Follow the Magic
Written by Terry Gilbey CEO
Traigh Bhan retreat house
We’ve just completed our second week of holding our new Spirit of Iona experience and the initial response has been fantastic. During the week, participants are encouraged to connect deeply with themselves and tune in to their intuition and higher guidance, connect deeply with nature and the environment, and connect deeply with each other by contributing authentically and thoughtfully to the group. When asked what they most appreciated about their week, one person wrote:
“[There is] so much I could say … Being on Iona, the calm environment, beautiful surroundings, and the time and space given to allow a bond to arise in the group.”
It is amazing to witness just what is possible for people when the unrelenting distractions and noise of day-to-day life is quieted and they are invited to open to Spirit within.
Beach close to Traigh Bhan
In thinking of Iona, I am reminded of a comment someone shared with me this week. They described how they find time spent on Iona to be “magical”. I was struck by their choice of descriptor. What does it mean when we describe something as “magical”? Often it is a way for us to put to words an experience that feels somehow extraordinary or otherworldly, one that taps into a part of us that is mysterious, mystical and transcendent. And similar to the moments of Awe that we discussed last month, magical moments elevate and attune us to our own inner spirit and offer us a sense of ‘completeness’ that we yearn for. They provide spiritual resonance that is likely missing from our fast-paced, high-stress, technologically-mediated lives.
In the early-to-mid 1900’s, prominent social theorist Max Weber put forth an influential idea that described how the rationalisation and intellectualisation that characterises modernity would ultimately result in “the disenchantment of the world”. Weber theorised that there would be a transition away from animism – a belief that attributes a living soul to plants and nature and looks to supernatural forces to explain phenomena – and toward a worldview increasingly reliant on scientific reasoning, structured religions, and bureaucratic organisation. In essence, he believed that once everything became knowable and controllable, there would be a disappearance of mystery. Interestingly, the original German expression Weber used for “the disenchantment of the world” can be translated as “the elimination of magic from the world”, or “the de-magification of the world”.
Sunrise over the Isle of Mull viewed from Traigh Bhan
In recent decades, Weber’s theory and its philosophical ramifications have been avidly studied by scholars that have generated lengthy discussions of what Weber meant by disenchantment and even more, the power and opportunity inherent in re-enchantment, or “reclaiming” enchantment. Regardless of the academic debate, enchantment may be the antidote for the malaise and disassociation rampant in today’s society and a way to support human flourishing. Anecdotally, the idea that we are living in a disenchanted world seems to quickly resonate with many, as does the invitation toward re-enchantment. As one author writes:
“Enchantment is a feeling of being connected in an affirmative way to existence; it is to be under the momentary impression that the natural and cultural worlds offer gifts and, in so doing, remind us that it is good to be alive.”
“Enchantment is a feeling of being connected in an affirmative way to existence; it is to be under the momentary impression that the natural and cultural worlds offer gifts and, in so doing, remind us that it is good to be alive.”
The one area in modern society that may feel particularly ‘disenchanted’ is the workplace. Ironically, organisations often aspire to engage the hearts and minds of their employees, while completely excising and overlooking the role –and language – of Spirit, intuition, and even ‘magic’. Just recently I was reviewing a leadership resilience model that emphasises the balance of rational intelligence (IQ), emotional intelligence (EQ), and body/physical intelligence (PI), with no consideration at all for Spiritual Intelligence (SQ). And yet, Spiritual Intelligence is the realm of purpose, values, perspective and intuition, and critical for true resilience and well-being. It is the missing link!
Sandy beach on the Isle of Iona
At the Findhorn Foundation, we openly and actively engage the Spirit as part of our essential work duties and mindset. Through daily team meditations we come into greater coherence with ourselves and each other. Taking time for regular check-ins and authentic sharing allows us to truly see one another and embrace our diversity. By focusing on co-creation with nature and considering both ordinary and non-ordinary partners and stakeholders, we seek wisdom of a different kind. And by using attunement, we engage higher guidance and intuition in creating solutions, solving problems, and making ethical decisions that are Spirit-led and data-informed. In all of these ways, we are open to the synchronicities, insights and mysteries of an enchanted world.
Our educational experiences are designed to share our knowledge and skills so that you, too, can engage with and learn from an enchanted world. Ultimately, our mission is to bring the three principles of Inner Listening, Co-Creation with Nature, and Work-As-Love-In-Action to people and organisations so that we can help re-enchant a disenchanted world. We know that it is only by engaging true human spirit that human and collective potential is realised.
View towards Mull
Enchantment is a perspective and a mindset; a willingness to embrace the unexplainable while venturing beyond oneself to see the interconnectedness of all things. When we allow ourselves to feel enchanted, we open to Spirit in our lives and choose to trust the experiences and insights in our life that may be hard to explain, but somehow just feel ‘right’.
If you are struggling with disillusionment or feeling disconnected, I encourage you to find a way to reclaim enchantment in your life (or in your job!). Take a lesson from the Findhorn Foundation vehicles themselves which say
‘Follow the Magic’. In so doing, you will be uplifted by the wonder and delight of the everyday miracles in your life.
