May 7-27

Standing Stones, Orkney

We’ve been away from Indralaya for most of the past three weeks, attending the gathering of Holistic Centre administrator’s at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland and touring the country for several days both before and after our meetings.

We arrived in Edinburgh on Tuesday, May 8. While we were there, we met with members of the Edinburgh branch of the Theosophical Society and toured the city for a few days.

Room with a view at the Theosophical Society in Edinburgh

We then headed north to Findhorn and the nearby town of Forres, which is where the Findhorn Foundation’s Cluny Hill campus is located. The conference was stimulating and fruitful on many levels. New friendships were formed and we very much appreciated the opportunity to share thoughts and spend time with others who share similar concerns and responsibilities. It was also a great priviledge to have the opportunity to spend time at Findhorn and learn more about their community and work in the world.

Leonie near the original Findhorn caravan

The Findhorn Sanctuary

After the conference, Steve Murphy met us in Inverness and we headed to the northern Highlands and Orkney Islands. Steve is a life member of the Friends of Indralaya who recently moved to Scotland, where he is teaching physics at the International School of Aberdeen.

Minor & Steve standing along the North Sea Coast

Cawdor Castle Watch Words

We returned from our trip on Wednesday, May 23, and immediately began preparing for the Memorial Day Weekend work party. Over 60 volunteers attended and a lot of great work was completed.

It has been a very full and productive Spring. Projects that have been completed include repairs to Wisteria cabin, rebuilding of the benches and stage in the Grove, and painting of the kitchen floor. The garden is in great shape and well ahead of production levels in previous years. We've also been contending with a serious infestation of tent caterpillars.

freshly painted kitchen floor

restored Wisteria cabin interior

productive garden beds

tent caterpillar nest

A new look at the Grove

April 30 - May 6

For many years, morning meditation in the library has been an element of nearly every work party and program at Indralaya. This year, inspired by our time at the Krotona School of Theosophy and the national headquarters in Wheaton, IL, we've been experimenting with a 9:00 meditation for those who are at camp between programs ~ residents, fellowship staff, wwoofers, and people on personal retreat, for example. The meditation is a work-in-progress that has evolved considerably over the few months that we've been working with it. It follows in its current form. Please feel welcome to adapt it to your own use and let us know of your experience with it. 

 

 

Please begin by bringing your awareness to your breath and through your breath, to the present moment... (2 minutes)

From deep within, let us feel our harmony with each other... (2 minutes)

Let us feel our harmony with nature and the presence of all that is here at Indralaya... (2)

Now turn your awareness to your heart center and align with the wisdom that is present there...  (2)

Let us be in alignment with that aspect of our being that is one with every other... (2)

Let us center ourselves in stillness...  (10)

May our minds be open to the inspiration of those who have dedicated themselves to the service of the world... (2)

Let us send peace, goodwill and healing out to the world around us...  (2)

Let us finish by saying OM together three times 

We begin and end the meditation by sounding a singing bowl.

Travel Time

Later today, Leonie and I will be leaving to attend a gathering of “Holistic Centre Administrator’s”. As you might guess by the spelling of centre, the conference is taking place outside of the country. The gathering is taking place at Findhorn, Scotland. It’s an exciting opportunity to spend time with others who do the same sort of work that we do.

We will be back to Indralaya on May 23, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend work party. I'm not sure when there will be an opportunity to post an entry here. If there’s good internet access at Findhorn, I’ll try to post next week - if not, we’ll see you when we return!