About Me

I have had a few reinventions in my life however I believe this one could be the last. Take some time to get to know me and see what you think

Hi, I am Sharleen.

Did you enjoy celebrating birthdays and Christmas during your childhood years? I certainly did. Besides the odd wedding and funeral, they were the only celebrations I had experienced. This changed in my adult life  when I discovered the beauty and significance of celebrations and ceremonies. You can read more about this journey by clicking HERE.  I am now a registered life celebrant. I love to create beautiful ceremonies that offer meaning, context and depth at times of change and transition. Please enjoy taking a bench park moment to rest and to learn more about me professionally and personally and I look forward to working with you soon.

Another love of mine is being a guest on peoples podcasts, to have a listen, follow the link HERE.

Please feel free to scroll down to view my photo gallery if visual is more your thing.

Values

My core values define everything I do and my professional life is no different.

CREATIVITY

I learnt a long time ago that when you work with your hands you drop from your head to your heart and it is from this space masterpieces are created. Writing words to create people’s stories and ceremonies is no different. As well as the written word I can capture your story with art, photos and/or music.

LEARNING & GROWTH

I am a lifelong learner. I don’t mean I crave to know facts, I am more of an experiential learner which is why I have always attended workshops, seminars, and events. Nothing quite fills my cup more than being with a group of women who are invested in their own growth and learning. This constantly feeds my soul and keeps me thriving. Sharing a space with women provides a sense of connection and community to offer support and stimulation. Personal growth is important to me because I believe change comes from a place within. My curiosity for depth and discovery gets easily hooked into hearing people’s stories and I can’t believe that I now get to work in a role where people entrust their stories of failures, struggles, joys, and triumphs to me.

CARING

I have always worked in the caring and wellness arena. Caring is in my blood so it came naturally to me to start my career in nursing. To this day I still work with the elderly in a caregiving capacity. Working with people who are feeling vulnerable and need a tender hand brings me immense pleasure. I believe this is a valuable skill set when working with people moving through major life transitions and a big part of why I am passionate about this work.

PEOPLE

I’m often referred to as a people person because of my ability to tune into individual needs. I know when to ‘zip it ’and give people space to express themselves. I discovered that deep listening is often the place from where the truly magical moments and mysteries of one’s life unfold. My love for people, as well as my empathy and creativity are the skillsets I have, to craft stories that capture the essence of a person; their personality, culture, beliefs and uniqueness. I also bring a lot of love to the table. I love hearts and have a collection of at least a hundred hearts. To me, a heart symbolises a place of love and it is from this space I try and lead with compassion, kindness, respect and grace.

COMMUNITY

Family get-togethers always include play, food and laughter and bring me immense joy especially now that we have a grandson to add to the mix.  I grew up with several brothers and sisters and I went on to have four beautiful daughters. Family means everything to me, and I realised that creating ceremonies and celebrations for them was in my blood. Maybe growing up in a large family and in a small rural town heightened my need to always feel a sense of community around me.

Credentials & Qualifications

Dip. Life Celebrant - C.A.N.Z. - Celebrants Aotearoa of New Zealand

Owner and Director of Midlife Courage. Coaching midlife women as they learn to navigate the milestones of midlife.

Certified Momentum Life Coach

Dip. Childbirth Education & Supervisor

Dip. Psychosynthesis Counselling

Dip. Naturopathy

Dip. Enrolled Nursing

In 2024 I have studied with Preparing The Way - End of Life Doula Foundation Workshop,, Natural Death Care Centre - Deathwalker Training including Ceremony, Ritual & Rite of Passage and Dr Sarah Kerr - The Center For Sacred Death Care, Designing A Healing Funeral.

Currently, I am studying with Kristen Roderick, Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant - On Fallow Ground - a six-week course on the process of becoming.

In October I start the Foundation Program at The Centre For Holding Space.

My personal attributes combined with the  professional skills I acquired throughout my career have strengthened the compassionate, wholehearted connection I’m able to forge with people.  I balance the work I do with a kit of fabulous and fun pastimes that continually enrich my life. Knitting, crocheting, weaving, painting and photography keep my creativity alive.  Biking, Reformer Pilates and Yoga help to keep me fit and healthy. Boating with hubby in our gorgeous old Kauri launch is a recent love.  My wellness would not be complete without my love for essential oils. I use them to increase my vitality and energy. They keep me grounded and confident and are my ‘go to’ - a day does not go by without a protective dose of rose, magnolia and frankincense. My love of travelling takes me to Bali annually, a place I now call my spiritual haven. I love how ceremony is pivotal in the Balinese lives and how the energy from ceremony impacts how beautifully they live.

Now that you know a bit about me, I would love to get to know you and the special stories of the life you’re celebrating. I promise to craft you a tailored ceremony with care and my undivided commitment to capture a heartfelt story, so everyone feels empowered, connected and an integral part of that story.  

As a member of Celebrants Aotearoa New Zealand (CANZ), I create and facilitate ceremonies and rituals which respond to the diverse needs and values of New Zealand individuals, families and communities.

Members of the Celebrants Aotearoa accept the responsibilities entrusted to them in their relationships with:

  • The clients they serve

  • The public at large and any stakeholders including relevant Government departments and agencies

  • Celebrants Aotearoa, their colleagues, and the profession of which they are a part of

When creating and facilitating ceremonies and rituals, Celebrants Aotearoa celebrants will:

  • Maintain a high standard of professional conduct and service

  • Work in partnership with their clients, encouraging their participation and ensuring their protection

  • Demonstrate social and cultural sensitivity

  • Strive to enrich people’s lives and enhance celebrancy in Aotearoa New Zealand

The Celebrants Aotearoa Professional Standards have been developed from and in association with this Code of Ethics. As a condition of their membership, all members agree to abide by the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards in their practice as celebrants.