caravan Park
  • In spring 1963 Dorothy makes her first contact with the Devic worlds
  • Peter meets ROC in Edinburgh
  • Peter meets Sir George Trevelyan
  • Purchase of first guest caravan
  • March – ROC has his first encounter with Kurmos in the botanical gardens in Edinburgh
  • ROC visits Findhorn for the first time at Easter
  • Joanie Hartnell-Beavis arrives (Liebe Pugh’s secretary) and her bungalow is built.
  • Death of Sheena Govan in Edinburgh
  • Jan 28, 1968 – Eileen gets the vision for the 7 cedar wood bungalows.
  • Sir George Trevelyan comes for his first visit
  • Richard St Barbe Baker makes his first visit
  • Findhorn Trust is established and obtains a 21 year lease from Captain Gibson (owner of the Findhorn Bay Caravan Site)
  • The Park Sanctuary is completed
  • The Community Centre is built

 

1970’s
  • David Spangler and Myrtle Glines come to visit – they return the following year to live at Findhorn – David immediately became a co-director as did Myrtle Glines
  • The Studios in Pineridge begin – completed and opened in ‘71
  • A cutting from the Glastonbury Thorn is planted outside the Community Centre (In December 2010 the tree in Glastonbury is cut down by vandals using a chain saw)
  • Peter creates the first Core Group – its purpose to run the Community in his absence as both he and Eileen are travelling and lecturing with increasing frequency.
  • The Park Building is bought by Pauline Tawse for £12,500 and given to the Foundation and becomes home to the first Findhorn College
  • Eileen receives guidance (Oct 20,1971) that she is to stop getting guidance for the Community though she continues to give guidance to Peter
  • Peter has first meeting of the Committee of Management
  • May 09, 1972 the Findhorn Foundation replaces the Findhorn Trust as the legal structure
  • Traigh Bhan is given by Jessica Ferreira to Katherine Collis who passes it on to the FF as a retreat house
  • Love Amongst the Cabbages by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird is published in Harpers Magazine. Peter went on to write The Secret Life of Plants
  • First internal newsletter called Weekly News – eventually this becomes the Rainbow Bridge
  • David and Myrtle, Dorothy Maclean and others who were to become the Lorians, leave Findhorn
  • BBC record their Mainly Magnus programme in the Community
  • Eileen gets her original guidance for a ‘utility’ building for arts etc
  • The Focalisers group begins to meet twice-weekly with Peter
  • Eileen gets guidance in December 1973 to form a Core Group
  • Early Core Group meets virtually daily as Peter teaches and begins to train those who will be in charge as he and Eileen begin to travel more.
  • Universal Hall begins to be built
  • Experience Weeks begin (first one was actually 2 weeks June 1 1974)
  • Formal departments begin to be established (General Office, Garden Department, an Education Department, Finance Committee, Personnel)
  • The Pubs Building gets put up (became the home of Big Sky printing)
  • March 8, 1975 ROC dies.
  • The Magic of Findhorn by Paul Hawken is published
  • Cluny Hill Hotel is purchased, lock, stock and barrel for £60,000.
  • One Earth Magazine – first edition is published – continued through until mid 1990’s
  • First educational programmes at Cluny – while still being run as a coach party hotel
  • Joy Drake begins to develop a game that became the Game of Transformation
  • The University (yes it was originally called that!!) Hall is formally inaugurated and blessed. Used for the first time for a conference event.
  • First longer term Programme (3 months) called Essence of Findhorn
  • Paul Solomon– gives his Mystery School lecture at a OneEarth Conference
  • A gift of £50,000 is given to the Foundation for the purchase of Drumduan House.
  • Station House is bought as is Cullerne House
  • The Village Council is founded. Made up of folk who were not on other administrative groups or committees. It was a sounding board and advisory body for the Core Group.
  • A Management/Finance department is set up.
  • Francois Duquesne is appointed by Peter as his successor.
  • The island of Erraid is given in custodianship to the Foundation by two Dutch brothers – Henk and Arende Van der Sluis
  • Peter Caddy says good-bye to the Community in the Hall Nov 27, 1979
  • The first financial crisis hits.
  • Cullerne Garden School project is begun
  • Foundation rents Newbold House to use for workshops during busy times
  • Beginning of FF being described as a Planetary Village

 

1980’s
  • First foreign language FX weeks begin (French and German)
  • Family House is built (was fundraised as a space for young kids and families)
  • A fundraising appeal is launched to allow us to purchase the Caravan Park
  • With the help of a Tourist Board grant the Hall is completed
  • We host The 3rd World Wilderness Congress
  • Jay Jerman steps in to focalisation after François leaves the post
  • The Fellows is initiated by Roger D and Vita de Waal
  • Café opens in the Hall – initially called the Green Room Café – later became Helios Café and finally  The Blue Angel.
  • Moray Steiner School established, initially renting the Family House at the Park – a few years later it moves to Drumduan House, eventually purchasing the house.
  • First Barrel is built by Roger D. Rights of Occupancy agreement created
  • The Open Community makes a notable increase in growth and strength as a component in overall Community
  • The Nature Sanctuary is built
  • Craig Gibsone steps into focalisation – first time the membership has a say in who took the post. He creates a triumverate structure with Joan Jerman and Roger Benson.
  • The Community plays The Planetary Game as a Community for the first time – Eileen is one of the players.
  • The Medway Building is erected.
  • Two more barrels are added to the Barrel cluster
  • The creation of two groups –Management – a new word in the languaging of Findhorn (focus is admin) and Core Group (focus is Spiritual)
  • Wind Park is initiated – first 75 kW windmill, named Moya, is erected

 

1990’s
  • Eco-Village kicks off. First houses built in Bag End via the Building School
  • The Development Wing and Building Department created to oversee all matters related to building and site development.
  • Craig Gibsone steps down as Foundation Focaliser – no replacement put in place as it is deemed to be no longer needed. Within 6 months both the Management Group and the Trustees come to the conclusion that this is not really true and advertise for a new focaliser
  • A Foundation restructuring happens. Three Wings are created: Education, Development and NFD.
  • Judy McAllister becomes Foundation Focaliser during the Foundation’s Internal Conference. For the first time non-Foundation people are part of the selection and ratification process
  • The number of people in the Open Community becomes larger than the population of the FF
  • Process Oriented Psychology comes to the Community with Max Schüpbach doing the first multi-day workshop with the Community
  • Guest Lodge is completed and comes into use as Guest accommodations
  • Another structural shake happens as it is deemed that the Wing system is not working. Education is separated into two parts (one becoming admin and the other remaining education. The Foundation Admin Commitee was replaced by a Management Committee made up of the Foundation Focaliser, and the Focalisers of Admin, Education, Cluny campus, Park Campus, the MD of NFD and the General Secretary of the Foundation.
  • Peter dies in a car accident 18 Feb 1994
  • Community Agricultural Scheme is set up – Earthshare
  • The Living Machine is completed and opened
  • The Global Eco Village network is created – founding meetings happen here at Findhorn
  • Two more barrel houses are added to the Barrel Cluster
  • Field of Dreams is purchased and planning processes begins
  • Findhorn Foundation’s biggest ever conference complete with a huge marquee on village green
  • Findhorn eco-village project is one of 50 recipients of the the We the People 50 Communities Award. John Talbott and Judy McAllister go to New York to receive the award
  • The Living Machine is officially opened – Oct 1995
  • Major refurbishment of the Original Caravan is undertaken
  • Management is dissolved in and a process of re-invention is initiated
  • Findhorn Bay Community Association task force is launched Nov 11/96 – legal constitution adopted in Aug 97
  • Judy McAllister completes as FF Focaliser
  • Alex Walker, Robin Alfred and Angela Morten become the new 3 point executive for the Foundation and a restructuring process is initiated. This culminates in the creation of Areas, each with its own manager and new management committee structure is put in place. Alex Walker becomes Chair of Management with Robin Alfred as his deputy.
  • Core Group dissolves itself and ceases to exist.
  • The Wilkie Estate is purchased – becomes Duneland Ltd Estate on May 1997 and within a month an offer was made to turn over a substantial portion of the land into a trust that would benefit all local residents.
  • FF recognised by the UN as an NGO in association with the Department of Public Information
  • Findhorn Bay Community Association is launched – membership was £50 per year
  • Mari Hollander and Robin Alfred become co-focalisers of Management
  • FF receives one of the 100 best practice designations from the UN Centre for Human Settlement
  • New Findhorn Association is created – first listener convenors Fabien Barouch and Hannah Albrecht
  • First houses are built on the Field of Dreams

 

2000 onwards
  • Major refurbishment of Cluny – re-wiring and redecoration of many rooms – an investment of approximately £250,000
  • Spring of 2001 Robin Alfred leaves as co-focaliser of Management
  • Findhorn Foundation College is established
  • The Shop is privatised and becomes Phoenix Community Stores
  • New entrance to Park is constructed at a cost of £80,000
  • The Eko is introduced
  • Cullerne House is sold to Marion Stoker (Leigh) – some of the grounds are retained by FF
  • Eileen is named in the Queens New Year’s Honour List and is awarded an MBE for her services to spiritual inquiry – the award ceremony happens here at the Universal Hall Foyer in early 2004
  • Bettina Jespersen shadows Mari for 6 months and then steps into the chair of Management in December 2006
  • Eileen dies Dec 13 2006 (born 26 Aug 1917)
  • 3 more windmills are added to the Wind Park
  • Ana Rhodes becomes Chair of Management in 2009
  • Major renovations to the roof of the Hall
  • Dorothy returns to the Community in August 2009
  • The installation of the bio-mass boiler

 

FINDHORN FOUNDATION
– a snapshot of our history and some of the ways we have describe ourselves –

Extracts from the Deeds of Trust of the Findhorn Foundation 1972

The Trust is constituted for charitable purposes only and subject thereto the purposes of the Trust are:

  1. The advancement of Religion and religious studies and practices in any part of the world by teaching example and demonstration of the validity of the essential truths of all religious and spiritual teaching and by such means to encourage and help those who sincerely seek by the increase of their knowledge and the development of their being to achieve a greater understanding of the purpose and meaning of life and its relationship to God’s universal plan.
  2. In recognition of the intrinsic presence of the spirit within nature to further the conservation
    and preservation of the natural world by such means as the Trustees shall in their discretion
    think fit, including teaching example and demonstration of the harmonious relationship between
    humanity and all other forms of life.
  3. The relief of poverty and distress throughout the world in such manner and way the Trustees
    may in their discretion think appropriate, and
  4. any other purpose which is charitable in law and beneficial to the general public or any
    section thereof as the Trustees may in their absolute discretion determine.

 

FF Vision Statement, December 1996

“Celebrating the Divinity in all Life”

 

Trustees explore the next phase of reinvention (Option D), Dec 1997

A direction which sees the FF simplifying and focusing its activities, reconnecting with its founding impulses of spiritual service and co-creation with nature, and serving as a spiritual centre and  foundation for a range of more autonomously or independently held activities and functions.

 

FF Mission statement, Sept. 1998

The FF is a centre of spiritual service in co-creation with nature encompassing education and community.

 

FF communications department, brochure text, June 2003

The FF is at the heart of one of the best-known intentional communities in the world and is a major international centre of adult education, and of personal and spiritual transformation. We are a registered educational trust offering people many ways to visit, live and work here, an NGO, associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations, and part of a growing eco village project, a positive and practical attempt to live sustainable on this earth. We welcome all people irrespective of race, colour, ethnic origin, age, religion or sexual orientation, and we recognise the essential truths of all religions and spiritual teachings.

 

FF Strategic Directions Council document 2005/6, focusing on:
  • Strengthen our culture of joyful service
  • Become more sustainable
  • Strengthen our voice in the world

 

Management’s “Iona Initiative-paper” April 2008, focusing on:
  • Refining our focus, purpose and alignment
  • Strengthening our responsiveness and resilience
  • Meeting the need for Education to inspire and to support peaceful transition and
    change. Revised June 08