I visited Scotland many years ago. It was an exciting and fascinating visit, especially to the Findhorn Foundation, which is a spiritual community, ecovillage and educational center located in Northeast.

As the story has it, Peter and Eileen Caddy moved to an RV community in the seaside village of Findhorn after losing their jobs. Because the unemployment benefits was barely enough for them, including their three children and a friend named Dorothy Maclean, they started to grow vegetables on their small plot to supplement their income.

Dorothy discovered she was able to intuitively contact the overlighting spirits of plants - which she called angels, and then devas - who gave her instructions on how to make the most of their fledgling garden. She and Peter translated this guidance into action, and with amazing results.

From the barren sandy soil of the Findhorn Bay Caravan Park grew huge plants, herbs and flowers of dozens of kinds, most famously the now-legendary 40-pound cabbages. Word spread, horticultural experts came and were stunned, and the garden at Findhorn became famous.

Other people came to join the Caddys and Dorothy in their work and soon the original group of six grew into a small community, committed to their spiritual path and to expanding the garden in harmony with nature. A slim volume of Eileen's guidance entitled God Spoke To Me was published in 1967 by the community's newly formed Findhorn Press and word of this strange but wonderful community spread yet further.

Significant friends and supporters of the community in these early days included English new age pioneer Sir George Trevelyan, scottish esotericist R Ogilvie Crombie and Richard St Barbe Baker, ‘the man of the trees’.

New community members lived in caravans beside Peter and Eileen's and in specially built cedarwood bungalows which still house guests and workshop participants today. In the late 60s the Park Sanctuary, the largest of Findhorn's meditation sanctuaries, and the Community Centre, where the community still eats and meets, were built by Peter and community members in accordance with Eileen's guidance.

At the time of my visit, around 1979, the community had become quite an established center of education on spiritual matters, and I stayed in one of those cedarwood bungalows.

I have used Dorothy's principles in speaking with the angels in my own biodynamic garden many years ago. One quote that I find helpful to me today is from Eileen Caddy in the book The Spirit of Findhorn

 

I'm taking this advice…

The following is a short selection from the many books about the Findhorn community.

God Spoke To Me by Eileen Caddy (Findhorn Press) The first book of Eileen's Guidance - still in print after 40 years.

The Findhorn Garden by The Findhorn Community (Harper Collins) The story of the community's early days.

To Hear The Angels Sing by Dorothy Maclean (Lindisfarne Press) Dorothy's autobiography.

Opening Doors Within by Eileen Caddy (Findhorn Press) Daily selections from Eileen's Guidance.

Flight Into Freedom by Eileen Caddy (Findhorn Press) Eileen's autobiography.

The Kingdom Within edited by Alex Walker (Findhorn Press) A selection of writings on the history and work of the Findhorn Foundation by David Spangler, Peter and Eileen Caddy, Myrtle Glines, William Bloom, Dorothy Maclean and many others.

Simply Build Green by John Talbott (Findhorn Press) A guide to the principles and methods of eco-building.

In Perfect Timing by Peter Caddy (Findhorn Press) Peter Caddy's autobiography.

Tags: GoodAdvice, spiritual advice, Findhorn, Findhorn Community, spiritual community, books on Findhorn