Rainbird Rites, Independent Celebrant Services

05/06/2024

16/04/2023

Below are a few of the services I offer. For anything not listed please contact me to discuss your needs.

Pregnancy Blessing Ceremonies
Baby Blessings/Name Giving Ceremonies
Coming of Age Ceremonies
Life Transitions
Coming Out Celebrations
Transitioning Ceremonies
Weddings/Handfastings
House Blessings
Pet Welcoming ceremonies
Divorce Ceremonies
Eldering /Croning Rites
Funerals
Pet Funerals
Scattering of Ashes
Memorial Rites

16/04/2023

Coming out, transitioning, taking a new new name, or a new identity, are all life transitions which can be acknowledged and empowered through ceremony.

16/04/2023

Sadly not all marriages work out, and Divorce ceremonies can be a powerful way for an individual to mark the end of their marriage, reassert their individuality and begin a new phase of life. Divorce ceremonies can involve both parties where the separation is amicable, but more often involve just one person. When both parties are involved the ceremony can be a way of openly acknowledging the life and achievements shared, whilst also recognising the difficulties and acknowledging the need to move on with separate lives. A celebrant-led divorce ceremony pays homage to this important life transition, recognising the end of the marriage with grace and gratitude for all that was, and looking forward to what will be.

16/04/2023

Coming of Age ceremonies can be performed at various transitions in a person’s life from child to young adult. Puberty rites, and first me**es for girls, “sweet 16” or in Latin American traditions Quinsceanera (15th birthday), moving from primary to secondary school, end of exams, leaving school, graduation, entering adulthood at 18 or 21 are all occasions which some people like to mark with formal ceremonies and parties.

16/04/2023

16/04/2023

Celebrant-led weddings reflect the rituals, values and viewpoints that fulfil the clients’ beliefs, needs and wants

16/04/2023

Croning, Wising or Eldering ceremonies are “coming of age” ceremonies for later life transitions. The word Crone means an old lady, and it’s origins have an unpleasant context in that the word derives from words for “carcass”. However modern pagans have reclaimed and re-interpreted the word, connecting it to the word “crown”, such that a crowning ceremony becomes a ceremony in which a woman is crowned as an elder. I prefer to use the words Wising or Eldering which are also gender neutral. Women might choose to have a Wising Ceremony when they reach menopause to acknowledge and help them through the physical and emotional changes they are undergoing and to move on towards a positive future. Retirement and becoming a grandparent are also important milestones which may be celebrated with an Eldering ceremony by all genders. An Eldering ceremony acknowledges the experience and wisdom that comes with age, the transitions one has gone through in life, the power and confidence which have been gained through life experiences, both good and bad, and the role of an elder in passing that wisdom on and guiding future generations. An Eldering ceremony also expresses gratitude for the wisdom, traditions and love passed from one generation to the next.

16/04/2023

Heart shaped stones collected from Aphrodite’s birth place in Cyprus

16/04/2023

Preparing for a handfasting

16/04/2023

TESTIMONIALS

“My family have a lot of different beliefs and religions (and neurodiversity), so when my mother died it was important to have an officiant who we all trusted and felt safe with.
We remembered Karin from a family wedding she officiated nearly two decades ago and could not have hoped for a better person. Karin created a very special, and very moving service which we will all remember forever.”
- Katherine Howard, London

“Karin officiated at my ‘big fat pagan wedding’ in the woods. We had 150 people of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, and professions and everyone loved it”
- Lavinia Birch, Sussex

“Karin is a caring and knowledgeable practitioner. She officiated at our handfasting many years ago. She is reliable and incredibly helpful. If you are considering any kind of ceremony I’m certain you will enjoy something truly special.” Phil L-J, Ton Pentre

"Karin performed our handfasting in 2018, wonderful experience that all who attended still talk about. Karin guided us through every part of the ceremony before the actual date. Out handfasting was a very spiritual experience never to be forgotten." Leighton Pearce, Ynysybwl

16/04/2023

The only certainty in life is death, and we will all suffer the loss of a loved one at some time in our lives. A funeral or memorial service can provide a potent source of healing, helping family and friends to come to terms with the loss of a loved one, to celebrate their loved one’s life, express gratitude for the gifts they brought whilst living, and helping those left behind to say goodbye in a meaningful way.

16/04/2023

Recommendations from the 2020 Consultancy on Weddings can be found here https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/weddings/

16/04/2023

Baby blessing and naming ceremonies exist in all religions. In Christianity babies are Christened with a ceremony involving baptism with water. In Hinduism Namkaran Sanskar takes place on the 12th day of a child’s life, and in Islam the baby naming ceremony takes place on the 7th day of a child’s life. In Jewish tradition the male babies are named at Brit Milah on the eighth day of life whereas female babies may be named up to two weeks after birth, often in a ceremony called Simchat Bat.
In many ancient pagan traditions, such as Ancient Greek tradition, there is a ceremony to welcome a new baby into the home and to acknowledge the changes that a new life will bring to the household.
Modern Wicca has the ceremony of Wiccaning to bless and name new babies. Some Druidic groups have a First Oath ceremony carried out in the first year of a child’s life.
Ceremonies to welcome, bless and name a new child are important for many whatever their faith, or none.
In Non-religious or Humanist naming ceremonies, the emphasis is fully on welcoming the child into the family. Some non-religious ceremonies will include spiritual elements, but this is down to the individual wishes of the parents.
The parents may formally and ritually commit to raising the child to the best of their abilities, and friends or relatives may be chosen to participate in the ceremony as Supporting Adults, to act as Mentors to the child.

16/04/2023

Weddings Rites can take many forms and can take place in specially consecrated buildings, hotels, community centres, family homes, gardens, woodland, caves, stone circles etc. The ceremony can include religious or spiritual readings and prayers, or may not include any religious elements, but be purely a celebration of the couple’s love for each other and commitment to each other, before their family and friends. Personalised ceremonies can be created depending on the couple’s own personal beliefs and work view.
Currently any couple undergoing a personalised ceremony would also have to have a separate Registry Office marriage in order for it to be legally binding, as currently legal weddings are only allowed in certain licensed venues and by licensed Priests of certain religions and Registrars. Though some couples are happy to have a ceremony which is meaningful to them and are not concerned about it being legally binding, others will want a legally binding wedding.
The laws on who can perform legally binding weddings, and where they can take place will be changing though following the consultation which took place in 2020.

16/04/2023

16/04/2023