The Findhorn Community in Scotland is one of the oldest, most established, successful and well known New Age spiritual communities anywhere in the world; it will be celebrating its 50th year in 2012. Findhorn owes much of its success to one remarkable woman, co-founder Eileen Caddy.

Eileen died in 2006, but she has left a rich legacy behind her. As well as establishing a vibrant spiritual community with her husband Peter and their friend Dorothy Maclean she channelled Divine guidance over many years and wrote it down. These words of wisdom are published in several books, including ‘The Spirit of Findhorn’ which I requested for review from Findhorn Press along with the DVD 'Opening Doors Within'.

The Spirit of Findhorn begins with Part One, ‘Glimpses of Eileen Caddy’s Life’, which I found eye-opening. Many are familiar with the story of the founding of the Findhorn Community, which started in a corner of a caravan site on a windswept part of the Scottish coast. The co-operation between the Devas of the land and the founders of Findhorn working together to create a fertile garden on thin sandy soil is almost legendary, but fewer people are aware of the personal hardship Eileen had to go through. The sacrifices she made must have been truly heart rending and yet she bore them to be of Divine service. Few of us are tested in this way; through Eileen's great strife an unshakeable strength of character was forged capable of leading the whole Findhorn Community with wisdom.

Part Two of this book is dedicated to ‘The Inner Voice’. These are some of Eileen's channellings from the Divine, which are very down to Earth and truly useful. She did not channel 'New Age Fluff', rather guidance you can live your life by. Although these passages are set out like poetry on the page they are easy to read, written in simple, practical, accessible language. Sometimes the lessons are uncompromising in their manner. You know that following these words of wisdom will lead you to your highest good, but that doesn’t necessarily make them easy to take on board!

Now I’ve read The Spirit of Findhorn all the way through I keep it to hand to dip in and out of. I find Eileen's words are a steadying, strengthening influence and that reading a few of these passages helps me regain my own higher perspective when life gets choppy.

I asked for a passage that would help Bellaonline readers and opened the book here,

When change comes
it has to start from within and work out,
then it will be lasting
and nothing will be able to throw it off balance.
You can start right now working on your own inner state.

You do not have to wait for anyone else to change,
you can do your own changing
without any further delay.
Give constant thanks
that you are able to do something about it
without any hold-ups.
If there are any hold-ups
they are within yourself,
therefore you are the one
who can do something about them.

Do not sit back
and expect things to change in your life
but get into action
and do something about it.
Start from the bottom and work upward;
then you will be cleansed and purified throughout
and can start off with solid rocklike foundations
which nothing and no one can shake or destroy.

Eileen Caddy speaks for herself on the DVD 'Opening Doors Within'. So far I haven't been able to watch it without being moved to tears by her courage in the face of adversity. Do be aware that production values are quite low compared to modern films, but it is good to listen to this remarkable lady as she shares her wisdom and guides you through some of her meditations to help you tune in with your Still, Small Voice Within. If you want more of Eileen's wisdom to listen to then The Small Voice Within Double CD looks like it would be well worth the investment.