Verity Allaway - Celebrant

02/02/2026

Now that we're in the new year, we can look forward to the days getting longer and warmer.

We have to make it to spring first, which means we need to slog through January (which we can now check off the list.)
Now that we're in February, those who celebrate the wicca and pagan ways of life will celebrate Imbolc today, on 2nd Feb.

Rooted in the Gaelic traditions, and also referred to as St Brigid's Day, it is the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

It focuses on renewal, growth, new life, and hope for the future. There are celebrations around food, naturally, and there is the eating of foods containing oats, cheese, and certain herbs. There are walks through nature, and I love the tiny hints of crocuses coming through the ground, desperately seeking the light.

Today I held a funeral for someone who followed this path. We lit a white candle as a reminder of the light she brought to the world. It was placed in a wood bowl filled with salt for cleansing and restoration of balance, rosemary for remembrance, and cloves to give courage and strength to her loved ones.

When I brought it home I relit it as a reminder that sometimes the simplest things in life can bring us strength, and that there is always light, however faint, in the shadows.

14/01/2026

🤍🤍🤍

23/07/2025

Anyone who has ever had even half a conversation with me - both personally and professionally - will know how much I enjoy music. A lot of my music tastes can be traced back to the bands I was introduced to by my Dad when I was in my early teens. But there was one band who has influenced my tastes more than most....

Black Sabbath

From that discovery of Ozzy Osbourne and his unique vocals, I knew my life was going down the path of Heavy Metal.

I've never looked back.

Ozzy Osbourne lived a life of wild abandon and chaos, and he truly delighted in the world. His health issues of recent years never dulled his spark and just weeks ago during the show back in his home town it was still there. He was still delighting in the spectacle and the performance of playing live, just as he always did.

The whole world mourns a true legend.

08/07/2025

An interesting article from Alice Gendron explaining what it can be like to go through grief as a person dealing with ADHD.

This quote from the article is especially useful:

"According to research, emotional regulation plays a crucial role in how we handle loss and work through our grief. In complicated grief, having healthy, stable emotional regulation is especially important. Unlike the more common experiences of grieving, which gradually lessens over time and allows for healing, complicated grief seems to be stuck in an intense emotional state. It can persist for months or years, interfering with everyday activities, relationships, and overall wellbeing.
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Research suggests that ADHD adults who struggle with emotional regulation are more prone to depressive symptoms and anxiety during stressful events like losing a loved one or pregnancy loss. We might experience overwhelming emotions that become difficult to manage, partly due to ADHD symptoms and partly because we're human, and grief is tough."

Navigating grief with ADHD? This article will help you realize unique challenges and tackle misconceptions - like what's 'wrong' in grieving - to guide your healing.

04/07/2025

Here's an example of one of the poem's I've recently added to my Pinterest page

A Scottish Heart - Author Unknown

Scotland isn't just a place, it's something that lives within. It's in your heart, your blood, and your soul.

Discover even more ideas for you

04/07/2025

Any of you lovely people use Pinterest?

I'm currently working on a project to put all the poems that I use on it, so that you have some nice reference points to look at when coming up with ideas.

It is a work in progress, so I'll be adding to it as and when I can, but here's what I've come up with so far...

See what Verity Allaway - Celebrant (VerityA_Celebrant) has discovered on Pinterest, the world's biggest collection of ideas.

02/06/2025

I think this says all I need to say...

Oh, and I love you all ❤️🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜🖤🩶🤍🤎 🌈

💕🌈🏳️‍🌈💞

08/03/2025

In honour of International Women's Day - which is today, Saturday 8th March - I want to celebrate all of the wonderful women in my life.

My Mum and my sisters have always gone above and beyond when it comes to us looking out for each other; even when we get on each others nerves and wind each other up, there's never been a time when we've not been friends.

I also want to celebrate my lovely friends for simply being who they are: the quiet and introverted ones and the loud, boisterous ones; there's the ones who champion and defend with a keen sense of justice, and the ones who quietly support and raise up those who need a little confidence boost.

Every single one of you deserve the recognition of being absolutely beautiful human beings. Keep on being who you are - you're fantastic and I love you all.

10/11/2024

On Remembrance Sunday we are reminded of those who have given their all in defence of our freedom. We honour their lives and their bravery, and we give thanks by ensuring their legacy and their sacrifices were not in vain.

This excerpt from the Laurence Binyon poem "For The Fallen" says everything I feel needs to be said...
Below is the ALT TEXT for the visually impaired:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

10/10/2024

As it's World Mental Health Day, here's a few numbers for organisations that can help you in times of need, courtesy of Mental Health Believe UK

Please remember that you are never alone 💚

08/10/2024

Yesterday was a lovely day.

I had a funeral booked at a nearby cemetery for a chap who was Portsmouth, born and bred. He was a proper sun-worshipper and would sit out the front of his house, surrounded by flowers and basking in the sunshine.

In the lead up to the service, all the weather reports stated that it would be raining all day so I made sure that we did as much as possible in the little cemetery chapel so that no one would have to worry about standing outside in the rain for too long.

As everyone is turning up - and there was quite the generous turn-out, which is lovely - they're all ready with jackets and brollies, all with the expectation of rain.

And it was glorious hot sunshine for the entirety of the duration of the funeral, and for a little while after, too.

There are many sayings attributed to sunshine and the meaning behind it: I like to believe that, in this instance, a sad occasion was made brighter and more positive an experience because we were very lucky to have the sun shining down on a day that should have had rain (and in fact, that very morning the weather reports were still saying it would rain.)

So this is my reminder that even when things seem dark and gloomy - even when the rain is pouring or the clouds are looming - a little bit of sunshine can make all the difference.

28/09/2024

Some recent feedback from a lovely family for a service we held for a chap who was born and bred in South London and over the years found his way to the south coast.

When we held the service, the sun decided to shine down on us after having had a rather chilly turn. Proper caravanning weather!
ALT TEXT for the visually impaired:
Dad would have loved the day, the service was lovely, you captured him in everyway we remember him.

Family, friends have said that's the best tribute they have heard. You created a journey, life of dad that flowed so perfectly. Dads brothers, sisters say thankyou to you aswell.

The sun was shining, the family were altogether having a good catch up and cry.

Thank you so much for everything.