The Inner Garden

There is a period in my life that was extremely significant to me as it was probably one of the happiest times of my life. I say this despite the turbulent relationship I was in with a young woman, her two boys, and later my own wonderful daughter – Emily.

I lived for 5 years in my own static caravan in the lower park on the Findhorn Foundation and loved every minute of it. It was the first real community that I had ever experienced.

There is an expression that “it takes the village to look after the children” and this was epitomised here. Everyone knew everyone, and everybody cared about each other. The community itself was a deep spiritual pool in which one could bathe at any time, sunshine radiated from the members and participants alike and the surrounding environment of Findhorn Bay, the village, the beach, Culbin Sands and the dunes with it’s rich wildlife and utter peace and tranquility was nothing short of heaven.

I could have stayed there forever. Working in the Phoenix, being among such beautiful souls was a daily joy, and though after 5 years I had to sell my caravan and move into the local area Kinloss and Forres I stayed close to the hub of spiritual activity until 1997 when a fork in road drew me away from the area in a direction that I never expected. A direction that was so complete, yet just as pleasing to my soul. But that’s another story.

I knew Eileen then. Not well, but working in the Phoenix kept me in touch with her from time to time. She was a ray of light. Often I could tell she was close without even seeing her. Then she would appear. She was kind, gracious and patient and though we talked on many occasions, I couldn’t help feeling that I was in the presence of something that I wanted to be a part of, she glowed and I felt her warmth. It would make my whole day to just have a few brief moments in her presence. I loved her like I loved my own mother, and I felt safe just knowing she was there.

Findhorn will always be my spiritual home, its seed embedded itself within me over those years, and has grown into a beautiful inner garden that in quiet moments I can go to and feel the beating heart of a community that will grow and evolve and change and regrow forever. I am so grateful for my time there and to this day I hold onto the love that Eileen so willingly and openly showed towards me and I try to live in her example.

This is one of my favourites of her lessons.

Love Is The Greatest Power In The Universe

“Love has the power to transmute and exalt any condition, no matter how seemingly difficult or impossible it may appear to be. Love is able to raise up and render harmless that which would like to crush and destroy you. Nothing can resist Love, for Love is the greatest power in the universe. Very quietly concentrate on sending out Love and more Love. Love can do no harm: it can only carry good with it wherever it goes.” Eileen Caddy