Eileen Caddy speaks candidly about
the personal events leading up to the co-founding of Findhorn
Opening Doors Within
Ironwood Productions 2005
Findhorn Press
DVD 60 minutes, $24.99
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Findhorn
community co-founder Eileen Caddy speaks about the day in 1952 when she
first meditated and heard the “small still voice within” which calmly
told her, “Be still and know that I am God” in
Opening Doors Within. The
hour-long video turns out to be part interview with Caddy, and part
Caddy leading meditations. In the segments entitled “The Passage” and
“Dark Night,” Caddy speaks candidly about the personal events leading up
to the co-founding of Findhorn, which even includes a suicide attempt on
her part. But instead of a biography about Caddy, the film (directed by
Kurt Mann) turns to Caddy leading several meditations on the power of
love.
In the interview segments, Caddy is quite charming regarding her
everyday reactions to what would become the legendary Findhorn community
in Northeast Scotland. Her conclusion upon first seeing the land: “What
a dump!” Her words when a visitor implored her to learn to love herself:
“What rubbish!”
Eventually, Caddy reveals, she did learn to love herself
– which was the equivalent of seeing God within her. In fact, she
suggests a tool for dealing with someone you “can’t stand” – by silently
saying “I love you, I bless you, I see the divinity in you.” She
promises this will change your perception of the person, without
actually having to try to change the person yourself.
Caddy teaches from self-love, all is possible, especially healing. She
leads the viewer through meditations, first learning to accept oneself
and feeling love for oneself. From this reference point, it is then
possible to heal a challenging situation with a difficult person through
another guided meditation. Caddy then very responsibly leads a
meditation where one takes these transforming powers of love and heals a
region of the world that is having difficulties and conflict. World
peace starts with yourself!
Throughout, there are calming images courtesy of
directors of photography Dale Robert Myrand and Bob Gilbert. The music
for the meditations by Ron Clearfield is for the most part lovely, but
does veer a bit to the dramatic side. Finally, we learn in the video
what has also been echoed by blues legend Reverend Gary Davis: “I am the
light of this world.” Through this light is much healing power which
these gentle meditations unlock.
Review by Diane Saarinen
