Customer Reviews

Rather than prescribing specific ceremonies, the author encourages and facilitates us in creating our own rites of passage Review by Jill Harris, celebrant and birth doula

Review

In this book, events that are often sidelined, such as terminations, Caesareans and difficulties with conception, are addressed on an equal footing with marking the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, and preparing for birth. Rather than prescribing specific ceremonies, the author encourages and facilitates us in creating our own rites of passage, enabling us to bring together people from many faiths or none. She aims to inspire us to find multisensory ways to express and explore the feelings, thoughts and wisdom associated with our experience, whether within or outside existing mainstream ceremonies, by adapting our structure to reflect our personal circumstances. The language is open and non-denominational throughout in a way that successfully demystifies the prospect of creating a unique ceremony. (Posted on 30/06/2010)

A book to keep, treasure and visit to enrich family life. Review by Richard Barnett, Ethical Pulse

Review

A refreshing and inspiring approach to how we celebrate key moments as our children grow up. It is an inclusive and easy to read book that can be used by a wide variety of families. In an inspiring way Jackie encourages new parents and parents-to-be to include rituals in their lives to mark the joyous or sad occasions that accompany the bringing up of children. A book to keep, treasure and visit to enrich family life. (Posted on 30/06/2010)

A wonderful resource for parents and birth practitioners. Review by Julie Osbourne, Doula & Breastfeeding Counsellor

Review

This book brings the spirit back to birth, where prospective parents can find ways to prepare their minds, souls and bodies to receive a child, where women support each other and together draw upon all the collective wisdom that has gone before. The writing is honest and accessible to anyone wanting to connect to the deeper, human relevance of the creation of a new person. A wonderful resource for parents and birth practitioners. (Posted on 30/06/2010)

This would make a really useful addition to resources for antenatal groups and for birth preparation classes Review by from the Radical Midwives Association magazine, Midwifery Matters

Review

The author is a musician and a storyteller, and has worked for several years as a celebrant, creating alternative rituals for different stages of the life cycle, and this work informs the book. The book combines theoretical explorations of the nature of ritual with practical pointers to creating one's own rituals. It is unusual to find a book which looks at every aspect of the spectrum of fertility, childbearing and having a child there are the sections one might expect on celebrating pregnancy and birth, welcoming and naming babies, but also contributions from men on ways in which they have chosen to mark the transition to fatherhood, and sections dealing with pregnancy loss, stillbirth, termination and infertility. The latter is also looked at from both sides of the coin for some women, infertility is a source of pain and sorrow, but for some women, it is an active choice which is a source of strength and self-knowledge. There is also a chapter on adoption which acknowledges the joys that adoption brings to the adoptive family, as well as considering the trauma and loss for the parent/s who have given up a child. The last section includes helpful pointers to resources, both for creating ones own rituals but also for organisations and individuals who can help put together ceremonies or events to mark the different transitions. I'm a person rooted in a particular religious tradition, and I sometimes find books to do with 'alternative' rituals a bit too new-agey and/or schmaltzy but I enjoyed the tone of this one; the writing is clear and honest and offers suggestions from all sorts of different traditions as well as new ideas and possibilities that one could explore. The book is beautifully complemented by fine line drawings, which head each chapter and are repeated on each page and help to set the mood for each section. My only quibble is that there isn't an index I can imagine it wouldn't be an easy book to index, and there are pros and cons to having an index, but it might have been a helpful addition. All in all, it would make a really useful addition to resources for antenatal groups and for birth preparation classes, as well as a helpful book for midwives to read to remind themselves of the spiritual dimensions of the work that we do. (Posted on 30/06/2010)