The Findhorn Foundation are delighted to be hosting the 2012 Holistic Centers Gathering from 12 – 17 May, with the theme the “Network of Light“. Held in Europe for the first time in a decade, this is a unique opportunity to connect with your peers from around the world and share ideas, insights, wisdom and experience in an open, supportive and creative way.
Experiencing the 2012 Gathering
Since the early days of the community, the Findhorn Foundation has been pioneering a new way of living on the earth and linking up with other centres all over the world to form a network of love and light.
Co-founder Peter Caddy said, “It is very much our work to be a point of synthesis, to link centres together to see where we can unite. Each centre has something different that we can learn from, that they can give to us, and we can give to them.”
In this spirit of synthesis the Findhorn Foundation hosted the annual International Holistic Centres Gathering in May 2012, a meeting of peers from around the world who came together to share ideas, experience, hopes and challenges, to learn from and inspire each other, and support the planetary transformation that is unfolding with increasing momentum.
Which Centres attended the 2012 Gathering?
In May 2012, 37 people representing 27 centres in 16 countries on five continents gathered together at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland for the International Holistic Centres Gathering. Together we explored our unity in diversity, shared about our work and service in the world, exchanged ideas, challenges and experience. It was a time of learning from one another, in the spirit of supporting the planetary transformation that is unfolding in the world.
Findhorn, Kitezh and Ecologia Youth Trust
The Findhorn Foundation, are excited to welcome the founder of Kitezh Children’s Community, Dmitry Morozov and two key members of the Russian foster family community to visit us here in Scotland in May.
There is a strong connection between the Findhorn Community and Kitezh through Ecologia Youth Trust. Liza Hollingshead, founder of Ecologia, which is based in the Findhorn community, shares the story…
Transforming Lives in Kenya
A wonderful Kenyan woman, Karambu Ringera, visited the community of the Findhorn Foundation to join The Way of Council workshop last year. We’re delighted to welcome Karambu back to participate in the Holistic Centres Gathering.
Karambu says, “I want to learn as much as I can because I want to create a centre similar to Findhorn in Meru, Kenya. I want to be able to do things that bring peace and wellbeing into people’s lives. I have lots to learn, but my heart resonates with such spaces.”
Global Ecovillage Network
The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) was set up in 1995 to support the experimental creation and preservation of human settlements that not only sustain, but regenerate their social and natural environments.
Ecovillages are communities with vibrant social structures, vastly diverse, yet united in common ecological, economic, social and cultural values and goals. They spring from the good intentions and creativity of citizens, and their willingness to make a difference. [Read more…]
Exploring Holistic Education – Supervision
COMPONENTS OF HOLISTIC LEARNING
By Dave Till and Christine Lines
This is the fourteenth article in our series on Holistic Learning, to read the introduction and view the other components to follow please click here.
14. Supervision
The culture of supervision has grown in the community of the Findhorn Foundation over recent years. Each working team or service department has regular sessions, (approx. every 6 – 8 weeks unless required more frequently), with a trained supervisor from the Spiritual and Personal Development team who will help them with any ‘illusions, confusions and collusions’ that might exist within the group.
Having a supervisor (in a similar way to having supervision when you are training as a therapist), is an important aspect of holistic practice that can prevent facilitators from building their own unseen patterns into holistic learning.
Supervision can be scheduled even when there are no particular issues at hand and is a valuable opportunity for team building. I’ve heard people say, “I never look forward to supervision but then afterwards look back and think actually that was really helpful and I quite enjoyed it.” [Read more…]
Exploring Holistic Education – Mental Learning
COMPONENTS OF HOLISTIC LEARNING
By Dave Till and Christine Lines
This is the thirteenth article in our series on Holistic Learning, to read the introduction and view the other components to follow please click here.
13. Mental Learning
There have been many breakthroughs in recent years regarding the mental task of learning information. Conventional education is quite focused on mental learning however there are new ways of using the mind to utilise more of its full capacity.
The whole field of study around Accelerated Learning (AL) suggests that we each have a preferred learning style — a way of learning that suits us best. If you know and use the techniques that match your preferred way of learning, you learn more naturally. Because it is more natural for you, it becomes easier. There are a number of AL techniques e.g. teaching someone else what you are learning, practicing the accelerated learning system in short bursts of 30 minutes of study, and taking frequent rests. And there are many more ways of practicing AL. [Read more…]
Participatory Development Training Center
Chanthalangsy Sisouvanh, Training Division Leader of The Participatory Development Training Center, will be attending the 2012 Gathering hosted by the Findhorn Foundation. PADETC is a private, non-profit institution dedicated to helping Lao people solve their own problems in ways that are economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable and just.
PADETC has evolved from twenty years of innovative work in agricultural and participatory community development in the rural areas of the Lao PDR, and was officially established in late 1996 under the Department of Private Education of the Ministry of Education as an independent Training Center.
Self Awareness and Conflict Resolution
When I attended the 2011 Holistic Centers Gathering on behalf of the Findhorn Foundation, one of the questions people in other communities asked me most often was, “How does Findhorn deal with conflict?”
Life here in a spiritual community, just as anywhere, is full of joys and challenges and it sometimes feels intense, sharing in such closeness with others, especially when conflict arises. As a person whose defense is more likely to withdraw than confront, dealing with conflict is a real growing edge! Living and working closely together in community there are times when I’m faced with the question can I keep my heart open, even in difficult circumstances?
I recognise how sensitive I am when communication is less than clear and harmonious and find such conversations painful. I’ve been exploring the idea lately that perhaps people in community hope to create the family around them that they never had growing up? For me this is deep, authentic communication where feelings match what is being expressed and there is less confusion and anxiety about what’s really going on around and within me… [Read more…]