Findhorn Foundation 2018 Transforming human consciousness in everyday life In this issue: Restoring Inner & Outer Nature The Efficiency of Silence Ecovillage Living FINDHORN Finding Your Purpose fOU NDAT ION A New World is Calling Contents It is easy at this moment in history way forward emerging for us as Who We Are 3 Who We Are to find old systems and ways individuals and as a collective. We Inner & Outer Nature 4 The Findhorn Foundation is a living laboratory for of being that are falling apart. discover that nature is conscious Co-Creative Spirituality 6 Environmentally, politically and and we can work with it.. We find transforming human consciousness. We welcome you The Efficiency of Silence 8 economically, upheaval and that our inner work affects the to come be a part of the ongoing exploration. William Bloom 10 disruption are now the norm. But outer world, as well as inspires Spiritual Retreats 11 this unpredictability that our minds us to right action. We find that, Centre for Sustainability Ecovillage Living 12 cannot grasp does invite us to find instead of feeling at the mercy The Findhorn Ecovillage, one of the Climate Change 14 a deeper knowing. The truth the of events beyond our control, we oldest and most successful in the world, Finding Your Purpose 15 55 year old Findhorn Foundation gain ways to shape our individual grew out of this community’s close Robert Holden 16 and community on the Moray Firth and shared future. There is a partnership with nature. It is now one Seven Gifts 18 in Scotland demonstrates is that world of potential within you. of the Foundation’s key partners in our Connect With Us 21 when we take time to become How will you answer its call? sustainability education. 12 Calendar of Events 22 still and turn within, we find the Location 24 Support Us 25 The Findhorn We bring Foundation three core The Findhorn Foundation principles into The Park, Findhorn, Moray everything IV36 3TZ, Scotland we do Spiritual Community Tel: +44 (0)1309 690311 Our full-time, international, Email: [email protected] residential community seeks to Centre for bring spirit into all our activities Transformational Learning and honours all spiritual traditions and practices. We seek to demonstrate a way of living in 18 partnership with our own wholeness, each other, nature and spirit. The community holds retreats, workshops and events to support people from around The Scottish Highlands is home to our four the world to experience this way of being and to live locations: The Park, near Findhorn village, Cluny Hill in “Being at Findhorn always reminds me that powerful and positive into their full potential. 22 Forres, our satellite community on Erraid and Traigh Bhan, findhorn.org visions for the future can be realised... I constantly ask myself how our retreat centre on the sacred island of Iona. 24 I can integrate this sense of joy, connection and inspiration into my daily life, both personally and professionally.” Ed Gillespie, Co-founder and Creative Director, Futerra. 2 3 There may be more happening slipperiness of a forest stream, look In this consciousness-focused view Restoring Inner when we connect with nature than just out at the splendid colours of a of life, it’s not surprising that stepping changes in vitamin D levels and healthier sunset or hold a newborn child in into a midsummer forest seems similar blood flow, however. After all, hormones, our arms, we are experiencing other to slipping your arms around a loved & Outer Nature pheromones and neural circuitry play consciousnesses. one. What we are doing in both cases a part in human relationships, but few is coming into contact with another Why Being in Nature is Even Better of us would say that they completely “The world is alive and conscious.“ conscious presence, like ourselves. by Thomas Miller, Editor for You Than You Thought explain what happens when you put As Dorothy Maclean’s experiments in your arms around a loved one. The The world is alive and conscious, the Findhorn Garden show, sometimes Scientists and shamans bathing’, nature retreats and other ways walking a path in a summer woodland, world’s shamanic and indigenous shamans tell us, and the way to deepening this connection can lead agree on something: being of immersing themselves in nature, smelling warm, fallen leaves, hearing traditions, as well as modern spiritual understand and relate to it is by paying to extraordinary external results. The in nature is good for you. they are finding that their creativity and the soft burble of a nearby stream and teachers like Findhorn founder Dorothy attention to our inner experiences. possibilities that unfold when we Studies have linked even relatively inspiration return. bird song. Did you notice any change Maclean suggest what that ‘more’ Listening to intuitions and our sense cultivate our relationship with nature small amounts of time spent in nature Even thinking about being in nature within yourself? One study indicates might be. of when meaningful ‘coincidences’ are endless. But perhaps the best to better mental health, improved is enough to benefit people. For that just thinking about nature like this When we look into the eyes of a happen are ways of touching the other place to begin is just by going for empathy, lengthened attention span instance, notice how your body feels at is enough to lower your heart rate, pet dog, dip our feet into the cool lives we are present with in nature. a walk. and boosted immune system, to name the moment. Then think of a busy city change your breathing pattern and only a few benefits. As more artists, street, cars whooshing past, sounds of improve your energy level. Clearly, writers, business people and others construction, rushing people. How did there is no shortage of benefits being wake up to the benefits of ‘forest your body react? Now think of yourself in nature provides us. Ways to Deepen Your Connection with Nature Try taking off your shoes and noticing how your feet feel in contact with the ground. Notice your breathing - does it change when you enter nature? Relax and notice what images, words or feelings come up for you. 4 5 Traigh Bahn A retreat house on the sacred island of Iona, Traigh Bhan hosts spiritual retreats. Shaping our Future with the Unseen Worlds 22 - 27 September, 2018 Follow-on workshop: 28 September “Engaging with the subtle worlds isn’t simply to experience or explore the non- physical dimensions. The larger purpose is to engage the underlying wholeness that ties the physical and non-physical domains into a living, creative oneness.” -David Spangler Sacred Places At this turning point in our planet’s life, the This event weaves Findhorn’s 55 years of world is calling us to enter a new level of work with the unseen worlds with your loving relationship with its subtle and spiritual commitment to our planet. Together we will dimensions. Come join with non-human and explore a next level of Gaian consciousness and human fellow adventurers to explore emerging venture into the worlds of: possibilities for our shared future. • Devic and Nature Beings • The Subtle Realms • The Sidhe Six day conference: £750/£890/£1250 Follow-on workshops: £100 if booked in advance, £120 during the event Nature Sanctuary This hand-built sacred space is designed for meditation, spiritual practices and connection with the intelligence of nature. Erraid The rugged, unspoiled hills and beaches of this tiny Hebridean island findhorn.org/co-creative hold a Findhorn satellite community Facebook.com/co-creativespirit that hosts visitors year round. FINDHORN Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1309 690311 fOU NDAT ION erraid.com 6 7 The Efficiency of Silence by Lisette Schuitemaker, Chair of Trustees Getting everything in our busy lives done has us running faster and faster. Instead, we could also take a minute, close our eyes, go within and find wisdom. “What is alive in you now?” More and the seemingly disconnected jumble of their thoughts or their feelings, but more meetings these days begin with people of a moment ago turns into a that they have them - and that they this question. People come in to the group with a common focus. What do can change stance on topics as more room with a phone still pressed to these busy people do in that minute information becomes available. their ear motioning the rest to start as or two of silence? They might close This inner journey of just a few they will join momentarily. Others are their eyes as they draw their attention minutes allows them to focus their full typing away at an email that needs inwards. They engage their witnessing attention on the subject of this particular to be finished and sent before they mind to observe tumbling thoughts of meeting from a place of calm wisdom. can focus their attention on anything to-do’s. They gauge any feelings that Taking turns sharing about what is alive else. Someone else may just come out might be running through them - they in them, a picture will already begin to of an intense conversation that had might be insecure as they haven’t form about the direction to be taken with their emotions flare up. Now they find prepared for this meeting, or adamant the matter under discussion. themselves in this meeting that was that their solution will be adopted. This may seem like an ideal office in “Be still, go planned before any of these pressing a place far removed from daily reality issues showed up in their lives.