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When I think of some of the in-between times in my life; the summer before college, changing jobs and life direction, relationships and friendships ending, leaving New York city for New Jersey, becoming a mother, and one of the most heartbreaking -- watching my dad’s body deteriorate and eventually pass on; I remember feeling I could no longer locate or identify myself in the same habitual ways I had before these transitions took place. These were uncomfortable periods, shadowed by the unknown. No one ever said, “ Sit. Rest. Welcome this time. Welcome these feelings. There are riches here for you to unearth. This in-between time is precious too.”

Celebrancy, first developed in Australia in the 1970s, is an emerging trend in the United States, founded upon celebrating life-cycle passages and transitions with meaning and significance. By utilizing world traditions and rituals along with choosing relevant readings; celebrants attend to those tender times in their clients’ lives with great attention and care. They acknowledge the individual’s journey while focusing on preparing their client for their very own personal ceremony with intention and thoughtful consideration. By creating a safe and sacred space, where family and friends gather mindfully as witnesses; participating in ceremony creates an opening full of compassion and support. From this ceremonial space transition to the next life phase happens in an authentic and significant way.

Unlike Johnny Mercer’s cautionary advice to us in his song lyrics; ‘You gotta accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative and …don’t mess with Mr. In-between” -- we see that we can find beauty and importance in celebrating these cyclical and natural periods of change with ritual and ceremony. We realize welcoming Mr. In-Between within a ceremonial context can be life-affirming, quite juicy and at times, even necessary.

“Plants bear witness to the reality of roots.” Moses Maimonides