In the 1960s Eileen Caddy founded the famous Findhorn Community in the north of Scotland. Together with husband Peter and friend Dorothy McLean she started a spiritual community in the most unlikely of places - a barren, windswept caravan site by the North Sea. She was guided there by an inner voice, which she started to perceive in 1953 and identified as what she calls "the God within."
What once was a tiny garden and a caravan with a handful of people living in it, has developed into one of Great Britain's largest spiritual communities with about 500 permanent members and thousands of visitors each year.
Eileen Caddy, who died in 2006, served as initiator and inspiration for the spiritual community. These daily meditations, that were translated into 30 languages, are a helpful companion for virtually anyone who is embarking upon the spiritual path towards awareness, peace and love.
Personal Guidance through Messages from Eileen Caddy
A life in peace and harmony, love and fulfilling relationships, a purpose in life - the list of potential wishes is long. But how to achieve these simple sounding, but sometimes hard to reach goals? The short messages that Eileen Caddy received over the years during her daily meditations lend a supporting hand, whether readers are doing the first steps on the spiritual path or have been on their way for a while.
Caddy's book, Opening Doors Within - 365 Daily Meditations from Findhorn, is comprised of short texts designed to be read on a daily basis. Readers need only read about a dozen sentences per day and a closer look shows how they weave a useful network of encouraging, comforting and inspirational messages.
While in her autobiography Flight into Freedom, Caddy described hers as a Christian socialization, the faith that she wants to inspire in her readers is non-denominational. Developing a connection with God, or the God within, trusting in faith and living by it are aspects in the center of Caddy's texts.
Gratitude is one of the important spiritual tools she recommends, others include finding a balance between work and play, inner and outer world. Attunement within family, work or other surroundings as well as with the world and life at large can be achieved by a growing faith and awareness.
Down-to-Earth Advice Puts Soul First
Even if spiritual development is at the chore of these meditations, they are deeply rooted in reality and everyday life. Caddy directs the consciousness of readers to help them find their goals in life, but she also talks about obstacles.
Becoming more focused instead of constantly sidetracked or distraught relieves people of unnecessary encumbrances. But Caddy reminds readers that the desire for simplicity comes with a price - some habits, indulgences or materialistic views might not agree with it.
How to Use Eileen Caddy's Meditations
In Opening Doors Within, Caddy encourages readers to listen to their own source of wisdom within. Her book can be read in the morning to give each day a direction and help to become more aware. Or before sleep to review the day in the light of Eileen Caddy's words. In her foreword she also suggests taking turns to read the texts out to the family. Others might prefer to meditate on them alone.
Some might not even want to follow the chronological order, but open the book at random to see what comes up. Whatever way this book is read - its daily use makes it a good friend on the way to awakening to a more meaningful life.
Related Articles:
- Growing in harmony with nature spirits and co-creation with Devas in The Findhorn Foundation Garden, Scotland.
- Findhorn Foundation - A Spiritual Community, Education Centre and Ecovillage in Scotland
Resources:
- Opening Doors Within - 365 Daily Meditations from Findhorn by Eileen Caddy. Findhorn Press, 1986.
- Flight into Freedom and Beyond by Eileen Caddy and Liza Hollingshead. Findhorn Press 2002.
- The Findhorn Foundation.
Renate Oetjens - Renate Oetjens has been publishing on the internet for more than 14 years. After working for several German publishing houses and AOL ...
Join the Conversation