Astroshamanism Homepage -> Programmes and Workshops -> Programmes at the Findhorn Foundation

PROGRAMMES at the FINDHORN FOUNDATION

Workshops organised by the Findhorn Foundation can be booked through Bookings, The Park, Findhorn, IV36 3TZ, Scotland. Tel. +44 (0)1309/691653. Fax. 691301. E-mail: bookings@findhorn.org. Website: www.findhorn.org. Please book well in advance to ensure a place in the programme of your choice, as astroshamanic workshops are quite popular. Please wait for confirmation of your booking before you travel. Please arrange your travel plans so you can register between 10 am and 12 noon on the Saturday that your programme begins. It is essential for you to be present for the first session of the week, which begins early Saturday afternoon.

If you have not done an Experience Week or any other seminar with Franco, when you book a shamanic workshop at the Findhorn Foundation, please write a letter telling us about yourself, your spiritual background, if any, and why you want to visit. This introductory letter is your first step into the spirit of the week and helps the astroshamanic facilitators to get to know you and to prepare the programme. Most people write between one and two pages. Please don’t make it a C.V. or a literary exercise! Language mistakes don’t matter, it is more important that you write a letter from the heart. Include your date, place and time (if you know it) of birth and, in your own words, an outline of your present life (this could cover your present circumstances, your life choices, those people who are important to you, what inspires you, your joys and challenges, and so on). Describe your reasons for wanting to participate to the workshop. If you have – or have had – any emotional or health difficulties, we would like to know if and how these are affecting your life now. Finally, please write or type the letter yourself – we will treat it as confidential (and we suggest you do the same, if this helps you, when you are writing and posting it). Please enclose your letter with your deposit and booking form. Astroshamanic workshops are often fully booked, we advise you to apply well in advance and to wait for confirmation.

FINDHORN FOUNDATION CORE PROGRAMMES: Besides running shamanic workshops, Franco focalises some of the main core programmes of the Findhorn Foundation (such as Experience Week, Spiritual Practice and Exploring Community Life). These programmes are distilled from forty years of experience and express the very heart of the Findhorn Foundation, one of the best-known intentional community of the world. Astroshamanic workshops do not usually require you to have done an Experience Week previously. Yet, Experience Week and other core programmes are most valid options if you wish to devote further time before or after a shamanic workshop, either to prepare yourself or to ground and integrate your shamanic experiences.

Experience Week gives a unique introduction to the Findhorn Foundation and its spiritual principles. It also provides an opportunity to be a part of the community for a week and to practise these principles. Many people feel that taking part in an Experience Week has been a turning point in their lives. Participants spend time as a group working together, talking about their experiences, playing, meditating, dancing, and being in nature. The week is an opportunity to meet people living here, to join in some of our activities, and to learn how to build community. Five mornings are spent in a work department such as the garden, the kitchen or homecare. Afternoons and evenings are for exploring inner and outer landscapes – individually and with others. In all our activities an atmosphere is created which cultivates a connection to the spiritual side of our nature and allows it to work its transforming effect within the context of the group. It is an active and full week, and you need to come with a willingness to participate fully, give of yourself and meet other people.

Spiritual Practice: this programme is designed to give you time to explore meditation, prayer and other practices that guide you along your path of transformation and growth. We will look at what helps and what seems to hinder you in establishing such a practice. There will be a daily session together, and afternoons spent in Foundation work departments (our practical classrooms), as well as the opportunity to take part in other community meditations and events.

Exploring Community Life: this is an opportunity to be in the supportive and stimulating environment of a community in which everyone is committed to deepening his or her experience of spirit. You may need time to integrate lessons learned in a previous programme here or simply want to touch in again with the community or recharge your batteries. Alternatively, you may want to get a deeper sense of what is like to live and work here in preparation for staying longer. During the week, there is some group time as well as the opportunity to work in our service departments. All of our community facilities will also be available.

For further information, please contact the Findhorn Foundation.

TRANSPORT INFORMATION

The Findhorn Foundation in Northeast Scotland is based at two sites: the original site at the Findhorn Bay Caravan Park near Findhorn village (population 700), and since 1976 at Cluny Hill College in Forres (population 10,000), which is 5 miles from Findhorn and 26 miles east of Inverness. Astroshamanic programmes usually take place in Cluny Hill College.

Air
Transcontinental flights to London (Gatwick or Luton), Prestwick and Glasgow connect daily with flights to Inverness. There are also flights from some European cities to Aberdeen and Glasgow, and from North American cities to Glasgow. Please check with your travel agent for the most current information.
British Airways Phone from UK 0845 7733377; from outside UK: +44 (0) 141 7799977
EasyJet phone 0870 6 000 000 can provide more information about inexpensive air tickets.
We are unable to meet guests at Inverness airport. The quickest way from there to The Park or Cluny Hill College is by taxi. Taxi time is about 35-40 minutes costing £20-25. Aberdeen airport is linked by bus and train. It is approx. 2 hours journey.

Rail
There are sleeper trains from London to Inverness and Aberdeen, with connections to Forres.
Our buses meet two Saturday mid-morning trains, one from Inverness and one from Aberdeen, at Forres station.
Please check current train times with your travel agent or the train station.
There are usually taxis at the station for the five-minute drive to Cluny Hill College.
Rail Information: 0345 484950

Bus & Coach
National Express +44 (0)8705 808080 operates express services from London (Victoria Coach Station) and Citilink +44 (0)8705 505050, from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness.
For coach connections from Aberdeen or Inverness to Forres, call BlueBird Buses +44 (0)1224 212266) or check at the coach station.
There are public and Foundation buses between Forres and The Park. Journey time: 15 minutes.

Road
Travelling from the south via Edinburgh or Glasgow join the A9 at Perth. 5 miles past Aviemore, take the right turn onto the A95 to Grantown-on-Spey and then the A939/A940 to Forres.
If driving from Inverness, follow signs to Forres and Aberdeen. When you reach Forres, ask for St. Leonard's Road, then turn left at the sign for the Golf Course and Cluny Hill College. Bear left up the driveway to Cluny Hill College.

Approximate Distances
London-Inverness 600 miles (966km)
Inverness-Forres 26 miles ( 42 km)
Forres-Findhorn 5 miles ( 8 km)

Forres - The High Street is about a ten-minute walk (half mile, 1 km) from Cluny Hill College.
There you will find banks (cash dispensers taking most cards), a Post Office and a reasonable selection of shops, garages and restaurants.

For information on other events, please contact the related organisers or Franco.

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