One such example of this is coming of age ceremonies for girls. (I do not do boys ceremonies because men are better suited for that) I believe that when girls are ushered through this special time consciously when they begin their menses, they will have more pride in becoming a woman and will treat their bodies with respect and insist that male interests do the same.

My "Woman becoming Ceremony" is comprised of older women, mothers, aunts, women friends of the family, grandmothers etc...We come together in a women's circle and I create a space for the women to lovingly share with the girl what her beautiful traits are and what they wish someone had told them about womanhood that they would like to impart to the young woman they are celebrating. Then we annoint the girl with aromatic oils, gift her with our gifts and share food together. Women have told me over and again that they wish that someone had done this for them.

Another example of a Life Passage Ceremony not offered in standard religious practices is in the Jewish faith. In Judaism, there is a bris ceremony and celebration afterwards for newborn boys but nothing ceremonially is done for newborn girls except a brief announcement and a blessing said on the "bemah" during a Shabbat evening service. Having a baby naming ceremony with family present is a very special experience and will be one that your daughter will be able to experience retroactively, through video or photos when she becomes old enough to understand.

Many families of other faiths also want to bless their newborn babies with family members being interwoven into the ceremony, offering their own blessings and naming the baby ceremonially in the presence of God and the family. This is not usually what happens at a Baptism, so sometimes people want to do both, having a Baptism in the morning and a family ceremony at home afterwards.

The marriage ceremony is another place where people want alternatives. I work with the betrothed couple for three meetings prior to the dress rehearsal and wedding to handcraft a meaningful, appropriate ceremony that reflects the spiritual and religious beliefs of the couple. Some faiths will not allow people of different faiths to be married. I am willing to do this as long as the couple has deeply explored whether they will have children and how they will raise those children. Many people who seek me out for weddings are not actively religious and tell me that their religion is the religion of love and the "golden rule." I have written many ceremonies from this base of beliefs and have been told they were very moving.

These days our animal friends at home are members of the family. The loss of a pet who has been with us through many of life's experiences can be devastating to the "two leggeds" left behind. I offer pet memorials for the family so they can feel the support needed to grieve their loss together. I am also available to do memorials for human beings who have passed away.

In our crazy world we sometimes don't find the time to tell people that we love and care about them. A few years back I lost a friend unexpectedly and far too young. All I wished for afterwards was that I'd told him how much he meant to me while he was still here. In that spirit I have begun offering Honoring Circles for special occasion birthdays, 40,50,60,70, etc... for people who want a more meaningful, intimate experience with family and friends. People have told me this really "took the cake" for them (no pun intended), because they will never forget the sentiments shared, stories told, laughter and tears shared by everyone present and they were there to hear it,  alive and well. Unfortunately how we usually do this is at a memorial when it is too late to look into your friends or relatives eyes and let them know what they mean to you. 

My mother told me that her mother told her during the Holocaust, which my grandmother would not survive, that the most important thing in life is to celebrate all of life's passages. Honoring Circles help us to appreciate what and who we have in our lives now, which is all we really have anyway...

I also offer Family Connecting Circles for families feeling disconnected and in need of coming together in a circle format to downshift and remember their love for one another as family.