Reach High; Dig Deep
Most people enter into a committed relationship with the hope of deep and lasting intimacy. Ending a marriage or other union is an enormously painful experience. Given that we begin such a relationship with ceremony and great intention, why is it that in our society sitting down with a lawyer is often the only associated rite for its ending? Do we not deserve more than that?
In my practice as a Celebrant, I see an enormous need for ceremonies and rituals to unbind the emotional ties of a relationship in a way impersonal legal paperwork simply cannot possibly address. This unbinding of emotional ties allows individuals and families to move forward with resolve and confidence.
Properly Ending what began with Hope
Many individuals these days seek out a Collaborative Divorce or they choose to work with a Divorce Coach. Sometimes a couple wishes to symbolically mark their ending with a Divorce Ceremony or ritual. But much more often, I work with a former spouse or partner who is having a difficult time moving on. If this is you, a Divorce Ceremony (not a Divorce Party!) will do much more than recognize the hurt your parting has caused. The intentional reflection and planning, along with a meaningful ending ritual such as a Pledge of Release, helps you regain your personal authority. You become the ‘doer’ not the ‘done to’.
Don’t believe me? Listen to a CBC documentary about of one of my most powerful Divorce Ceremonies. It was created by highly regarded journalist Pamela Post and aired last fall on CBC’s Tapestry, one of their most popular programs. To listen, you’ll need to forward three-quarters (3/4) of the way through the broadcast. Click here to listen to the documentary called Donna’s June Divorce.
Divorce Ceremonies are not only for Divorce
A powerful shift takes place when you symbolically take your leave from one time of your life and step forward into a new one. Think of it as crossing an emotional threshold where you will embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. This happens whether you have ended a marriage or any committed relationship. Thus the intent of a Divorce Ceremony can be adapted to be a Ceremony of Letting Go, or an Ending Ceremony.
Whenever I perform a Divorce Ceremony, Letting Go, or Ending Ceremony, I am awestruck by the triumph of the human spirit. The participant’s emotional transformation is quite dramatic and the effect on family and friends is no less profound, allowing them to address their own hurt. It can take time to view an ended relationship with forgiveness and conciliation. You may find a ceremony more transformative a year or two after your divorce or relationship break up.
Please call me at 604-992-4217 to talk about what you need in a Divorce Ceremony or other Ending or Letting Go Ceremony. My fees for such a ceremony begin at $850.00.
Michele Davidson,
Professional Celebrant & BC Wedding Officiant
Vancouver & Whistler BC
