From Olivia Robertson
Co-Founder, FOI

Portrait of David Durdin-Robertson
by his Aunt, Olivia Robertson on May 9, 2009

Dulce Domum. The Fair Haven.

David Alexander Durdin-Robertson passed into spirit world on the 14th April 2009. He was the only son of two Co-Founders of the Fellowship of Isis, Pamela and Lawrence Durdin-Robertson, and nephew of Olivia.

He protected Huntington Castle with his skills as a builder, renewing the foundations. Above all his beautiful, youthful and inspired wood carvings, twenty-one of them, are focal images in various shrines in the Temple of Isis. His most noted carving, made when he was eighteen, is the figure of Isis on the High Altar. She bears a watering-pot on Her head, the Hathor Crown representing harmony of Sun and Moon.

Isis Statue carved by David

photo © O. Robertson

Globally, David is known in a television documentary on the Castle on the Discovery Channel. He is shown, bearded, emerging from an ancestor's portrait. In an interview he gives an account of an out-of-the-body experience in the Castle library, surrounded by apparitions - later identified on the Channel as Druids. The Temple of Isis is shown in the film.

David's spirit presence manifested to Olivia the day after his passing. He made two resounding knocks on her door at dawn. Olivia understood that these were the traditional "Knocks for Admission" to the Egyptian Ritual of the Coming Forth by Day. This resembles the FOI liturgical Rite of Rebirth (ritual), and the Awakening of Osiris (ritual #8), and Initiation of the Pylons (ritual #1).

Of course the Ceremonies in the Temple and work of the Fellowship continue. After all, Isis goes back five thousand years and is powerfully manifesting in the New Aeon. Our Divine Mother is eternal - as are we all!

Olivia Robertson & the Irish Priesthood conducted a private ceremony for David on April 18th at the Temple of Isis, Clonegal Castle. The ritual of Dulce Domum, The Soul Returns Home, may be found here: FOI Funeral Ceremony (rite #4).

Ed. note: Our thoughts and prayers go out to Olivia Robertson and her family at this time. Sincere thanks also to Minette Quick for forwarding this letter and artwork from Olivia.