Findhorn Foundation and Community

Forres, Scotland, United Kingdom

  • Updated on: Jun 22, 2023 (almost 2 years ago)
  • Created on: Jan 23, 2005 (over 20 years ago)
Findhorn Foundation and Community

Mission Statement

The Findhorn Foundation is a spiritual community, ecovillage and an international centre for holistic learning, helping to unfold a new human consciousness and create a positive and sustainable future.

Community Description

<div> The Findhorn Foundation is a spiritual community, ecovillage and an international centre for holistic learning, founded in 1962 in Morayshire, northeast Scotland. We run experiential workshops and events that offer profound and practical steps for personal and global transformation. Our work is based on the values of: • connecting to your own inner wisdom • co-creating with the intelligence of nature • service to the world Our aim is to actively create a positive and sustainable future for humanity and the planet. We recognise that achieving this aim can only be accomplished within the context of a new consciousness and changed worldview. We have no formal creed or doctrine, and honour all the world's major religions as paths to inner wisdom. The Findhorn Foundation and community offers many ways to visit, live, and work together. We present a range of leading edge events and workshops for residential guests every year, and welcome day visitors. More than 400 people live within or are locally connected to our community. Findhorn Experience Weeks began in 1974 and provide a powerful, often heart-opening, introduction to our spiritual principles and their application in daily life, and have been attended by more than 30,000 people so far. The development of our ecovillage is a continuation of our work with nature and is a tangible demonstration of the links between the environment and the social, economic, and spiritual aspects of life. It is a constantly evolving model. The Findhorn Foundation is a founding member of Global Ecovillage Network and is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) associated with the UN Department of Public Information. We work in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise/Moray, Moray Council, universities, healthcare providers and others. </div>

About

  • Type(s):
    • Ecovillage (organized around ecology and sustainability)
    • Spiritual or Religious
  • Programs & Activities: Organization, Resource, or Network
  • Location: Rural

Housing

  • Status: We have land we have developed on
  • Area: 42 hectares
  • Current Residence Types:
    • Single-family homes
    • Room(s) in a house or building
    • Tiny house
    • Mobile homes, RV's, converted buses
  • Current Number of Residences: 90
  • Land Owned By: Other
  • Additional Comments: A combination of Findhorn Foundation, individuals and consortiums. There are two cohousing groups - Dunelands Ltd, which controls East Whins and West Whins Housing Developments, and Soillse which developed a six-dwelling housing cluster.

Membership

  • Adult Members: 130
  • Child Members: 28
  • Non-Member Residents: 300
  • Percent Women: 61-70%
  • Percent Men: 31-40%
  • Percent Transgender: 1-10%
  • Visitors Accepted: Yes
  • Visitor Process: By far the best way to visit is to take part in an Experience Week, which take place weekly thoughout the year. Experience Week is a doorway into the essence of the community, giving an introduction to our spiritual principles such as inner listening, co-creation with nature and group work. After Experience Week a range of options are possible; ask for our guest programmes brochure or visit our website.
  • Open to New Members: Yes
  • Additional Comments: Optional meditations are held daily. Attunement to inner spiritual wisdom and practising that attunement in daily life. All spiritual paths are honoured and many are practised within the community. Individual families choose how they educate their children, and methods include home schooling, private and state school. A number of children attend a Steiner School in nearby Forres.

Government

  • Decision Making: By a council, group of Elders, or leadership group
  • Identified Leader: Yes
  • Leadership Core Group: Yes
  • Additional Comments: Focaliser of the management team which is a rotated position Management team comprising the focalisers (heads) of departments Decisions are made by gathering facts and information, creating a quiet space to attune with inner wisdom, and then taking a vote. If possible, unanimity is the preferred outcome of a vote. If a unanimous decision cannot be made, then those who are in the minority are asked if they can be a loyal minority, ie if they will support the decision of the whole. If a loyal minority is not possible, then votes are counted and a majority of 90% must be reached for a proposal to be accepted. If a majority cannot be reached, time is given for more information to be gathered and the proposal will be presented again in the future.

Economics

  • Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: No
  • Shared Income: Partial Sharing of Income
  • Additional Comments: Staff of the Findhorn Foundation all receive the same income (with a few exceptions). But they are also able to generate extra income and maintain their own savings/capital. Staff of the Foundation work a 35 hour week and do additional occasional rotas. LEAP is our Living Essentials Apprentice programme, our staff intake programme, where you learn the ways in which we live together here at Findhorn. Experience Week plus three months of the Living in Community Guest Programme are prerequisite.

Sustainability Practices

  • Energy Infrastructure: We use both systems.
  • Current Renewable Energy Generation: Almost All, around 90%
  • Energy Sources:
    • Solar
    • Wind
    • Biomass
  • Planned Renewable Energy Generation: 100%
  • Current Food Produced: Up to 25%
  • Planned Food Produced: From 50-75%
  • Food Produced Locally: Almost All, around 90%

Lifestyle

  • Common Facilities:
    • Common House
    • Garden(s)
    • Vehicle Share
    • Library
    • Hot tub or hot springs
    • Stage or Auditorium
    • Swingsets & play areas
  • Internet Available: Yes, community provides it
  • Internet Fast?: Yes, it's fine.
  • Cellphone Service: Good for most people.
  • Shared Meals: Approximately all meals
  • Dietary Practices: Mostly Vegetarian
  • Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No - people may eat however they wish.
  • Special Diets OK: Yes
  • Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally.
  • Tobacco Use: Yes, used seldomly, or ceremoniously.
  • Additional Diet Comments: Shared meals in the Community Centre are generally vegetarian and as organic as possible. At home, each individual chooses their own dietary practices. In public places smoking is prohibited.
  • Common Spiritual Practice(s): Inner listening
  • Spiritual Practice Expected?: Yes

Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

Community Network or Organization Affiliations

Global Ecovillage Network (GEN)

Fair Housing Laws

This community acknowledges that their listing does not include any potential violations of the Fair Housing Law, or that they do not provide housing. For any questions about this topic please see our Content Policies and contact FIC with any questions or concerns: directory@ic.org.