The Findhorn Community, on the northwest coast of Scotland, began in the 1960s as students gathered around the Christian spiritualists Eileen Caddy, Peter Caddy and Dorothy Maclean. The community soon gained world-wide attention and many new residents, especially with the publication in the 1970s of books such as God Spoke to Me, The Magic of Findhorn, and The Findhorn Garden. After several changes in leadership and philosophy, during the past decades the Findhorn Community has grown into a 400-member eclectic spiritual community, new age educational center, and eco-village.
We went to Findhorn especially to be with the members of the Northern Lights Sangha, a mindfulness practice community in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. It was lovely sitting with them in the community meditation hall, practicing walking meditation on the winding paths of a garden full of spring flowers, and enjoying a lunch together at the Blue Angel Cafe.
We also enjoying walking around the community. The older buildings reminded us of houses in northern California, hand-built among the redwoods in the 1960s and 70s. The newer homes are similar to the passive solar houses now being built around the U.S.
We were surrounded with bird song as we walked. And, during a boat ride out into the nearby Moray Firth, we were delighted to watch jumping bottle-nose dolphins and nesting sea birds.
Members of the Northern Lights Sangha, just after our Saturday morning sitting.
We stayed in one of the Barrel houses, constructed mainly from re-purposed boards from whisky blending or “marrying vats.”
Recently built housing at the Findhorn eco-village
Our best photo of the dolphins — the jumps were over before we clicked the camera.
A photo of jumping dolphins — perhaps the same “pod” — by Charlie Phillips, a nearby professional photographer (from http://www.charliephillipsimages.co.uk).
Kittiwakes nesting on a sea cliff.
A postcard from the Findhorn community-owned Phoenix Shop.
Saying goodbye at the train station to Susanne Olbrich, our Northern Lights Sangha host.
Smile of the Dandelion 