Memoirs of an Ordinary Mystic

by Dorothy MacLean, Catherine MacCoun (Editor)

Dorothy Maclean may call herself an "ordinary mystic" but in fact she has had an extraordinary life with an equally extraordinary impact. This outstanding memoir tells the exciting story of her journey from being part of the British secret service during World War II to co-founding the fabled Findhorn Foundation spiritual community in northern Scotland and subsequently becoming a spiritual teacher much in demand around the world for her down-to-earth insights and wisdom. Her work with the inner forces of nature is of seminal importance in our age of global climate change and environmental challenge, offering hope for our future. Told with honesty and modesty, it is the record of one of the most significant and loving spiritual figures of our time.

Genres: Spirituality, Memoir, Nature

266 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2010

Reviews

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though Dorothy MacLean certainly led an extraordinary ordinary life, the emphasis in her memoir is really on her connection with the Divine and specifically the Devas (plant spirits) that she connected with and that influenced the founding of the intentional community of Findhorn. In fact, whenever possible she prefers to simply quote the messages she received from her meditations. In fact, that is mostly what the appendixes consist of and what took me such a long time to get through. From an idyllic childhood to an adventurous young adulthood working for the British secret service during World War II and marrying an enigmatic man to setting on a spiritual vocation, Dorothy is mostly self-effacing. She most wants to convey the importance of letting the Divine guide our actions and connecting to the natural world. She does take the opportunity as the longest living member of the trio of Findhorn founders of having the last word in response to errors she perceives in their respective autobiographies. Though she was not at Findhorn when I was there and has often been the most elusive of the three founders, I have long felt a connection with her due to our shared hometown of Guelph, Ontario and her emphasis on the spirits of the natural world. Her memoir was interesting but not as engaging and in-depth as I had hoped for.

Book Pairings:
For the Guelph connection of another well-traveled woman: Little by Little by Jean Little.

For more on the spiritual path she followed, books by her longtime friend David Spangler.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Dorothy's story about the journey to Findhorn and the development of that community and the gardens. I also enjoyed reading about Dorothy's spiritual journey and the development of her skills. She tuned into spirit guides who provided advice about gardening and growing food. Well written and very interesting. I am going to look for more books written by Dorothy.