In my work, I’ve seen the challenges faced by caregivers. Caregiving, which is often a 24-hour job, can lead to burnout, fatigue, and mental and physical illnesses. Yet the job of caregiving does not usually …
-
-
Caring for Yourself as Caregiver
-
Why Bless Your House?
One of the services I offer through Rites of Passage is House Blessing. A house blessing (also called a house cleansing) can take place when you move into a new home or anytime you want …
-
Rituals Build Community
Have you ever been part of a group that just didn’t seem to gel? People weren’t on the same wavelength, there were unnecessary misunderstandings and distrust? We often think of community as something that happens …
-
Officiating as Holding Space
“What exactly is officiating?” I’ve been asked. “Isn’t it just getting up in front of people and speaking?” Yes, it is that…. but also more. Officiating a ceremony to mark a life event does require …
-
Unplugged Ceremonies
Recently a wedding photographer’s Facebook post went viral when she called out a wedding guest who blocked her shot by trying to take a photo with an iPhone. The post, which began “To the girl …
-
Saying Good-Bye to Tazor
Last month the community of Colchester (a neighboring town) said good-bye to their police K-9, Tazor. Tazor worked in the department for 12 years with his handler, Cpl. Dave Dewey. In honor of Tazor, the …
-
Know Your End-of-Life Options
On Tuesday the Burlington Free Press published an interesting article about the funeral industry, Some Vermont funeral homes charge twice as much as others—and what that means. Having worked with grieving families over the past …
-
Welcoming the New Year
At the turn of the year, we hear a lot about New Year’s Resolutions. Will you eat healthier? Organize your house? Go to the gym? Write in your journal every day? While, in some senses, …