Carrie's Bio and Qualifications

To tell you a little more about me, here is the official bio that I use:

Carrie Rathwell has a passion for celebration that brings all of her life experiences together as Ceremonialist.

Growing up on a farm, she was deeply connected to nature and her rural community. She graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 1995 and then lived for 7 months in Burkina Faso, West Africa and got first-hand experience of a culture rich with ceremonial traditions.

In 1999, she began studying intensively with Kathleen Leeson, R.H., Clinical Herbalist and Shamanic Healer. While completing the 3 years of the Wisdom of the Plants Apprenticeship and by participating in a Women’s Circle, she began to regularly gather in ceremony. Carrie felt at home in this practice of healing, connection and grace.

She spent the next years getting further involved. She graduated in 2006 from the Traditional Healer Internship offered by Kathleen Leeson, took courses in 2005-6 with Michael Harner’s Foundation for Shamanic Studies, and in 2006 became a Certified Funeral Celebrant with In-Sight Books, taught by Doug Manning, a leader in the field.

Carrie became a Certified Celebrant in April 2007 by graduating from an 8-month course offered by the Celebrant Foundation and Institute. She has been also spending this year acquiring practical experience creating and leading various ceremonies. She feels it is an honour and a joy to offer her services as Ceremonialist in the Ottawa area.