Sacred Ceremony brings more meaning to a birthday celebration

(except from my chapter “Everyday Sacred Ceremony with the Angels” in the book “Angels: Winged Whispers”)

You can add sacred ceremony to a birthday celebration and find that it becomes a very memorable event for all involved. Here is a ceremony I facilitated with a group of women to celebrate and honor their dear friend Kelsey’s birthday. Her friend Michelle hosted the party at her home on a December evening and cooked a sumptuous meal for her guests. Before the event, each guest received a card with the words “My birthday wish for Kelsey is . . . ” printed on top, so she could write a special message. The evening started with a guided meditation in which each guest’s angel took her to a private garden. In this garden, they were able to release the year that was ending, and seed their intentions and wishes for the new year ahead. After the meditation, the group moved to the dining room for dinner. While they were eating, I returned to the original room and lit candles throughout the space. When it was time for everyone to come in, I asked them to enter quietly with the mindset of entering sacred space. It was a beautiful space with flowers and candles around the room. I rang a bell to signify the beginning of the ceremony and lit a candle on the altar, made from a small table with a cloth draped over it. I asked the angels to be present and for the room to be filled with light and love. I explained the items I had on the altar that represented the elements, and some of the qualities each element brings to us:

• For the element of fire, I used the candle and its flame. Fire represents transformation and purification.

• For the element of air, the smoke from the candle would carry our wishes and prayers up to the heavens. Air represents the breath of life, inspiration, and seeing things from a higher perspective.

• The element of water was represented by two items. The first was a cleansing spray I had made with a blend of essential oils specifically for that evening. I misted the air in the room and over each of us. The bottle of spray was then given to the birthday girl as my gift. Also on the altar was some water in a small, clear teapot. Water represents emotions, cleansing and purifying, renewal and rebirth.

• For the element of earth, there were two things: a pouch of stones and a single rose. Earth represents grounding, stability and strength, ancient wisdom and power.

After the explanations, I took a moment to honor Kelsey’s mother, who was also in attendance, for bringing Kelsey into our lives, and handed her the rose. A flowering jasmine tea ball was put into the clear teapot of water, representing the blossoming of the group’s friendship. I asked the ladies to place their left hand on their heart and to extend their right hand toward the teapot. They were to visualize their heart energy flowing through their arm and into the teapot, while I spoke a blessing over the tea. I poured small amounts of the tea into little cartoon cups (representing Kelsey’s playful side) and passed them around. As everyone drank the tea, they physically took in both the blessings of the group and one another’s heart energy.

One by one, each person then came up to Kelsey, read their card to her, and placed it in a special keepsake box. I followed up with a card I wrote with a message from her angels. Kelsey was handed the pouch of stones that were engraved with words. She stood in front of each person, picked out a stone, held it to her heart to fill it with her love and gratitude, and then handed it to the person.

We then stood in a circle, holding hands, while a beautiful song about birthdays played. Then we played a happy, ‘rocking out’ birthday song. I closed the ceremony by thanking the ladies and the angels for participating in this joyous occasion, ringing the bell, and blowing out the candle.

This is what Michelle wrote about the event afterwards:

Finding a way to honor a friend on her birthday can be as simple as making reservations and calling a few friends. However, if you want to make a lasting impression, then a birthday ceremony by Maryellen De Vine is the way to go. It is a celebration filled with love and gratitude worthy of a special friend. The evening turned out to be one of the most memorable, personable, and intimate celebrations I have ever witnessed. There is none more deserving than a person whose friendship is cherished by so many. We all have them in our lives and now we have a way to show them how truly cherished they are!”