Prayer Flags for a Wedding Ceremony
Posted in Ceremony Ideas, Cultural Traditions, Friendship, Life in General, Nature Based, Prayer Flags, Ritual Recipes Podcast, Weddings
Tagged buddhist ceremony, ct podcast, CT wedding officiant, ct weddings, customized wedding rituals, DIY ritual, outdoor wedding, prayer flags, ritual recipes podcast, saint clements castle, weddings, Zita Christian
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YouTube – Zita Interviews Photographer Carrie (Draghi) Patterson
CT Photographer says family portraits still important
Engaged couples, magazines, corporations, professionals seeking headshots, and parents of newborns all rave about Connecticut photographer Carrie Patterson of Carrie Draghi Photography. I interviewed Carrie on a recent episode of Weddings with Zita. You can watch it on Youtube.com/ZitaTVNetwork. It's episode 27. Here are a few take-aways.
There's a certain intimacy that is created when you work with your wedding photographer. He or she will spend a lot of time with you in various stages of undress and, equally important, various expressions of emotion. You need to trust your photographer. Continue reading
Posted in Interview on Weddings with Zita, Life in General, Uncategorized, Wedding Vows, Weddings
Tagged carrie draghi photography, carrie patterson, CT wedding photographer, family photographer, first look, wedding budget, wedding photographer, weddings, Weddings with Zita, Zita Christian
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YouTube – Zita Interviews Bridal Seamstress Mollie Frish
Bridal Seamstress Mollie Frish talks about bustles
Navigating the world of bridal gown alterations can be mysterious, not to mention expensive. In episode 28 of Weddings with Zita, Connecticut bridal seamstress Mollie Frish shares stories, photos, advice, and inspiration. Watch it on Youtube.com/ZitaTVNetwork.
Do you have a bridal alteration story to share? Let me know. I'm putting together questions for another interview with Mollie. Thanks.
Posted in Interview on Weddings with Zita, Uncategorized, Weddings
Tagged bridal alterations, bridal seamstress, bustle, bustle buddy, mollie frish, repurpose wedding gown, say yes to the dress, wedding alterations, wedding budget, wedding dress, wedding gown, Weddings with Zita, Zita Christian
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Episode 7 – Prayer Flags for Wedding Rituals and Children’s Projects
Tibetan prayer flags / Photo by Andreas Berger at Unsplash
Movies about climbing Mount Everest always show prayer flags – five pieces of solid colored fabric strung together, blowing in the wind. The meaning behind them is ancient and honors the individual, the family, the community, and the earth. Continue reading
Posted in Ceremony Ideas, Cultural Traditions, Life in General, Nature Based, Prayer Flags, Ritual Recipes Podcast, Weddings
Tagged buddhism, caroline casey, dorothy gale, outdoor wedding, prayer flags, ritual, ritual for children, spiritual not religious, wedding ceremony, wedding officiant, wedding ritual, weddings, Weddings with Zita, wind horse, wizard of oz, Zita Christian
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Episode 6 – Gifts from the Trees Ritual for Weddings and More
Did you know that unicorns like ash trees? That the locust tree represents strength and the will to live? That planting a juniper by the front door is said to protect the home from thieves? What magical gifts do the trees in your neighborhood offer?
Autumn splendor in New England forest
Gifts from the Trees is a ritual I created from myths, legends, and facts surrounding trees. It’s a good ritual for fairy– or woodland-themed weddings, milestone birthdays, retirement celebrations, or croning ceremonies.
Posted in Ceremony Ideas, Life in General, Nature Based, Ritual Recipes Podcast, Seasonal, Trees, Uncategorized, Wedding Vows, Weddings
Tagged autumn wedding, outdoor wedding, ritual recipes, wedding ceremony, wedding ritual, woodland wedding
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Want love in your life? Be like an apple tree!
Have you listened to Episode 6 of Ritual Recipes – a podcast full of practical magic to nourish your inner life? This little video enhances the message and offers a simple ritual to attract love, deepen love, or celebrate self-love. The power comes from your intent and an apple!
Posted in Ceremony Ideas, Goddess, Life in General, Nature Based, Trees, Weddings
Tagged apple magic, apples, love ritual, nature, nature magick, power of ritual
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Episode 5 – Spirit Spoons and Garden Gifts Rituals
Do you need protection? Eat basil.
Do you seek abundance? Have some mint.
Do you want to help your family find peace? Serve coriander.
Herbs and spices are full of magical properties and lend themselves to rituals.
Spirit Spoons
I believe food tastes best when the chef works while holding loving thoughts for those who will eat the food. That’s the idea behind spirit spoons. The spoon itself can be made of any material. The spirit is added by the cook. Continue reading
Posted in Celtic, Ceremony Ideas, Cultural Traditions, Friendship, Life in General, Ritual Recipes Podcast, Uncategorized, Weddings
Tagged Garden Gifts, kitchen ritual, spirit spoon, stir up the sun
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Episode 4 – Oathing Stones and Ritual Rocks for Personal Goals and Wedding Vows
Layered, piled, buried, jutting up from the ground, stones weave the tapestry of the earth. They symbolize the old, the everlasting…the ancestors. What does it mean to make a oath on a stone connected to the realm of the departed? A lot!
Hearken back now to a time long ago when the land was always viewed as the home of the ancestors. Everyone knew that the spirits of loved ones who had died now guided and protected those still walking the earth. Everyone understood that physical survival in this world depended on spiritual connections to the Other World.
A full moon caught in the bare branches of a tree
A stone that came from the land bridged the worlds of here and beyond. To swear an oath with your hand on a sacred stone forged an invisible link to your ancestors. Break your oath and you break your connection. You risk survival in this world and the next. If your clan knew you’d broken your vow, their support would also be in jeopardy. At best, you’d be shunned. At worst, you’d be driven from the village. If you didn’t honor a commitment to your ancestors, how could you be trusted? Continue reading
Posted in Celtic, Ceremony Ideas, Cultural Traditions, Friendship, Life in General, Marriage Equality, Oathing Stones, Ritual Recipes Podcast, Wedding Vows, Weddings
Tagged celtic wedding, first look, lotus, oathing stone, vineyard wedding, vows on stone, wedding ceremony, wedding ritual
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Episode 3 – Baby Blessings Intergenerational Ceremony for the Unchurched
Have you seen Walt Disney’s The Lion King? One of my favorite scenes is when the witch, Rafiki, presents the newborn cub, Simba, to the gods while Simba’s parents beam with pride. That scene is what inspired a baby blessing I created.
Owls for Baby Blessing
In my work as a ritualist, I create rituals to help individuals, couples, families, and communities navigate rites of passage – weddings, new home blessings, baby blessings, as well as funerals, memorial services, and other milestones along the way. Most of the people who work with me are not members of a church. That no longer presents an obstacle for couples getting married since there are several legal alternatives for someone to perform the ceremony. Couples might choose a justice of the peace, a generic officiant, or a specialist in family and community rituals – a Life-Cycle Celebrant. That’s what I am.
Baby Blessing Ritual for the Unchurched
Not being a member of a church or other organized spiritual community can present a challenge when the couple has a baby. Continue reading
Posted in Business Blessings, Celtic, Ceremony Ideas, Cultural Traditions, Handfasting, Life in General, Ritual Recipes Podcast, Weddings
Tagged christening, naming ceremony, vineyard wedding
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Episode 2 – Imbolc Rituals with the Celtic Goddess Brigid and Root Vegetables
What do root vegetables, horseshoes, the groundhog and the Celtic Goddess Brigid have in common? They’re the ingredients of two mid-winter rituals I want to share with you.
Photo by Abigail Lynn for Unsplash
I live in Connecticut. Winters are long and cold. In early February, folks look to the groundhog to predict the coming of spring. Early on February 2, he pops up from his underground den. If he sees his shadow, it’s because the sun is weak. It hasn’t risen high enough to warm the land. We can expect six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, the sun is strong and has already risen high enough to begin warming the land. Spring will come early. Instead of consulting the groundhog, my Celtic ancestors looked to the Goddess Brigid for signs of spring. Continue reading
Posted in Celtic, Ceremony Ideas, Cultural Traditions, Friendship, Life in General, Ritual Recipes Podcast, Seasonal
Tagged blacksmith, Brigid, Celtic, forge, Goddess, horseshoes, Imbolc, kitchen ritual, root vegetables, winter ceremony
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