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)

The power of Words – Vows, Compacts, Covenants

My wife, Remi Messenger, keeps a cutting about the Iraq War, which describes a decision of the Rumsfeld-Bush Administration, she finds especially galling.
It is about the Vow the soldier takes on joining the US Army.
Called the Soldier’s Creed, the Vow used to be:-

“I am an American soldier,
No matter what situation I am in,
I will never do anything for pleasure,
profit or personal safety,
which will disgrace my uniform.
I will use every means I have,
Even beyond the line of duty
To restrain my army comrades
From actions disgraceful
To themselves and the uniform.”

Army research and intelligence concludes that this vow inspired soldiers and marines, even in a hostile occupation, to be patient, confidence-building, and winners of hearts and minds. As well as the “necessary warfare”, it also led to building roads and bridges, and forging links with tribal and community leaders.
--
But this was not good to the “shock and awe” mentality of Rumsfeld and Bush.
They changed the Vow to a “stirring” one called the Warrior Ethos, the wording of which is as follows: -

“ I am an American Soldier
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I stand ready to deploy
Engage and destroy,
the enemies of the United States of America
in close combat.”

With predictable results.

Such is the power of the Vow.

(The original story was from the Sunday Times of London. My wife’s copy was from the The Australian of Sept 25, 06, p.11)