Ceremonial Arts
Welcome ~ this page is dedicated to the art of ceremony, an ancient form of meaning-making and communication with extremely relevant applications and implications for today's world. It is for those who want to understand more about what ceremony is and/or are interested in collaborating with me on this level.
I have been a student and artist of ceremony for the past 7 years. I am passionate about bringing people together in new-old ways & creative containers in order to connect more profoundly to themselves & each other...to the true brilliance and depth of all of their surroundings.
A depth that is often concealed & neglected by the demands of modern society and its heavy-headed ruler, Time. The level of perception and communication of the human heart, the incredible intelligence of the body, and the wisdom of our own spirit have been detracted & distracted from by the pace of modern life.
In the face and ear of constant nonsensical & consumer-driven stimulation, performance pressure, and incredible information & sound pollution, modern people have learned not to listen, not to feel. It is only when we take a look & listen to other forms of beingknowing still alive today, for example in Indigenous cultures & ancestral languages, that we realize just how desensitized we have become to the entire web of Life & relationship that surrounds us.
And when that sensitivity is lost, when our hearts become closed & our perception of reality static or dogmatic, so too goes our natural sense of responsibility, care, and participation in/for that which sustains & cares for Life...
I am here as an advocate for our hearts, bodies, spirits, and balanced minds ~ with the intention of creating spaces where people can remember all the dimensions of inter-being that make us who we are...
that we may learn how to cultivate and sustain balanced relationships & resilient communities...
to create Beauty out of Life.
Humor
Sincerity
Courtesy
Eloquence
Passion & Compassion
Longing
Listening
Grief & Praise
Celebration & thanksgiving
All vital ingredients in the art of making ceremony...
Ceremony is an art because it is subjective & participatory, guided by the virtues of Beauty and Authenticity, and infinitely creative.
The flow and form of a ceremony or ritual arise out of an ongoing conversation of Place & Power, self & Other, matter & spirit.
The proper tools and guidelines help us to create a container, a boat with which we may navigate together deeper aspects of the psyche and new dimensions of feeling, perceiving, and creating.
Ceremonies are a form of communication and can be powerful catalysts of transformation & self-healing.
It is an intentional sacred space where we dare to open our hearts fully, to look inside and take measure of the driving forces of our lives.
It is a space to ask the most important questions about Life and to practice listening for the answers...or perhaps to honor, affirm, and share the gifts and messages we have already been given.
“Ritual is called for because our soul communicates things to us that the body translates as need, or want, or absence. So we enter into ritual in order to respond to the call of the soul.”
― Malidoma Patrice Somé, Ritual: Power, Healing and Community
Ceremony is culturally & contextually defined. In other words, we must find the proper symbols, guidelines, language, and mutual agreements/intentions that are authentic & accessible for the people and place concerned.
Done properly, ceremony has an immense power to balance & harmonize relationships within a given Place, weaving or community ~ i.e. one's relationship to self, within partnership, family, community, territory, Nature, and to a higher power or the Spirit.
The potential range and intentional field of ceremony is very versatile, however, open to creativity and individual meaning-making. This can include themes such as self-discovery or insight, the integration of unconscious or denied aspects of self/psyche, community-building and connection, letting go, making offerings, and stepping through major life transitions (otherwise known as "rites of passage").
These are photos from various ceremonies which I have attended or hosted, ranging from excursions/solos into Nature, giving of offerings, women's circles, tea and cacao ceremonies, pilgrimages and offerings to sacred sites and temples, and deeper levels of medicine and community work under the guidance and expertise of elders.
DISCLAIMER:
Keep in mind...the language I use here to describe ceremony and the worldview through which I see it is not likely to fit into conventional Western conceptions and definitions. The information on this page is not intended to put ceremony into any fixed interpretation or definition, but rather as an inspiration and invitation for co-creation. It is a summation of my own journey of transformation and meaning-making within the container of ceremony & what I've learned along the way. It does not by any means cover the full range of diversity and possibility implied when talking about ceremony, as there are many many perspectives on this.
That being said...the following are some of my favorite elements & personal tendencies when making ceremony:
(1) Nature- & Place-based, either occurring in direct contact with Nature or using some plant, element, or principle of Nature;
(2) influenced or guided by ancestral and/or Indigenous science & wisdom;
(3) flexible and inclusive in regards to spiritual orientations of participants (non-proselytizing) and choice of language; and
(4) involving music, singing, and other forms of communication/expression beyond words.
How might such a ceremony look?
꩜ Planting the ashes of a beloved one who has passed on.
꩜ A meditative sound journey with a drum or other instruments.
꩜ Bathing with a brew of medicinal herbs & flowers in a river or creek.
꩜ Sharing a traditional drink in a circle of friends and community members whilst telling stories or sharing songs.
꩜ Days spent fasting and praying alone in Nature.
꩜ Holding a traditional wake upon the death of a loved one.
꩜ Planting the placenta of a newborn child in the Earth.
꩜ A night spent by the fire with close friends and family, weaving the word and sharing songs and prayers.
What makes a ceremony a ceremony?
What makes these activities a ceremony, however simple or complex they may be, is our intentionality in opening, navigating, and closing the space. We are opening a container, activating a vehicle with a specific purpose in mind/heart.
We must know the why behind our actions (the intention, question, or need) and how we are to do it. The latter is often tentative or flexible, as we must allow the space to properly "breathe"–free of overly rigid superimposed structures, beliefs, expectations, or plans...remembering the elements of play, creativity, a timelessness. Most of the time, it is enough to simply know how to ask with sincerity and respect...and to listen deeply for the response and guidance forwards.
Ceremonies are an effective means for people to interface with a deeper or higher intelligence within and around themselves...beyond normal linguistic, conceptual, and rational modes of cognition. It is a dance of giving and receiving, listening and speaking, holding on and letting go, learning and remembering.
More on the importance of intention and preparation
If I go out into Nature and all of my food is eaten up by raccoons or little people, and I am forced to fast for a few days for lack of knowledge and skill to feed myself...it's going to feel like I am starving and will probably be a bit traumatic.
If I go into Nature without food for several days, with the intention to connect to my core gifts, my life path, and my spiritual guidance...in prayerfulness and trust, or with an attitude that is sincere, thankful, and accepting of challenge...then I am much more likely to have a positive, dare I say life-changing mystical experience!
This is the general outline of the Vision Quest, a very powerful medicine ceremony practiced by Indigenous peoples of North America, typically as a form of rite of passage for young people to transition into adulthood. Other cultures have similar forms with different names or may practice (with permission & training) under the same tradition but in another territory. This general model has also been widely adapted worldwide into modern practices of Nature therapy and education and rites of passage organizations.
Would you like to create something together?
I do not have any packages for sale here, and neither you will not find any cookie-cutter rituals to copy & paste upon your own life. I will, however, happily offer my time, experience, and knowledge to help you create a meaningful ceremony of your own...one that matches the Place (culture, territory, personal & community orientations, etc.) and situational need in which you find yourself.
I do so because this is my passion and compassion in action, and our communities need it--need you in the power of your fully awakened heart. This is simply what makes sense to me, according to the intelligence of my own Heart and the gifts that I came into this world to share. I also know that the more I put this knowledge and experience into practice, the more I will also learn & grow! So don't be shy to reach out.
If you happen to be living close to me (check my Instagram for updated information on my current location) and/or can catch me in between my travels, I do sometimes facilitate ceremonies for individuals and small groups. I offer this ceremonial consultation, facilitation, and artistry on a donation-basis and according to my availability.
Examples of specific forms of ceremony that I can help to arrange and/or facilitate for you:
Rites of Passage Journeys
1:1 or small group setting
A rite of passage is about taking that step ~ crossing over ~ shedding outworn identities and behaviors in order to step into a more authentic, empowered expression of who you are and what you came to this Earth to do. Becoming an adult, transversing a healing crisis, moments of great loss and grief, becoming an elder, and death are all passageways and gates of immense creative potential that are well-supported in ceremony.
There are a variety of potential tools, approaches, and plants to work within this context. Start a conversation with me and we will talk about what is possible and what might best serve you in your intention.
Flower Limpia (Flower Bath)
A simple and sweet ritual of purification to both catalyze and ease stuck emotions. May be combined with a water blessing ritual, preferably with a natural source of running water like a river, spring, or waterfall.
Ceremonial expertise within my capacity as a certified Death Doula:
Bedside Vigil
(immediately preceding death, or during the phase of "active-dying")
It involves sitting bedside with the dying person to ease, comfort, and be a witness to the dying process. This may include the use of relaxing sounds or singing, loving touch (i.e. laying of hands, Reiki, gentle massage), aromatherapy, and/or a flower bath.
Traditional Wake
(immediately following death)
This is an age-old tradition meaning to "observe" or "stand guard", in which the body is kept at home, cared for, and watched over anywhere from a few hours to a few days (depending on local regulations and needs of the family). This gives all loved ones a chance to say goodbye and connect to each other in a more raw, intimate, and private space.
Washing & Anointing the Body
(1-4 hours following death)
This is the final act of physical Love and care that may be provided to the departed one. This is a very intimate act with the power to support and catalyze one's grief process very deeply. Thus, I encourage and do my best to empower the families or loved ones to do this one themselves.
Honoring Deceased Pets
Animals are family, too! Especially recommended for parents with children who, via such experiences, form a new relationship with and understanding of Life & Death.
Wild Grief...Letting it Be
Grief is sacred and must be given due form and space to be properly metabolized. Forms and conventions that are overly constrictive can have a suppressive and suffocating effect on the grieving process. When grief is allowed to be, to flow, express & release, it becomes vital nutrients that serve to feed Life. Grief is Love & Praise.
I do not believe there is any "method" for grieving or healing grief. But I am happy to accompany you in the process if requested...I find that Nature really helps, especially the ocean.
Other related offerings:
I have knowledge and experience with several plant medicines and do offer coaching (online or in-person) in the integration of profound states/experiences for a fee. I also have an array of flower essences and micro-dosing tinctures for sale.
Coaching
~ Lifestyle & Relationship Harmonization
~ Integration of Profound States (i.e. - help with ordering, grounding, and integrating an experience of spontaneous awakening or psychedelics into your daily life).
Space-holding, Talking Circles, Storytelling & Teaching
I have facilitated several talking circles at festivals, retreats & other gatherings to share knowledge and ignite conversation on topics dear to my heart, such as...
~ What it means to be Indigenous; Restoration of the Indigenous Soul in Modern Peoples, Indigenous Science...
~ Tools for Authentic Communication & Community Building; Restoring our Capacities of Perception and Communication with the Natural World & Each Other
~ Rites of Passage; Community Healing; Bridging the Inter-Generational Gap/Activating our Elders
~ Death & Grief
Email me here or message me privately on Instagram for further inquiries.