VIC Mooroolbark Nicole Good

Melbourne celebrant Nicole Good - Appointed September 2005

Around 6 years ago I was introduced to a lady by the name of Cassandra Carter. Little did I know it, but this dynamic and power-filled woman would make an impact on my life, starting me off in a job that has become my passion and my joy.

Soon after the birth of the youngest of my 3 children, I was faced with the prospect that many people may face – a change in life’s direction. Having chosen to stay at home, my skills were badly viewed by potential employers – and to be honest, all the jobs I had held pre-children were not really where I wanted to be.

I had grown and changed, evolved if you like. Now, although I felt I had invaluable experience to share and utilise, there was nowhere to show it.

Enter in the wisdom that walked by the name of Cass Carter. One of the most well known Pagan Celebrants in Victoria, she had travelled the world, putting her words into practice in many areas of life, celebrancy being just one. During one of the many conversations we had in the next few months, we discussed the idea of my following in her footsteps and combining my own personal path of paganism (wicca/witchcraft) with celebrancy. So much information, so much encouragement.......and then, she was gone, less than 4 months later she passed away.

So I did what we had discussed, I became a celebrant. I was authorised on September 3rd 2005. It sounds simple? Truthfully, it was for me. I had no trouble finding the time to spend building up my ideas book, a manual designed to show couple all the possibilities open to them, because I had found a passion, not just a way of earning money. I was excited by the prospect of helping people celebrate such a beautiful occasion. I loved completing assignments, felt challenged by learning and sharing ideas. I just never considered that I couldn’t do it.

Although I originally had no inclination to perform funerals, that was changed soon after my appointment, with the death of my best friend. Not only did I organise and run her funeral at a Funeral Chapel for family of 80+, I then co-ordinated, wrote, organised and ran the ritual on Rosebud Foreshore afterwards, with another 130+ grieving family and friends from across the state. Yes, I was exhausted, yes, I did collapse in a heap afterward, and yes, I did eventually find time to grieve for my friend. But that occasion was by far, the most amazing honour I have yet to experience as a celebrant, but not the only one. Someone said to me once “It’s only when we are pushed to the limit of what we think that we can endure, that we really start to shine in ways we never could have considered’

In the future, I want to be doing this – but bigger. I hope to be working on more funerals, because sometimes, a civil ceremony can appear as just a ceremony devoid of spiritual aspects. I believe that people should be offered as much choice for their funeral as we offer for the weddings & commitments. I would like to be actively involved in helping newer celebrants as a mentor, in much the same way as I was helped.

I guess I just want to best I can be, and I like the journey so far. Why not share it J

Nicole Good

Civil Marriage Celebrant

Mooroolbark Victoria

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