Showing posts with label gatineau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gatineau. Show all posts

Sep 1, 2010

Six Month Check-In




Dear Readers:

What I have been up to: lovely, lovely ceremonies!

The first of the photos is from one of the weddings I officiated at this summer. A happy day in the Quebec countryside, surrounded by family and friends. Et cette ceremonie etait toute en francais - vive la belle difference! Merci a tous pour cette saison de joie.

Here is some feedback from Michele, a client:
"Carrie was the ceremonialist who worked with us in the creation of, and officiated, our handfasting - I have to say, she was magical. It is a difficult task and she did it with grace, integrity, honesty and moments of hilarity. Flexible in co-creating with us she also had a focused presence and intent during the ceremony, beautifully manifesting the sacredness and playfulness of our handfasting with a grounded energy that elicited understanding from people around the importance of the ceremony. Carrie is a natural and, blended with her warm personality makes her what I would consider a charming collaborator in ceremonies calling for heart, honesty and integrity."

Oct 1, 2008

Le Couronnement de la Grandmère


La semaine dernière j'ai fait une cérémonie nommée "La couronnement de la Grandmère". La cérémonie était filmée par Radio-Canada pour une émission entitulée "C'est ça la vie". Je vais vous avertir quand j'ai une version "streaming"!

[In English, this ceremony is called "The Crowning of the Crone". This ceremony was filmed for CBC TV for a show called "C'est ça la vie" - "That's Life". I will post news of it here when I have a streamlined version! The translation of this in English follows at the end of the French text.]

La Grand-mère dans le sense qu'on utilise pour la cérémonie est un terme symbolique qu’on utilise pour décrire un archétype ancien dans le cycle de vie d’une femme. Traditionellement, quand les femmes et les hommes ont atteint un certain âge, ils et elles ont été accepté comme “Anciens” dans leur communauté. Alors, ils avaient la responsabilité de partager leur sagesse avec les autres. Pour les femmes, ce rôle est nommé “Grand-mère”.

Dans ce sens symbolique, le rôle de “Grand-mère” se déroule vers la fin d’une vie. Traditionellement, le cycle de vie d’une femme est représenté par trois phases ou aspects: premièrement, la vierge, deuxièmement, la mère et troisièmement la Grand-mère.

La vierge symbolique est l’aspect jeune de la féminité. Ici, on commence sa vie, on développe sa sexualité et on apprend à développer un certain pouvoir. La mère symbolique est la phase active de la féminité d’une adulte. La sexualité de la femme crée et donne naissance. Il faut prendre soin, par exemple de ses enfants ou encore de ses divers projets créatifs.

A l’arrivée de la ménopause, la femme a l’occasion d’écouter son corps ce qui la guide à laisser aller un certain niveau d’activités. Maintenant, elle peut réclamer et reconnaître son âge, sa maturité, sa sagesse et son pouvoir; Elle peut choisir de le partager à l’ensemble de la communauté.

Dans les temps anciens, la « Grand-mère » était vénérée comme une femme intègre qui, après avoir bien vécu une vie remplie, a maintenant le droit de partager ses expériences sur les cycles de la vie, de la mort et de la renaissance avec les vierges et les mères pour qu’elles puissent vivre ces cycles de vie à leur façon et en bonne santé.

Les femmes des temps modernes ont droit au même processus soit de sortir de cette phase de mère de la façon dont elle l’on vécu et de choisir de partager leur sagesse profonde selon leurs propres points de vue. Ce sont ces traditions que l’on cherche à réclamer avec la cérémonie de "La couronnement de la Grandmère".

In English, now:
The "Crone" as referred to in this ceremony is a symbolic term used to describe an ancient archetype in the lifespan of a woman. Traditionally, the life cycle of a woman is seen in a triple aspect: the maiden, the mother and the crone.

The maiden is the young feminine aspect, beginning her life, coming into her sexuality and power. The mother is the active adult time of life, when a woman births and tends her children or other projects in the world.

At the time of menopause, following her body’s cues, a woman has the opportunity to let go of this time of high activity, to claim and acknowledge her age, deep maturity, wisdom and power and to share this in her community on behalf of the whole.

In ancient times, the Crone was revered as a woman of wholeness who, by living her life fully, had earned the right to share her knowledge about the cycles of death and rebirth.

Women of modern times have a right to the same processes, to emerge from motherhood in whatever form that has taken in their lives, to claim their life experience and to use their wisdom powerfully in service as they see fit. These are the traditions that we seek to reclaim in the ceremony of the "Crowning of the Crone".

Feb 10, 2007

Weddings: What can I expect from working with you as a Ceremonialist?

Initially, I meet with the parties involved to find out who you are and what you envision. What happens next depends on the kind of ceremony you are looking to create.

For weddings, I would meet with you for a free no-obligation 45-minute consultation. At this point, we would look at your ideas and discuss various possibilities that I can contribute based on my expertise. At the first consultation I give you an estimate of the time involved to create your personalized ceremony and provide you with a quote of my fee based on my rate of $50/hour.

If you decide to hire me, I would leave you with a questionnaire to learn more about you and based on what you share I would begin drafting a ceremony. You can expect about 3 drafts for you to review and edit, but we can do more if required. I can do a rehearsal and I can also co-ordinate with the other members of the day, ie. photographers, musicians, etc. I would also give you a written copy of your unique ceremony as a keepsake.

Funerals and Other Ceremonies: What can I expect from working with you as a Ceremonialist?

Initially, I meet with the parties involved to find out who you are and what you envision. What happens next depends on the kind of ceremony you are looking to create.

For funerals, I would give you a quote over the phone based on your needs and we would hold a family meeting to share about your loved one. From your stories, we would create an appropriate form of tribute. I would also then officiate at the funeral, and conduct a graveside service or internment if needed.

For other types of ceremonies, I can offer any or all of the following: I would be responsible for hosting the ritual, guiding people’s experiences and assisting anyone who is participating. I would bring you ideas about structure and content, and I would give you a quote based on those services contracted. In all cases, I create ceremonies based on extensive consultation with you, until we arrive at a ceremony which reflects your experience of your life.

Feb 9, 2007

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.
 
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