Kirstie Celebrant

17/01/2025

Hello.
So, turns out it's still January.
It's still winter.......

But tis also a brand new year, spring is itching to burst into life and I am still here to improve your life by encouraging you open your heart to accepting that one day it'll end.

For today's public service announcement did you know that there are is a little flurry of free downloads available on my website?

All designed to support you dipping a toe into the world of end-of-life rituals from the familiar comfort of your own screen.

Dive on in. I'll hold your hand.

Sending love x

10/01/2025

Hellooooo
I'm calling to you from my igloo.

I did a little review of the songs people had chosen for their funerals last year. 192 completely unique choices (some of them wonderfully obscure) and then the top 5 which was a little more predictable.

I'll share more on this at some point, if you're interested?

I did however also notice that I had the enormous pleasure of sharing my very favourite reading 4 times.

It's a reading which explains how there is in fact no such thing as death.

It's called Eulogy from a Physicist.
It's by Aaron Freeman.
And I'm reading it in the vid below.

I'd love your thoughts on this ....... x

10/01/2025

407 days since the freezy-fog swallowed the view.
I'm hoping whoever started macrameing this wall keeps going through.
It'll be a wedding veil for the wall by easter.

There's probably some beautiful death related metaphor in all of this but the freezy-fog swallowed that too.

Keep warm. Stay safe. Hibernate.

Sending love as always x

07/01/2025

Mid week story to ease us into the new year? Why not!

Last year I was trusted by Donna and Dawn to help them create an end of life ritual worthy of their gorgeous mum. We called it Pat Fest.

I've long believed that there's some other energy beyond mine influencing my work and Pat certainly agrees.
In this case it was her.

The afternoon before Pat Fest I called at Dawn's to collect a box of things they wanted taking to the venue (gorgeous Green Acres Rainford).

As Dawn opened the door she started to laugh and shouted over her shoulder to Donna
"it's ok, mum's decided"

We'd talked from our first meeting about "tucking Pat in" at the end of the ceremony. About Donna and Dawn snugging Pat up beneath one of the great many beautiful crocheted blankets she'd created. The blanket that had been decided upon was a christening shawl used throughout the family. A shawl which was currently nowhere to be seen.

There were other options of course but thrown this curveball neither Donna nor Dawn were able to decide upon a replacement. Bored of the faffing, Pat did.

I'd arrived at Dawn's that afternoon in a fairly distinctive coat. It's an unusual brown, a real seventies vibe, an absolutely perfect match for one of the blankets D and D had been dithering over. (coat and blankie pictured together below).

I don't believe in coincidences.
I do believe in the consistence of energy across time and space.
I also believe in the eternal connection between mothers and daughters.

Sending love to anyone who ever had a mum (especially Donna and Dawn). xx

06/01/2025

Hey there you!
Engaged?
Thinking about taking a relationship to the next level?

Join me and an absolute TON of other beautiful love-obsessed wedding folk at the stunning Tatton Park for a weekend of just lovely love.

Can't wait to see some of your gorgeous faces there.
Psssttt...... pass it on ###

05/01/2025

Impersonal????
Never!
Ever!
Not on my watch kids ###x

04/01/2025

*HELP NEEDED*

Hello dears. How has your January begun?

Optimistic as ever I nonetheless fear that my gloves are reflective of my working year to date.......

You're always so encouraging and supportive of what I do and so I'm chancing my arm and asking for help coz that's what communities are for, isn't it?

Please could you tell anyone you love, bump into, meet, go on a date with, crash your car into (that one was a joke, this won't happen to you), run over the toe of with your trolley in the Asda that I exist?

As an Independent Celebrant who isn't affiliated with specific funeral directors it's super unlikely that one will suggest me to someone seeking their expertise.

It's even a little likely that you'd be discouraged from choosing your own officiant as most have a go-to person that they'd recommend.

In return I promise this ......
I am genuinely great at this.
I care for my families with my entire heart.
I always focus on listening, getting to know the person and hearing what isn't said as well as what is.
My funerals are always entirely unique.
I write every single word from scratch.
My focus is always twofold: telling a story and providing healing, for this I've coined a term .......
Therapeutic Narrative Funerals.

If you feel you can trust me, please could you share this post and tell the whole wide world?

It would be such a shame if my wonder gloves were to become the Punxatawney Phil of Bold Heath.

Soz (not really though) to be so vulnerable when you've only just got up.
As always, I'm sending you love xx

16/12/2024

What this lad said.

100%

Nailed it.

I've got you though.

I'm s**t hot at knitting armour x

14/12/2024

Hello all of you treasured little phone folk.
Who's ok?
Who's not?

I always feel inside out at this time of year.

I remember as a kid always feeling genuine envy for the Blue Peter tortoise 🐢 That lucky little smug-shell and his straw filled box. That episode every year when he got to snug up and sleep away winter......

One of the beautiful families I've supported this year who are of course facing their first midwinter without have chosen a gorgeous way to honour R.
One of his daughters is posting a 12 days of him on socials. Sharing a pic and a memory each day in the run up to the 25th.
Lush, eh?

In lieu of being able to be tucked into a cardboard box with air holes poked in, it's essential we find our own way through.
And just as essential that we respect one another's chosen coping methods.

If you'd like some words of reflection and comfort this midwinter then message me an email address to receive a little Winterval Interval delivered direct to your screen this time next week.

Stay snug kids xx

09/12/2024

M was a singer.

A former Butlins Red Coat.

A man who spent hours handstitching sequins onto a tie when he couldn't find one to buy to wear on stage.

He saw the musical Dream Girls live 44 times. Forty. Four.

Dressed for the occasion in his honour of course.

Accompanied by Beyonce and Madonna, not in person alas.

Going above and beyond should be the minimum for your person. Don't settle for anything less.

Blessed to have been trusted by his gorgeous family.

If for some obscure reason you find yourself in proximity to a bottle of Bacardi tonight, have one for M, won't you?

Sending love x

06/12/2024

Chuffed as a chipmunk that HELEN HORNE Funeral Directors Ltd and I are featured in December's edition of Funeral Director Monthly.

In all honesty, it's been a challenging time work-wise so this little lift came at a very opportune moment.

Your loved one deserves the very best, and you deserve the highest level of support and care - that's highly trained, qualified and committed professionals who always go above and beyond.

As ever, an enormous thank you to Anne, Barbara and all at Civil Ceremonies Ltd who are constantly encouraging us all to strive to improve what we do and how we do it

06/12/2024

03/12/2024

Just a few tickets left for our awesome extravaganza of gentle love, support and joy this mid-winter .......

Expect the following -

Gorgeous words
Togetherness
All of the fairy lights
Lovely Music
A chance to honour your person
Mince Pies
A little gift from us
Sequins
Laughter
Space to feel however you need to feel

And you v much won't be disappointed x

There's a clicky link thing in this ⬇️

You can also share the below link in an email or on your website: https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=518&reset=1