I started JaYesTa ceremonies in 2010 to offer ceremonies that celebrate significant life events in a personal way. The name JaYesTa is a combination of the word ‘yes’ in three languages, Dutch, English and Irish. It is an expression of the heartfelt desire to embrace life and all that it may bring, be it by choice or by chance. I believe that there is a universal need for human beings to mark those major changes. These ceremonies should reflect the personal circumstances, spiritual, cultural and/or religious beliefs and core values of the people involved but unfortunately more often than not, this is not the case.

The first few years of my work focussed mainly on celebrating wedding blessings and baby-naming ceremonies, but I was keen to deepen my skills as a celebrant as well as my own spirituality. In 2015 I entered the OneSpirit InterFaith seminary in London and was ordained as a One Spirit InterFaith minister in 2017.