The Memoirs of a Geisha

Almost ever profession is, or has been, threatened by those, who think they can do it, without, or with little, experience or genuine qualifications.
I recently watched the film, “The Memoirs of a Geisha”. A Geisha, in Japan, was a woman trained over many years to perfection, in a range of skills, to assist, usually frazzled males. The Geisha calmed and encouraged them by therapeutic conversation and non-sexual ministrations. She was usually a beautiful, well informed, intelligent and well presented woman.
There was a heartbreaking scene in the film after the invasion of American troops into Japan at the end of World War II. This was a time when almost any-woman who wished to do so, could put on a special kimono, and call themselves a Geisha.
Professionalism is obvious to those who know. It takes years of study and practice to dance like Margot Fonteyn, sing like Kiri Ti Kanawa, or hit a golf ball like Tiger Woods. Not only do true professionals have the background, they also prepare meticulously for each event.
When they are having breakfast they look like the test of us, but when they are on the job, they are prepared, primed and superb.
Quite a number of people call themselves professional celebrants. They think they are singing at the opera, but their real place is in the shower. There are the true professionals.
Ceremonies are important. It is necessary for people to seek and find. (Celebrants and Celebrancy)

Celebrants, Toyota, Kaizen and David Oldfield

I was visiting my friends, David Oldfield and Merilee Janssen, in Washington DC. My talks with David always give me new insights. David is the only person ever to be awarded a Master of Celebrancy, Honoris Causa, from the international College of Celebrancy. ( http://www.collegeofclebrancy.edu.au )
David Oldfield is a person who learned his celebrancy at the coalface. He “cut his teeth” working with homeless young people and drug addicts. He discovered that the only successful way to assist people into long term behavioural change was through a Rite of Passage and Ceremony, that helped a person face the issues and make a positive commitment.
These days he is doing similar work with big corporations who wish to make business progress, but in an ethical and world-supporting way. His work, for example with Toyota, involves the communicating of two important principles -
Kaizen, and
Respect for Persons.
Kaizen is a revealing way of presenting a way of life philosophy which commits to incremental and continuous change for the better. Sometimes the Japanese really get it right. This is what I would like to persuade civil celebrants to take on board - Kaizen - the principle of incremental change for the better. Every ceremony, which the celebrant creates and performs, is a little better than the last one.
(Celebrants and celebrancy)