Origins of Seeds of Light
Written by Christine Lines
Ten years ago I was in the role of Network Weaver of the Findhorn Foundation Trust (FF). I was moving out of co-worker accommodation in The Park Ecovillage, Findhorn and preparing to return to Australia to explore life there again. My dream had come true - I’d been offered a paid role with the Centres Gathering, after several years of volunteering, and my Findhorn journey had uniquely prepared me for this next phase in life.
The idea: mapping the Network of Light
The travels began: Christine at the most easterly point of Byron Bay
So began a few years of travelling, immersing myself in the different centres around the world and developing the Holistic Centers Network (HCN) - a modern day manifestation of the Network of Light. In my dual role I returned to Findhorn every so often, sensing I could make more of a difference being on the edge, bringing insights and inspiration from other centres.
I remember talking to a colleague about mapping the Network of Light. “Imagine if we could highlight the 30,000+ participants in Experience Week over the years, in another colour we could map the FF Resource People and the Findhorn Fellows around the world.” A concept was developed however it wasn’t a priority for the FF at the time. Instead I went on to map the different centres through HCN.
Mapping the Network of Light around the globe, picture: Anirudh on Unsplash
The vision: How can we come together in a Network of Light?
Here we are many years later, a new iteration of the FF, technology has advanced, and the vision is still alive! Early on in the development of FF3 there were important considerations;
How can we draw on the deep legacy and evolve into the future?
How can we establish core financial viability early on to support our work in the world?
How can we create ongoing connections with people after they’ve completed a programme here?
How can we reach out to the global alumni who have been part of the community over the decades?
How do we draw on the richness of experience that lives within so many people here, create opportunities, and co-operate within the community eco-system in new ways?
How can we create an online offering with infinite potential that is light touch to initiate?
How can we harness the positive energy of lightworkers in a world full of crises, and draw on the invisible support willing to help too?
The Ambition: How can we come together and find unity in diversity?
A pattern I’d witnessed at other centres over the years, however large or small, successful or fragile, was the strength of the cultural, social and often ecological elements and the struggle with financial sustainability. There’s often a conflict between spirituality and business, however I believe both can be harnessed to have a greater impact. We need to have a clear vision to manifest the future, and trust and listen to the unknown, to foster its emergence. From a place of thriving we can more fully serve the world.
After the recent community consultation around FF3, I became aware of one voice saying, “I don’t think you’re being ambitious enough.” In the local community of 400+ people there are naturally many perspectives. If we’d presented a different, less grounded scenario than a steady programme launch, building on the founding principles, I can imagine we’d just as easily have heard the feedback, “You’re being too ambitious!”
I’ve been reflecting on this and came to the realisation, we are being ambitious! To co-create a field of coherence and a sense of unity in diversity within the Park Ecovillage Community, Findhorn is no easy task. I imagine many of you can relate to this within your own community settings. The spirit of collaboration between organisations here though is palpable and growing stronger by the day. It also feels ambitious - and exciting - to try and map the impact of Findhorn in the world and contribute even more. Many seeds of inspiration have been planted and grown strong.
Finding unity in diversity in day to day life in our community, picture Mark Richards
The History: Seeds that grew all over the world inspired by the Findhorn Foundation
In 1995, the Findhorn Foundation hosted the first international ecovillage conference ‘Ecovillages and Sustainable Communities for the 21st Century’. Around 400 people and communities gathered from across the world, A smaller group stayed on afterwards and formally established the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN). It’s often described as a ‘landmark’ or ‘seminal’ event where the movement cohered globally. A movement that now includes 55,000 ecovillages around the world and growing.
The Annual General Meeting of the Global Ecovillage Network at the Universal Hall at Ecovillage Findhorn in 2015, and GEN is still going strong over a decade later…
Gaia Education began in 2005 as the educational expression of the ecovillage movement - translating lived experiments in places like Findhorn into a global curriculum for sustainable living. Now delivered in 55 countries, bringing ecovillage principles into mainstream education, it later became an official partner of UNITAR, helping expand its global reach.
Early community member Vance Martin is the co-founder (1974) and former long-time president of The WILD Foundation. It focuses on protecting wilderness areas globally, supporting Indigenous leadership and stewardship, and building international collaboration for conservation. It’s also known for helping initiate the World Wilderness Congress, a major global gathering on wilderness and conservation. The 3rd World Wilderness Congress was held in the Universal Hall, Park Ecovillage, Findhorn in 1983.
The conference team in 1990 with Eileen Caddy in the middle of the front row, that year’s conference was called: Inner Listening Outer Action, picture: Charles Petersen
Paul Hawken was deeply influenced by his early time at the Findhorn Foundation, where he encountered what many describe as the “magic” of Findhorn - a lived sense of cooperation between people, nature, and a deeper field of intelligence. This formative experience helped shape his life’s work, culminating in Drawdown, which mapped the most effective solutions to reverse global warming, and later Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation, where he reframes the crisis as an opportunity to restore the living systems of Earth. Across his work runs a quiet continuity: a recognition that practical solutions and inner awareness belong together - something long embodied at Findhorn and woven into our core curriculum.
Over 120 conferences and major events have been held in the Universal Hall at Ecovillage Findhorn. This picture was taken at the OneEarth Gathering: Towards a Planetary Culture in October 1997, photo by Charles Petersen. You can find out more about past conferences at Ecovillage Findhorn here.
The future: Let’s come together as Seeds of Light
These are just a few examples. Even without organisations or networks forming, every person touched by the spirit of Findhorn creates a ripple effect in their lives. This is often expressed in subtle ways: through simple practices, meaningful conversations, listening more fully with family and friends, and making choices that feel more aligned with their values. People often feel a deeper sense of connection, to themselves, to others, and to the living world.
Our invitation: global community calls twice a month
We warmly invite you to join Seeds of Light, share your inspiration, and recognise your place in the network. There is a story within each one of us and so much more yet to unfold!
In the spirit of Findhorn we come together in our twice monthly community calls to nurture the unfolding of the Network of Light. Let’s meet for a time of connecting, sharing, and learning with each other. There are many ways to come together and share the light.
