Grief

19 Mar 2023 | Funerals, Death and Dying, End of Life Planning

Intimate Celebrations

The Intensity of Grief It can be hard to say goodbye, no matter the circumstances. For a close knit family or community holding an intimate ceremony to share the grief and love can be a powerful way for grief to be witnessed in a safe space. Such was the case…

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06 Jan 2023 | Funerals, Death and Dying, End of Life Planning

The Journey of Love

My dear friend, Ankya, who recently died, shared this poem with me a few years ago. Ankya was a wise elder… she was strong, vulnerable, gorgeous, funny, inquisitive… she was authentic in every way.   The Journey of Love —Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer When my teacher told me Everything we love…

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Awkward Conversation

03 Sep 2022 | Funerals, Death and Dying, End of Life Planning

Dead Awkward Conversation

“Have you got a story burning a hole in your bottom drawer or a pile of writing that sounds better spoken? Do you want to deliver presentations without slides or are you learning to perform your poetry? Learn to combine writing with public speaking. Whatever you call your text, it is…

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29 Nov 2021 | Relationship

A Blessing for a Couple Coming Together

There were many beautifully written pieces as we engaged with the practices of the ‘Writing and Enthusiasm’ seriously playful, creating writing session this week. I’d like to share this one written by participant, Simone Wilkie. A Blessing for a Couple Coming Together This life will be a dance together, sometimes…

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Eulogy

09 Jun 2021 | Ceremonies

A Eulogy to Remember

When I was learning to be a funeral celebrant over 20 years ago, one of my favourite books was, A Book of Eulogies; edited with commentary by Phyllis Theroux. (Scribner 1997). There are many yellow sticky markers throughout the pages noting favourite phrases and intriguing perspectives. I was inspired by the…

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02 Jun 2021 | Ceremonies

Dance: Moving to the Deep Rhythms of Your Life

A Reading by Oriah “Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance, the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart, and I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet and the stars overhead make my…

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12 May 2021 | Ceremonies

Look to This Day!

A Blessing by Kalidasa Look to this day! For it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course Lie all the verities and realities of your existence: The bliss of growth The glory of action The splendour of beauty For yesterday is but a dream And tomorrow only a…

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Death is your real nature

02 Jan 2021 | Funerals, Death and Dying, End of Life Planning

Death is Your Real Nature

The statement ‘death is your real nature’ may make no sense. Yet, this concept is well-known in Vedic traditions offering great comfort to the living and dying.  It is said that the one of the main fears for humans is the fear of death. Not death itself, rather the thoughts…

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wedding ceremony readings

20 Dec 2020 | Weddings

Inspiring Wedding Ceremony Readings

Wedding ceremony readings come in all shapes and forms and it can be a challenge to source one that speaks to you or the couple 100%. For a start, people use and understand the word love in many ways – love for another, love for the world, love for life,…

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10 Dec 2020 | Weddings

Peter and Lauren’s wedding

Peter and Lauren had a beautiful afternoon for their rehearsal – blue skies and a cool breeze. Lauren’s mum, Angela, and her father, Derek, were going to walk with Lauren from the car to where the guests would be seated. At this point, her father would shake hands with Lauren’s…

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