There’s a magnificent new bench in the garden between Cornerstone, where community co-founder Eileen Caddy used to live, and the new Light of Findhorn Sanctuary. It’s not only beautiful, it has a deep purpose.
By David Harrison
Ever since I watched the film ‘A United Kingdom’, I have dreamt of us having a Peace or Clearing Bench in our community – a place where two people who have maybe ‘lost sight’ of each other, can come together to (re)connect through clearing whatever it is that has led to their disconnection.
The scene that brought the inspiration was towards the end of the film, when an uncle and nephew who had become divided by their differing views on the route to independence for Botswana, come together to share and clear their differences. This happens with them as they sit on a log, under a tree, looking out over the savannah. The sense for me was that the setting – grounded in nature – supported them in having the conversation that they needed to have.
David Harrison
I’ve had the dream for a few years now, but it was only when I saw a poster for a Chunky Bench Making Workshop, put on by the Findhorn Hinterland Trust, that I could see a way of bringing it to reality.
I am so grateful that when I approached Jonathan Caddy with the idea to use the workshop as an opportunity to build the Bench, he responded positively, and in the weeks leading up to the workshop, we explored the idea more deeply, including Steven, the co-leader of the weekend.
And then it was the weekend of the workshop. Twelve of us, with a wide range of experience of working with wood, came together at the Hinterland Hub, with four planks of sequoia wood and an enthusiasm to build a bench together. Jonathan invited me to introduce my idea for a Peace or Clearing Bench, and I was touched by how quickly people picked up on the idea, and the enthusiasm they showed for the project.
So, why am I referring to it as a ‘Peace or Clearing Bench? In my mind, I have always been calling it a Peace Bench, but in my time here, I’ve come to realise that the word ‘peace’ has different connotations for different people, and for some it may actually be an obstacle to using the bench (and we don’t want that!).
Maria Arper suggests that conflict is naturally present – obviously to a whole range of degrees – when two or more come together. Some we naturally mediate within and between ourselves as we go along. Some reach a stage where we have lost sight of each other to such an extent that we need (at least) a third party to find a way back to listening to and understanding each other. Somewhere in between on this continuum, is a place where we need to clear some disagreement or upset which, without attention, could end up as further disconnection.
Hence ‘Clearing’ – clearing out the issue(s) that can get in the way of our connection, and our ability to be healthily in community with each other. I’m aware that there are a whole variety of models for Clearing, and it may be that you already have one that works for you. Great. If you don’t, the model that I have been using comes from Deborah Benham, who made it a part of the culture at Newbold House. In time, we’ll have copies of this available at or near the Bench, but for now you can find them at Conflict resilience Group | New Findhorn Association (or more directly at Clearing procedures in 9 steps – for webpage.pdf – Google Drive).
I think the bench is quite beautiful. The wood comes from the Redwood tree that had to be cut down outside Cornelia and Sylvia’s home near the Universal Hall. It has a stunning grain and pink heartwood (yes, we learnt about the biology of trees as well over the weekend!), which looks even better now it has a protective layer of polish. And it’s also the teamwork with which we created it over the weekend (no single one of us could have done it by ourselves) that for me takes it even deeper.
To me, conflict is not in itself a problem, it’s about what we do with it. It’s about how we work with it – do we become entrenched in fixed positions, or do we use it to gain clearer understanding and move forward with even greater depth?
There will always be the need for supported conversations, mediation and whole group processes – and it doesn’t always have to get to that stage. If we can catch things early, and reach out to each other to clear things, we can get to what is truly important so much quicker.
And now we have another place for this – a beautiful Peace or Clearing Bench, under the Hornbeam tree near Cornerstone (as you look down from the deck of the Light of Findhorn Sanctuary). It’s been made with locally sourced wood, and the hands and hearts of a wonderful group of people, who came together to make a ‘Chunky Bench’, and ended up creating something so much more. Thank you all SO much.
Story of the new Peace and Clearing bench
There’s a magnificent new bench in the garden between Cornerstone, where community co-founder Eileen Caddy used to live, and the new Light of Findhorn Sanctuary. It’s not only beautiful, it has a deep purpose.
By David Harrison
The scene that brought the inspiration was towards the end of the film, when an uncle and nephew who had become divided by their differing views on the route to independence for Botswana, come together to share and clear their differences. This happens with them as they sit on a log, under a tree, looking out over the savannah. The sense for me was that the setting – grounded in nature – supported them in having the conversation that they needed to have.
David Harrison
I’ve had the dream for a few years now, but it was only when I saw a poster for a Chunky Bench Making Workshop, put on by the Findhorn Hinterland Trust, that I could see a way of bringing it to reality.
I am so grateful that when I approached Jonathan Caddy with the idea to use the workshop as an opportunity to build the Bench, he responded positively, and in the weeks leading up to the workshop, we explored the idea more deeply, including Steven, the co-leader of the weekend.
And then it was the weekend of the workshop. Twelve of us, with a wide range of experience of working with wood, came together at the Hinterland Hub, with four planks of sequoia wood and an enthusiasm to build a bench together. Jonathan invited me to introduce my idea for a Peace or Clearing Bench, and I was touched by how quickly people picked up on the idea, and the enthusiasm they showed for the project.
So, why am I referring to it as a ‘Peace or Clearing Bench? In my mind, I have always been calling it a Peace Bench, but in my time here, I’ve come to realise that the word ‘peace’ has different connotations for different people, and for some it may actually be an obstacle to using the bench (and we don’t want that!).
Hence ‘Clearing’ – clearing out the issue(s) that can get in the way of our connection, and our ability to be healthily in community with each other. I’m aware that there are a whole variety of models for Clearing, and it may be that you already have one that works for you. Great. If you don’t, the model that I have been using comes from Deborah Benham, who made it a part of the culture at Newbold House. In time, we’ll have copies of this available at or near the Bench, but for now you can find them at Conflict resilience Group | New Findhorn Association (or more directly at Clearing procedures in 9 steps – for webpage.pdf – Google Drive).
To me, conflict is not in itself a problem, it’s about what we do with it. It’s about how we work with it – do we become entrenched in fixed positions, or do we use it to gain clearer understanding and move forward with even greater depth?
There will always be the need for supported conversations, mediation and whole group processes – and it doesn’t always have to get to that stage. If we can catch things early, and reach out to each other to clear things, we can get to what is truly important so much quicker.
And now we have another place for this – a beautiful Peace or Clearing Bench, under the Hornbeam tree near Cornerstone (as you look down from the deck of the Light of Findhorn Sanctuary). It’s been made with locally sourced wood, and the hands and hearts of a wonderful group of people, who came together to make a ‘Chunky Bench’, and ended up creating something so much more. Thank you all SO much.