“There’s a lot to do, that’s why!” Amy threw over her shoulder as she wheeled off on a bicycle to the left, more or less pushing me along the path to the right.  I had asked why in the center of Mellow and Love, we seemed to constantly be on such a tight schedule.  “Eight minutes to sanctuary if you’re going” the Taize leader had announced as the last tones sounded and now I had five.  I was late, as it turned out, and blundered into the guided meditation after it started, only because someone had neglected to turn on the red light (think “on air”) which warns people to come back tomorrow.

I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.  Findhorn is full of dreamy-eyed people wandering the paths, hugging each other, and stopping to talk to you at some length if you ask an interesting question.  Work sessions (and meals) begin with the staff and volunteers holding hands in a circle and asking for a blessing or meditation.  It’s only after you’ve been here a little that you realize that like swimming with swans, there’s quite a bit of paddling going on under the surface of the water.

This morning as I started to write, I took a few minutes with the bulletin board which shows international events for 2010 related to Findhorn’s work.  This month that list includes events in Bangkok, Bilbao, two in Italy and one in the Czech Republic.  All of this is run at least partly by this energy center, and by a comparatively small number of people.  I can’t imagine the level of activity here in the summer; December is a quiet time with the community center tables only a quarter full.  Still, last night there were five different activities to choose from and they were all significant in some way, from community planning with the regional school system to integrating your past lives with a couple of invited international experts.  Or sacred dance, or an open mike at the cafe, or a meditation in support of Copenhagen.

Adding to the administrative tasks is the fact that this is many nations.  Not many black faces but plenty of brown, plenty of struggles with language.  My mentors in the garden yesterday spoke Portuguese to each other; there’s the opportunity to study English if you want to while you live and work at Findhorn.  I expect that was self-preservation on the part of the staff -- although of course lots of them have challenges with their English.  A complex community.

That’s the analysis; here’s the experience.

I slept until dawn this morning, a welcome discovery.  Struggling with the on demand hot water system for my shower and then out in the early light.  There was frost last night; it’s chilly.  Although almost eight, still not much activity or lights as I walk up the narrow paths between houses.  I’m headed to the nature sanctuary where I worked yesterday as a volunteer.  Despite my cough, I’m at least going to listen to the Taize singing, which I’ve never heard.  Other people are going so I can follow them into the “quiet garden” which is a quite lovely retreat area tucked into the edge of the Caledonian forest which Findhorn is restoring.  An improbably round building partly earth covered, but the interior feels light and lighted.  White walls, nice windows, pole roof (tepee style but low pitched) and a skylight in the center.  The cushioned benches go around the walls in a circle; signs indicated where to sit if you’re bass, alto, etc.  There are a pile of small song books; I take two.  It is silent.

About a dozen people participate, two thirds women but enough men to make the choir.  We begin with three oms and I’ve never heard them so tuneful, melodious, confident but calm.  It’s hard to convey, of course, but I realize I am where I wanted to be and that this experience is real, it’s what one hopes one would find in one of the great spiritual centers and classrooms of the world.

I have sometimes wished when listening to Gregorian chant that I could have been there in an abbey stone hall to hear Gregorian chants when they were first written and sung.  Of course, that was their time and not accessible to me.  This is my time.  Where I was this morning is what we have which is like being present for early Gregorian chant.  We began the taize with a simple canon which everybody did really well.  The room reverberated (remember the shape) and our thoughts and wishes were lifted upwards.  Much of what goes on at Findhorn is prayerful.

I think I’ll break quickly and comment that the work day at least for volunteers in winter does not start until 9am and stops again quite soon at 10:15 for a tea break which everyone absolutely insists on.  I’m writing this in the community center and the building has been full of laughing chatting people on tea break for about twenty minutes.  This is a warm, social, ordinary group, but it has levels.  These folks, in general, seem very happy.

Last night, before dinner, I was working here while a group of eight discussed vegetables.  What to order for next month, I think.  It was hilarious.  Eight people, mostly quite young, about half and half men and women, doing some chore or other.  They were in stitches.  I tweeted “Group of seven at next table having a meeting for Findhorn. Never heard so much hilarity about vegetables. Black radish hahahaha.”  So when I say prayerful, you should add in that people are having a very good time; it’s warm, it’s happy.

I could go on about the taize and what happened after, but I am still in the process of feeling my way into this community.  I know it’s anything but perfect.  I guess I can sum it up by saying that I’m just really glad to be here, and if you find Findhorn interesting, you would be really glad to be here too.