About Me

"Greetings!"     "Merry Meet!"     "Hailsa!"
​
I’m Richard Davies and I am a Professional Independent Celebrant. Based on the Surrey / Hampshire borders, I work throughout the South East of England and beyond.
 
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me a little better. I believe it is so important that you are comfortable with me if I am to have the honour of being your Celebrant. 
 
I am passionate about creating rites of passage, which are inspired by nature and deeply intertwined with the beliefs of the people I work with. I aim to craft unique and personal ceremonies that resonate with people who are following a particular earth-based spiritual tradition, as well as those who simply feel a deep connection with the natural world.
 
I love the opportunity my role gives me to be alongside people at significant times in their lives. I see my role to be fully present for others and to 'hold' them in times joy and celebration as well as in times of sadness and grief; the cycle of life.
 
There are so many different ways to connect to the wonder and energy of life. I undertook a period of experiential interfaith study for a year to examine how to truly serve those of different faiths and equally those of none.
 
I draw personal inspiration from nature and love walking, mainly in the beautiful North and South Downs. I am a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, a member of the Godalming Unitarian Congregation, and a representative on the Guildford and Godalming Interfaith Forum. I am certified in marriage and family celebrancy and in funeral celebrancy by the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants, and am also available to conduct ceremonies and blessings for many other life transitions.
 
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to discuss your ideas. It would be my pleasure to have the opportunity to work with you and ensure your ceremony is personal and profoundly meaningful.

About Windhover Ceremonies

I also work simply as 'Richard Davies Celebrant' and I serve all regardless of their belief. However I am aware of an increasing interest in ceremony inspired by nature. Those who follow earth based spiritualities have historically found themselves often having to 'make do' with something not quite matching their beliefs. So I set up Windhover Ceremonies as a place where we can focus specifically on green ceremonies, providing information, ideas and a blog.  

Windhover, pronounced as the two separate words, Wind + Hover, is the old English name for a Kestrel, so named because of this beautiful birds incredible ability to hover on the wind.  

​Since I was a child I've always loved birds of prey and used to help a couple that looked after injured birds to display them and educate the public.

​Later in my life whilst walking in the beautiful North and South Downs the Kestrel made itself known to me regularly and I've experienced many beautiful interactions, if you have ever taken some time to stand and observe nature, you will perhaps appreciate what I mean.

So it was a pretty easy choice to call this site Windhover Ceremonies.


​I caught this morning morning’s minion,
kingdom of daylight’s dauphin,
dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding.
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a dimpling wing.
In his ecstasy! Then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend:
​the hurl and gliding.
Rebuffed the big wind.
My heart in hiding stirred for a bird,
—the achieve of; the mastery of the thing!

From The Windhover by Gerald Manley Hopkins.

What is a Celebrant?

​A short video to say hello, explain what a celebrant is and why you might like to use one...

I love Glastonbury and visit regularly. Here is a Glastonbury Tor selfie...nearly at the top after the long climb....so many steps! There are a number of wonderful places to hold ceremony here.

A sunrise ceremony at Stonehenge in Wiltshire. These ancient stones hold a mystery that is truly captivating. An enchanting place to hold a ceremony.

Here I am about 10 years old I think, holding a Kestrel. I have always loved nature, especially birds of prey. Oh, and in my defence lots of people had grey anoraks back then, I remember that if you did the hood right up you looked like ET! ;)

An ancient tradition originating from the Celtic Fire Festivals. Jumping the Beltane Fire! This picture was taken at Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury, on 1st May 2015.

Before the beard, and looking quite serious! Walking at the magical Kingley Vale ancient Yew Forest and NNR within the South Downs. This photo taken up at the Bronze Age Barrows.

I usually have my camera with me whilst out walking. I took this photo one early evening of a Kestrel, hunting over a corn field in the Surrey Hills.