As a celebrant I create an authentic service by discovering the character of the person whose life is being celebrated. The service is crafted from the answers to the questions asked when meeting with the client and the stories that are forthcoming. What I write is a creative outpouring of all that I learn. When I meet with a person or family for the first time the conversation quickly becomes real. I provide a figurative hand to hold in this process and provide a space where frank conversation is enabled and remembering occurs.
In Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, Ophelia says
There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray, love, remember…
Sometimes as a part of a life celebration we use rosemary to symbolise and honour memory. We take it, we smell it, we place it and it becomes an important part of the ritual of saying farewell; just one of the many ways to honour a life.