Thank you William and Terry for a rich, insightful and contemplative conversation. Terry, I honour you for taking on this project and wish you and the core group a deeply nourishing and graceful journey with the re-emergence of this community for what is yet to come. William, I honour and thank you for your compassion and courage in asking such deeply pertinent questions. I was notably drawn to the conversation at 23:20 in which the question arises "how do you bring disparate people together to get things done" and Terry's recognition that it is about helping them "understand that they've got everything they need", along with his humility in expressing his inner doubts (at 23:53). I enjoyed Terry's learning experience at 24:41 and applaud the insight of his boss in understanding it as such. It takes courage to acknowledge, accept and learn from mistakes and build in opportunities for wisdom and growth. I fear this is often overlooked, so it was encouraging to hear. I first visited the Findhorn Foundation in 1988 and have lived close by in Forres with my family since 2004. Although on the outskirts of community life, it nonetheless influences and enhances my daily living experience and informs my life choices. So listening to this conversation has been enriching and heart-warming, and ultimately I appreciate William's direct focus on the aims of the community founders (at around 1:00:00). I was curious about the emphasis on 'spiritual' and/or 'esoteric' development (discussed around the 58:50 point), and wonder what this truly means, to Terry, to William and to others? Is it derived from our basic human desire for security? Or to understand and connect with something perceived as 'other-worldly' (often described as God or Spirit)? Or is it an impulse driven by a more primal connection that is deeply embedded in the natural physical world we inhabit? I am sure there are many different and conflicting interpretations and views on this topic. However, what I particularly value from the early impulses of the Findhorn Foundation is the unique wisdom the founders introduced to the world through their work 'co-creating' with nature. They gave us a unique physical observation of what it means to listen to and follow instruction from a mostly ignored source of wisdom that we are yet to fully understand. Personally, I would be interested to see how the emerging community can build on the strength of that. It seems to be a vital aspect of life that science is just beginning to grasp and may be the solution we need to support healthy coexistence with our natural world in the years to come.
A fascinating conversation. And thank you William for going into Terry's history and formative experiences with such depth and insight. It's so great to know of Terry's deep gift for creating hope and vision and empowerment within organizations facing steep challenges and where there may be so many doubters and so many saying or thinking that nothing can be done. A gift and talent so needed in today's world. I'm startled to read criticisms here from those saying they are part of Findhorn's history and I startled chuckling at the image of them saying those same kinds of things to Eileen, Peter and Dorothy within the context of different but also seemingly overwhelming challenges and all of the Unknowns they were facing back then. "Whaddya mean you're going to plant a garden and grow your own food. In THIS soil?!? If you're really going to do that then why is it taking so long?!? Whaddya mean you're going to use seaweed to create good soil. If you're talking to God and Devas they should be able to just sand their fingers and turn it into soil immediately. You've been tuning into God within and Spirit and the Devas for 9 months now. Aren't you done yet?!? Why am I not seeing an oasis filled with vegetables, fruit trees and flowers here by now?!?" 😀
Findhorn can now fully embrace its role as a globally important exemplar of a successful spiritually led ecovillage, embodying the best of practices and standards of community life in harmony with all life. Findhorn can take the next steps to realise carbon neutrality and self sufficiency in renewable energy and organic food production, to become an example to everyone of how small communities can transform their lives together and find local solutions to our global ecological crisis.
Interviewed in Northern Scot in January 2023 Terry Gilbey said ‘For the next couple of months I plan to be in 'listening mode' - asking lots of questions and putting the pieces together. From that, a vision will emerge and a framework that we can act upon.’ It’s 9 months on & by this interview the framework is no clearer. Is that because there is no workable framework possible?
I believe there is no way in which FF can find a meaningful role now that maintains its geographic presence. Sometimes when we fail to take the necessary decisions, the divine steps in to force a decision. That's what has happened here. Its regrettable that those in authority still won't face the truth. Its over. The world has changed from what created FF many decades ago.
You're right. For decades FF survived many crises - local, national & international. Many believed it was protected. That protection has been removed. The fires at its heart were a sign of this. The reason for the protection being removed hasn't been addressed.
I'm sad to say as an old Findhorner I got little from this. I suspect that when the fires were set at Findhorn in April 2021 that was the signal from the universe that the Findhorn story had reached the end. Those left in positions of influence should have the courage to face this. It has been been coming down the tracks for several years. I can't see how it can be resurrected in any meaningful way nor perhaps should it. Terry Gilbey gave no hint after many months in post of how this could be done. 🤥🤥
Why do you keep referring to Findhorn. Findhorn is the local village which has nothing to do with this blot on the local landscape. This is the Foundation, a mother ship for people escaping the reality of life. If that is how they want to live, not a problem but please stop using the local village name, I am sure a few locals have a few for you!!!!! Lets hope the place closes down completely in the near future.
Iain, thank you for highlighting the sensitive issue of the Findhorn Foundation being referred to as 'Findhorn'. As someone who moved into the area I am very conscious of how this offends locals. Especially those whose lineage far precedes the arrival of the Findhorn Foundation in their community. I also wish to add that it is not a place to come to 'escape reality' and expect many living in The Park at Findhorn, and at Cluny College will agree that it is often a 'hot house' for engaging with and negotiating the challenges of the everyday 'realities' of life at a core level. I wish you peace and hope for some reconciliation with the challenges you have with the Findhorn Foundation community. Thank you for your honesty.
@@cheryl8266 Not only is the use of the word Findhorn that offends people but the implication that the place is actually anything to with the community, but it blatantly uses the word to infer you are part of the local community when in fact most people in the area would rather the place would close down,
