“Hello, darkness my old friend.” I’m that strange sort of person who likes the shorter days. I feel comforted when the darkness descends early. I like to feel wrapped in it, like a quilt, with …
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Honor the Dark
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Fall Like a Leaf
Like many people, (especially here in the Northeast) autumn is my favorite season. There is something about the change of the air in late August, when the nights get cooler and the days crisp, that …
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The Curious Response
It’s easy to feel like Alice in Wonderland these days. Sometimes, I think I am slipping down the rabbit hole, as life gets curiouser and curiouser. Covid-19. Economic uncertainty. The presidential election in the US. …
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Forever Changed
During the month of June, I had the privilege of leading four Grief Gatherings as part of the Reimagine: Life, Loss, and Love worldwide festival. These gatherings were an opportunity for people who suffered loss …
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Spiritual Docent
Since starting my business a little over a year ago, part of my work has been educating people about the work of a ritual designer and officiant. People connect with the work of a wedding …
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What is a Blessing?
It’s common, in our culture, to hear someone say, “This is such a blessing” or to tag a social media post #blessed. Here at Rites of Passage, LLC, we offer a variety of blessings as …
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Making Sense of It
Over the past few weeks, our world has been turned upside down. Before, we were able to visit with friends, go out to eat, attend concerts, gather with coworkers, and see our kids off to …
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What Makes a Ritual?
Lately, I’ve been thinking about what makes something a ritual versus a habit or routine. Maybe each morning you drink a cup of coffee while reading the paper. Is that a ritual or a routine? …
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150 Decisions
Death, no matter how it comes, is unexpected. When my father died, after a year-long battle with ALS, his death surprised and overwhelmed us. Even though we knew it was coming, the reality of death …
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Holiday Ceremonies
The basic definition of ceremony is, “a formal event held on a special occasion.” The word ‘formal’ is a little misleading. A ceremony doesn’t have to be formal in the sense of it being a …
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