Where Findhorn Meets Center Parcs
An article presenting an exciting new project, by Mark Hayhurst
In the 21st century, every one of us is deluged with information of all kinds, much of it instructional or imperative – what to eat, what to wear, what to do and what to think. How much of what we see and hear is unadulterated by spin, marketing hype and hidden agenda? If we can marvel at the power of the media to entertain, to inform and to richly record every facet of current human existence, we also harbour our concerns that we can retain our freedom and integrity of thought in the face of such invasive and pervasive power. More than the concern for retaining our own objectivity, we fear much more for the minds of our children who have been born into and are growing up in a society of instant gratification – instant entertainment from TVs and PlayStations, food (sometimes nourishment) from a microwave and education too often pre-packaged and itself tainted by commercialism.
Yet this is the world in which we live and it is growing and setting its roots deeper every day. The influence and power of the media grows unabated. Extremes of behaviour and protest against it – eco-warriors and anti-globalisation riots - remain newsworthy because they are just that, extremes. There is little in between to help the ‘average’ citizen of our western society keep a foot in each world, an objective eye on what is real and a firm grip on helping guide the values and beliefs of their children. Our children’s imagination has been emasculated by Hollywood, stories told that have no root and no message. Might we be justly concerned today that our children are strong enough to develop their own thoughts and come to their own beliefs? In Britain especially nobody doubts that the traditions of the community and the respect for elders and peers have been eroded almost to extinction over recent generations. Yet our children are the inheritors of our society and the educators of future generations, guardians of our culture and our lands.
To address these issues and start to exert practical and sustainable resistance to the spreading numbness of this universal stupor, we need to live in both worlds. We need to offer an opportunity to experience, with immersion, the traditional activities and practices of our culture and of other cultures. To ease the suburban citizen into an environment where they catch a glimpse of true richness, to plant a seed and see it sprout and which can then grow into a greater consciousness, pushing aside the weeds that have accumulated through a lack of awareness and intent. This consciousness can then spread and a metamorphosis can begin.
Akanatura is the vision of one way to help bring this change about. Essentially a short-stay eco-tourism village community, Akanatura’s magical appeal ignites a spark in children and adults. It is an environment with comforts not so alien to their version of reality yet exposing all who visit to a wide range of activities and traditional practices from bushcraft to storytelling. Akanatura combines the grounded ethos of Findhorn with the practical approach of Center Parcs and with a pinch of the magic of Lothlorien in the mix too, designed to a scale which rapidly establishes a community that unites all who enter. Yet this is no plastic theme park, it is a sacred place, established with integrity and care, built with quality and love. It is a structured environment that promises and delivers, even exceeding expectations.
This is the essence of the vision - an ambitious £5m project that requires the right mix of commercial know-how and grounded planning to bring the concept to reality. A well-developed outline brief exists and the next stages are strengthening the management team, identifying suitable sites and obtaining further financial backing. All this requires energy, clarity of purpose and a determination to succeed. If you have these and are interested in being a part of this exciting project please contact the author below.
If you have comments, feel you have something to contribute or would like to find out more about the Akanatura project – please contact Mark Hayhurst on 020 8398 9308 or email mark.hayhurst [at] akanatura [dot] com.
Mark Hayhurst is married with four children and a dog, lives in Surrey and keeps a foot in both worlds.
