"The soul soars where words from the heart are spoken"
A little bit about what I do and why I do it...
Hello! I’m Emma, an Art-Deco loving, Yorkshire Tea drinking, Agatha Christie and Star Wars superfan, and a proud member of the Fellowship of Independent Celebrants,
....and while I could tell you why I am an ‘able' Celebrant, I would, instead like to share a personal story about the reasons I became a Celebrant in the first place, because therein lies probably everything that you may want to know about me, to decide if I will be your Celebrant.
My desire to become a Celebrant stems from when I was 17 years old, when I attended the funeral service of a friend. He was such a vibrant, loving, individual, but his service lacked warmth or humility, and the Celebrant did nothing to capture the essence of all that my friend had been or had meant to his family and friends. It was a heart-wrenching service, not only because of the loss of such a beautiful spirit, but because that amazing young man, was denied the gratitude, empathy, and recognition he (and his family) deserved!
That funeral service shaped how I felt about loss for YEARS - until my lovely Nanny Joan’s funeral, which impacted me for completely different reasons! The way the Celebrant drew out all the little idiosyncrasies that made my Nanny unique, all those lovely bittersweet memories, was wonderful, and reflected all that she was and how she made the world a better place by being in it.
The words the Celebrant said, and the warmth, he demonstrated, made - what was a desperately sad day - just that little bit more bearable, softening the rawness of the loss I felt, leaving me (and my family) comforted that an amazing lady was given the most wonderful, well-deserved ‘send-off’ in a way that gave everyone who loved her comfort.
Our greatest and most important life events, whether they are happy or sad, are our 'rites of passage' onto a new journey, a new chapter of our book of life, or the closing of that story…. bringing with them so much joy, love, inclusivity, poignancy, and emotion; there is nothing more disheartening then seeing those moments acknowledged in a completely lack-lustre way!
We each deserve so much more than a 'half-hearted' welcome, joining or farewell and that’s what inspires me to create bespoke ceremonies of distinction, because every life holds meaning; it’s my entire ethos and is my ‘mission statement' for a reason - because the only things that matters in life, are the memories we make with our family and friends, the memories we create for the loved ones we leave behind, and how we ourselves are remembered....and it is my greatest privilege to be able to bring meaning into those moments and memories.
My lovely Nanny Joan and Grandad Des
A little bit about me, and life 'B.C.' (behind celebrancy)
..When you are building relationships, it always nice to get to know a little bit about a person behind their profession, so here's a little bit about me personally...
My family...
I am blessed to be married to a wonderful man, who I endearingly refer to as 'the beautiful Jay'; together we have a gorgeous (almost teenage) daughter, who spends much of her time these days looking at us like we are ruining her life! Our Collie; Nyala, goldfish; Phil (and Jay's much cherished beaten up VW Campervan) completes our family unit!
Pastimes and Hobbies...
It's simple pleasures that bring me the most joy; Agatha Christie's Poirot and Miss Marple on TV, crime novels, period drama's, learning about history, and I do love a good declutter! Oh and the Hunter family share a combined love of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Star Wars and Monty Python!
My 'go-to' 'tipple'...
Yorkshire tea is at the top of the list! (so 'rock n roll')...I can't function without a good cuppa!
Favourite Film...
It has to be 'Somewhere in Time', - THE most beautiful poignant story about enduring love across time; If you haven't watched it yet, do! but have your tissues at the ready!
Music that soothes my soul...
- Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and 'The Old Woman' (from the film Somewhere in Time)
- The Poldark theme music and Enya's 'Watermark'
- Donovan's 'Little Tin Soldier' (my Dad used to sing it to me when I was little)
- 'Thinking of You' by Sister Sledge, always makes me think of my best Friends
- ...listening to 'the beautiful Jay' singing; he's an acoustic guitar player and sings at weddings etc,; if you are looking to include 'chilled out' live music at an event do consider him! he is AMAZING ( www.playjay.co.uk )
What lifts my spirits...
Hummingbirds! I have always loved them! Thats why I have included a Hummingbird on my logo; these beautiful tiny birds represent the colour and enjoyment of life, and hold a spiritual sybolism across many faiths, cultures, mythology and folklore, where they are considered to be spiritual messengers, bringing good news and blessings from loved ones who have passed, linking to the idea of infinity as their tiny wings move in a figure eight pattern, the ancient symbol of continuity.
Most embarressing moment...
...There have been a lot! BUT the most mortifying one, has to be when I herded an unsuspecting couple (who had parked opposite my drive) into my house, assuming they had come to collect some dining chairs I had sold on a local sellling site. They weren't...they were waiting to view the house that was for sale next door! I did wonder why they looked so bewildered as I handed the chairs down to them through the loft hatch...I'm not even sure if they stuck around to view the house when the agent arrived shortly after the 'Chair Gate' saga! They seemed to flee pretty quickly! It remains one of my epic fails!
My biggest regret...
..Wasting SO much time worrying about things I have absolutely no control over! Jay has a long term heart condition, and (especially when my daughter was tiny) I was always striving to keep control of everything! It was exhausting! My vocation is a constant reminder that life is fragile and worry just wastes that precious time!, so these days I dont 'fret' like I used to...
Favourite quotes...
I can't choose one! I have four favourites;
- "To believe you are 'less' than you are, is to shatter your 'whole' self"
- "Hearts are broken where words are left unspoken"
- "Nothing changes if nothing changes!"
Most humbling moment...
The first funeral service I delivered, remains the most poignant and profound moment of my life. To be entrusted with the memory of someone else's loved one is the highest and most humbling honour.
Nicest thing anyone has ever said about me...
..."She's all 'hearts and flowers'; she talks a million miles per hour but gives love and support the same way"...