We recently connected with Liv Moore and have shared our conversation below.
Liv, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
There is a unique sense of overwhelming freedom that comes with being a pioneer in the world of wedding ceremonialists in the United States as a pagan wedding officiant. The push back from the greater majority of people has had it’s moments, to be sure, leaving me feeling as downtrodden and misunderstood… and in some cases, as unsafe, as the people for whom I do this very thing. I often find that, despite my best efforts to not be, I have, in some ways, become a face and voice for the underrepresented pagan couples of this country.
There are thousands of officiants. And millions of pagans. But of pagan officiants, only a handful. Our way of life, our culture, our beliefs are largely dismissed, intentionally misunderstood and marginalized by lack of education. It’s a fact of our faith to be less obvious, we are non proselytizing and for that reason, people forget we exist.
My success has been reflective of this, truly, just giving a voice to the voiceless. Representing the underrepresented. And continuing to be successful in that arena has come with a plethora of challenges, the foremost of which being; choosing how to represent, how to educate, how to create a platform for an otherwise invisible congregation while simultaneously maintaining the core of our beliefs which is, if it is meant for you, it will find you.
I constantly have to remind myself who I am doing this for, who I make Tiktoks for. Who I write instagrams and blog posts for. Who I build scripts and ceremonies for. Remembering the stories I have had the honor to share, the impact I have witnessed it have, that is what gives me direction.
Because as an officiant, I push the envelope. As a pagan, I have a voice. And as a pagan officiant, I stand relatively alone (at least in the world of 1s and 0s so who I choose to be sets a precedent for the understanding of the peoples, cultures and religions I celebrate.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I typically have to begin a conversation about what I do by defining the word “pagan”. Unfortunately, we are extremely undereducated regarding religious diversity and this word particularly is problematic. Paganism is a hypernym, an umbrella term, for a collection of cultures and faiths that root in the ancient religions, connect to the Earth and the elements, to the “old gods”. Pagans are peoples who practice according to the religious traditions that gave birth to the modern ones.
There are 100s of various belief structures and practices, but the most widely recognized in the US are Wiccans, Asatru (Norse), Druid, Heathenry and Hellenic. However, if you ascribe to the linguistic history of “pagan” as meaning “not Christian” you could also include in this list Hindu, Buddhist, Daoist, Peyote (Indigenous) and a variety of other faiths.
What I do then…is marry people of those faiths. All of them. Any of them. Blending them.
My understanding of these traditions comes from years of personal study in Religious History, Mythology, Symbology and Religious Sociology. My college education was in this particular vein, however, further still, I underwent the journey of shamanic initiation for a deeper personal connection.
What I bring to a wedding ceremony is just that, ceremony… but with a unique dedication to representing culture, ritual and tradition from a variety of pagan faiths. And, of course, with my own flair as well… as despite studying and valuing the depth of sanctity… I find myself to be a ceremonialist who prefers to celebrate love with joy and laughter, quirky personal touches and an over all “your new best friend” sort of energy.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The most obvious answer to this is, naturally, honing ones creative writing and public speaking skills.
However, for success in my specific niche, I would say the greater skill set was one of personal journalism; learning to listen, to encourage conversation, to direct it. And to actively engage with it so as to make a couple feel as if they are only telling you about their love story, sharing their faith and practice, laughing about their inside jokes… all the while you are taking pages and pages of notes necessary to draft a script that embodies their love story.
Further still, I would say authenticity was an important quality to develop. I decided early on that my business motto would be “Defying Normalcy and Celebrating Your Story” and truly embracing every word of that motto was at the root of my success. I attempted to market myself as an alternative officiant for a while, encouraging all off beat couples to work with me. I was warned against narrowing my clientele by changing my profiles to say “pagan officiant and handfaster” but it was truly being authentic about the goals of my business that brought me the most fulfillment.
I encourage everyone to do this, regardless of their intention to become a wedding officiant, but finally, I would credit much of my success to the deep knowledge of various religious traditions and spiritual practices I have accumulated over the years. Appreciation for ceremony comes with the understanding of its purpose. And for the majority of human history, it has been intrinsically linked to religion and mysticism. Even couples who are nonreligious or agnostic have developed meaning, a sort of anti-spiritual form of spiritualism… and being able to connect with that provides a unique empathy.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Ha ha, this is a great question and the honest answer is… I make mac and cheese and stare into the void. No, genuinely, I get overwhelmed so much, so often. I am so very human and so very open about this on my social media platforms.
I have a horrible habit of overworking myself. Work-life balance? Haven’t met her! I tell my couples who understand astrology that “your girl has 8 planets in Capricorn, chill is not an option.” But that often leads to waves of manic working followed by serious burn out.
The only strategy I have managed to employ with some success is something we in the pagan community refer to as “grounding”. Which is, actively taking a moment to become present with every element, every sense you have, every need a living being can possess.
In practice that looks like finding the elements; lighting a candle (fire), filling a glass of ice water, making tea or washing my face (water), singing or shouting, speaking out loud what I am feeling (air) and going outside for a walk, interacting with crystals, or tending to plants (earth). And, similar to behavioral treatment for panic disorders, furthering this by finding my senses; what can I see, smell, taste, touch, hear?
It’s rather abstract, but we have ways of connecting this back to the issue of overwhelm. Lighting a candle and watching the flame while I imagine giving it everything that is making me feel powerless. Washing my face and imagining all of the unhelpful ideas and thoughts I have had for the day be washed off in the process. Speaking my sadness or fear and hearing my own voice as I verbally create new possibilities; “I am afraid if I share this, I will offend someone” turning into “I know if I share this, someone will feel heard and represented that has always felt alone”. Going for a walk to find new inspiration in new surroundings.
It’s time consuming, but it always works… if I actually get up from my desk and do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lettherebeelove.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lettherebeelove.co/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lettherebeelove https://www.facebook.com/lettherebeelove
Image Credits
Leann Moments Photography, https://www.leannmoments.com/ Emily Elizabeth Photography, https://emilyelizabethphotography.me/weddings-elopements Lily Brundin Photography, https://www.lilybrundinphotos.com/ Zoe Fortuna Photography, https://www.zoefortuna.com/weddings Ayla Maisey Photo, https://www.aylamaisey.com/
