The following tributes were published in the Rainbow Bridge, our weekly newsletter, in the two weeks following Dürten Lau’s death on 15th April 2024.

OUR DEAR DÜRTEN

In true perfect timing, during our NFA AGM on Monday 15th April, at 20.05 pm our beloved Dürten made her transition into the light. Whilst she had hoped she might be able to attend on zoom, that was not the path that she took. Instead, as we held her in our hearts conducting community business, having just released her in her Listener/Convener role, she passed over, onwards into her next journey. Being a true and inspiring pioneer of community living, it was fitting that so many were united in the Hall as the news was brought to us by Craig at 8.40 pm. And as Dürten would have wanted, we continued.

But the agenda was changed, of course. A beautiful meditation was held by Judith; in closing we circled around the centrepiece candle and her smiling beautiful photo, singing I la Luchen led by David. Her spirit was so very present as was her powerful love she had for our community – people, purpose, place.

And that love story began 31 years ago. Where to begin with Dürten’s indomitable visioning and community activist spirit? An aligned and grounded activism that benefited us all. Over the decades, she inhabited many roles, always bringing her creativity, generosity and talent for connectivity to the needs and opportunities of the present time. Sanctuary upholstery, fundraising for tractor Pumpkin, supporting EarthShare, enabling many events, celebrations and blessings ceremonies with her sense of beauty, the 50th birthday fringe, the 60th birthday week events are a few of the highlights that spring to mind.

She arrived to the Community and then served the Foundation; and, she played a key role in establishing the New Findhorn Association.

She arrived able to share her healing gifts, and brought her creative artistry to Park Homecare, Park Focaliser, Cullerne focalising, NFA as Councillor and LC, the Visitor Centre; Listening and Convening, connecting and respecting came naturally to Dürten.

Our community has been blessed in a myriad of ways by Dürten’s heart and soul commitment, to draw out the best from us, and nurture a compassionate path. May we each follow her lead.

Loved and cherished by so so many, and will be deeply missed.

Annie Crawford and Mari Hollander

A favourite of Dürten’s, read out at the beginning of NFA AGM.

LEAP OF FAITH

Standing before a fork in the road
there is not a right answer
or truth cast in stone,
there are choices and plans and desire,
there is the heart of fire and twist of fate,
there is the unveiling of who you are
and who you are becoming.
This I have found after bargaining with my hopes
and my destiny.
There is only a still quiet voice within
that tells me trust what you know
and then surrender,
leap if you must, let your wings unfurl
let your angels play catch.
We drink dreams from a sliver of moon.

(Wendy L Brown 2007)

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From Dürten’s Family

The sparrowhawk

Rode with proud bravery through the open plains, a sparrowhawk well on the gloved hand. The feathers were white like the glimmering snow and his eyes so clear as the calm sea.

Fly, my sparrowhawk, I losen your hood and strap, you were sitting so calm on my gloved hand, and now you climb up into cloudy heights that my sight loses you. I cannot scry you anymore.

Take good care of us from the cloudy heights. I know deep in me I will never scry you again. And I remember your feathers white like the snow and your eyes so clear like the calm sea.

(Translation by Fabienne Lau-Osswald of “Der Sperber”, a song which we sang during the funeral. Music: Thomas Denig, lyrics: Gabriele Böttcher)

— Fabienne und Hinrich Lau

Du kannst jetzt Dein Ändern leben! (Now you can live your changing!)
R. M. Rilke

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From Mark Anderson

I was very sad to learn of Dürten’s passing on Monday. On behalf of the Foundation, I wanted to acknowledge and honour Dürten’s passion and commitment to our collective work, including her many, many contributions to the work of the Foundation for so many years. She has been and will continue to be an inspiration to us, and we will miss her deeply.

Mark Anderson, for all of us in Findhorn Foundation who loved Dürten so much.

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From Mary Inglis

One day some years ago, walking home after an autumn morning meditation in the Sanctuary, you and I came across a spider’s web in the shape of an angel, outlined in tiny minute dewdrops that were catching the morning sunlight.

A magical presence, iridescent, a thing of beauty, a doorway to wonder. The spider hadn’t set out to weave an angel into the world. It was just doing its spider thing, strand by strand, living its spider life.

You too wove a web, a web of connections and caring, just doing your Dürten thing, strand by strand, living your Dürten life.

And now we see it, your Dürten web, lit up by light, dewdrops of iridescence, a thing of beauty and a doorway to wonder, in the shape of an angel.

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From Mike Scott

I heard the news of Dürten’s passing and read the many inspiring pieces about her in the Rainbow Bridge. I want to add two things –

Dürten was the most wonderfully easy person to be with. I always felt simply accepted by her. There were no boundaries to cross or hurdles to navigate. It was easy – and deep. What a gift that was.

And secondly, looking at Dürten’s birth and death dates I am reminded that Eileen died on her birthday. Eileen had to leave on someone’s birthday and her soul chose one of the most grounded and powerful people she knew, a spiritual colleague whose birthday perhaps also gave an extra warmth of light and
power for the onward journey. At least I like to think so. Dürten was one of Eileen’s caring team during the last years of Eileen’s life and was a wonderful friend to her and caring presence in Cornerstone.

And cornerstone was what she, Dürten, was too.

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From Sass Campbell

Simply Dürten

Some simply
Show the way
With welcoming
Warmth of heart
Twinkle of eye
Firm embrace
Of what is happening
In the moment

Saying yes
Saying no
Saying don’t know
With charity

Dürten
Thank-you
Thank-you
Thank-you

Some simply
Show the way.

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From Laura Pasetti

This is how I want to remember you, full of joy, enthusiasm, and love, so much love for our community. When you approached me for the 55th anniversary and we spoke about the possibility of a play, I didn’t know that that experience would shape my path to come. Thank you Dürten for believing in me, for trusting me, for teaching me about my value and for giving me your friendship which I will cherish for the rest of my life. I met you in 1995 and realised immediately how special you were. You will always be a star above my head along the path. Until we meet again, safe journey my friend!

With love and gratitude, Laura.

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To Dürten beloved friend from Ruby Worth

Light Bringer
Light Singer
Light Filled lover of our Community
I thank you

For shining each of our lights the
brighter by your smile
Your lyrically full voice and easily
flowing laughter

Engaging questions and listening love
You held our community in its
fullness, in your big, beautiful arms and radiant heart
You were the beacon of what a full force of work as love in action can gift upon this earth Magnificent being Dürten.

I have blissfully mischievous cellular memories of a dance we had together, practicing our flying angels in a contact duet one workshop in the Universal Hall,
Flying as we were from floor to each other’s pelvis’s/feet through air and wild laughter awe struck with the delight of feeling flight
You are a real flying angel now
Dürten Darling Dürten.

You sang light as a daily practice
By seeing the light in others and magnifying it, bringing it forth and radiating it out all the Brighter for this noting, you sang the song of OUR LIGHT for all of us to hear I will always treasure the way your voice would ring out “Helllloooo Rrrrrrroooooby” How you would always have something to praise, to celebrate, to encourage in me. Thank you Dürten, singer of light.

I am, We are, M’WE are all a part of this mystery
How to know and feel you now?
I will know and feel you through the porousness of my skin
As I breath in the love of your new invisibility
And breath out your glorious divinity
As I rise up in light and love to you My glorious friend
Beloved beyond any end

I will miss you too
And I will also feel in time that you have become m’we
And I will always dance with you
Always love you

Your dear friend,

Rrrrrroooooooby

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From Susanna Michaelis

Your Passing Gift
for Dürten

the soul said,
“It is time,
beloved one,
it is time.”

Held by your community,
blessed and loved,
you stepped down
and passed on,

the timing
your passing gift.

We were together,
holding you,
holding each other,

in our loss,
in our grief,
in our love,
for you.

Your sweet presence,
your huge love,
filled our hearts,
filled the Hall

as we sang
your extraordinary light,
the light which lives on
in our hearts.

Thank you
beloved Dürten.

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From Liz Rogers

Sixteen years ago, I left Findhorn to return to the US. Dürten travelled with me, helping me to schlep 16 boxes and suitcases by train, rental car and then by boat. We sailed on the Queen Mary II from Southampton to New York, and I still have the labels on some of my packing boxes.

I wish I had access to the glamorous photos we took of ourselves, swanning around the decks of the ship, but I am moving house this week and everything is packed up. But I found this photo on Facebook, when Dürten visited me a few years later on one of her sabbaticals. Here we are on a bench in the Quaker Meeting House in Putney, Vermont.

Dürten midwifed me through so many important transitions in my life, from challenging me to come more fully into my own as a singer, to holding one of the chuppah poles during my first wedding at Cluny. She was a force of nature and had more integrity in her little finger than most of us can hope to gain in a lifetime. She taught me to open my mind to greater possibilities than I could imagine, and I think she did that for all of us and for the community as a whole. Her passing is a seismic shift in the history of this beloved community and I know many of us will be reeling for some time to come.

I love you Dürten. Go well on your next journey.

with love for us all, Liz

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From Dominic Stuart

Thank you Dürten.

After the wonderful Celebration of Dürten and all the human contact, I walked back up to the Green Burial Ground. The tomb was boarded over.

Two women were seated on a bench chatting quietly. I half expected the boards to open, and Dürten to rise again. She didn’t.

What did happen was I knelt on the Earth next to the grave, and stayed for a long time. The two women became silent. The sense of communion and community was palpable, peaceful and beautiful.

Each time someone close passes, their expanded, free soul feels massively near. It restores my faith, and, with Dürten especially, reminds me of her extraordinary generosity and fusion with spirit – her focused kindness, service, and voice which still rings in my ears. What an inspiration and gift!!

Then I hugged with the two women and walked back to the Village across the dunes.

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The photographs above were provided by Mark Richards, Geoff Dalglish, Cornelia Featherstone, Esther Klinger, Liz Rogers, Mary Inglis.