Page 3 - Creating New Rituals

Birth of the European Ritual Network (ERN)

In the autumn of 2015, Jeltje and Thomas were invited, together
with trainers from six different European countries, by the
University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht (NL) to a consultation
of ritual experts. Despite the linguistic, cultural and historical
differences of the organisations they represent, the experts soon
recognised their common goal: train competent professionals for
ritual accompaniment. Moreover, they found the exchanges

personally enriching and stimulating for their respective
organisations.

Their collaboration was strengthened during a conference
organised by Jeltje and Thomas in November 2016 in Geneva. The
group estabished the European Ritual Network (ERN) and
launched a book inspired by their first meeting in Utrecht,
Crafting Secular Ritual: A Practical Guide.

Subsequently, the training programmes offered in Switzerland are
harmonised to take into account both Susana's trainings with
German speakers and the requirements of the Certificate of
Advanced Studies in Ritual Accompaniment (CAS).

In the summer of 2019, Jeltje inaugurated her new training
programme as an independent trainer for a group in the Cévennes
(FR). The participants and the trainer alike were pleased to
discover that, just like tailor-made ceremonies, the new modules
can be adapted to almost any group's needs, themes and settings.

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