A ceremony is an action to honour an event. It could be a pregnancy, the start of menstruation, the end of menstruation, retirement, engagement, marriage, a new home – you name it, you can create a ceremony for it. Helping a client create a ceremony can help them move on, travel through transition and make positive changes. These are the questions and prompts I ask when I’m helping someone create a ceremony which you might like to use:
1 I WOULD LIKE THE CEREMONY TO:
Make and mark a transition – Honour and celebrate something – Enable healing (of yourself, someone else, an animal, a place) – Strengthen and solidify relationship – Remember – To express beliefs and hope for the future
2 WHO WILL WITNESS THE CEREMONY?
3 PREPARING FOR THE CEREMONY
Where would you like the ceremony? Do you want any special clothing?
4 OPENING THE CEREMONY
Candle lighting – Music – Using essential oils or incense – Blessing – Stating intent of the ritual
5 MAIN BODY OF CEREMONY
Candle lighting – Blessing of liquid/food – Chanting – Drumming – Meditation – Using essential oils or incense – Hand or foot washing – Planting something – Giving a gift of charity – Making a vow of service – Reading from a text from poetry, literature – Storytelling – Exchanging gifts or giving gifts – Singing – Music – Dancing – Prayers and blessings – Immersion in water – Anointing – Guided meditation or guided visualization – Silence
6 CLOSING THE CEREMONY
Blessing – Music – Sharing food and drink
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