Developing Intuitive Awareness of Ceremonial Spaces

 

Whether it’s because I’ve been officiating ceremonies for over thirty years or because I’m naturally intuitive or adept at emotional and environmental frequencies, my sixth sense is always there to accompany me into any ceremonial space. With an Omniscient-style approach, I can immediately see, hear and sense what works, and what might impede the smooth flow, style or aesthetics of a ceremony. This topic has been uppermost in my mind, as a celebrant trainer, this month as it is the topic of this week’s CPD (continuing professional development).

 

 

There are so many times I’ve felt that a couple or mourners have been ‘let down’ by the lack of awareness of others. Quite often, these are simple things that could have been avoided. Other times, they’re huge factors and intrusions that have happened due to lack of care, oversight, being tone deaf or aesthetically ‘blind’. As a celebrant, my focus is 100% on making things as ‘excellent’ as possible for my client. This means being totally tuned into the environment I’ll be working in, and the space in which my client will receive their ceremony. It’s an important topic and one that is neglected in celebrant-training courses.

 

 

When you’ve spent ten to thirty hours of your time invested in creating a beautiful ceremony, the last thing you want is all that beauty, care, devotion and creation undermined because of someone else’s carelessness or lack of awareness. This CPD will offer examples of what to look, listen and feel for in any ceremonial space, and troubleshooting any problems.

 

Veronika Robinson has been officiating all manner of ceremonies since 1995, and alongside her husband Paul are industry leaders offering one-to-one professional celebrant training.

Veronika Robinson has a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing, is the author of over thirty books, including several for celebrants including The Five Elements; The Successful Celebrant; Write That Eulogy; Funerals for Children; The Discrimination-free Celebrant.  Love Story is publishing in Winter 2026.

She is a certified Infant Loss Professional; founder of Penrith’s first Death Café; has a TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Self-harm and Suicide Awareness and Prevention; is a celebrant for the charity Gift of a Wedding; mentors celebrants around the world in all aspects of celebrancy including mastering writing life stories and love stories; and hosts retreats for celebrants. Veronika founded and edited The Celebrant magazine. Issues 1 to 13 can be found here.