Birth, Death and Marriage All in One Amazing Day

One of the most fulfilling roles I play is being an officiant and celebrant, helping people honor and celebrate life’s most important milestones. Yesterday, life lined up three celebrations all in one day and in just an eight-hour window, I guided a sweet small gathering for a Memorial and Farewell Service, joined a beautiful baby shower for a dear couple I married two years ago, and then went on to officiate a small wedding for a couple just starting out on their marriage journey.

It truly felt like the whole circle of life playing out in a single day.

The woman we were saying farewell to lived what seemed on the surface to be a simple, quiet life yet as the stories were shared during her service, we listened, laughed, cried and realized that she had a larger than life personality, had many incredible adventures and touched people deeply. Those gathered were friends family and colleagues who had known her for most of the seven decades of her life. There had been difficult health struggles early in life and a painful passage from cancer and yet she still managed to go to concerts, cirque de soleil performances, theatre shows, have travel adventures and built two careers in totally different fields. In the end S was able to tell her oldest and dearest friend, my bucket list is complete, there is nothing more I need or want from life.

There were beautiful flowers, sweet photos, the presence of dragons, and hummingbirds and a beautiful purple urn to lay to rest at her father’s grave adorned with more exquisite soft lavender and purple flowers.

We spoke about death as Liberation Day. Yes a time to grieve and say farewell and also a time to bid this dear woman peace, rest and a journey beyond our world that is the mystery of mysteries. I encouraged everyone to pay attention to the small ways that their friend and sister might show up and send a wink or message from beyond. When I turned on my car to leave after the service, the radio was on and Shania Twain was singing, I Feel Like a Woman. – that was the last concert that S went to before her transition – a wink most certainly!!!

Then it was time to move forward to the baby shower. The couple had chosen a theme of We Are Over the Moon Excited to Meet You Baby Boy. We were asked to bring books for their baby. All of the gifts were wrapped in moons and stars and the books ranged from classics to ultra modern ones including one called How to Raise and Activist. Some adorable baby clothes also adorned in moons and stars were offered as well as additions to the never ending list of “baby stuff” that is needed to tend to this soon to arrive tiny life.

I have recently written a book as a love letter to a new grand nephew who arrived in my family that tells the story of my life in the stars and a magic bear that I had who came and found me here on earth to help me remember who I truly am and that we here on earth are so very very loved. The bear I found is an alpace teddy and I have been giving tiny alpaca teddy bears to friends and babies of friends for the past twenty five years. What a delight to get to give my dear young couple a copy of my book and a pure white ultra soft fuzzy bear for their boy soon to arrive from the stars as well.

A sweet little moment to bless Baby Bump and wish him an easeful arrival and wonderful new life adventure with his wonderful parents and then it was time to be off for the third celebration of the day.

Just a few days ago I received a call from a couple asking if I could marry them on the coming Saturday. While it was a very last minute request they were having a simple elopement ceremony and license signing and we all felt a lovely warm connection in our first conversation so I said yes of course. This lovely couple are from the tiny nation of Moldova and both grew up in the potent religious culture of their small communities and nation. Unbeknownst to each other they each won a green card lottery which gave them entry here to the United States and also both chose Seattle as their new home. There is a vibrant community of people from their region in Eastern Europe so they were aware of each other from gatherings and mutual connections but had not actually met. Again unbeknownst to each other they both returned home for a Christmas gathering with family a few years ago and again unbeknownst to each other chose to go to a concert in their area. Lo and behold what a surprise to recognize a familiar face all the way from their adopted home here in Seattle. A powerful connection occurred that led to dating back here in the US and of course falling in love so deeply that a few months ago they returned to Moldova for a grand church wedding and all their Loved Ones there to celebrate with them. Now it was time to have a small American wedding honoring more of their own spiritual values and practices, to renew their vows and to receive their license with all the rights and privileges bestowed to married couples here in the US. We gathered in the ever so rare for the Pacific Northwest sweltering heat at a gorgeous state park that holds a magnificent former Catholic Seminary It is now an award winning lodge that welcomes guests from around the world.

We had gorgeous white flowers, a sweet couple as their witnesses and their charming daughter who came adored in unicorn colored braids. I hope her parents showed her the big unicorn in the Lodge. Our beautiful bride and handsome groom were ready to say “We Do Times Two”. We began with a quiet moment to be present and to give thanks for the Gift of Love and the guiding hands of the Divine or Destiny that helped these two find each other. They spoke their vows in their native language, their guests offered blessings for their rings and their marriage and finally they had their kiss moment and were declared married again. We ended the ceremony with an eagle feather blessing as a welcome from our American totem the eagle. We offered prayers that they be inspired by this symbol of courage, empowerment and the ability to see with wise eyes and soar to great heights – all wonderful and necessary elements for a long and deeply fulfilled marriage. Blessings A & T and may love continue to guide your path as you begin your marriage adventure.

Thank you to each of these wonderful people who trusted me to guide you in such tender, beautiful and deeply meaningful moments in your lives. May you all feel blessed. – Grace