ceremonies – End of Life University

Learn how celebrants co-create ceremonies to help people navigate the milestones of life.

My guest for this interview from the archives is Charlotte Eulette is the International Director of the non-profit educational organization Celebrant Foundation and Institute. The foundation certifies and trains people to become ritual experts who create ceremonies to mark milestones in life. Charlotte discusses the importance of these rituals for ourselves and our communities and how to become a celebrant. Learn more at the website:

www.celebrantinstitute.org

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

What is a life-cycle celebrant and what do they do
How the modern celebrant movement got started
Honoring the culture and beliefs of the participants in ceremonies
Why ceremonies and rituals are important for everyone with or without religious affiliation
How rituals can make a difference for grievers
Alternatives when a loved one doesn’t want a funeral
How celebrants can be helpful in healthcare settings
What training is required to become a celebrant
Why “closure” is not a helpful concept at times of loss and change

Links mentioned in this episode:

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Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here
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Learn why and how to create rituals to deal with the normal losses of life.

PodcastGeorge

My very special guest for this episode is my beautiful daughter Gia George, who is a singer-songwriter, yoga and meditation teacher, sound and energy healer, and spiritual teacher. As part of her work in the world she creates ceremonies for people going through life’s transitions, including channeling music for those experiencing loss. We discuss our own losses, the need for rituals, and how to a craft a ceremony capable of holding our grief. Learn more at her website:

www.DivinelyGia.com

Listen here:

This episode includes:

How rituals can help us let go and “cross the bridge” into a new life
“Grief-cleaning” and how it can help us open to our pain
A spontaneous ritual for leaving and letting go of the past using gratitude and mandala-making
Why we can’t rush into letting-go rituals
Why rituals can be valuable even many years after a loss and how to create one
The balance between holding on and letting go
The things that weigh us down can prevent our creativity
A ritual can be an accessible container for our grief process
The power of music in rituals

Mantra for letting go: There will come a time to leave, but I will never stop loving you.

-Gia George

Links mentioned in this episode:

It’s Just Life! Podcast (with Gia and Karen)
Episode 206 – The Dance of Life and Death: Timing
Gia’s website: www.divinelygia.com
Gia’s song after the death of a friend: Ryde This Wave
Gia’s album: Healing Chants
Good Mornings with Gia
Join the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it)

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes! Thanks again to all supporters on Patreon.com/eolu, your contributions mean everything to me!