THE ROLE OF A CEREMONIALIST
Meaningful Ceremonies for all Transitions
"To me rites of passage through life, that's a wonderful, beautiful thing."
WHAT IS A CEREMONIALIST
Rites of passage come to us in many forms and at various stages of our lives marking an important stage such as Birth, the transition from Childhood to Adulthood, Marriage or Union, Eldership and Death. Each one is an initiation into a new phase of our existence and a new way of being and each is worthy of being honoured with ritual and ceremony. As a priestess, intuitive witch, holistic therapist, guide and spiritual mentor, marking sacred rites is one of my passions and it truly is an honour to co-create space for others as they navigate transitions of all kinds. Whilst I am a proud pagan I am accepting of all faiths, beliefs, paths and tradition, it is my dream for the future is that we will all co-exist together from a space of deep respect.
For over 20 years I have lead, co-facilitated and witnessed ritual and ceremony is many forms, more recently I have been called into deathcare and funerary services and that is the focus of much of my work currently, but I am also available for other ceremonies and rites of passages as time permits. Please read down past the deathcare services to find out about other Rites.
Death comes to us all, it is the one thing that we all have in common and the more prepared we are for this final transition, the easier it may be for both the person dying and their loved ones. I believe in honouring death as a Sacred Rite of Passage that where possible should be returned into the embrace of the community or at least treated with dignity and respect where not only the dying and dead are supported but also the grieving, where people feel like they have options and are encouraged to do death the way they wish to. As a trained Death Doula and End of Life Ceremonialist I offer my services as a non medical companion to the dying and also as a support to families through the transition of loved ones and with the organisation and implementation of funerary services and rites.
My personal journey with death started at an early age living on a farm and witnessing the transitions of many animals both wild and domestic as part of the natural cycles. At the age of 12 my paternal grandparents were killed in a car accident, my maternal grandfather died suddenly when I was 16. After school I wanted to be a mortician but went on to do other things, for awhile I worked in Aged Care and witnessed deaths within the nursing home environment. Many deaths followed over the years including my fathers to terminal cancer in his early 60's, who I had the honour to nurse for 18 months and then sit with as he left his physical form on Christmas Day. I have fare-welled friends to cancer in their early 40's, mourned others who have killed themselves and have also supported friends through the loss of children. My calling to step deeper into final transitions led me to training as a Death Doula and End of Life Celebrant with the Natural Death Center, as well as my own services I am now also working with Tiare Funerals and Deathcare who provide a Holistic service in the Northern Rivers NSW. https://www.tiarefunerals.com.au/
DEATHCARE & FUNERAL CEREMONIES
Death Doula - Non Medical Support
Vigils - Grief Rituals & Ceremonies
A Death Doula offers non medical support to those nearing the end of their lives in the form of compassionate companionship. We are here to listen and to just be with the dying and to help plan final arrangements and general support in a meaningful way.
This service is in accompaniment with Health and or Hospice services who provide the medical care.
A Death Vigil may be as the person is dying or just afterwards and offers spiritual space to honour the dying and the dead. And supports those who are connected to them as they honour and celebrate their lives and grieve their passing. This may include a grief ceremony or additional grieving rites may be held on more then one occasions depending on needs.
I am also available as a ceremonialist to conduct funerary ceremonies of all kinds and am currently officiating this service through Tiare Funerals and Deathcare in the Northern Rivers, NSW. You can find out more about Tiare here: https://www.tiarefunerals.com.au/
Other Phases & Rites
Note: you will see mostly photos of women here as that is who seeks me out for the most part with the exception of Deathcare and Grief Ceremonies. However my Rites of passage services are inclusive of all genders, sexual orientations, beliefs and spiritual paths and practices, so please contact me to arrange a conversation about your needs and wishes for your own Ceremonial Rites of Passage or that of loved ones.
Blessing Way Ceremony
A Blessing Way is a celebration of pregnancy that takes place prior to birth and focuses on current well-being of the women as she prepares for Motherhood. Marked often with a gathering of circle of support that includes wisdom sharing and ceremony.
Blessing Way and Post Birth Baby Blessings Ceremonies may be seen as Spring and Summer phases of life.
Post Birth - Baby Blessing
Honouring the arrival of new life, blessing the babe and welcoming them into the world. How you choose to celebrate this beautiful phase of life is as unique as you are.
Honouring the Journey of Youth to Adulthood
The passage of youth into adult is often marked depending on belief. For example, it may be Menarch a young womans first bleed. However all youth to adult transitions may be honoured with Ceremony, Resource and Wisdom Sharing and Celebration. And are as adaptable as you are.
Often Seen as the Spring Stage of Life.
Union - The Bonds of Love
Celebration of lovers committed to marking their union with meaningful ceremony such as Hand Fasting. This is not a legal wedding as such but a marking of Love Rites.
Honouring Love in all forms and seasons regardless of age, gender and sexual orientation. LGBTIQA+
Maga between Mother & Crone
To many there is an in-between phase that links the passage from Mother to Crone and this is the stage called Maga or Empress and celebrates a sense of newness and freedom of self after the service of motherhood. It is a gateway to honouring individual needs and often comes with menopause and as such is seen as the Autumn stage of Life.
Crone or Elder
Honouring the wisdom of age, the insights and the magick gathered over a lifetime ready to be shared or simply embraced. To celebrate our Elders is to acknowledge a richness in culture that appreciates those who have reached old age and have the gift of knowledge and experience to share.
Often seen as the Winter stage of Life.