For almost 20 years Natasha Hood has been leading people through ceremonies to mark some of the most significant events in their lives.
From joyful weddings and baby welcomings to fitting funeral send-offs, plus anniversaries, house blessings and seasonal events, Natasha creates individual ceremonies as an interfaith minister.
Natasha explained that an interfaith minister is available for people of all faiths and none. “It is very inclusive and sees the common ground at the heart of humanity and all religions. For me, it is more about 'spirituality' than 'religion' and, in practice (and what I love), we are often there for people who want to acknowledge something that is greater than ourselves but who don't necessarily affiliate with one particular religion or even have a language around it.”
In Scotland, where she lived for 12 years, she became the first ordained interfaith minister to marry a couple and conducted hundreds of weddings, but she cannot yet complete the legal formalities in England, so holds marriage blessings instead.
Natasha grew up on an organic smallholding in Gresham, near Sheringham and has now returned to Norfolk after travelling, and living in Edinburgh for 12 years.
“Norfolk became my default base in between various adventures,” said Natasha. “At a certain point along the way, it gradually dawned on me how good and right it felt to be back here and I decided to properly unpack my rucksack and happily ensconced myself back in the attic of my childhood home.”
For the past 15 years she has also been working towards writing a book. Book Your Wedding and Beyond explores how major life events, particularly weddings, are marked around the world.
Natasha said she wanted the book to be a practical resource for couples, as well as providing inspiration and information about issues and questions leading up to a wedding and on into the marriage. She said she also included the folklore, faith traditions, history, customs, and power and purpose of intimate partnerships.
Her own favourite wedding customs include the ancient British tradition of solemnising weddings beside significant natural places such as waterfalls or wells or under an oak tree.
“An ancient Tibetan wedding custom included presenting the mother of the bride with a special gift or 'breast price', in recognition that without her love, care and nourishment, the bride would not be there,” said Natasha.
Alongside her work as a celebrant Natasha also leads community singing groups and is musical director of the charity Sing Your Heart Out which offers free singing sessions for well-being in five venues around Norfolk. She also runs her own singing groups in villages including Weybourne, Gresham, North Elmham and Melton Constable.
