Ceremonies – the best ceremonies touch hearts and change lives.

A ceremony is a special event that has the purpose of setting apart and elevating a particular person or persons or event/s in our consciousness. 

A ceremony is a way to celebrate love and connection, mark our sorrows and losses, indulge in happiness and joy, honour and respect the various stages of life, recognise personal achievements and honour the person/s it’s about. 

In a ceremony we honour the relationship between the people involved.

Ceremonies usually have a structure; and they flow from one point to the next. 

Many ceremonies start with a procession, followed by words of welcome and introduction. Sometimes  there’s live music and readings of poetry or from stories. Usually there are opportunities for saying some very special things – up close and personal – along with well wishes for the future. the ending is usually a quick summary and the details of what's going to happen next. 

By creating particular moods within a ceremony we can respect the range of feelings associated with the day. The atmosphere helps acknowledge the deeper aspects.

Typically there will be paradoxes. For example, ceremonies of joy and happiness such as a wedding or a naming may bring tears; on the other hand, feelings of sorrow and loss can bring a sense of relief at funerals. 

It seems that, these days, many people like their guests to be involved in their ceremony; especially in contrast to having someone in an elevated position doing everything “standing out the front”. Guests and good friends can read a favourite poem or they might all take part in something like the blessing and warming of wedding rings, the lighting of candles, the telling of a life story or a eulogy.

Immediately after a ceremony there’s usually another gathering involving food and socialising such as a reception, cocktail party, feast, wake, barbeque or a lovely afternoon tea.