Ceremonies During Physical Distancing
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As always, I offer a no obligation, no charge chat by phone or online.   I can be reached at 514-806-6322, or email lorraine@lorrainecowan.ca

A New Life 

What brings more joy than a brand new life?  Regardless how children enter yours, they are unique, they are special, and they bring the gift of transformation.  

Partners are transformed to parents, parents to grandparents, children to siblings and siblings to aunts and uncles. Our entire being is changed and it becomes impossible to remember life before being graced with their arrival.   

Traditionally, a child's entrance to life was marked by a Baptism or Christening.  While some churches still perform these ceremonies, many people find the rituals lack personal significance and meaning.   

While a church Baptism or Christening welcomes a child to the church, a Welcoming, Naming or Blessing ceremony welcomes the child to life, family, earth, tribe or clan, and community.  Welcoming and Naming ceremonies are steeped throughout history and actually pre-date church baptism and christening ceremonies.   

A Welcoming Ceremony is often considered as the first Rite of Passage for a child, welcoming their soul to Earth by embracing them with love, belonging, and security. 

​No child is too young or too old to be welcomed in ceremony, however many parents choose to have a Naming and Welcoming Ceremony when their child is somewhere between 4 and 9 months old.  They know something special is happening, and they know it's all about them!  ​​​

Photography by Jennifer Mahon "Travel Keeps Me Sane"

So why not celebrate the arrival of the new life that's entered yours with a custom and personal ceremony as unique as they are?   

After we meet, usually by Zoom,  I'll create a custom, bespoke ceremony written for your child that includes personal and meaningful rituals to welcome them to life and recognize the lives changed with their arrival. 

​You have final say on every word, and I'll officiate your ceremony anywhere you like, from a reception hall, a restaurant, a park, or even your own back yard. ​ 

​Some elements and rituals that may be weaved into the ceremony are:

• the appointment of guide-parents,
• introduction of this new life to the family
• the story behind your child's name.  
• recognizing new siblings, grandparents, cousins, aunts & uncles
• parents pledges to their child
• recognizing other children who will play an important role in your child's life
• singing your child's favourite song or reading their favourite nursery rhyme ​​​

"I just wanted to thank you again for the lovely ceremony yesterday! We got rave reviews from our guests! They're used to traditional church baptisms so this was a big change for them but seems we may have started a new trend!"

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"We just wanted to thank you for the beautiful ceremony. Everyone enjoyed it very much!
​We got lots of positive comments and many were very interested in this kind of ceremony versus a baptism. It was touching and heartfelt, exactly what we wanted."
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"Thank you again for the lovely and absolutely perfect ceremony!
Everyone said how wonderful it was and it was better than anything I had imagined. You can tell you love what you do and you are great at it. 
I look forward to seeing you again for the next baby"

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