The Hidden Work of a Celebrant
When you see a celebrant standing with you at your ceremony be it a rite of passage, a handfasting, a naming, or a seasonal celebration - you are seeing only a small part of the story.
What is visible on the day is the culmination of many layers of spiritual, practical, and intuitive work. As a celebrant, the visible tasks, discussing what you want in your ceremony, collaborating on words and actions, and crafting the structure are deeply important. But equally significant are the hidden acts that take place well before we meet at your sacred site.
Regardless of the nature of the ceremony I am holding space for, I am always in preparation. This is not only an administrative task, it is a spiritual practice. I regularly go into meditation and communion with my nature-based allies. The most constant and wise of these is my Willow ally, who walks with me in all things ceremonial. These meditations are part of my everyday rhythm, a continual building of intuition and inner clarity, so that I may meet your moment with strong and grounded presence.
When I am engaged for your ceremony, this inner work shifts focus. My meditations and prayer practices begin to listen specifically for what is required to fulfil your ceremony. I tune into the energies that want to be witnessed, the stories that wish to be honoured, and the atmosphere that needs to be created. I seek guidance not only from my allies but from the ancestors and unseen spirits of place. If I am able to visit the location in person, I will do so, making time to walk, observe and ask permission to be there. If a visit is not possible beforehand, I engage with the land and its unseen history through focused meditation and listening.
Research also plays a role as each place has its history and its caretakers. I make an effort to understand who holds responsibility for the land, both seen and unseen. There may be messages or considerations that need to be included to honour that relationship.
The actual writing of your ceremony is a journey into the otherworld. It is less about scripting, and more about tuning in. What needs to be spoken? What rituals need to be present? I allow the ceremony to reveal itself, and then shape it into a draft for your review- always a collaborative act.
On my personal altar, the name of your ceremony is placed. It becomes part of my daily practice, part of my devotions and listening. As the day of your event approaches, my preparations become more focused. I eat lightly, I stay quiet, I double-check every item and ensure that nothing is missed. I protect my energy and avoid outside disruption so that when I arrive, you are receiving the full presence of me and all the spiritual support that walks beside me.
The ceremony itself may seem simple. And it should feel that way, flowing, natural, sacred. But once it is complete, I remain in a place of deep listening. I give thanks in solitude, checking that the work has settled and been accepted. I leave an offering of gratitude to the spirits and allies who supported the event.
In the days after, I follow up with you, offering a keepsake transcript of the ceremony - a gift of reflection for your continued journey. And at my altar, I close the circle with thanks to my allies, placing your ceremony to close in gratitude.
So much of the celebrant's work is unseen. But it is always present. Rooted in care, devotion, and sacred relationship, every ceremony is a living blessing
