“Life is the ceremony. How we live it, is the ritual.”
— Wind Hughes

Life has many transitions: A baby is born. A marriage. A divorce. A death. We all experience moments of profound change, but what do we do to mark those moments? How do we become mindful of these events and imbue them with purpose and meaning? 

As a One Spirit Interfaith Minister I create ceremonies and rituals which act as sacred thresholds, for individuals, couples, families, friends and communities to step across, so they experience a different energy, helping them release what’s no longer needed, accept change and a new way of being. Sacred vows, heartfelt words, gratitudes, carefully chosen poems, prayers, blessings & music are delicately woven together, where even the choice of a flower or herb carries a deep significance. I create bespoke ceremonies to suit all faiths and none, and it’s done with the purest intention for the highest good, imbued with Divine Love and often results in healing, acceptance and hope, even in the darkest moments. 

Rituals are the rhythms and traditions that give us a sense of stability in the face of uncertainty by reminding us that there's always something we can do, say or make that conjures awe, contentment, and gratitude. They give us a way to acknowledge through our actions that, as life changes, we too must change.

So are you looking to craft a ceremony that reflects your beliefs & values?

As a celebrant, with more than 30 years broadcast experience, I am able to lovingly hold sacred space and through deep listening, reflect your heartfelt wishes, and work alongside you to create, write and deliver beautiful bespoke ceremonies: baby blessings, naming ceremonies, rites of passage events, civil partnership and wedding blessings, funerals and celebrations of life.

As a video producer, I can also arrange for a camera operator to film a ceremony or celebration, I can interview key participants after the service and I can edit it to authentically depict the occasion - a wonderful record of a baby blessing or civil partnership.

Rituals and ceremonies can help you navigate the choppy waters of divorce, providing reassurance and stability for children. I also created a service to honour unborn children, following multiple miscarriages, which was very healing and helped bridge the way to acceptance - all held in Divine Love.

Ceremony

Ceremony Fees

Usually 2-3 in person or zoom meetings or email/phone liaison over a period of 6 months resulting in the co-created ceremony & holding the service on the day.

Baby Blessing/Naming ceremonies: £400-£600 (plus expenses)

Wedding Blessing/Civil Partnership Blessing: £800-£1000 (plus expenses)

Funeral/Celebration of Life: £350-£550 (plus expenses)

Other Ceremonies: £600 (plus expenses)

Latest Ceremonies

Featured
River Blessing
River Blessing

Rev. Helen James filmed and edited this video to honour the sacredness & sentience of water and highlight the important work communities are doing across Britain, creating Water Blessing ceremonies.

The Mayor of Calne in Wiltshire, Cllr Robert MacNaughton has devoted his year in office to carry out River Blessings, led by Shamanic Practitioner, Kate Dineen. The ceremony included really profound and joyful contributions from each and every person in the circle.

Blessing at the Guiseley Wells in Leeds, Yorkshire
Blessing at the Guiseley Wells in Leeds, Yorkshire

I was privileged to conduct an Interfaith well blessing, welcoming in the summer and blessing the ancient springs and community gathered at the Guiseley Wells, Leeds, Yorkshire.

  • Helen came to us at a moment when we were sad, fraught and exhausted. She instantly created an atmosphere of calm and focused our minds away from all of the noise and onto the most important thing: celebrating my grandmother's life. When we were flailing she gave us a structure to work within, and kept us on track, but she also helped us to make the ceremony our own, asking questions that led us quickly to the heart of what was important about and to my grandmother. She suggested beautiful and unique ways to celebrate these essentials, and helped us to incorporate our own ideas as they bubbled up. Helen suffused my grandmother's beautiful ceremony with her own spirituality but with a light touch that balanced the creation of an atmosphere of sacred remembrance with the family's own beliefs. Her charismatic and caring presence led us through it, and we felt held and supported throughout. Helen took a painful situation and turned it into a beautiful moment that we will remember with warmth and love.

    Lia Leendertz

  • It landed on a new moon. Helen had prepared some unexpected ceremony of celebration with a shared activity of fire and flowers. Together we set intentions. I loved that this was a sharing experience.

    C.M.

  • I attended a powerful, healing Full Moon ceremony. Helen offered a safe, confidential space to share whatever I wished without judgement and acknowledged and held my feelings with love.

    - Claire

  • Every detail had been thought out & prepared with such love & care. I felt so safe, held & supported.

    - Faye

I also mark the moon phases and changing seasons through ritual within women’s circles, honouring the Divine Feminine, seeking balance within ourselves and unity consciousness. Observing the seasons can really help to centre and ground us, and the moon is a visible symbol of that life cycle, as we can watch her wax and wane, and we can notice how we feel the influence of the moon on our bodies, minds, emotions and spirit - our dreams too. Seeing the patterns can bring reassurance, continuity, connection. It can help women manage their energies around their menstrual cycle, learning when to be still during the dark moon phase, listening to their intuition,  and then during a full moon, spring into action completing a cycle of potential transformation, grateful for any growth. We are not separate from the natural world, not separate from any being or creature: plant; mineral or animal. We affect everything around us, as we are affected by everything around us – we are made from the same star stuff as everything and everybody else. When we acknowledge that integration, we connect with others, we connect with the Divine, to truly live with peace.

Community, fellowship, sharing stories, ceremonies and rituals, circles of healing, flowing with the seasons & moon phases and honouring Mother Earth - these are the joyous things that light me up. 

 Please do get in touch to explore how I may be of service to you in creating a ceremony or ritual, and we can also discuss costs.