Farewell Nimbus. And thank you.

16th October, 2025
by Nina Jankelson | 11 Min Read
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Nimbus in the flowers in June 2015
Jon Howell

It’s with sadness that we share that Nimbus - one of the Barn’s beloved cats alongside Cirrus - has died. 

Nimbus was a long-standing and cherished member of the Barn community whose presence was keenly felt during retreats over the last 15 years - he would accompany us to morning movement in the vegetable garden overlooking the valley, join us on meanders up to the polytunnels, stretch out in the grass behind the Barn, offer a cherished cuddle. The experience of a lap being ‘chosen’ by Nimbus was an oft-repeated highlight of a retreatant’s week. 

Nimbus had been ill with heart-failure and his health had deteriorated over the last six months. On Friday, after a retreat-free day spent with the Barn team, Nimbus curled up under the honeysuckle at the front of the building and passed away. We gently brushed the dust from his fur and placed him in the earth beneath the prayer flags at the back of the Barn. We buried him with gifts of flowers and food, Luci the Barn gardener offered him a metta blessing, and Philip, a volunteer coordinator, a mantra. The next day, we planted 15 daffodil bulbs on his grave, one for every year of his life.  

Browse a selection of your Nimbus memories, pictures - even an audio meditation inspired by him, plus his starring role in a special cat meditation.

 

Nimbus - a meditation by retreatant Ming

Dear lovely Barn team,

I was moved to read your gentle obituary for Nimbus. When I saw him last Christmas I could feel the age in his bones and how stoically and fiercely he was facing old age. When I first came to The Barn in 2019 he still had his young sting - he expected to be approached on his own terms and yet that was never a question of standoffishness, only a requirement of respect.

And yet, the last few times I saw him at The Barn, it was as if he’d transformed. Or maybe I had. I remember one early spring in particular he greeted me on arrival by stretching himself up my leg, asking to be held. It was like greeting an old friend. Before we gathered to sit I’d leave my coat out for him on the fruit and veg storage boxes outside. Each time we came out of the meditation room, there he’d be, sometimes with Cirrus, curled up on it, purring.

I’ve spent many nights watching the vapour rise from my breath after we moved into evening silence as Nimbus curled into my lap. I felt as honoured to be in his presence as I am to be in the presence of The Barn.

This year has been a year of death in so many ways. My estranged father died this year. So many friends have mourned parents and loved ones. And of course that’s in the wider context of so many lives lost to conflict and climate crisis.

It’s a beautiful thing to grieve one little life, because it makes space for all the love in all the grief of all the other lives. And it’s so beautiful that Nimbus created an ongoing circle of love around him. What a great fortune that I got to experience some of that. I’m glad that his death was gentle and always surrounded with the love he was a part of.

Sending very fond love and kindness,

Jenny

Your memories

RIP Nimbus, so sad. You are a purrfect feline teacher. Being greeted by you and Cirrus after each meditation was such a joyful memory of my retreat experience

Lucie Schofield

 

Oh I’m so sorry to hear that - I can’t believe that I was there the week he and Cirrus arrived at The Barn as kittens! 

I’ll always remember him lying outside the door waiting for us all to come out from meditation. Dear Nimbus❤️

Kayla Justice

 

Aw Nimbus. He snuck into The Hermitage to keep me company earlier this year and wasn’t happy about being turfed out. ❤️

Amity Mary Gray

 

RIP Nimbus. I remember your face covered with cobwebs from prowling around.

Judy Slater

 

I am so sad to learn this. Nimbus was a very special teacher at The Barn.

Lucy Heard

 

Love you Nimbus 🐈‍⬛

Roxanne Mashari

 

Oh bless him. Glad he died peacefully x

Amanda Bringans

 

He was a sweet cat, RIP Nimbus you will be missed 💔x

Sue Fryer

Farewell Nimbus, you ridiculous beast...

Former Barn volunteer retreat coordinator Holly shares her memories of Nimbus in her blog post

Read Holly's blog
Nimbus teaches Erica about mindful working
George Tasker

The teachings of a thunder-cloud...

I’m so sorry to hear that Nimbus is no longer in charge there. How on earth will you manage without the directness of his connection to life?

I’ve been to The Barn twice: on the first occasion, in February 2013 I think, two memories stand out. The first, Nimbus told me very clearly, in entirely verbal fashion, and in the style of the thundercloud of his naming, that he was prepared to use violence if I made any attempt to stroke him while he was eating or washing. Thus the foundation of my adoration was made, and its terms were set. 

The second, a day or two later, the group had been discussing ‘mindful working’, and I was unsure as to what exactly this meant. I wandered up after breakfast into the area below the top garden, where I’d started tidying up the hedgerow. It was a glorious morning, frosty and cold, but warmed by the sun, and after some attention to trimming hazel stems I sat down on the hedgerow bank in the sunshine. Nimbus had also been enjoying the sunshine and considering a little hunting, and to my immense pleasure he came and sat on my lap for five minutes or so, fully alert, and I began to understand how ‘mindful working’ should be experienced.

I came back to The Barn in April 2023 and, to my delight, Nimbus greeted me at the door and sat on my lap before I even crossed the threshold. It was a wonderful week of weather, and we had outdoor Qigong sessions every day overlooking the valley, with Nimbus joining in most mornings in unignorable style, by sitting on people’s feet, or random sprinting in the foreground. Such a fine and gentle disruptor! And such a joyful, moody being! 

He was blessed with a rare and wonderful life  – no 'owner' to impose human rules, love and care from a handpicked choice of coordinators and a steady stream of guests in need of his alternative guidance at crucial moments. For me, he was the third coordinator, only present when certain conditions were met, a third eye, always a source of joy.

I’m sure your memories, and those of all the past coordinators, will be very comprehensive, having lived with Nimbus for longer, and I’m also sure he will have touched the lives of hundreds of pilgrims to The Barn. Hopefully you're amassing a collection fit to be put forward to ‘Great Lives’ on Radio 4.
 
I’ve attached a 2023 photo of Nimbus with one such pilgrim, Erica – he’s transmitting a similar ‘mindful working’ suggestion…

A cat, a place and people all remembered with great affection,

With love from George Tasker

Gorgeous creature ❤️

Jessica Sian

 

RIP Nimbus❤️

David Varga

 

I’m so sad to hear about Nimbus’s passing.

My task at The Barn last summer was to feed him and give him his meds. He would follow me constantly all over the place.

I would go and have my cigarette around the corner by the pOtting shed and he would come to me every time and climb up my leg as if it was a tree trunk until he reached my stomach area and would just hang on to my jacket. And when I started walking he would just continue to hang on. It would make me laugh.

When I had moments of quiet out in the sun he would immediately join me and sit on my lap. I felt a very strong connection to him and developed a lot of love and care for him while I was at The Barn.

Nimbus, you were a good cat. May you rest in peace.

Latifa

 

Although I am deeply saddened by Nimbus passing away, I'm so grateful that I got to spend a week with him in the sun one last time. There will always be a Nimbus-shaped space every time I visit The Barn. He was so lucky to have lived in such a special environment.

I would like to offer this eulogy:

I was at The Barn in June/July 2025. Nimbus was there greeting new arrivals as he often did. It was always a joy. At this retreat, whilst meditating in the front garden, Nimbus sat on my crossed legs, his body vibrating softly as the zen master shared a moment of Nirvana in the warm morning sun.

I knew this would be the last time and fully immersed myself in that present moment and said one last goodbye.

I am deeply saddened. RIP Zen Master Nimbus.

Best wishes

Andrew Willgoss

 

Barn regular Eileen remembered that Nimbus features in our Retreats at Home videos, suggesting we share it here.

Said Eileen: "Oh bless him, they do reach such an age, well-loved cats. The video that’s part of the home retreats, the morning exercise, he features heavily in that!!"

Here he is...

Oh farewell lovely Nimbus. I remember a sunrise meditation with Patti many years ago.

We took our chairs out onto the terrace overlooking the River Dart. Nimbus caught a mouse and throughout the meditation I heard him crunching through it under my chair.

What An honour. Memorable moments.

Pat MacDonald

 

I have visited The Barn 3 times. In truth, it's been an incredible sanctuary when I really did need it most, and I thank every co-ordinator and participant I've come into contact with. No less Nimbus, my ever-present shadow on my pre-dawn risings to go and catch the sunrise across the river.

He would often track my steps from the main building and gently emerge from the misty path, his slow meow joining the sounds of the distant sheep and cows and the first birds of the day.

If I return I'll certainly miss that. Thanks for the company Nimbus and godspeed :)

Pete Lake

 

So sorry to hear about Nimbus. He was such a lovely cat, and lived a long and happy life. I'd like to share this story about him.

During my retreat at The Barn, I was on laundry duty. Every morning, when I went to the utility room, Nimbus was there, perched proudly atop a pile of dirty bed sheets in the big basket.

It became our little ritual - I’d stop to pet him, play with him, and he’d make the start of my day brighter. Laundry duty never felt like a chore with Nimbus there. He always brought a smile to my face.

Rest in peace, dear Nimbus. You were loved, and you made every morning more joyful.

Warm regards,

Nata

 

I had a many encounters with Nimbus. Almost on a daily basis at The Barn.

Catching a mouse or two, or attacking me whilst applying nets to the gardens! Or Nimbus sitting on my shoes whilst doing ‘Morning movement’.

But he also spent two hours with me in my lap in the hammock once. So Nimbus was not as feisty as would let be known!

Much Love,

David xxx

 

Nimbus found my lap...
Alex Boon

Aww, I am so sorry to hear about Nimbus. he was a lovely feature of my visit earlier this year. We also lost our cat this year, a few weeks ago now. It is never the same without them. 

Anyway, I attach a painting I did of him while at The Barn. I was actually going to paint The Barn's back entrance, but he made himself comfortable on my lap so I painted him instead!

Best wishes,
Alex

A starring role for Nimbus

Here he is, purr-forming for the camera (SPOILER ALERT: this wears off), when Volunteer Retreat Coordinator Ben Murray led this feline-focused guided meditation.

If you want to rest in the middle of this, you can press the paws button...

Thank you Nimbus.

I'm so sad one of my Barn Retreat friends has passed away, I shall miss him.

I look forward to seeing him in the trees and plants and hearing his purring in the rustle of leaves.

Alive in my heart, Nimbus.

Tony Harvey

 

I am very sorry to hear about Nimbus. I only met him once, at Being and Belonging in April this year, but he left a big impression.

I will go and see the daffodils next time I come.

Rest in Power, Nimbus.

Tania

 

Oh, I’m so sorry to hear about Nimbus’s passing. That cat was a quiet companion on many of my walks — often appearing just when I needed a fellow traveller, even if I didn’t know it at the time.

He was instinctive, loving and full of empathy. He always seemed to know when to show up.

A true spirit of our community. He’ll be deeply missed.

Michelle Charles