“We belong to one incredible family – unbelievable love.”
Hans Poulsen
Landscape Candles
By 1976, mine and Michael’s contribution to the community was considerable, especially after Peter asked me to take on the upgrading of the craft shop. Much of the produce from the studios went directly to retailers or was sold from the studios and the shop was a rather dusty neglected repository. I gave the space a make over turning it into a ‘Souk’, helped by a huge white parachute, gifted by a friend in the R.A.F. It hung in elegant folds from the ceiling hiding the cracked plaster. Our faithful carpenters made some elegant shelves and converted a small storeroom into a bookshop, spotlights were installed and I designed some middle eastern type friezes for the windows and doors; a touch of exotica. This was all accomplished on a shoestring budget – as well as padding out the stock with incense, posters, cards and as time passed and the shop became a success I added more variety, children’s books and wooden toys, eventually some clothing and crafts from India and Thailand and such things that were in those days new and unique but with globalisation are now commonplace; people loved it. Michael was a prime mover in the Performing Arts (P.A.) department, giving theatre workshops as well as planning and writing material for internal venues and conferences.
The building of the Universal Hall was now well underway and the P.A. group had at last been promoted as a bona-fide work department; part time.
Tamsin Ruby Amber Fancy dress 1st Celebration at Cluny
A theatre buff came to settle in the community. Jeremy Bradford – the ‘right honourable’; a great critic and discerning in all areas of cultural expression. It was Jeremy who brought the fine art of the dinner party, to the community (as distinct from ‘communal’ dinner). An awful toff and an elitist in many ways, who enjoyed argument and debate on any occasion, always playing ‘devil’s advocate’ at our monthly community meetings, to the exasperation of many but a free spirit and radical thinker with a good heart, seeking to be a better person and learn how to ‘get on’ with others.
Our final shows at the Lollypop Shop Theatre, were taking on a life of their own and Jeremy came to all of them. It was good to have his input which was always authentic and, in his words, “our work was as good as and often better than anything he had seen in London’s West End”, which, was, of course, hugely encouraging.
I sometimes felt the Performing Arts in the community was viewed by some as frivolous and elitist, perhaps this has always been problematic in society. When in the process of creating the work, whether its comedy, drama, dance, music, multimedia, narrative, mime, only then does it become apparent, just how much it takes to have a piece flow, seemingly without effort and of course all this work is done behind the scenes, so only the players know just what’s involved; it truly is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration.
Early Childrens Party in the CC Pinata
Sometimes people working long term in the Performing Arts felt some resentment at having to also work long hours in the maintaining of the community. Peter and the core group that Peter had begun to form around him as the place grew bigger, needing greater direction in the smooth running of things – were quite adamant that we remain rooted in the nuts and bolts of community work each day; it was also a question of necessity. So much of the population during the mid to late ’70s was of the shifting variety, also in those days, the community was something of a showcase attracting a lot of media attention and needed a high level of care and awareness; in every respect.
Backtracking slightly, I found this in an old journal I kept in the mid ’70s: “The I.C.A. Institute of Contemporary Arts [in London], is an impressive building that looks like a palace and stands at the end of the Mall, they have been running a series of lectures on “Mysticism in the Arts” and invited the community to contribute on the evening of May 26th. There was some conjecture as to how we fitted into this context but eventually it was felt that the community and all those seeking to manifest ‘The New’, is in itself a mystical work of art. In Michael’s words our message would be: “dispelling the mist and bringing back the tickle”! As well as being the perfect venue for the newly published book launch of the ‘The Findhorn Garden’, Peter thought it should be a lecture format, an audio visual followed by a panel discussion answering questions from the audience, but at the last minute he felt an injection of creative energy by P.A. would enhance things and invited us along. Only ten days before the 26th, a small group of us met, Michael, Ian, Andrew, Simon and myself. Ian suggested we take a small section from the book and create a short multimedia presentation with slides (Simon,) Music (Ian), narrative (Andrew) and dance (me.) The theme – our relationship with the Devic realm, we were inspired by this idea and duly, the inspiration began to flow. Another proposal was to also present one of Michael’s ‘fables’ (each one had a humorous and simple message). This one, the Giant the Princess and the Youth, concerns the often-unconscious co-operation existing within us toward each other’s growth, regardless of conflicting archetypal patterns working in and through us. So, the work commenced, we had very little rehearsal time but tremendous support from the Devic realm and considering our areas of responsibility that week ranged from preparing the presentation, organising our trip and accommodation as well as maintaining work programme commitments and juggling the needs of family. The support and joyful collaboration was apparent throughout the process.” (end of diary entry)
Michael Lark and Lion Childrens Circus
The venue seated around seven hundred and we’d been told the evenings had not been well attended; peeping through the drape’s backstage, I was riveted with stage fright to see a packed house. People were obviously hungry for news of connection and the “Community” by now, already making significant media headlines. Peter was ebullient that evening and delighted to have us with him, a small band of dedicated players and technicians, who over several years, had built a good rapport with one another, on stage. It was a terrific night and together with the audience and the Devic realm a real sense of the transcendent was evoked. People loved the ethos of community spirit in action and our co-creation with the Kingdoms of Nature. Peter, always real and transparent, sharing the mistakes as well as the triumphs as he told ‘the Story’ in all its simplicity and magnitude; his faith and humility always shone through; we received a standing ovation amazing!
Early Family Christmas dinner
Coming back to the everyday nitty gritty of community life; though not embracing unreal standards of perfection, Peter and Eileen’s philosophy was one of being good custodians showing care and respect for everything that had been given. Peter often said “we no longer grow giant cabbages, we grow people” and a lot of people did a lot of growing, learning through service, giving of themselves. Any signs of egocentricity, around one’s role or contribution was like a hot potato you had to put it down; not because of other’s disapproval (there was too much compassion and understanding around for that). It was just glaringly obvious that it got in the way of being real, transparency was in the air-waves. Being a balanced individual, willing to give and share one’s self was what counted, community was about we, not so much ‘me’ and most of us were happy to shed the burden of our egos.
The original elder members had a stabilising effect; rooted as they were in the place; steadying the shifting, new and younger population, flooding in and out from all corners of the Earth. It was new for me and many of my generation, to be around elderly people and to respect them for who they were, not old but young in mind and heart, aware, enthusiastic and in good health; a diverse and wise group of good friends, holding a vision of how a small group of people could create change through love, intention and faith, faith in one’s own intrinsic nature, in each other and in a benevolent Creator and Universe , where ‘all is one’ and we are all interconnected – as they often stressed in conversation.
Mostly what I learned from these folk in our chats over teas was their aspiration to see peace in the world, the outlawing of war, a New World order and a collective ‘Awakening’ and how we at Findhorn and many other spiritual centres around the world would act as the ‘leavening’ the yeast that helps the dough to rise – metaphorically speaking – is how they saw it.
Girls choir Gwendy Amber Yolande Ruby
Many of them had lived through the second world war and saw active service. A few had witnessed both world wars, they had a sense of the sheer madness of humanity’s ability to hate and destroy when the egoic mind was given full rein.
Tea parties, at the end of a day’s work was how we found out about each other and there was active encouragement all round, especially from Peter who emphasised the importance of connecting and communicating in order for love and empathy to flow and the sense of family to grow. Tea parties became a community tradition during the ’70s. People were not embarrassed to talk about their spiritual backgrounds, the teachings that had acted as a light in dark times – their quest for wakefulness, it was very refreshing.
Childrens Circus Ruby Craig Michael Amber
The more sensational aspects of esoterica that Lobsang Rampa had introduced us to, no longer held the appeal they once did. I was more concerned in applying the practical principles in order to live a simple and uplifting life and these wise friends were able to demonstrate such principles. Some of these original members left, over the later years of the ’70s to be closer to their families and new grandchildren, and some died. Evelyn was almost into her nineties when we first arrived, a sweet faced gently spoken lady, she took care of the Sanctuary flowers and spoke to us over tea about our loving space brethren – and how much invisible support was being radiated onto planet Earth at this time. Some stayed, living out their final years in the community, gifting their homes for the use of guests. These building still bear their names.
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About the photos: Many individuals were involved in the performing arts during the 1970s at Findhorn. Much of the work was well documented by seriously talented photographers. As I only have access to my own album of the ’70s, many of the images above are of a more personal nature, and sadly I don’t know whom to credit for 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.
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.
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