Jim and Jeanie have spent much of their lives in search of sanctuary. After years in a high-maintenance haven, they found a remarkable gem – the perfect home for their next phase in life. They wanted to celebrate their good fortune.
A house blessing would be the normal ceremony, but it became quickly apparent that there was much more than the house to be appreciated. And there was more than a blessing to be done.
The couple had some specific wants for themselves. To share their story. To stand in wonder at this crossroads, and to appreciate the journey in life that had brought them here. To set some intentions for themselves and for the new house.
And of course, they wanted to celebrate. But they wanted to celebrate with their guests, not in front of them. They wanted their friends and family to be partners in the ceremony.
And so it became, to paraphrase the once famous Buzz Lightyear: The “To Infinity and Beyond” House Blessing (you can do that when you work with a celebrant…:)
One one hand, the ceremony was full of meaning and symbolism. Summer Solstice, the day of the ceremony is a day of concentrated energy, a day when people would historically clean out the dross of winter and prepare for the growth and ripening that summer offers. On the other hand, it was pure Jeanie and Jim: relaxed, genuine and heartfelt. And their honoured friends.
And despite the solstice rituals, the powers from above seemed to approve of the evening as well, including the smoke detector and sprinkler system.
Welcome to your new sanctuary, J&J. Make it SO…!