Feedback and Response - Hawthorn Heart Ceremony

Feedback from CM (core tutor):

It seems you are indeed used to creating healing energy in circles and with groups. There is confidence here and a clear direction as well as a real sensitivity to the needs of others.There is a rhythm, an ebb and flow to the unfolding of your ceremony that is pleasing and healing. There is a balance of light ( wisdom through information) and warmth (love of subject matter and the guests) and between these two I feel you holding the balance in that you know exactly, through your own biography what you are asking healing and protection for. 

I think the invocation at the beginning could be clearer. What or who are you invoking to help the group and you as a minister. This is the crucial and difficult step where you step away from you 'day person' into the minister where you are more than you.  

I also wondered how you will get them to speak the first text. Do they have it written down or will you speak it first and they copy you? Same goes for the song. It is always a bit of a hassle and potential embarrassment for people who are not accustomed to 'sing or speak along' to do so without clear guidance and help. 

If you do do it outside and there is wind how will you light the candles and keep them alight? It would be a pity to do it inside because of a bit of wind! 

A very effective ceremony Leti which will do all the things I think you intend it to do. 

 So lovely to receive this feedback this afternoon and the suggestions are just what I needed so that I can ensure these elements are made explicit in the "script".

1) Clarifying the invocation:

Grounding & Invocation - Celebrant invites all by saying:

We are here to seek healing – for the emotional, physical and spiritual hurts we carry. There is no promise that the healing will happen during the ceremony(!) but hopefully there will at least be a seed planted in each of us. 

We will begin by inviting the Divine/the Universal Spirit, the healing spirit of hawthorn, our ancestors, loved ones and any angels or spiritual guardians we wish to call on to be present with us here in this circle. 

Come Great Spirit - Stir us up to be open to healing and settle us down to bring healing to others as you cast your Love and Light around the circle and make it sacred 

Just for this moment... 

Now let us all say together the words in your service sheet

All together:          I Open my Heart, Let the Transformation begin!

We open our Hearts, Let the Transformation begin!

2) Service Sheet: as indicated in my original document, there will be a service sheet for each person with the song, Ogham symbol, and the group responses clearly laid out;

3) Singing: I will introduce the song, and sing it as a call and response at least to begin with. The words in brackets will be used if the participants seem comfortable to try singing it all

3) Outdoor Plan: again, as indicated in the original document, candles - one large central candle in a lantern if outdoors, one taper, tealights (in jars if outdoors) for each participant

Spiritual Counselling with a Year 2 Student

Over the next few weeks we are each to have three spiritual counselling sessions with a 2nd year student, at the end of which they will write up a case study. When the announcement came through that we could now select our counsellor I scrolled through the names, photos, and descriptions allowing my eye to lightly view them all. Then I went back through them and found myself stopping at Jo's profile. I read it through and it spoke to me, resonating with me on a profound level so I contacted her and asked if she might consider being my counsellor. She replied with a YES and we then arranged to have an introductory conversation.

Such a joy to meet with Jo over Zoom yesterday afternoon. We spent an hour in gentle conversation, building rapport and exploring our contract. The Spirit moves in such marvellously mysterious and wondrous ways and I felt filled with delight and anticipation by the time we said goodbye.

JoHi I'm Jo... a 'spiritual being having a human experience'! As with most things in my life I believe I was guided to the One Spirit training. I'd never considered Interfaith Ministry when I found myself on the One Spirit website... but then everyone I spoke to that week was a OSIM! I've been a daily meditator for nearly 10 years and I'm loving putting a deep focus on my spiritual life through the One Spirit training ♡I live on the Isle of Skye with my husband, two children and crazy kitten. We had no plan to move to the Highlands of Scotland but after 15 months living in a bus, travelling around the coast of the UK, homeschooling & exploring different ways of living, a life by the coast amongst the mountains and wildlife proved impossible to leave! I love to spend time with my family jumping in pools, walking barefoot on the beach and swimming in the sea.I've had a varied work life in IT, social enterprise, property development, even owned a restaurant. In 2009 I qualified as a coach and 2013 as a meditation teacher and have worked mainly in coaching, facilitation and running meditation courses since. I've no clear idea yet of where my ministry may take me in the long term, but the words 'go where the pain is & be the presence of love' came to me strongly at the end of first year & I felt nudged to take a role at Women's Aid.
I love the magic of spiritual counselling; how by holding space, being a loving presence, listening deeply, surrendering to Spirit, and meeting people where they are... profound healing can happen... for us all ♡