Archive for the 'News' Category

Celebrant Michele on CBC – Oct 25th

Heads Up!

CBC Radio will be airing a documentary about one of my recent ceremonies.  The piece is called:  Donna’s June Divorce.   The specific program is called Tapestry… with the piece scheduled to air Sunday, October 25th at 3 pm.

It includes highly regarded CBC reporter Pamela Post’s interview with me about my pioneering of Marriage Dissolution (aka Divorce) Ceremonies here in BC.  And a more extended interview with Donna, the brave woman for whom I wrote this beautiful and incredibly moving ceremony.

Hers is a story of sadness yes, but mostly it is one of inspiration.  The ceremony I created for Donna focuses her stepping forward into the next chapter of her life with hope and intention, while acknowledging the pain of the divorce as well as the good of her marriage.

You’ll hear how transformative the event was for Donna, and also for the friends who attended (most of whom were somewhat dubious to begin with!)

The ceremony was taped when it was performed and will be aired along with the interviews — so you can hear for yourself the many touching, funny, and poignant moments (and hear me in action if you haven’t had that opportunity!)

The producer believes people across Canada will be moved.  After all, who among us don’t know anyone touched by divorce?  Indeed many of you have had a personal experience.

And so, I do hope you will listen as it airs… or you can log on to CBC Tapestry’s website afterwards to listen to the program at your convenience.  Here are the specs:

* Tapestry: Sunday OCTOBER 25th @ 3 pm –  88.1 FM and 690 AM

* If you miss the program when it airs, you can listen via the archive of past shows which can be found at:  http://www.cbc.ca/tapestry/archives.html

May I ask that you pass this on to friends and family who may be interested?

It’s my hope that this program reaches out and inspires the thousands of Canadians struggling to find meaning and hope in the face of divorce.

Warm regards,
Michele

Celebrant Michele Davidson
Meaningful Ceremonies for Birth, Marriage, and Death

Inquiring minds want to know

Dear readers,

Recently I’ve been deluged with people wanting to know when I’m putting up my ceremony blogs for this year.  I had no idea the blog had so many fans!  Now that makes me happy.  Happy to know that tender, meaningful ceremonies strike such a chord for others.

So yes, don’t worry… the ceremonial story telling blogs are just around the corner.  I’ve had a busy summer and now that it’s slowing down will have time to tell you all about it.

Here’s a taste:

* taking the Peak to Peak chair for a mountain top ceremony

* weddings for couples of mixed Armenian, Canadian, Jewish, Chinese heritage.

* a super moving same-sex weddding (I’m so glad I’m CANADIAN!)

* a marriage dissolution ceremony recorded by CBC Radio for its Tapestry program

* Flying by float plane to Pender for a Torii blessing and wedding ceremony

* a beautiful cremation ceremony with a handmade pine box and flower petals from the garden

Check back in a couple of weeks and I’ll have lots of stories for you!

Celebrant Michele

Summer Wedding Ceremony Bookings

Dear Readers,

I think I jinxed myself by saying in my last post that I was enjoying the blue bird skies of February — it’s SNOWING as I write this!

A quick post to let prospective brides and grooms know that my summer is booking up quickly.  It books up fast because I perform only one ceremony a day.  Recently someone asked me why I limit myself (and my income) this way.

Here are my thoughts on the issue.

Many officiants stack their clients, performing multiple ceremonies in a day.  But I have never felt that fit with my personal integrity.  I embrace every ceremony with passion and my fullest attention.  It’s what my clients deserve!

Each of my ceremonies is full of enchanting moments.  No two are ever the same.  They are as distinctive as the wonderful individuals, couples, or families who commission me to write about their story. Whether it’s a wedding, baby ceremony, or memorial — I am the one who ‘holds’ the ceremonial space.  This requires a lot of energy…I really have to be ON.  So I simply cannot imagine running from ceremony to ceremony.

Besides, what if a time-sensitive event like a wedding was delayed and I had to leave to get to the next one on my schedule.  Wouldn’t that be terrible?  I hear it does happen out there.  So…THIS is why I do one ceremony per day.  On extremely rare occasions I do two, but only if one is in the morning and the other is in the evening  — and only if all parties agree.

With that said…

For 2009, I am available to perform ceremonies any day of the week, with weddings typically taking place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Please let me know your date as soon as you can to avoid disappointment — yours and mine.

Oh, and I just found out about a new bridal directory, for those of you who are interested.  It’s at www.bridalclarity.com.  There’s an eco-wedding section that might interest you.

Now the sun is shining.  Vancouver weather is crazy.  Brides, plan accordingly!

Bye for now,

Michele

Happy to be back!

Heavy snows in December, impenetrable fog in January… I must say that the sunny blue bird days of February have made my heart sing.

In January I gave myself the gift of two weeks away (in a sunny place!) to do personal retreat.  Several hours of meditation a day and time spent largely in quiet solitude nourished me on many levels.  This is something I do most years, and I am always profoundly grateful afterwards.

This year’s retreat has filled me up with a deep wellspring of inspiration for my ceremonial writing. And I can hardly wait to conduct my first ceremony of 2009.  Yesterday I began writing a wedding ceremony and partway through I started to weep just a little.

When I read the words I’d written aloud, I was humbled by their beauty.  Not in an egocentric way at all, rather it was more out of awareness that I truly am good at this.  And to be good at what I love to do most, well, I cannot tell you how amazing this feels.  What a blessing!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve met with many lovely couples of all ages. **Don’t forget that I offer complimentary ‘go sees’ **  It’s such an honour that every one of them decided to place their trust in me as their officiant.  I’ve already begun researching readings and customs for them.  Because every couple is different, it’s always a lot of fun figuring out what will reflect their values, beliefs, and experiences.

Speaking of fun. Yesterday I won a CD called “Happy Balance” put together by a perpetually joyful woman in my women’s group.  It’s full of songs that totally make me smile and sing out loud as I’m driving around in the car.

How did I win it?  Well, I was the last one left standing in a room full of entrepreneurs, most of whom were in high heels.  The challenge was to balance on one foot while doing all kinds of exercises.  I’m happy to report to you that my retreat has left me balanced in unanticipated ways!

Well, that’s it for today.  Just wanted to let you know I’m replenished and standing in the power of ceremony again (on two legs!)

Warmly,

Celebrant Michele