We’re overjoyed to share some wonderful news from the heart of Starflower Press: Under the Starflower: A Book of Blessings, by Veronika Sophia Robinson and illustrated by Philippa Mulvany, has today officially become an Amazon Bestseller, climbing into the Top 15 in its categories!
When Veronika sat down to write this collection, her deepest hope was that these pages would serve as true “word medicine”. As a ceremonialist and celebrant, she knows how the room can feel when words fail us. “I wanted to create a gentle sanctuary of prose; a steady friend to hold you at the delicate thresholds of life, death, love, and loss.
To see it resonate so deeply and so quickly with readers, celebrants, and ministers across the United Kingdom and beyond is a milestone that fills my heart with immense gratitude!”
These original verses are already finding a home in crematorium chapels, woodland burials, cemeteries, and quiet spaces of personal grief.
Independent Celebrant Catrina Young shared that the book will be “an invaluable resource to help me find exactly the right word medicine for funeral ceremonies of every kind.”
Another deeply touching review from minister and celebrant Diane McLeish looked at the book through the personal lens of losing her own mother, writing:
“At a time when so much felt broken, that was a beautiful truth to hold onto… Under the Starflower feels less like a book on a shelf and more like a compassionate presence beside you.”
The heart of this book is to meet people exactly where they are, acknowledging the unique textures of a life. It has been incredibly moving to see fellow ceremony makers connect with the intentional structure of the writing:
“The beautiful, poetic prose is a balm to soothe the soul, and gently provides a place to rest a while, for those who grieve… A thoughtful collection of verse to draw inspiration and comfort from, a blessing, in its truest sense.”— Debbie Wells, Celebrant
“Veronika has come to understand that a meaningful blessing needs to meet people where they are… Perhaps what I appreciate most is that these blessings do not try to take grief away. They offer words with which to sit beside it.”— Reverend Maughan, Community Celebrant
“End of life can be such a difficult time but there really is a blessing to connect to everyone’s heart in this book… A must for celebrants but also for anyone looking for an appropriate blessing.” — Amazon Reviewer
Whether you are an officiating professional looking for fresh, inclusive offerings that honour everything from ancestral wisdom and the turning of the seasons, to specific crafts and occupations, or someone sitting quietly with a breaking heart, please know that this book was written for you. Thank you to everyone who has purchased a copy, left a beautiful review, or shared the news. Your support has given these blessings wings.
Under the Starflower: A Book of Blessings is available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback editions. If you would prefer a signed copy, you can order directly through my digital sanctuary right here on the website.
With love and blessings,
Veronika Sophia Robinson
Veronika Sophia Robinson
