Findhorn and the Fairies

I was up at the Findhorn Foundation last week for the Opensource Videodance event, first time I've been up there and I expected it to be like Balamory meets Martha's Vineyard but I didn't realise how accurate that was. When I arrived and found my accommodation, a B&B called Rainbow Lodge, the doors were open with a sign saying 'Pick an empty room and make yourself at home'. Don't see that happening at the Euro Hostel in Glasgow. After picking my room I had a wee wander round the foundation. People live here because they want to live off the land and live a more ecologically sound lifestyle.



Every evening dinner is provided for those who need it and their guests. Before dinner everyone must hold hands and thank the Findhorn fairies for helping to provide the food and prepare the food. Then after dinner the same hand-holding and thanking ritual takes place to bless the washing up then afterwards to bless those who washed up (as well as the Findhorn fairies, of course).

Now, with all this living off the land, tolerance and blessing food going on you'd be forgiven that Findhorn is a very relaxing place where people live and let live, don't dictate to one another and are open to different lifestyles... well, you'd be wrong.

Every time you turn around there's another sign telling you what and what not to do. No showers after dark, no bathroom lights on at night, don't put too much water in the kettle, only use the bread at breakfast time, take your shoes off at the door, no radio (NO RADIO!!!), dinner is at 6pm, washing up is at 6.30pm, and on and on and on.

It's the most regimented, least free-thinking place I've ever been to in my life and I really resented being told when and how to thank people - I've been brought up well enough to thank people when they provide food for me, you don't need to remind me!

I wasn't too keen on the place but the course itself was fantastic. Lot's of in-depth, academic discourse about a subject I'm really interested in plus the opportunity to pick the brains of people doing really exciting things in the field, it couldn't have come at a better time.