By Marilyn Hamilton
One year ago, I issued a Climate-Challenge to Meta-Findhorn (my name for the larger Findhorn community in Scotland where I live) for 30 people to select and practise change that could contribute to climate resilience for 30 days. See the blogs on our experience here: https://integralcity.com/2019/01/13/how-do-you-and-i-make-drawdown-personal/
One year later many of our participants have graduated beyond our successful experiment into a new level of commitment to Climate Change and Consciousness in Meta-Findhorn. Just this month the Collaboration Circle (last year’s Inquiry Circle) agreed to seek support at the February 2020 Community Meeting for Meta-Findhorn becoming a Carbon Neutral Community by 2030 (aligning with a grant funding application to the Scottish government). That is a giant leap for humankind in our eco-village. I am deeply appreciative of the journey from there (December 2018) to here (December 2019) as it has been marked by a 1000+ steps and stories.
Care of Self:
- Leadership has transferred in Findhorn Foundation (FF) Board Chair from Lisette Schuitemaker to Kathy Tyler; FF CEO from Camilla Bredal Peterson to Caroline Matters; Findhorn College Board Co-Chair from Camilla to Marilyn Hamilton.
- Leadership in FF has renewed/emerged with new CFO Simon Stedman and Environment Steward Iris Toister. FF Leadership attended HCN conferences/co-learnings in Hollyhock, BC and Esalen, California.
- Architectural leadership has offered concept designs: for Planetary Village of Light (including the Wave, Nautilus and Seed structures to upgrade guest accommodation, community and administration offices); Silvertrees Affordable Housing; North Whins Affordable Housing. (The latter two are already before Moray Council review.)
- Findhorn College achieved renewal of its British Accreditation Council (BAC) status for accrediting world work courses like Ecovillage Design, Permaculture and Practical Spirituality.
Care of Others:
- Caring Community Circle successfully received a grant for CCC Dementia Care Coordinator.
- Subtle Activism practise has created and held containers for coherent and resonant process and outcomes for Whole Community Meditations, North Whins engagements and Duneland/Park Ecovillage Trust/New Findhorn Directions Affordable Housing projects.
- Baby Boutique gained new location and structure and funding support.
Care of Place:
- The Park Pottery has emerged as an inspiring community creative space, raising funds, (re)engaging potters, inviting highest purpose.
- In mid-year, Findhorn Hive opened its new building as a Social Enterprise for Moray.
- Craig Gibsone and Maria Cooper received recognition award from Scottish Government for their Permaculture Teaching/Garden.
- In August, the wider community (catalysed by Michael and Gail Shaw) started dialogue and Action Research into Deep Adaptation (drawing on Jem Bendell’s framing of Resilience, Relinquishment, Recovery and Reconciliation). This has led to involvement in Extinction Rebellion, commencing a strategy for Food Resilience, inquiries into land, labour and learning options to expand food production, emergency responsiveness and connecting with near neighbours in Forres and Kinloss Military base.
- New Findhorn Associations (NFA) has initiated research into transforming its governance structure from an informal volunteer organization into a legal structure (perhaps as some form of charity or community enterprise).
Care of Planet:
- In February Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) preceded the Climate Change and Consciousness (CCC) 2019 FF conference with the CCC Online Summit, introducing many of CCC2019 speakers to a global audience. In October GEN offered an Online Summit on Trauma and Healing (in conjunction with Thomas Hubl), reaching both global and local audiences.
- In April/May FF delivered the globally acclaimed Climate Change and Consciousness 2019 (CCC2019) conference – attracting over 300 guests and livestreaming to many more.
- In October FF and Findhorn College released the Transformation Magazine 2020 detailing workshops, events and courses transforming human consciousness from our international living laboratory.
So many steps; so many stories behind each move. For me, these steps and stories mark the evolution from Findhorn as a collection of organizations into a holistic (and Integrally emerging) Eco-Village (fulfilling and presaging Eileen Caddy’s vision of a City of Light). It has been an enormously Transformational year and I congratulate and deeply appreciate our Caring Villagers All.
Marilyn Hamilton PhD, CPA-CGA (ret)
Dr. Marilyn Hamilton is a city (or Human Hive) evolutionist, futurist, PRAQtivist, author and independent researcher. Founder of Integral City Meshworks Inc; author of the Integral City Book Series, she has created several international communities of Integral City practise. Partnering with Findhorn College she convenes workshops and webinars. She has designed and delivered “learning lhabitats” for the 4+1 Voices of the city (Citizens, Civic Managers, Business/Innovators, Third Sector) for Ecocity World Summit 2019, 6Aika Finland, WeMaketheCity Amsterdam, IDG Smart City, Globe Forum Sustainable Cities, Integral Europe Conferences and Integral Theory Conferences. She has held the position of CEO, COO, CFO and CIO in the private and not-for-profit sectors, serves on the Board of Findhorn College and F.I.R.E. CIC; and is Associate or Faculty in the School of Leadership at Royal Roads University, U of Victoria, Adizes Graduate School, Fielding U, Skolkovo Moscow, California Institute of Integral Studies, Murdoch U and conferences around the world. Marilyn is committed to the wellbeing of Gaia, by co-evolving cities as Gaia’s Reflective Organs. LI Marilyn Hamilton www.integralcity.com
Roger Doudna says
Marilyn,
Such a comprehensively appreciative take on Findhorn’s past year! Thanks much for seeing us in a way that can escape us when we’re ‘up close and personal’ (i.e. in the mix).
Roger D
Sandra says
Good morning, we are a small circle of people leading and living in a social project young people coming from critical backgrounds. My name is Sandra and I am 51 years old and the iniciator of our project. Over Many years I got the dream to get the possibility knowing more about everything I read and heard about Findhorn and the Comunity. I would love to get the chance learning more about architecture, gardening ect. the way you are doing.
We are located in South of Spain. We live together with over 100 horses on a mountain near Ronda.
Young people coming to us to find their vision in life and finishing school or adding as well some study or education.
At the moment we are 15 people in our circle (5 young people).
I would love to learn from you.
Love and light from Ronda, Sandra