santacruzofficiant - Tumblr blog

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New website.

Check out my brand new website. It's got lots of great content, a wedding photo gallery, testimonials from brides and grooms, and a popular wedding blog. https://www.santacruzofficiant.com/

Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/cindymaiyerphoto/

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Ending 2018 in airports. Kerala, Chennai, Hong Kong, Dallas, San Jose. Grateful for this time in transit to catch up with myself after 10 weeks of adventuring. From being on the back of a runaway elephant stampeding through the jungle, to crawling through impossibly small portals in ancient caves, to being blessed up by a real deal Nepali Grandmother Shaman, to circumambulating mountains and Stuphas, to street side sing-alongs, to drinking way too much chai, and so much more. I feel both fortified and fascinated by my strange and sacred sojourn, and ready for a dynamic 2019 wedding season! #travel #adventure #tiruvannamalai #kerala #kathmandu #ceremony #india #nepal #weddings2018 #2019weddings #weddings2019 #bookingweddings #booking2019weddings #weddingceremony #weddingofficiant #marriagecelebrant #californiawedding #santacruzwedding #santacruzweddings #santacruzmountainwedding #ceremonymatters #heartofthewedding #bride #groom #love #marriage #ritesofpassage (at Hong Kong) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsHnV6xAc5c/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1p9v9cxy8qdp

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As 2018 - and my time in Asia - come to a close, I have been reflecting a lot (from the serene sanctuary of the Kerala backwaters). I feel so grateful for the ceremony leadership work I get to do, for the international travel I get to do, for the place - Santa Cruz - I currently call home (and the incredible nature that enlivens and inspires me endlessly), but most of all, for real and true and grown ass friends. I am so grateful to have people in my life who know me at my core, who have my back, and who remind me of what is good and pure and honest and important if/when I forget. What are you grateful for as 2018 comes to a close? #kerala #newyear #grateful #gratitude #truefriends #travel #backwaters #worldtraveler #reflection #backwatersofkerala #homewardbound #ceremonymatters (at Kerala) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsCiCN3AP6r/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cfh94wgphwbg

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Everyday spirituality. The sacred is effortlessly woven into the fabric of daily life. #mandala #sacred #spirituality #india #hinduism #devotional #streetart #puja #ceremony #aarti #tamilnadu #beautify #beautification #tiruvannamalai #arunachala #dailylife #ritual #rituals #ceremonymatters (at Tiruvannamalai) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrrwYRuAulr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=110vdvzxp20cu

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Celebrating success from India!!! Last season was truly epic, next level, amaze balls! I’m still in India, filling my blessings and ceremony cup so that I can overflow with even more creative, dynamic, enlivening ceremony goodness in 2019. I’m looking forward to an incredible season, and I’m thrilled to be recognized by The Knot for this last one! #theknot #theknotcalifornia #award #winner #weddings2019 #kudos #recognition #props #weddingseason #weddingceremony #weddingmagic #santacruz #weddingofficiant #marriagecelebrant #destinationwedding #californiawedding #bigsurwedding #halfmoonbaywedding #santacruzmountainwedding #ritesofpassage #thresholds #marriage #ceremonymatters (at Santa Cruz, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BriQOxjg0OB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5k6h1c9lql9x

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“LET THE BEAUTY YOU LOVE BE WHAT YOU DO. THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO KNEEL AND KISS THE GROUND.” -RUMI #rumi #wordstoliveby #poetry #dowhatyoulove #followyourbliss #bestjobever #ilovemyjob #kisstheground #grateful #gratitude #ceremony #wedding #weddings #weddingceremony #ceremonymatters (at Big Sur River Inn) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrX8o0hARrp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1b5p92e51tfna

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Seriously could not love these two more! @eislerdesign #weddingmagic #celebrategoodtimes #dancelikeyoumeanit #ceremonymatters (at The Sequoia Retreat Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrS44iog4rq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wycfq1uod7fv

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This man, this mountain, this ashram, these ceremonies... such Benevolence, such Generosity, such Grace. Daily pujas, mouth-watering prashad (soul food), massive monthly full moon rituals, meditation caves, daily feeding of the poor, aartis, and colors and scents and incense... a perpetual stream of goodness, chanting, circumambulating, prayer and devotional offerings. #ashramlife #ramanashram #ramanamaharshi #devotion #arunachala #jaishivaji #omnamahshivaya #puja #shivoham #sacredmountain #india #tiruvannamalai #tamilnadu #waheguru #shankara #ceremony #ceremonymatters (at Tiruvannamalai) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrQEEGvAMNN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wj7nkifj6jr4

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Reviews that make you cry and know without a shadow of a doubt that you are in the right line of work. #purpose #bestjobever #weddings #ritesofpassage #ceremony #wedding #weddingceremony #praise #theknotcalifornia #ravereviews #kudos #ilovemyjob #tearsofjoy #appreciation #gratitude #bride #groom #jewish #african #fallequinox #ceremonymatters (at Sequoia Retreat Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq9TUMnglSa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=h8sapxdm5wgg

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Inspired to share these photos from the last time I was in India between 2004-2006. I loved it so much that I stayed for 2 years. These pics were taken during a 2 day long cross country train ride. I’m back in India again and loving it now as much as I did then. More photos coming soon! #india #mycuprunnethover #sweetspot #happyplace #namaste #hariom #jaima #omnamahshivaya #blessed #winterbreak #timeoff #ceremonymatters (at Fort Cochin) https://www.instagram.com/p/BquU10JAz1y/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1uycpvcis2f8i

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I don’t think I’ll ever have words adequate enough to describe the initiatory wonder of this Shiva cave. Ritual and ceremony are alive and well in the Maha Dev cave. #pilgrimage #nepal #shiva #omnamahshivay #omnamashivaya #shivashankar #shambo #ritual #rituals #cave #ceremony #puja #prayer #ceremonymatters (at Halesi Mahadev Temple) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqkBQBAAdGm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kp801swyn848

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As I prepare to leave Nepal and reflect upon my time here, my biggest, most heartfelt gratitude goes out to this woman, Aama Bombo, Grandmother Shaman. She is the embodiment of childlike innocence, humility, and raw power. Her dedication and generosity are a well spring that overflows to the masses, from kings to beggars, and to everyone in between. I feel blessed and fortified to have had this time receiving from her and learning from her about healing, ceremony and true devotion. #shaman #shamanism #grandmother #elder #healer #nepal #nepali #puja #ceremony #ritual #prayer #devotion #rituals #prayers #humility #generosity #ceremonymatters (at Kathmandu, Nepal) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqWKo2UAM9s/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gbdyd5r15uzp

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I circumambulated the Bodhi Stupa this morning, walking in the daylight with hundreds of others, prayer wheels turning, the hum of mantras resounding, the incense smoke rising from the giant communal fire pot. Beyond any religion, this practice of walking prayer is about devotion. Lighting candles, placing marigolds on altars, the sounds, sights and people melding into one heartbeat, a field of unified devotion to something higher than the individual self. To beingness, to sentience, to life itself. I am so grateful to be here, walking with old Tibetan ladies, pilgrims, travelers and children at the crack of dawn. Then I had a cup of hot chai and took it all in, trying to imprint all of it in my heart-mind before I move on to India tomorrow. #ceremony #ritual #dailydevotional #devotional #rituals #dailyprayer #kathmandu #nepal #circumambulating #prayerwheel #prayerwheels #incense #incenseburner #chai #beauty #blessings #mantra #mantras #malas #community #oneheart #ceremonymatters (at Kathmandu, Nepal) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqTeNS7A9EH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1to9hiryhvwp7

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Laxmi Tihar (Diwali) in Kathmandu, Nepal, part of a five day Festival of Lights with offerings, celebrations and pujas. #ceremony #ritual #puja #celebration #offerings #tihar #diwali #festival #festivaloflights #kathmandu #nepal #nepali #laxmipuja #laxmi #ceremonymatters (at Kathmandu, Nepal) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqQ7KLvA366/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1j3fc7snu1ust

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Couples don’t always take the time to post an online review, but it’s nice to be able to share emails like this one which I’m happy to say I revive quite often. It’s nice to feel seen, appreciated and praised! #praise #kudos #feelthelove #ravereviews #testimonial #theknotcalifornia #weddingpro #thankyou #thankyounotes #happycouple #highlyreccomend #bride #groom #weddingceremony #destinationwedding #internationalwedding #weddingofficiant #marriageceremony #marriageofficiant #ceremonymatters (at Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bozz_Sxgdml/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1idxzj68kgc0k

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To honor their Celtic roots and have a symbol of their inextricable bond, Laura and Andrew decided to incorporate a handfasting ritual into their ceremony. The bride braided 8 strands together to create the cord, one for each year they have been together as a couple. #handfasting #roots #forever #ido #commitment #destinationwedding #santacruzwedding #californiawedding #weddingpros #internationalwedding #bayareawedding #weddingofficiant #marriagecelebrant #weddingmagic #bride #groom #highschoolsweethearts #stylishgroom #beautifulbride #traditions #ritual #rituals #outdoorwedding #montereywedding #carmelwedding #halfmoonbaywedding #santacruzmountainwedding #heartofthewedding #ceremony #weddingceremony #ceremonymatters (at Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast) https://www.instagram.com/p/BosCMqIAaff/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=j4akyibah2p5

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at Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast https://www.instagram.com/p/Boo9Jd1gqBY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9pluwykjiqpp