Findhorn founder turning 100

DOROTHY Maclean who co-founded what has become the world-famous Findhorn Foundation is on the verge of celebrating her 100th birthday.

Preparations are currently under way at the eco-community to mark the anniversary on January 7.

Dorothy was born in Canada in 1920 and grew up as a nature-loving child in the small town of Guelph,

After studying business at the University of Western Ontario, she found a secretarial job at the British Security Co-ordination Service in New York.

Later transferring to the service's office in Panama she met fellow employee John Wood who would become her husband until thier divorce in 1951.

John introduced her to Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, as well as the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan, the founder of the International Sufi movement.

The pair travelled extensively together before eventually arriving in London during the Blitz.

For the duration of the war Dorothy was employed by the counter-espionage section of British Intelligence.

While living in London she also reconnected with a woman who had worked with her as a secretary in New York

Born in Edinburgh during 1912, Sheena Govan was the daughter of an evangelist preacher.

A spiritual group had grown up around Sheena, which searched for 'the Christ within'.

Attending group meetings in Sheena’s London flat, Dorothy would meet Peter Caddy and eventually also Eileen Caddy, the other Findhorn co-founders.

In 1954 Dorothy had her first experience of what she called a ‘vast unity’.

She began a regular practice of meditation to connect with this internal source that led her, she believed, to the sacred essence of things, which was love.

Fast forward approximately five years and Dorothy was working with Peter and Eileen Caddy in the management of Cluny Hill Hotel in Forres, acting as secretary and receptionist.

The trio reportedly resurrected the hotel and turned into a four star venue by following the practical guidance given to them by the "voice".

As a result, in early 1962, they were sent by management to turn around the fortunes of the Trossachs Hotel in Perthshire.

However, when they pleaded to be moved back to Forres to be closer to their "mission" they were fired.

With nowhere else to go Dorothy, the Caddys and their three children, moved into a cramped caravan on a site near Findhorn.

Undeterred, Dorothy and the others continued to hone their inner listening.

An exceptional garden began to emerge, producing an abundance of fruit and veg, including the famous 40 pound cabbages and winter-flowering roses.

Interest in this duneland garden, and the spiritual principles said to be behind its vitality, attracted visitors.

The community was featured in several television documentaries by the BBC, starting in 1969, when the programme Man Alive came to Findhorn, resulting in greatly increased public awareness.

Soon the place became a favourite haunt for thousands of New Agers from around the world.

Dorothy left Findhorn in 1973 and subsequently founded an educational organization in North America.

While she was away the community bought the Cluny Hill Hotel in 1975 and turned it into a college for various spiritual practices.

The Findhorn Bay Area caravan park was then purchased in 1983.

The community is now the largest ecovillage in the UK and more than 30,000 visitors have attended its workshops and conferences, some of which continue Dorothy’s themes of inner listening and co-creation with nature.

Dorothy moved back to the community in 2009, retiring from public life the following year.

She is the author of a number of books, several of which have been translated into other languages.

A spokeswoman for the foundation said: "Like most people approaching the age of 100, she lives a quiet life. But she still enjoys nature, reading and having friends visit."