As the following extract from the Iona Report explains, Iona is much more than just an island…

“Iona was at one time the centre of Western European civilization. Isolated as a small island off the west coast of Scotland, protected from the ravaging horde of barbarians sweeping over the remnants of the Roman Empire and plunging Europe into the Dark Ages, this island became headquarters for St. Columba and his monks. There, in the fellowship they shared, the knowledge of Christianity and of civilization was kept alive. From Iona, the missionaries went forth into Britain and Europe, carrying the light of Celtic Christianity and of civilization.

For two centuries the holy men, drawing on the spiritual power and inspiration of this island, kept western civilization alive. Here books could be copied in safety, teachings collected, the light of mind and of faith kept burning. Furthermore, being so isolated, this centre was less exposed and kept more pure from conflicting conditions than other spiritual centres in Britain, such as Glastonbury. Its veneration as a shrine through the centuries has added to its spiritual power, anchored there in Atlantean times by priests of the Sun, who in anticipation of our time invoked the energies of the Solar God and beamed them westward to the new worlds beyond the sea and east to the cradle-lands of Europe.

Iona now is a major planetary centre of spiritual power, attuned to the Christ. Consecrated by its solitude and isolation, relatively free of darkness, though parts of the island still are dark and karmically involved in the past, this island is a key for the release of new energies throughout the planetary web, energies of new civilization, to be given to the world as it has done before.

Other information received from higher levels of consciousness also deals with the significance of Iona and the place this island is to play in New Age unfoldment, as well as of the need for cleansing within this centre.”

Elixir (Eileen Caddy) received on September 28, 1965 the following vision:

‘A great darkness came over the whole of the island and I saw two great waves washing right over the island until they met in the middle and broke. Then the water ran all over the island and as it drained away, all that was impure was washed away. It seemed as if there was a sort of radiance, a light, which came from the very depths up through the ground from this cleansing. There was nothing but the pure left on the island; it was like a jewel.’

The following day, St. Michael’s Day, 1965, Elixir received another vision, this one clearly suggesting the link between Findhorn, Iona and Glastonbury.

‘I saw the Archangel St. Michael. He had a foot on Glastonbury, a foot at Findhorn and a sword pointing to Iona, as if uniting the three.’

Photo by Mark Haupt on Unsplash.

FIND OUT MORE:

• Discover the sacred sites and rituals connected with Iona in this Findhorn Foundation blog post written by Britta Schmitz.
• Read about a week spent on the sacred island of Iona here.

The Findhorn Foundation retreat house Traigh Bhan was built as a holiday home back in 1923. Jessica Ferreira and Lucy Bruce of Griannan created a sanctuary upstairs in the house in the early 1960s. After learning of the Findhorn Foundation and its spiritual work Jessica Ferreira bequeathed Traigh Bhan to her friends and community members Katherine and Roger Collis, who gifted it to the Findhorn Foundation in 1972.

During a visit by Peter Caddy and two companions to Iona in 1966, one of these two described a vision:

‘I saw the white dove of Iona with a branch in its beak. It was circling the island seeking a place to rest. The only house that was open to it was Jessica’s where it flew into her sanctuary and settled down quite contented in a ring of gold. It had difficulty in entering the Abbey.’

The Iona Report continues:

“This was an interesting vision for two reasons. First, it confirmed that a centre for a great deal of inertia and conflict upon the island was within the ancient Abbey itself. In this context, one of Peter’s companions received the message from a high level of being that the true light and power of Iona was not contained within the bricks and mortar of the Abbey but within the stones and soil and trees of the whole island itself. The second reason the vision was interesting was that it indicated the receptivity and openness of the sanctuary at Traigh Bhan.”

In 1972, the Findhorn Foundation began its cycle of expansion into world service. On the outer this expansion took the form of increased public contact through conferences and lectures, television and magazines, and through the reaching out of the community in art, drama, music, craftwork, literature and so forth.

What might this work be? Surely, it would be in the release and radiation of New Age energies throughout the world, anchoring the descent of the new planetary etheric body, opening the door for further revelation, and cleansing and transmuting the old etheric and astral patterns from the past. Thus, the work at Traigh Bhan would have international significance. This was confirmed in an interesting way through a series of letters received from an individual highly skilled in inner plane work in New Zealand.

A letter from the secretary of the Findhorn Foundation, Dorothy Maclean, to this individual briefly mentioned, ‘We have been given a house in Iona which has a powerful sanctuary, and a group will be going over there soon to put it in shape.’

This brought a quick reply:

‘Your note in your letter of 30th July that Findhorn has been given a house at Iona is of the deepest significance. It is the seal upon your work; you have emerged from the cocoon of Findhorn. Iona stands at the head of one of the very great webs of power that lie across the world. Now that your spiritual nursery has grown, through the schoolroom to university, it would explode if it could not flow out into wider channels. These webs are very close to earth vibrations and form the inner structure of worship the world over, where the priests know what to seek. Now that this alignment is complete, power will flow.’

Photo by Einar H Reynis on Unsplash

The writer then spoke of certain work unfolding in New Zealand, awaiting only the anchoring of the new energies at Iona to ‘set the seal on it.’

This material is more than confirmed by guidance received by Elixir on September 12, 1972: ‘Iona is opening up and will open up more and more until all darkness and negativity has been swept away and it is a centre of pure light. There are many places of power which have been lying dormant for a very long time which will be reactivated now; this will become more evident in the days ahead. This reawakening will take place first in this country and will then spread to all countries all over the world. All has been made ready and now is the time to be ready for anything to happen at any time. These are truly glorious days. You will find many new people will be drawn to help and find their rightful place in the Plan; they have been prepared.’

On September 14, 1972, a message received by Elixir indicated that certain major spiritual work in America ‘will not come into fruition until these three main power points in Britain (Findhorn, Iona, Glastonbury) have been firmly established and reactivated, for it is from these points of power all else will spring.’

The Iona Report goes on to describe the energy of Iona and Traigh Bhan…

“Preparation had already been done over the years, the several trips to Iona by Peter and others to anchor cleansing energies, such as the Magenta Ray. Because of this advance work, all that is now required is a burst of special cleansing energy associated with the Archangel Michael before the way is cleared for the anchoring of the new energies.

A work party of Findhorn people preceded the ceremonial group, having gone to Iona several days earlier and having been working (as had previous Findhorn groups since the house had come to the Foundation) in putting the house in order, cleaning it, painting it and general anchoring Findhorn energies of love and beauty into the property.”

The Iona Report continues…

“Early on the morning of September 28, 1972, the party left Findhorn, travelling in two cars. The first held Eileen Caddy and Joan Hartnell-Beavis, who were going on a holiday for a fortnight but who were attending the ceremony on Iona first. The second car carried Peter Caddy, David Spangler and Susanne Meyer, a young woman from America who was at Findhorn receiving training for her own future work, which included work with power centres in America and elsewhere. Hence her inclusion, under guidance, in this journey.

The trip to Iona, travelling to Oban, then by ferry to Mull where Crispin Currant, a member of the Findhorn work party, met the five travellers in the community’s mini-bus, across Mull to the Iona ferry at Fionnphort was pleasant and relatively uneventful. While waiting on the quay for the ferry to the island, David had an experience:

Photo by Lynda B on Unsplash

‘Looking at the island across the channel, I became aware of a vast radiance opening out, like mother-of-pearl, from a point above the peak of Dun-I, the highest point of Iona. I saw a great angelic being pulsating with this light and seemed as well to be aware of numerous other beings attending him and distributing the light throughout the island and elsewhere. This being was definitely the overlighting presence of Iona and just as definitely attuned to the Christ. In fact, the two seemed to merge. From this being came an outpouring of love and welcome to us, which I felt and responded to with a surge of joy. It felt like a homecoming.

I am generally not given to such definitely graphic experiences as this, though I am used to contacting beings of a subtle nature. This contact, however, was extremely strong, clear and definite and provided the link I needed with the life within Iona in order to perform the ceremony.

Interestingly enough, when I landed on the island contact with this being faded. It would come back at times, and I could bring it back if I concentrated on communicating with him; however, I was just as aware on the island of waves of oppression and an eerie negativity. By having had that initial contact with the Iona Presence or Angel beforehand, before entering the negative aura of the island, I was able to rise above such obstructing feelings and maintain the attunement needed. This enabled me, in spite of apparent negativity, to realize and be at one with the essential and permanent spirituality of this very sacred and beautiful spot.’

Later, David described this experience to John Walters and was told that one other person, Rev. Kenneth Cuming, Chairman of The Churches’ Fellowship for Psychical and Spiritual Studies, had had a similar experience while staying on Iona, becoming aware of the Angel overlighting Dun-I.

The party was made very welcome by John Walters and lodged in the St. Columba Hotel. A conference had been running there the previous week and the last of the conference members were still there. That evening, after having visited the house at Traigh Bhan and being welcomed by the other Findhorn people there, the party returned to the hotel for dinner. Afterwards, John led Peter, Eileen, Susanne and David to the Abbey to see it lit up with candles prior to evening service. A short meditation session was then held in St. Columba’s Shrine, a small Chapel just to the left of the main entrance. Here David discussed his impressions of the darkness within the Abbey and his awareness of an overshadowing thoughtform that seemed to be trying to possess the Abbey and its light and hold it for itself. The very walls seemed lifeless. A preliminary prayer was held, invoking the power of St. Michael and seeking to communicate with the inherent divine life within the very stones and wood of the Abbey, invoking that life to come forth and overthrow the darkness. After this, the party ascended Tor Abb, a hillock in front of the Abbey where stand the remains of Columba’s cell. This is also the location of the cosmic power point. Here, too, an initial tuning in was made.

The following morning, St. Michael’s Day, September 29th, David arose and went to the Abbey alone at 7 am. There he wandered through the Abbey, locating certain points where the darkness seemed particularly heavy and invoking cleansing energy upon them. He also went back to Tor Abb and communed for a time with the Presence overlighting the power point, invoking cleansing energies again and directing them to the Abbey. After a time, it seemed that the atmosphere around the Abbey had lightened somewhat.

At 7:30 am, John Walters led David, Peter, Eileen and Susanne to the Hermit’s Cell, a centre of nature power. David did not attune to this readily but turning to a neighbouring ring of stones enclosing an area underneath a wall of rock, he perceived a glow, a golden light emanating from a being who appeared to be a solar angel, a deva of solar fire. Entering this second ring, they entered what had been an ancient Druid Temple of the Sun, where at the equinoxes, the priests had witnessed the light of the sun line up between certain standing stones and had invoked and anchored the inner light of the Solar Logos. In this place, there was great power and light. David experienced a sense of being home, attuning to a familiar energy, one at the same time very ancient yet timeless, an energy of great peace and promise, an energy that seemed to be stored to move westward into the new lands and new civilizations. A meditation was held for the purpose of invoking this energy and the cleansing energy of the solar fire devas upon Iona and out into the world and for the purpose of acknowledging and giving thanks to the solar being who was present.

At this point, note should be made of the guidance which Elixir received earlier in the morning and which Peter shared with John, David and Susanne before they left for the Hermit’s Cell:

‘My beloved, this visit to Iona has far greater significance than any of you imagine or even dreamed of. It can be likened to a great can opener which is being used to open up that which has remained closed, so the Light which is there can be released to cleanse and purify this sacred isle. The Sword of the Archangel Michael will be used and this will pierce the darkness, breaking the membrane to release the cleansing waters and bring forth the birth of the New.

There has been great darkness on the island but the darkness will go. Realize that with great changes a stirring up takes place, a seeming revolution. This is where unshakable faith, trust and belief are essential, and the ability to see beyond the immediate, beyond the surface into the very depths and the very heights and to know with that deep inner knowing that all is indeed very, very well and working out according to My divine Plan. With all that takes place this day, let there be joy, and laughter, and let the love flow freely. This helps tremendously to defeat all negativity.

David’s mission here has many facets and has a far greater and deeper significance than may appear on the surface. It is but the tip of a mighty iceberg and so much will spring from it. It will shake the world. So be surprised at nothing.’

With this inspiring guidance, the party, now including John Walters, proceeded to Traigh Bhan to begin the ceremony and to fulfil all that had been promised and foreseen.”

FIND OUT MORE:

Arriving on the island often elicits a very emotional response and a strong sense of homecoming.

Katherine & Roger Collis, Traigh Bhan, Iona. Photo Mark Richards

The following are extracts of memories of Iona from an article by Katherine Collis:

‘Before returning to live at Findhorn, I hitchhiked to the Isle of Iona. I had been introduced to Roger Collis who had visited the island. As part of my pilgrimage, he insisted I walk to the north end to meet Jessica Ferreira and visit her sanctuary, a place that had impacted him deeply.

Upon entering the Sound of Iona and approaching the island from the sea for the first time, I was inexplicably overcome. Tears spontaneously began streaming down my face. Before even stepping onto her shores, I had crossed into the timeless presence of the Holy.

I was surprised that the island was so small and almost treeless. Other than the historic Abbey, religious houses and crofting community, there seemed little else. Yet in walking the wilds of the island and shorelines, experiencing its beauty, and sitting in the ruins of ancient chapels, it seemed I was surrounded by hosts of angels.

It was not until resting in the silence of the Traigh Bhan sanctuary that I understood what Iona signified. I was immersed in a spiritual school, one invisible yet filled with the presence of all those who over the centuries had worshiped and prayed and listened deeply to the heartbeat of God. And in listening carried the Light of inspiration into the world to meet the challenge of their time.

What Iona taught me was this love of Creation, a love of the Earth, a love seeded in the ancientness of her stones – reminders of what is held in the heart and destiny of the Earth itself. As Jessica explained it was also about awakening a love for the future – a conjoining of one’s personal call with the World Soul and the consecration of her sanctuary, which was dedicated to the planetary Christ consciousness emerging for our age.

Many years have passed since Jessica, Roger and I became friends and Traigh Bhan was passed into the stewardship of the Findhorn Foundation. Thousands of individuals have deepened in the peace of Traigh Bhan’s sanctuary.’

To read this post in full please click here.

Read the document found at Traigh Bhan by Katherine Collis in summer 2025 which tells the story of how Roger and Katherine Collis were gifted Traigh Bhan on Iona and how the house was then passed to the Findhorn Foundation.

Read this three-part feature about Iona by Katherine, taken from Findhorn News editions 15 (April 1998), 16 (July 1998) and 18 (spring 1999).

• 

  Geoff Dalglish on the way to Traigh Bhan

  In this blog post Geoff Dalgleish writes about his connection with the island and the retreat house and a sense of belonging.

  This 3-minute video on the Findhorn Foundation YouTube channel follows the walk from arriving on Iona through to Traigh Bhan.

The Sanctuary at Traigh Bhan was originally consecrated back in 1972 but there was a further ceremony there which was performed once more by David Spangler, this time in September 2022, to mark the 50th anniversary.

We start with the ceremony of 1972 and pick up the story once more in the Iona Report:

“Twelve people participated physically in the ceremony; many others throughout the world participated in attunement and in spirit. The success was due to all these people: the Findhorn Community; the sanctuary at Avalon and all attuned to it during its silent vigil; the Chalice Orchard sanctuary; Jessica Ferriera; the workers in New Zealand; and many others. Physically present were John Walters and from Findhorn, Peter, Eileen, Joannie, Susanne, Kristin, Craig, Crispin, Peter J., Pete and Eve, and David, making twelve people in all.

The ceremony lasted for an hour, from 11 am to noon, during which time all involved, except David as celebrant, maintained silence. The ceremony as a whole was divided into three parts: first, preparatory and protective work, using the soil from Cluny Hill to erect on the inner a dome of protective light about the property and invoking a spiritual guardian on the inner to watch over the property. This had to be done before anything else was attempted. Second, the ceremony itself within the sanctuary. Third, consecration of the house and grounds, using the earth, plants and water from Findhorn.

In introducing the ceremony, David explained that he was using a ritual designed to build a communicating link with the elemental lives within the island, the nature forces of the mineral, plant, water and fire kingdoms. For this purpose he had brought soil, plants and water, from Findhorn, all attuned to equivalent elemental beings at Findhorn. However, the latter were also, through the work at Findhorn, highly attuned to cooperation with humans and to new age energies. Through them, David could contact and communicate with the elemental and angelic kingdoms on Iona, enlisting their cooperation in the invoking and stabilizing of the energies involved.

There were four candles. The first represented God, the One, his Light. It also represented the Christ, the energy of Michael and the element of fire, which cleanses the inner and creates purity. Two other candles represented Findhorn and Iona respectively. The last candle represented the light of the New Age, of the Cosmic Christ, the light going out into the world, throughout the network of energy, the light that would bring new centres to birth and cleanse old ones, reconsecrating them, the light that would be used to give birth to the Christ consciousness within humanity, birth to the New Age.

Figure 1 (left) shows the physical arrangement of all these articles. At the head of the room was a small bay window area where a large Celtic Cross was placed, beneath a window that looked out over the channel to Mull beyond. A table placed before this cross held candle number 4. A larger table in the middle held two more candles and the bowls of earth, water and plants. A third table held candle number 1. A look at the diagram will show that this arrangement created two triangles of power between the candles: the first tracing the power flow between the One Light and its offshoots, Findhorn and Iona; the second showing the flow of power from the linked centres radiating out to ignite the New Age light within the world.

Following the ceremony, Eileen remarked that she felt there should have been a dove in it somewhere. John, Peter, Eileen, Susanne and David then walked back to the Abbey, where a final work was done in anchoring cleansing and uplifting energies there. On entering the St. Michael’s Chapel for a final blessing, a dove suddenly flew up from the floor behind some chairs. It flew over the heads of the party, finally landing near John, who caught it and released it outside. Eileen later said she knew this had been a sign for her that all had taken place perfectly and that a tremendous event had been revealed and completed.

Traigh Bhan Sanctuary window. Photo Hugo Klip

Soon after this, the party left Iona, leaving on the 3:30 pm ferry back to Mull. There followed then a journey to other power centres in Scotland to further anchor the energies released on Iona.”

With regard to the 2022 ceremony at Traigh Bhan, more can be read here:

‘There is Mystery here, deep and potent, a Presence that transcends any one place or time but which can be felt and experienced anywhere and anytime. The true sanctuary of this Presence is in the human heart and soul. Traigh Bhan has been an outer portal through which this inner sanctuary can be known.’

David Spangler, 2022. Read more by clicking here.

David Spangler also writes about the ceremony at Traigh Bhan in September 2022, which marked 50 years since the house was given to the Foundation and the Sanctuary consecrated, in this post.

Leaving for Erraid & Iona

Iona and, in particular, Traigh Bhan has played a key role in many people’s lives and experience of Findhorn.  It has hosted many courses, events and retreats. To enable people to get to and from the island a weekly bus ran out to Iona from the Park Ecovillage Findhorn.

The following is an extract from a personal account by Richard Coates, reflecting on the bus trip which every Saturday for many years was a lifeline between the Community at Findhorn and members going to, coming from or based out on the west coast:

Erraid-Iona Run

“Sitting here in the lounge at Traigh Bhan, I find myself musing over the Erraid/lona Bus Run, the weekly drive from Findhorn to the west coast and back. I have done my share of these drives over the last sixteen years and, through them, have experienced great joy, much beauty, lots of adventures and the blossoming and passing of many wonderful friendships.”

To read this article in full please click here.

Traigh Bhan. Photo by Adriana Sjan Bijman

Traigh Bhan was an inspirational place to visit for many, with strong links created by such regular events as the Iona Group hosting a tea party and an open house event at Traigh Bhan every year before the summer season started, and which was regularly attended by some 40 to 50 islanders.

The weekly Wednesday noon meditations, open to everyone as part of the spiritual intention when Traigh Bhan was gifted to the Foundation, were also well known and attended by a wide variety of local people and visitors.

More on this aspect is explored in this post by Niels Paulsen.

In this video post from the COIF website Niels talks about his time as caretaker of Traigh Bhan.

Veranda Traigh Bhan, Iona. Photo by Marilisa Patini

Time spent on Iona generated many life-changing moments and these are explored in the following collection of posts:

• A Veranda Towards Infinity by Marilisa Patini:

“Iona, despite being a very small island, a kind of atoll, is considered by historians to be the heart of Scotland. It is home to Scotland’s most illustrious characters who are buried there. The week I spent on this island brought me into contact with its deepest and thinnest essence: with Celtic culture, of which I feel I am a part, where my roots are.”

This travel diary was written in 2007 by Marilisa Patini during a weeklong stay in Traigh Bhan.  You can read this diary in full here.

• In this Findhorn Foundation Blog post Andrew Powell describes his return to Traigh Bhan.

Iona has inspired much nature connection, creativity, music and poetry, including this selection:

• This is a poem by Geoffrey Oelsner about Iona.

• This Iona poem is by Michael Davidson

• Explore the stunning island and listen to Mike Scott singing Peace of Iona in this YouTube video here.
• Enjoy more Iona scenery in this beautiful meditation video of Iona’s foreshore by Mark Richards.
• See the Sanctuary in Traigh Bhan in this COIF video.
• Douglas Hoyt gathers together music and song in this video.

• The Spirits of the Wind on Iona by Frances Ripley
• This video from 2008 gives a flavour of Christmas at Traigh Bhan.
• Explore the Spring Equinox in this Spirit Of Iona video.
• Discover summer on the island in this feature from Findhorn News, issue September 1974:  Midsummer Adventure on Iona by Billy Sargent. To read more click here and go to pages 24 to 27.

Traigh Bhan drawing by Harley Miller for Sights & Insights

Until recently, Iona and Traigh Bhan were the base for courses run by the Findhorn Foundation. Discussions are currently ongoing as to the future of the property and, for now, all courses and retreats to the house and island, via the Findhorn Foundation, are paused and Traigh Bhan is temporarily closed.