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Ceremonies With Love With Celebrant Lainey Mac, Forfar (2024)

22/06/2024

Gratitude
I am grateful for every morning,
for every smile I see.
I am grateful for my home.
I am grateful I am me.

I am grateful that I am thankful,
for everything around.
I am grateful I can see
and hear every sound.

I am grateful for such kindness,
in any shape or form.
I am grateful for the sunshine
and surviving every storm.

I am grateful that I care nothing
for power or for wealth.
I am grateful I care for happiness
and for that of health.

I am grateful I'm not competitive,
I don't ever want to win.
I am grateful that I'm honest
to lie would be a sin.

I am grateful for my family,
for every message I receive.
I am grateful for my passion,
and that I will not deceive.

I am grateful for another day,
and if I make it to the night,
I will be grateful for that too,
and for everything in sight.
Author Joanne.Boyle Heartfelt and art by Steffi Krenzek

18/05/2024

21/04/2024

Hi folks, I Would be very grateful for any shares to let people know I am available for hire. I am happy to pipe at any events such as wedding occasions or funerals. Your help is much appreciated. I also have a drummer who can accompany me should anyone look for something a little extra special. Thanks very much!

26/11/2023

08/07/2023

If every single person who has liked you in your lifetime were to light up on a map… 🌟

Delighted to say that the book this poem belongs to, is open for pre-order (thank you, they really mean a lot x)

Donna x

WILD HOPE: healing words to find light on dark days ♥️

https://amzn.eu/d/eDGFsCs

01/06/2023

12/04/2023

Personalised Scottish gifts.
Our tartan is 100% new wool.
Made in Scotland.

10/04/2023

SHE GATHERED

She gathered beautiful things along the way to pass on, but not clothes or jewels.

She gathered starlight when she couldn’t sleep… and sprinkled it on her stories so that the children of her children would listen in wonder and remember with delight.

She gathered lessons, learned at rock bottom, and shared them with strangers and friends alike, to save them the need to sink so far themselves.

She gathered precious, life-giving laughter, and regaled the world with the humorous reminiscing of her follies, her foibles and her mishaps.

She gathered things that may not have caught anyone’s eye in auction, but when examined closely, became true treasure maps, to this life’s gold mines.

Donna Ashworth

From ‘I Wish I Knew’
https://amzn.to/3JVMJlZ

Art by the fabulous Tarn Ellis

22/01/2023

💕

09/01/2023

YOU CAN’T BE EVERYONE’S CUP OF TEA

There will always be someone in this life who just doesn’t like you, no matter how hard you try to please them.
There will always be something that you say, or do, which causes offence or division.
Whether you meant to or not.
There will always be someone who finds fault in you, your life or your words.
You may never find out why, please don’t waste your precious time trying to.

You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

Then there will be those who like you on impact.
A little fizz of energy that passes between you.
Silently, unseen, bonding.
Those people will not only like you but they will like you fiercely.
They are your people.
Whatever spare time you have, spend it on them.

You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but you can be someone’s first sip of a cold drink on a sunny day…

Or a warming hot chocolate when you come in from the rain
or the pop of a long awaited champagne cork
or a stiff shot of tequila when things go awry

Find your people,
love them hard.

Donna Ashworth
From ‘to the women’: https://tinyurl.com/ye9f93zd

Art by Brit K Caley (prints on Etsy)

25/07/2022

💕Busy time at CWLWCLM! Naming Ceremony planning full speed ahead 💕

19/06/2022

💕Had a fabulous day today holding space and spending time online with the latest graduates from Celebrant Training Scotland and their Tutor Lindy Irving.💕

💞What a lovely bunch of people to meet. I know they will all do very well, and their very best for grieving families, when planning a funeral and saying a farewell to a loved one. 💕

Well done guys! It was my pleasure and an honour to listen to your funeral presentations 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

16/06/2022

🤣🤣🤣

16/06/2022

From Abbie

So... lots more photos and things to come, but I have to say thank you to every single person who made today so special for Luna!❤️

From helping set up the garden, to making the food, to running about helping cause Luna wouldn't leave my side.. today would not have been what it was without that help. I appreciate it more than I can put into words! Kieran Coull Ashley Livesey

Also to Lainey for conducting such a beautiful ceremony for Luna. It was amazing and summed up how special she is to us all. I genuinely couldn't recommend her enough for ceremonies.

And last but most definitely not least... to every single person who came along today, who brought cards, gifts, money.. who messaged, phoned, facetimed, who agreed to be guideparents... both me and Luna love every single one of you! This amazing little girl is so loved and to see how many people went out their way to make today special is incredible.

Thank you all! ❤️❤️❤️

19/05/2022

TO THE WOMAN WHO THINKS SHE ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH

To the woman who looks around and wonders why everyone else is so much more capable, so much stronger, so much more ambitious than her.

To the woman who thinks everyone else is blazing a fiery path through this thing we call life, while she limps behind, barely getting through the days.

Somewhere, another woman is looking at you thinking exactly the same.

You see, we all look like we’re kinda nailing it, from the outside in.

We all look ‘together’ sometimes.
Catch us on the right day and hey, we look like we have it all.
Because guess what, we learned to look that way a long time ago.
We learned to hide our struggles behind a smile and whack on that mask every day.

And actually, we are doing each other a favour when we show up,
just as we are,
warts and all,
late,
flustered,
human.

What we really need to see is that we are all the same.
We all struggle.
We all fall apart.

Some days we nail it, other days we get nailed.

By hiding our own weaknesses, fears, worries, we give them more power.
If you let it out, shine a light on it all, it becomes so much less scary, funny even…
And goodness only knows we need to laugh.

So, to the woman who wonders if she is good enough…

If this is you.
Yes you are.
You always were.

You don’t have to live up to everyone’s expectation of how you should be coping.
You are human, flawed, wonderful, miraculous, loveable, loved.

I see you,

Now do me a favour and go see all the others too.
Spread the word, we are good enough, just as we are.

Donna Ashworth
From the poetry collection ‘to the women’ : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08LRGWY74/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1_OYLVFbX4YR91V

Art by Ramona Pintea Artist

15/05/2022

💕Planning for Naming Ceremony mid June well under way….. Exciting times 💕

04/03/2022

💕Let’s talk about………..The Quaich💕

💕The Quaich Ceremony is a beautiful ancient Scottish tradition of sharing a dram with a friend or loved one. It’s known as the Loving Cup ❤️ This tradition beautifully symbolises the union of people in Ceremony, whatever the reason for us coming together. Family and Wedding Ceremonies, Couple Ceremonies and Funerals alike. The choice of liquid is yours! From a special bottle of Malt Whisky to Tequila to a finely brewed cuppie of tea. Promises, vows and commitment can be sealed with this toast 💕

💕In pre Covid days the sharing of the Quaich was common practice, and would have to be altered depending, in these current times. How beautiful though to all have a dram together, to share in a memorable toast to the special occasion. Shot glasses can be provided for all your guests to participate 💕

💕This can be ideally used for Wedding Celebration, for Naming Ceremony; Engagement; Blending Family together and Commitment Ceremony💕

💕Beautiful, don’t you agree ❤️ Here are some examples of gorgeous Scottish Quaich. They can be made of wood or pewter or silver and be inscribe with names and dates. Lots of ideas to give you inspiration for your special day - all available on Etsy or Google💕

04/03/2022

💕Let’s talk about………..Hand-fasting Ceremony💕

💕Hand-fasting Ceremony is a beautiful ancient ritual symbolising the union of people who love each other and are very important in each other’s lives. Hand fasting is linked with Scottish tradition - seen in Outlander with Jamie Fraser and his beautiful wife Claire💕

💕Hand fasting ribbons can be made of any material you choose. They can be made from Tartan, Lace, Cord or Ribbon. They can be inscribed with names of key people and the date of the special day, woven through. They can be made to order or you can indeed make them yourself💕

💕The visual symbolic joining of hands of the material, tied in a Celtic Knot, in this beautiful moment - together for all eternity - a very poignant moment in time when we are all united in this space, together💕

💕This can be ideally used for Wedding Celebration, for Naming Ceremony; Engagement; Blending Family together and Commitment Ceremony💕

💕Beautiful, don’t you agree ❤️ Here are some examples of gorgeous Hand Fasting. Lots of ideas and kits to give you inspiration for your special day - all available on Etsy or Google. I would I also recommend watching the wedding scene in Outlander💕

04/03/2022

💕Let’s talk about………..Unity Candle Ceremony💕

💕Unity Candle Ceremony is a beautiful ritual symbolising the union of people who love each other and are very important in each other’s lives. Unity Candles can be inscribed with names of key people and the date of the special day. 💕 The visual symbolic lighting of the individual candles from the Unity Candle is a beautiful moment - a moment in time when we are all united together - as one. 💕

💕Guests to your event can get involved too, by having a tea light to light their own special candle with the beautiful Unity Flame binding everyone in this space💕

💕This can be ideally used for Wedding Celebration, for Naming Ceremony; Engagement; Blending Family together and Commitment Ceremony💕

💕Beautiful, don’t you agree ❤️ Here are some examples of gorgeous Unity Candles. Lots of ideas and kits to give you inspiration for your special day - all available on Etsy or Google💕

04/03/2022

💕Let’s talk about….. Sand Ceremony💕

Sand ceremony is a beautiful ritual symbolising union of people who love each other and are very important in each other’s lives. The visual pouring in or different coloured sands shows beautiful how we are all united together - as one. 💕

💕This can be ideally used for Wedding Celebration, for Naming Ceremony; Engagement; Blending Family together and Commitment Ceremony💕

💕Beautiful, don’t you agree ❤️ Here are some examples of gorgeous Sand Ceremony. Lots of ideas and kits to give you inspiration for your special day - all available on Etsy or Google💕

04/03/2022

💕Ooh! Some interest in Naming Ceremony today. Remember you can have Ceremony for anything you want to celebrate. 💕

💕All prices will be individually quoted based on the content you wish to have, where the venue is etc.💕

💕A small deposit will be required to secure your date. Balance will be paid 4 weeks before Ceremony date. 💕

💕create your beautiful bespoke ceremony with Celebrant Lainey💕

02/03/2022

❤️ well said Donna Ashworth

KEEP YOUR DOOR OPEN

The kids have been through a lot.
Finally seeing light at the end of a two year tunnel they are now hearing talk of war.
Their minds are absorbing everything they hear and see on the news and in the playground, and if you think those worries do not run deep, you are wrong.

You see, to them the world is a shaky place.
Not to be relied upon.
Things can change overnight and this they know very well.
Bad things can happen.
It is, and has been, their reality.

So, what can we do?
We can talk.
Talk until there are no words left to be said and then when that point is reached, hug.

Keep a calm environment, make safety and love the aim of life right now.

But above all, keep your door open.

Do not berate little visitors at night.
Do not expect perfect teens with sunny dispositions and for the love of all that is reasonable, do not expect academic achievement.

This is huge to them and comes hot off the back of a traumatic and frustrating time.

They are kids.

Teachers, carers, parents…

Keep your door open.

Donna Ashworth
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1785303791/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_i_N03WKA1WA8KR4GTRMTG5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Art by Lucy Campbell Lucy Campbell