Meriel Whale Celebrant Lewes

26/11/2025

What Is A Celebrant? – Written and credited to Gwyn Davies

Celebrant, Celebrant, what is it you do?
I’m a little old fashioned and haven’t a clue.
Celebrant, Celebrant, what is it you do?
Are you religious, or is that taboo?

Who is your target, where is your goal?
I’m a little confused, as to what is your role.
Are you religious, or the atheist sort,
I’m a bit in the dark and need to be taught.

Well let me enlighten, I’ll try and explain,
I’m there as a person to try ease the pain.
It isn’t about me or any belief,
I try help the loved ones to help with their grief.

There’s more than two options, to help people through,
So I’ll try and explain, what us Celebrants do.
We take an approach, with a personal touch,
For loved ones in need of the help for a crutch.

Some aren’t religious, but still want a prayer,
Or even a hymn, and we’re happy to share.
It just doesn’t matter what our belief,
We’ll use an approach, that helps bring relief.

So as you can see, it’s not black or white,
We offer a service that we just try make right.
Right for the person, whose life has passed on,
And try help those hurting, as their loved one has gone.

We tick all the boxes, some people say,
We try make it special, in our own unique way.
Times are a changing, changing so fast,
We must try move forward, not stuck in the past.

To help and bring comfort, is our real aim,
Each service is special, no two the same
Happy to meet to discuss what we do
At a time or a place chosen by you

21/11/2025

It's day today and I called out on social media for people to have a think about what they have always wanted to ask a funeral celebrant. This is what they asked:

Is it hard, emotionally, to conduct a funeral?
It can be hard, especially if you are in front of a room full of very upset and grieving people who are showing it in all sorts of different ways. My approach is to remember why I am there and who I am doing the funeral for. It's an offering to those who are grieving, to provide a safe container for them to grieve and I can't do that if I am showing sadness myself. I have to stay strong by remembering what my role is - to guide people through a service, to allow THEM to grieve in whatever way they need. It's for those who are mourning and it's to honour the person who has died.

Hi - do you have any suggestions as to how the children from a large extended family can be involved in the funeral service ….?
It would be their first experience of it.
I think it would be helpful for the children to know what to expect and what is going to happen at the funeral. This can be done by showing them photos of the venue, and perhaps of a coffin and funeral flowers too. You can tell them about a funeral in story form, play some of the music and share some of the readings. You can also tell them that people might cry, and that's OK and normal, people will be feeling very sad and that they can cry too but it's OK If they don't or don't feel like crying. The children, as at a funeral I carried out, can choose music and readings too. Helpful books are freely available, and some can be found here: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/primary-schools-books-and-resources

Why did you become a celebrant and how does one become one?
I wanted to become a celebrant so I could combine my counselling skills and my writing skills to give people a really good send off and to comfort their loved ones. I thought I would be able to be sensitive and to create something different for each client or clients so they felt listened to and that I had really summed their person up with great care and skill. I trained with Cicil Ceremonies who were very good and I did my wedding and naming training with them too: https://www.civilceremonies.co.uk/training-with-civil-ceremonies

What do you think is the best part of being a celebrant?
When you finish a ceremony and know you have written it and delivered it to the best of your ability, helped people through one of the worst times in their life and created something memorable for all the right reasons. It's very safisfying and makes all the hard work so worthwhile.

People often bring pets to weddings, what do you think about having pets at a funeral?
I'd be very happy to have somone's pet at a funeral as long as the venue allowed it and the pet would feel happy and safe to be there. Animals mourn too and they can often provide comfort to the grieving.

www.merielwhalecelebrant.co.uk

I’ll work closely with you to create exactly the right ceremony for you or your loved one. We’ll meet face to face or online so that I can get to know you. I’ll write and deliver a beautiful bespoke ceremony that makes you feel proud, content and satisfied. You won’t regret choosing me.

20/11/2025

It's Transgender Day of Remembrance . I am so sad we need a day like today. But I am glad that I have the skills to look after a funeral for a trans person who has died, to honour them and to support their loved ones. I am a member of the ***rdeathnetwork and have done additional training in funerals and ***rfunerals. Do contact me at

I’ll work closely with you to create exactly the right ceremony for you or your loved one. We’ll meet face to face or online so that I can get to know you. I’ll write and deliver a beautiful bespoke ceremony that makes you feel proud, content and satisfied. You won’t regret choosing me.

03/11/2025

It’s on 21 Nov. From 8 am (UK) I'll be onine with — drop your questions below and I’ll answer honestly. Let’s lift the lid on funeral choices and celebrate the power of a well-made farewell.

20/10/2025

Happy International Pronouns Day! My pronouns are she/her/they.

That last 'they' is to signify that there is a part of me that is gender playful - on the inside and on the outside, I don't ft into traditional gender binaries. I play with thm. I challenge them.

I respect your pronouns, whatever they are, and I respect the identity they signify. You'll be safe with me.

I’ll work closely with you to create exactly the right ceremony for you or your loved one. We’ll meet face to face or online so that I can get to know you. I’ll write and deliver a beautiful bespoke ceremony that makes you feel proud, content and satisfied. You won’t regret choosing me.

12/10/2025

***rfest

09/10/2025

09/10/2025

Baby Loss Awareness Week, 9 - 15 October, is probably one of the most painful weeks of the year. Ask anyne who has lost a pregnancy or a baby how old their baby would have been and they will be able to tell you. These children are never forgotten and the loss is real and beyond imagining.

This year the theme is 'Together, we care' and I am here to say that I do care and I will care if you need a compassionate, bespoke and completely personal ceremony for your lost pregnancy or lost baby, no matter how long ago it was. There is no time limit on grief.

I am a caring celebrant and I always receive good feedback from my clients. I can also offer sensitive naming ceremonies for babies born after a loss. My email address is merielwhale@protonmail.com.

I hope you can find ways to nurture yourself this week.

This Baby Loss Awareness Week we are coming together to in support of all those whose much-loved and much-missed babies died too soon.

09/10/2025

It's the start of (Oct 9-15) and as celebrants, many of us have supported bereaved families navigating life after the very sad loss of their little ones.

To find out how you can support The Lullaby Trust, visit https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/find-support-or-discover-how-to-support-others-this-baby-loss-awareness-week/ and perhaps light a candle in remembrance of little ones who have gone to the stars. ✨

If you know someone in need of support, the trust is available by calling 0808 802 6868 or emailing: support@lullabytrust.org.uk.

07/10/2025

The first leaf has been sold on our new memorial tree, this is a new and beautiful way to remember your loved ones with the option of purchasing for five, ten, twenty years and perpetuity. For more information please contact our memorial consultant Christine, she will be happy to speak with you. 🥰

06/10/2025

What makes your days feel full enough?

25/09/2025

I'm here for all genders and all sexualities, spiritual or secular, bookish and literary, nature based or outdoor ceremonies.

I'm here if you want something different, quirky, colourful, entirely your own.

I'm here for simple, genuine and heartfelt ceremonies, where your style is celebrated, as it is.

I'm here for highly personalised and real ceremonies, where you will feel both visible and accepted as you are, true to you.

• I’m proudly q***r and a trans ally
• You’ll be able to feel comfortable and safe with me
• I have a quirky and fun, while also classy, dress sense
• I am comfortable being myself and I’ll help you feel comfortable to find the right ceremony for you
• I come highly praised for my ability to write beautiful prose, find exactly the right poem or reading and deliver my ceremonies with heartfelt genuineness
• People often comment on my beautiful smile, kindness and warmth
• I will serve you well because I will be able to do a deep dive to get to know you and match the ceremony directly to your needs without preconceptions or fixed ideas. I will be able to be thoughtful as well as light-hearted and fun.

Most of all, I will be calm, focused and on your side/with you as we travel together towards your ideal day which will be memorable for all the right reasons.

You will feel seen and the whole experience will be infused with love and care and with affirmation and celebration as you are

Most of all, I'll create the right ceremony for you, not one size fits all.

I am a writer, reader, cat lover, wild swimmer, walker and I love really good shoes!