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Toby came into contact with Sri Aurobindo & The Mother as a teenager in the Netherlands and quickly became involved with the Sri Aurobindo Auroville Society and Auroville International Netherlands. From that early point on, his life path was made of a series of significant points which finally connected and found their meaning when he settled in Auroville in 2006. His professional career as a CEO in Finance and with Dutch water companies gave him skills that he now brings to Auroville’s town planning and water service groups. He sees Auroville as ‘a spiritual creation’ whose elements ‘have a spiritual place and meaning’.

AgniJata (Katia) came to Auroville from Russia with her two children and has been an Aurovilian for the past 20 years. She writes: ‘Auroville for me is the place of intense growth and transformation in the loving hands of the Divine Mother. The challenging and interesting process of inner growth here is reflected in the fast changes in matter. I came here in 2004 to participate in this divine-human-material experiment and I have never been disappointed. It was hard, even painful sometimes, but each time the light found behind the darkness confirmed that this is the right choice for me – to be an Aurovilian.’

We are very pleased to start our Art for Land series of articles ‘Conversation with an Artist’ with this sharing by Auroville artist Pierre Legrand. In it, Pierre presents his unique path of creation, intersecting art with the spiritual. Starting with his creative tinkerings as a child, through his studies in Paris, his exhibitions in Europe and India, Pierre provides insights into his artistic research including the invention of his ‘alphabet’ and his discovery of ‘the little things’. The past year has been one of an unexpected harvest in his evolving creative sea. Speaking about his voyage – he says: ‘The first image which comes to my mind is that of Colombus in the middle of the Atlantic being asked about his journey. What could he say ?…’

Over the past eleven years, Art For Land has become a respected showcase for the works of Auroville artists and friends of Auroville. Our new AFL exhibition ‘The Golden Light’ brings together creative works from ten Auuroville and Ashram artists in diverse media in which the golden light shines through and inspires, including profound artistic interpretations of Savitri. All sales go to the Acres for Auroville campaign for acquiring Auroville’s missing Master Plan land. Viewing and purchase of many of the works by the featured artists and by the other AFL artists presented on our site is possible at Auroville’s Unity Pavilion and also online at artforland.in https://land.auroville.org/art-for-land-exhibition-the-golden-light/

The Mother’s New Year messages provide a sense of what is at stake with each new annual cycle. Here is a compilation of all of The Mother’s messages that she gave over the 40 years from 1933 till 1973. They are messages of guidance and direction in general, but they are also revealing in the context of the historical happenings at every new date. In 1933, the beginnings of the upcoming new World War were taking shape. Her messages in the 1940’s, ‘50s and ’60’s are in the context of the deep changes in world power relations and the menace of new wars. Her words remind us of the rôle that we humans hold and the need for our consecration and sincerity.

Every year, we derive much joy in creating a meaningful New Year’s greeting card with striking photos and quotes. This year’s beautiful card is available free of charge in Auroville’s Town Hall lobby and at the Visitors Centre Information Service. If you would like to receive the printed version of this card by post, please write to us at  lfau@auroville.org.in  We would be happy if you could share it widely with friends and supporters. We thank all the photographers – present and past – whose images adorn our card. May 2026 prove to be a year of further progress on the sunlit path, for us all, for Auroville and for its completed and unified material land base!

Anandi Zhang was born in China. A traveler at heart, she first discovered Auroville in 2014 and chose to belong to it even before setting foot here. Her love of Nature, encounters with human nature, and her aspiration to align with the Divine find expression through her poetry, stories, design, healing work, education, theatre, and more. Reconciling the dichotomies that shape human life, her process of integral growth is moulding an inner home within her. Auroville, she feels, is a home for wandering souls. This article shares the depth and creative expressions of Anandi’s path.

In Lalit’s over 25 years in Auroville, the township became both his teacher and mirror – a lifelong living curriculum through experience, churning, silence, service, and collective aspiration. Through his work in planning, youth engagement, bioregional collaboration, and institutional evolution, he now sees work as yoga, planning as consciousness, and community life as ongoing inner education. In this second and concluding article, Lalit shares his vision for personal and collective growth, and inner and outer sustainability for the next phase of Auroville’s manifestation,