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What is a Lifecycle celebrant ?
This distinction means that I am a graduate of The Celebrant Foundation and Institute, having completed a rigorous, extensive course of study in the fundamentals of ceremony and the art of ritual. We have studied the work of Joseph Campbell, Arnold van Gennep, (a French ethnographer and folklorist, known for his work in rites of passage,) Jungian philosophy, mythology and ancient and world traditions. I have earned two specialty certifications, Ceremonies Across the Lifecycle and Funerals. Life-Cycle Celebrants adhere to CF&I's gold standard of ethics and practice without judgment or agenda.
HOW IS a celebrant created ceremony unique ?
We take the craft of storytelling seriously! Celebrants create personal, one-of-kind ceremonies based on interviews with the honoree and any other loved ones they want to include. Weaving the client's personal story with ritual and symbolism to create a ceremony that reflects their personality, values, and beliefs all while paying attention to lyricism, story arc, tone and pacing.
What brought you to this work?
I've been a practicing storyteller for 17 years, honing my craft through acting, writing and photography. But what brought me here was the passing of my mother. Our family was not affiliated with any organized religion and I didn't know who would lead the funeral.
A friend suggested that I be the one to "hold the space" for the ceremony. I knew I'd write and deliver the eulogy, but lead the ceremony? Well, I wanted it to be perfect so I jumped in. One of the best leaps I've ever made. I didn't know it at the time that the role I was actually filling was that of a celebrant. Heck, I'd never even heard the term. But I knew in my heart that I wanted to help people tell their stories- that sharing them was healing and that the ritual element I so loved would enrich and deepen the experience. When I stumbled upon The Celebrant Foundation and Institute, I was in disbelief. Wait, there's a school that teaches about the history and practice of ceremony, ritual and rites of passage? I could weave my skills with my passion? I had come home. "I reached out to Carol to assist with planning a celebration of life for my aunt who had passed away after a short illness. I was impressed with her from the moment we started to talk. Carol asked numerous questions of me and other family members to get to know my aunt and be able to provide our family a ceremony that was personal and uplifting for all of us. Although these events can be sad, Carol created an atmosphere of support and love which emanated from the readings, to the music and to the family participation at the event. It was exactly what my aunt would have wanted. I can't thank her enough for making a difficult day one that left us all with beautiful memories and happy recollections of my aunt."
Patty F. |
With my mother Jane, my inspiration. Isle of Skye.
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This all sounds great. What's next?
We set up a complimentary consultation where we talk about what you want out of the ceremony, how you want to feel, who you'd like to participate and what elements would be meaningful. We find out that we're a good fit (yay!) and decide to work together. I give you a questionnaire to fill out so we can flesh out some juicy details. I write the first draft and send it to you for approval. You may have edits, tweaks or additions. Cool! That's part of the process, it has to sound and feel like YOU. I incorporate these things and we collaborate to make sure the ceremony is just what you envisioned-or maybe didn't even know was possible! On the day of the ceremony, I show up early to make sure everyone is prepared and all the ducks are in a row. They are and we all participate in a rich, satisfying ceremony that honors your milestone. After the occasion, I send you a keepsake copy of the ceremony text.
We set up a complimentary consultation where we talk about what you want out of the ceremony, how you want to feel, who you'd like to participate and what elements would be meaningful. We find out that we're a good fit (yay!) and decide to work together. I give you a questionnaire to fill out so we can flesh out some juicy details. I write the first draft and send it to you for approval. You may have edits, tweaks or additions. Cool! That's part of the process, it has to sound and feel like YOU. I incorporate these things and we collaborate to make sure the ceremony is just what you envisioned-or maybe didn't even know was possible! On the day of the ceremony, I show up early to make sure everyone is prepared and all the ducks are in a row. They are and we all participate in a rich, satisfying ceremony that honors your milestone. After the occasion, I send you a keepsake copy of the ceremony text.