The Symbolism of some of the images explained
I am not sure that I am comfortable with the word photograph because it feels slightly cold, hard and removed but an image catches a moment and invites the imagination to become involved.
To me, a good photograph, or image, whether hand drawn or through a lens, mirrors the relationship of the Nouns involved. Noun being a person, place or thing!
Often these moments can be deeply personal and private.
The People native to the Maasai Mara believe that part of their soul is taken if a photograph is taken of them and, in many ways, I understand that. I can relate to that, for certainly the images of Me, as a child, or indeed growing up and ageing, reveal much of Me then, and now, and are much more telling and revealing than in the moment with each day that passes.
The spoken wisdom that “a picture paints a thousand words.” is so very true. And whilst each image on this website is original, the symbolism and meaning of some may need some explanation perhaps as to why I created them or what they symbolise in terms of Me being a Celebrant of Life.
My Soul or sole, both would be apt, intention is to enable you to create the occasion in the way you want it without being influenced or thinking you should compare yourself to others.
Each image is personal to me and part of me in some way. Their presence here is to prompt and inspire you to create one which is personal and meaningful to you. The idea behind using symbolism the images is this. You put yourself into the image and use your imagination to create the picture of your ceremony without being compared to another. So what you create is yours and yours alone.
By using symbols not people, I trust that I remain with and try not to influence the choice you make and how you live your life. I am here to support you through your ceremonies and create them to suit you.
Let me share the idea and meaning behind some of them.
Inspiration comes from within
The ceremony you create is one which is mirrored ot only from your heart to mine but to everyone involved in the moments it takes to be. These representations are merely that, holding places in your imagination to create the images and memories you want, pure and uninfluenced by ideas created by others.
The Ceremony
An alter cloth of purple for becoming one with Spirit.
A backdrop of trees for grounding, with Kites to remind us to look at life from a different perspective and the light of either the beginning or end of a day.
The white table cloth represents purity of love, intention and purpose.
The deer skull hold the space as if for a couple at a wedding. Testament, on the left, and Patience on the right. Deer are gender fluid. It is the ceremony not the couple who are to be married which I represent here.
Testament carries the Engagement ring my father gave to my mother. Patience wears a bracelet with an elephant on given to me by friends.
The Crystal Ball provides hope and clarity when facing, what is, in reality an uncertain future in a world (globe) where the sands of time (egg timer) shift.
My childhood was underpinned by Christian teachings and the Gideon Bible behind the deer bears the scars of a parrot and a child, Emma, who were once part of my life. To the right of the Bible is a leather bound blank book which has yet to be written in but represents the intention of everyone. For everyone has a story to tell.
The hand fasting; fabric woven from a shirt much loved but outgrown so repurposed to demonstrate enduring love and connection.
The Bell, that invites people together and invite change, welcome or not sometimes.
The feathers, two Kite, one Rook, a simple smudging tools put together with hair bands. Collected from the Field and representing “I can”. I can make things happen simply and effectively with the things I have been offered. The hair bands were used for plaiting manes and tails of horses. The Kite and Rook are often companions in the field. The feathers are gifts from them.
The seashells on the left collected from Anglesey with the son of a lifelong but deceased friend, from a place where we holidayed together years before.
And Hearts; crystal hearts, and lots of them, each with different properties. Labradorite, Aventurine, Fluorite, Rose quartz and Malachite and Howlite
And an Oyster shell from Dungarvan, Ireland, Two halves still connected despite weathering many storms and being worn down by time, representing strong connection and true purpose. Collected on a visit to family but not related through blood.
The dowsing pendulum. You can ask as many questions as you like, the answers are within you and the response you receive are the ones given at the time. Answers are liable to change over time and Free Will always has a part.
The Crystals, tumblestones, rough specimens and fossils; each has a meaning, a purpose and represents the community and gathering of people in any ceremony.
The glass plate represents holding and supporting the love of the family and union. Found in a second hand shop, bought on the off chance it might come in useful and is so much more than a plate. It represents, grandparental love and those generations beyond that are unseen yet very present and the energy it contains never ends, Energy changes its form but that is all.
Blessingways
Menarche Transition to Female
Menarche Transition to Female
Baby dragons become grown ups with family represented by the plate of grandparental love.
A wand of Rose quartz to bring magic love and hope to the life yet to arrive.
The baby boots often knitted by hand, (and indeed were!) by a wise woman passing love forward through touch when those first steps in a new life are taken.
The unicorn, although not clear in the image, its presence is like the creature itself, perhaps mystical but real as well.
Menarche Transition to Female
Menarche Transition to Female
Menarche Transition to Female
The toy unicorn becomes a pony as the feminine becomes a woman.
The passage of time represented by the egg timer
A wand of rose quartz to bring magic love and hope to the life as time changes
The unicorn, its presence clearer here in this image..
Male puberty Transition to Male
Menarche Transition to Female
Male puberty Transition to Male
The passage of time represented by the egg timer
A book of words with pen which has yet to be written
A hedgehog suggesting that hair changes into whiskers,
The world represents the future.
Deer lose their antlers at rutting time
Coming of Age
Coming of Age
Male puberty Transition to Male
Softness of a toy Dragon crosses the threshold of colour into a purer as yet, undefined space.
A weighing scale representing the balance which can be difficult to achieve, a gift from my father.
A key to suggest the responsibility of domesticity.
A cast iron Iron. Seen here as either a heavy burden of responsibility or a doorway to the future.
A skull carved from fossilised/petrified wood representing ancestors who have been there before.
Menopause
Coming of Age
Housewarming
The Dragon, “My mother the Dragon.” A gift from a friend adorned with my mother’s jewels and other gifts of love and my collection of coins held within the protection and power held by the Dragon.
A book of wisdom full of words written a long time ago by which farmers learned their trade. It was my fathers, and his before him.
A rope which binds the treasures and energy of my parents lives.
The Crystal Ball provides hope and clarity when facing, what is, in reality an uncertain future
Housewarming
Coming of Age
Housewarming
A sense of place in front of a fire. Although electric, there are always other ways to achieve what we need in life. And candles can bring real fire where there is not really a space. And cleansing by smudging with Sage.
Honourable endings
Honourable endings
Honourable endings
A stark image. Untying the knot when the couple no longer want to be together. A reality is that sometimes whist we have every intention, sometimes we have to part. Some couples like to end things honourably and thoughtfully, leaving a clean end and a fresh start
Retirement
Honourable endings
Honourable endings
My GP of many years retired. I painted this to decorate her car to celebrate the occasion as she left work for the final time.
A bowl of tools
Honourable endings
A bowl of tools
A bowl full of tools, cards, Ogham staves, rocks, sprays and rune stones, sometimes grounding and sometimes used for guidance and confirmation.
Wedding rings
A message from Spirit
A bowl of tools
There is a thought that people are vessels in which things are put. The Wedding ring symbolises love and commitment, never ending regardless of the body a soul finds itself living in. These rings were handmade of silver and exchanged as couples do, on their wedding day. They are man sized to fit the recipients who wear them.
A message from Spirit
A message from Spirit
A message from Spirit
Amanda Ellis is very much a guru and guide. When I put this image together using the
Archangel Metatron Self Mastery Oracle cards the card offered up as the time of asking was the Robin.
The feathers from different birds have been collected by me over the years.
Naming Ceremonies
A message from Spirit
A message from Spirit
Names can change throughout life for many reasons and if they are changed legally then they appear in the London Gazette.
The abandoned names are noted and replaced with the adopted names,
It is a legal and lawful process which requires many signatures and documents to authorise such a change.
It is a simple process.
The Dragon here has a crystal ball but no one can know for sure when or if they may do this.
The Gideon Bible, gives solemnity and certainty to the decision
Everyone is Welcome Here
Reaching out to your heart so that you can connect to mine.
With peaceful blessings.