Reflections

Reflecting on the narrative of my life has opened my eyes to the power of stories and the sometimes personal cost of the story we have come to believe that makes us who we are. Through a compassionate examination of our personal narrative we may come to see elements of our story that no longer serve us and that may in fact be limiting and holding us back. I have learned to release those parts of my story that were limiting - freeing me of their influence and negative effects. I have in essence learned how to be present in a new everchanging narrative that frees me to be a more authentic presence for my family, friends, collegues, and clients - my encircled life.

Here I will add my reflections on being a Celebrant, what I have experienced, learned, and how it has influenced the ever-changing narrative of my life.

Easing a loss with the very young through Ceremony and Ritual

Recently I was asked by a young widow to create and officiate a funeral for her 35-year-old husband who died suddenly and unexpectedly from an undiagnosed cancer. This woman had two young boys, 2 ½ and 4 years of age. I asked her if she wanted to include her boys in

The Hero’s Return: Celebrating a New Life in Recovery

For those who suffer from a chronic substance use disorder (CSUD), and are incapable of being honest with themselves, there are usually only three eventual outcomes – prison, institutions, or death. These people become victims of their disease. Some CSUD sufferers however find another path – that of recovery. These people

Silken Purses from Sow’s Ears: Discovering wellness in chronic disease through ceremony and ritual.

The saying, “You cannot make a silk purse from a sow’s ear” is derived from a 16th century Scottish proverb meaning that you cannot make something good out of something that is naturally bad. Anyone suffering from a chronic illness, for example; arthritis, asthma, cancer, COPD, Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, kidney

Rituals Against Relapse: Using ceremony and ritual as an affirmation of recovery.

One Saturday night, during the holidays in 2007, Joey B. went out to his favorite bar to have a couple of drinks. He remembers talking to the bartender when he first arrived but then nothing at all after that. “The next memory I have is of waking up in a hospital,

How I came to be a Celebrant

My journey to becoming a Celebrant began a long time ago with a question that I intentionally posed to the Universe – “How can I live a more compassionate life?” The Universe answered me probably many times - though I missed most of those answers because I was too busy, or