Heart and Spirit Ceremonies
personal ceremonies that speak to the heart and touch the spirit
The Importance of Ritual & Tradition
in Family Life
Rituals and Traditions can enrich family life by providing a sense of identity, the comfort of community and the security of continuity. Indeed, studies have shown that meaningful rituals are associated with a heightened sense of personal identity among children. Rituals also provide opportunities for family learning, as older family members pass along traditions to the next generation. Family ritual says, in essence, "This is who we are."
Welcoming ceremonies for new family members, whether by birth, adoption or marriage, have existed in virtually every culture and country. Such traditions are vital for marking the entry of the new person into the family and establishing bonds and commitments. Publicly welcoming new members into our families is perhaps one of the most joyous celebrations we can share, and acknowledging our responsibilities to our children is one of the most serious commitments we can undertake.
Ceremonies provide signposts for our lives. Celebrating life's milestones together honors our past, shapes our present and molds our future.
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Weddings ~ Vow Renewals
I love life and all the mysteries and magic it brings. As an Inter-Faith Minister, I value and honor all cultures and traditions. Specifically trained in the art of ceremony, I am able to draw out the true essence of important occasions and bring meaning and purpose to these important milestones.
Creating a personalized ceremony for life’s sweet and tender moments is a process that requires deep thought and care. I take delight in helping YOU create an unforgettable moment that reflects your personal beliefs and personality. I recognize this is your time for celebration or reflections, and I would love to be a part of making your precious day uniquely your own.
A Renewal of Wedding Vows Ceremony is a beautiful way to create new beginnings for a couple that has been on the journey of marriage and partnership. Together they have learned that being married requires a strong spirit and a daily commitment that continues long after the wedding vows that brought them together as husband and wife. As a more mature couple, they have experienced what it means to truly love one another from a higher place and to dig in deep to that sacred loyalty they have for one another. There is nothing more appropriate than to gather with family and friends to recognize and celebrate the trials and triumphs as they reflect back on where they've been and how they choose to move forward. Standing together once more, making a pledge of continued commitment, could be the most intimate way to honor that sacred union. Indeed, a renewal of wedding vows ceremony is a meaningful, touching and uplifting event for you and your children, family and friends. Can you imagine a more beautiful moment than children watching their parents joining hands and hearts as they affirm the magnitude and strength of their enduring love? A Vow Renewal Ceremony is most appropriate to celebrate a special anniversary or after enduring a difficult experience.
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Pet Memorials
When a person you love dies, it's natural to feel sorrow, express grief, and expect support and comfort from friends and family. Unfortunately, the same doesn't always hold true if the one who died was your beloved pet. There are those who may trivialize, or even consider inappropriate, the grief associated with the loss of a companion animal. Nothing could be further from the truth. 
People love their pets and consider them members of their family. Animals provide companionship, acceptance, emotional support and unconditional love during the time they share with you. So when your beloved pet dies, it's not unusual to feel overwhelmed by the intensity of your sorrow. If you understand and accept this bond between humans and animals, you've already taken the first step toward coping with pet loss: knowing that it is okay to grieve when your pet dies.
A memorial service offers comfort, embraces the grieving process and acknowledges your relationship with your pet. It is a chance to celebrate the life of your pet and to remember all the wonderful times together. It's an opportunity to share stories, create a memorial space or simply treasure your memories.
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House Blessings
While the function of a house is to provide shelter, the emotional, financial and psychological aspects of being a home owner (or even renter) go far beyond that basic function. “One’s home is truly sacred space,” believes Charlotte Eulette, National Director of the Celebrant USA Foundation. It is because of the importance of one’s home identity that I am committed to helping you create a place of refuge for you and your family and all who enter into...a place of comfort and safety.
Some of the popular home ceremonies include:
- New home blessing
- Ground breaking ceremony
- Empty nest ceremony
- Home recovery ceremony
- Home and garden ceremony
- Seasonal ceremonies
These ceremonies honor the home experience and help people define what their dwelling means to them. “A home provides us with a foundation – literally and figuratively,” said Ms. Eulette. Because of its significance, people naturally want to mark home-related milestones among family and friends in an organized way,” added Ms. Eulette.
House ceremonies take place in many varieties, from formal to casual, inside and outside, within a single room or throughout the home, among close family members or an entire neighborhood, sometimes in conjunction with a move-in or move-out.
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Funerals & Memorials
"I remember when my own Grandfather passed away. He was 94 years old, and full of energy and humor! While his passing was no big surprise, I felt like his funeral service failed to fully recognize and acknowledge the goofy, cautious and magnificent man he was. We've all heard that funerals are for the living, not the dead. For me, funerals are the beginning of the healing process, yet I felt my Grandpa didn't get the send off I felt he truly deserved. I felt disappointment on top of the grief from losing such a "giant" in my world. Will his legacy continue to live on?" - Rhonda Sue
As a Minister, it became clear to me that many others may have felt these same feelings as they said their good-byes to a dear loved one.
As an Inter-Faith Minister, I honor all philosophies, beliefs and traditions - religious, spiritual, secular, inter-faith and multi-cultural. I will provide a personal, dignified end-of-life tribute to your loved one. I carefully write a ceremony and eulogy that accurately reflects the life and beliefs of the person who has passed on. You have complete final approval of the ceremony. I am able to suggest meaningful ways to honor and celebrate your loved one's life.
My goal is to do all that is necessary to create a fitting service, with compassion and care. I am inclusive and sensitive to the diverse needs of our modern families.
Let me help you honor and remember your sweet loved one with a ceremony that gives birth to healing and a living legacy that will be handed down to future family and friends.
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Here are some tips for
Creating the Perfect Ceremony
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Yours, Mine and Ours...Involving Stepchildren in Wedding Ceremonies
Here are some simple ways from the Celebrant USA Foundation to include children in the wedding cermony...and to help unify the family.
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What You Need To Know When Creating a Same Gender Commitment Ceremony
For many partners in a same gender relationship, holding a commitment ceremony is a clear decision as it enables the couple to declare their love among family and friends in a formalized manner. How to actually create one, however, may be a little less clear. "It is essential that a commitment ceremony gets to the essence of your bond," said Charlotte Eulette, National Director of the Celebrant USA Foundation. "Your partnership should be reflected in every aspect of the ceremony - from what you wear, to what is said, to the venue/location where you hold it."
Here are some suggestions on how to create a commitment ceremony that will be true to your relationship and one that you will cherish for years to come.
Announce your ceremony...any way that feels right for the two of you. Be happy and proud to print your invitation to say any of the following in describing your ceremony: A Commitment Ceremony, A Wedding Ceremony, A Union Ceremony or A Marriage Ceremony.
- Express Yourselves: Have your ceremony express in words, poetry, music and symbols how you feel about one another, your hopes and dreams for the future, your similarities and differences and the journey that brought you both together.
- Your Presentation: Both of you can enter the room together or separately to the music or song you both love. You can also have one or both of your parents or a special person in your life "present you". Your wedding Celebrant or Minister can write a presentation piece to honor this moment in your ceremony.
- Include Your Guests: In addition to your own personal vows, ask your guests to pledge their support too, by promising their love and support for your union together.
- Put It In Writing: Include the signing of a Commitment certificate in your ceremony. Your Celebrant or Minister will invite your witnesses and the two of you to sign a certificate that states in a formal way your union. Your certificate can be a beautifully designed document and can also be made larger to include the signatures of all your guests.
- Candle Lights: Candles have been used throughout the ages in many different ways. Consider them celebratory. If you would like to light a Marriage Unity Candle, go ahead! In fact, borrow any and all symbols and rituals and make them your own.
- What to Wear: Wear what makes you feel good and comfortable. Find the colors that you like and incorporate them into your ceremony, your invites, attire and decor. Have your Celebrant or Minister dress to compliment your style as well.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearsals are very important. Make sure you rehearse your ceremony, especially your entrance, the ring ceremony, the certificate signing and the recessional. Your Celebrant or Minister is an expert at this and it should be automatically included in your agreement with him or her.
- Include Something Creative and Lasting: If you are having an outdoor ceremony at your home, you might want to include a planting by your guests in your garden so that the ceremony is remembered from this day forward as love blooms!
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Tokens of Love at
Wedding Ceremonies ~
~ From Heirlooms to Leis
As couples create ceremonies that reflect who they are as individuals and as couples or families, an increasing number of them are incorporating symbols as a visible sign of their love. "Tokens of love enable a couple to take the invisible and intangible - their love and devotion for one another - and illustrate these feelings in a tangible way." said Charlotte Eulette, National Director of the Celebrant USA Foundation.
Ceremony symbols can range from traditional to dramatic to the unexpected. Here are some suggestions on how to easily and appropriately incorporate symbols into wedding ceremonies.
- Symbols That Show Your Personality. For a casual fun wedding, brides and grooms have been known to wear their favorite frocks - those that reflect their true selves; a favorite color, style, designer and even Hawaiian shirts and plastic leis. Forego the traditional wedding march in favor of Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon" or another favorite melody. Ask your guests to wear your favorite colors, or choose an unusual cake decorated to reflect your new home.
- Take Cues From Your Surroundings. Reflect the season of your marriage by using blooming flowers from a backyard garden. Your choice of location - whether a quiet garden, a dramatic hilltop or a busy public square can be a symbol of your personalities and the values you share.
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Celebrating Heritage and Traditions
in an Interfaith Wedding
One in every five weddings is an interfaith ceremony. With so many traditions, customs, beliefs, and heritages being blended like never before, it is crucial (and sometimes tricky) to honor and celebrate all that we bring to the altar without compromising the beliefs of the bride and groom. "Traditions are an essential way for us to recognize and remember our family's history and guide us for the future," said Charlotte Eulette, Director of the Celebrant USA Foundation. "When multiple faiths come together in a wedding, the ceremony is a perfect way to celebrate and honor each heritage, recognizing the importance of both faiths in this union."
Here are the do's and dont's when saying
"I Do" in an interfaith wedding.
DO
DON'T
- Step on toes: respect each family's strong ties to their own religious traditions and tactfully and carefully explain how rituals from both heritages will be included.
- Forget your guests: describe the different religious rituals in your program and provide translations when needed.
- Try to satisfy everyone: remember, the wedding ceremony is ultimately a reflection of you and your partner. Be gentle but firm when saying "no" to your families requests.
- Try to do too much: you can't replicate the entire wedding ceremonies for each tradition; your guests will be bored and your wedding ceremony will lose some of its intensity. Careful editing of the ceremony elements is key to a good ceremony.
- Give up! If you and your partner truly want an interfaith wedding, don't throw in the towel and elope because the challenge of multiple traditions and family pressures become overwhelming. You can have it both ways and start your own traditions on the first day of your new life together.
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Creating a Baby Naming Ceremony -
Just Right for You and Your Little One
The process of naming a baby doesn't necessarily end once you fill out the birth certificate in the hospital. The baby naming ceremony, one that officially welcomes a child into the world by bestowing a name to him or her, has existed in virtually every culture and every nation. "Recognizing a new life and publicly giving him or her a name is perhaps the most joyous celebration we can share with our family and friends." said Charlotte Eulette, National Director of the Celebrant USA Foundation.
Once you've decided on a name, you then need to determine when, where and how to share the news and announce the baby's arrival to the world. Here are several baby-naming tips.
- Explain the Name. There may be nothing more intimately coupled with our individuality than the name by which we are called. Names are rich with cultural and personal significance. Tell your guests what your child's name means and why you chose it - perhaps you are paying tribute to a family member or to your ethnic heritage.
- Acknowledge Ancestors. Pay tribute to great grandparents and grandparents to highlight the continuity of family bonds from generation to generation. Include a moment of reflection for those who have passed on. Ask grandparents to offer the parents some words of wisdom about raising a child.
- Make "Vows" to Your Child. You made vows to your spouse at your wedding; now is the time to make promises to your child. Share your hopes and dreams for your baby, and how you view your role as a parent.
- Include Your Child's Peers. If your child has cousins, invite them to take part in the ceremony by presenting a bouquet of flowers, a drawing, or a simple handmade gift to the baby.
- Select Godparents or Guideparents to Mentor Your Child. Explain to your guests why you've chosen these people for this important role, and ask them to publicly declare that they will help to nurture your child.
- Ask the Community to Make Pledges to Your Child and to Children Everywhere. It truly does "take a village" to raise a child, and a baby naming ceremony is the perfect time for all participants to recognize their responsibilities to the next generation.
- Set up a "wish box" - but don't ask your guests to write down generic wishes. Rather, inspire them to share something they hope to do with or teach to your child as he or she grows.
- Keep it Short and Simple. Remember, your baby's attention span is limited. To avoid too much fussing, keep the ceremony 20-25 minutes long. Any longer and you may lose the cooperation of the guest of honor!
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