In 2011, I started writing the Insight Clarity Growth blog to share new-to-me information that was too cool to keep to myself.  Over the 10 years that I wrote the blog, I realized that the person I most wanted to hear what I was sharing was my daughter, Kathryn.  I think that’s the main reason I kept writing. 

Fast forward to September 2025.  Kathryn’s getting married.

While thinking about what I wanted to offer Kathryn as a sort of shower before her wedding; my mind was taken to the novel, The Red Tent.  The red tent was where the women of the tribe all took refuge while menstruating or upon birthing, and “in which they find mutual support and encouragement from their mothers, sisters, and aunts”.  I wanted to ‘shower’ Kathryn with the kind of knowledge, wisdom, and love that I imagined was shared in that tent every month. 

I asked my friend and local shamanic practitioner, Linda¹, if she would be interested in leading a rite of passage fire ceremony for Kathryn and me before her wedding.  I invited a group of soul-led, wise women who are important in my life to witness, support, and share with both Kathryn and me as we celebrated this milestone event.

The ceremony was to be held about two weeks before the wedding with 14 women in attendance, including two of Kathryn’s dear friends to support her during the ‘journey’.  In keeping with the red tent inspiration, all the women wrote something they felt called from their hearts to share with Kathryn as she progresses through the transition into this next stage of her life. 

When I realized that I too had to prepare something to share with Kathryn at the ceremony, what really wanted to be shared was all the wisdom – the teachings and learnings – that I wrote about in the blog.

I’d thought over the years about putting the blog into a book format but it always seemed like too much and got pushed off my plate.  Now I had a pressing reason and a short deadline.  Two of my favourite things to get motivated!  So, with help from One Thousand Trees², my book was published in September.  Just in time to give to Kathryn at the rite of passage ceremony.

We began by gathering around a large table. Linda led us in creating a beautiful Despacho, or prayer bundle, where we all added our intentions to support Kathryn on her journey and for the journey of our collective future.  And like the red tent, it was a wonderful opportunity for a group of women to come together in community for a few hours.  It felt like an outpouring of love.

Once the bundle was complete, we gathered outside.  All the women circled around Kathryn and I for the rite of passage journey led by Linda.  In turn, each woman read their sharing to Kathryn.  The sharings included poems, songs, and lots of lived wisdom.  We all laughed and I think we all cried a little bit.  I was truly moved by each woman’s heartfelt sharing about marriage and life, and the loving energy they brought to the ceremony.  And then surrounded by that loving energy, Kathryn and I cut the cords to each other, allowing us to move forward into our individual destinies with love.  Finally, we placed the Despacho in the fire, releasing the prayers and our supportive intentions for Kathryn to spirit.  

It was an amazing experience and I still feel lifted by the energy we generated together.  One of many gifts from the rite of passage ceremony was it being the impetus for me publishing the beautiful book, Insight Clarity Growth, and offering it to the world, as well as to Kathryn. 

I look forward to sharing the journey of publishing this book and its many lessons with those of you who stick around for the next chapter of this blog. 

It is my wish that Kathryn, and whoever else reads the book, will receive the gift of each lesson at exactly the moment in life they need to hear it.

¹ www.redandwhitecarnations.ca

² www.onethousandtrees.com