Ceremonies for Life

Have you been to a ceremony performed by a life-cycle celebrant? If not, you may have the opportunity in the near future. Celebrancy is a new  field which is gaining in popularity during these times when many people are recognizing the importance rituals have in making life more meaningful.   

I studied online with the Celebrant Foundation and Institute in New Jersey to become a life-cycle celebrant three years ago. Since April 2008 I have created and performed all kinds of ceremonies, although most of them have been weddings.

Celebrants create personalized weddings for couples who don’t want a traditional church wedding, but want something more meaningful than a Justice of the Peace ceremony. There is more to a personalized wedding than letting the bride and groom write their own vows and choose readings that reflect their beliefs. I interview couples in person and by e-mail, and use their unique story as the basis of the ceremony. Their own thoughts and feelings about each other are woven throughout each element of the wedding. Consequently, most of the ceremonies evoke laughter from the guests and participants, as well as tears!

The first public ceremony that I performed was a Wise Woman Ceremony, created for women who are going through the late mid-life changes of menopause, empty nest, job change or retirement, caring for elderly parents, and discovering a new branch on their spiritual path. Symbols for these changes included "pearls of wisdom" inside a seashell, stacking dolls tucked inside their mother (because they're always in her heart, even when they've left her home), and fresh flowers exchanged for dried - but still beautiful, and ever-lasting. The ceremony included appropriate readings, and each woman lit a candle in recognition of a new opportunity or discovery in this phase of her life.

Other life-cycle transitions that can be made meaningful with a ceremony include: the passage from adolescence into adulthood, graduations, moving to a new home, entering a new profession or a new branch on the spiritual path, and end-of-life tributes. Baby Naming or Welcoming ceremonies are a wonderful way to welcome a new baby into the community of family and friends. Instead of just a shower with gifts and games, the ceremony includes stories about the baby’s family and ancestry, and the meaning of his or her name. Usually the ceremony will also include a reading and well wishes from the guests presented in a special way.

Ceremonies can assist the healing process after a painful experience. We have all participated in memorial services and funerals which offer closure for those who grieve, and provide an essential element of the grieving process. Ceremonies can also aid the healing process for those who have gone through a divorce, a job loss, or some other personal crisis. The rituals and affirmations made in a ceremony can be the first step to the other side of the bridge, where a new and better life-phase begins.

I have done some group healing "Release and Renewal" ceremonies with Diana Friedell as the meditation leader. The first one took place at a labyrinth, where our walk into the center symbolized our release of the old, and the walk out symbolized our renewal. Subsequent Release and Renewal ceremonies have taken place at the time of the full moon, when the energy of our intentions is magnified.

Individual healing ceremonies can be created and performed for those wishing to participate in a personalized event, invite friends, and celebrate afterward.

Fees for individual ceremonies will vary depending on how much work is involved. I will estimate a fee of about $30 per hour for preparation and performance, plus mileage if travel is required.