🌸 When the Christmas Cactus Blooms

I have a confession: I am not blessed with green fingers. Most indoor plants in my care limp along, and some don’t make it at all. Yet, against all odds, my Christmas cactus has flowered for the second year running.

There is something magical about those delicate blooms arriving just as the nights draw in and the festive season begins. They remind me that life has its own rhythm - sometimes unpredictable, sometimes surprising, but always capable of beauty.

As a celebrant, I see the same truth in the ceremonies I create. Love, remembrance, and joy often blossom in unexpected ways. A family might find laughter in the middle of grief. A couple might discover new depth in vows they thought they already knew. A naming ceremony might reveal how much community surrounds a person.

The cactus doesn’t bloom because I am a skilled gardener - it blooms because it is resilient, patient, and quietly preparing for its moment. In ceremonies, too, the most powerful moments often come not from perfection but from authenticity. When people gather to honour life’s milestones, they bring their own stories, quirks, and emotions. My role is simply to nurture those elements until they flower into something unforgettable.

Christmas is a season of light in the darkness, of joy that arrives even when the days are cold and bare. My cactus reminds me that resilience and renewal are always possible. And in my work, I see that same resilience in families and couples who choose to celebrate, even in challenging times.

So while my plant‑keeping skills may be questionable, my celebrant heart is steadfast. Like that cactus, I believe in the power of unexpected blossoms - moments of joy, laughter, and love that brighten our days and bring us together.

Lots of love - Sarah