Earth Rituals | The Elements of Ritual
Sunday, FEBRUARY 21ST, 1:00pm-5:00pm, 2026
WHERE
Nectar Yoga Retreat Center, Bowen Island, BC
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Elements of Ritual at Nectar Yoga
Four Sunday afternoons on the land at Nectar, one element at a time.
Where Megan's six-week virtual training explores the roots of ritual and the framework of ceremony through the elements, these in-person gatherings bring that wisdom outside and into the body, meeting earth, water, fire and air where they naturally exist.
Together, we will explore the symbols, metaphors and stories that have connected people through generations of ritual and meaning-making. Part wisdom sharing, part storytelling and part practice, these gatherings offer a welcoming space for reflection, connection and discovery. No particular belief system or previous experience is required.
Each gathering stands on its own, or you can deepen your connection to all four elements by joining the complete series. These afternoons draw upon Megan's experience as a celebrant, weaving together ancient stories, mythology and ritual practices with opportunities to learn from the elements and from one another.
EARTH RITUALS | FEBRUARY 21
Earth Rituals ~ Sunday, February 21, 1–5pm
Earth is the element of form. It is the ground beneath us, the body we live in, the food on the table, the place we return to. Across cultures it holds both seeds and graves in the same soil ~ which is why so many of our oldest rituals begin by putting something into the ground, or by taking something from it. We start the series here to ground ourselves and build a foundation to support us in this journey.
Earth invites us to slow down and ask questions like:
What grounds me?
What am I rooted in?
What is mine to tend, and what am I ready to let rest?
Its gifts are steadiness, patience, boundaries and belonging. We'll spend the afternoon among the trees at Nectar, working with soil, stone, seed and root. You'll be introduced to earth's symbolism and ritual uses, given time alone with the land, and invited to share stories of the places that have shaped you.
By the end you'll have crafted a ritual of your own ~ a small, portable, and meaningful connection you can journey with.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each gathering follows a gentle rhythm of arriving, introductions, opening ritual, wisdom sharing, tea and reflection, elemental connection, storytelling, ritual practice and a closing circle.
We begin at 1:00 PM with time to arrive and settle before opening the circle together. Megan will share the mythology, symbolism and ritual traditions associated with earth, followed by tea and quiet reflection.
Through storytelling in pairs and small groups, we'll explore our personal connections to the element before moving into ritual design, where you'll create a meaningful practice to carry into your everyday life.
The gathering concludes at 5:00 PM.
Please note:
We will move between indoor and outdoor spaces, so please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Ritual materials, tea and a light snack are provided.
No previous experience with ritual or ceremony is necessary.
PRICING & BOOKING
Earth Rituals: $165
Join us for this individual afternoon exploring the element of earth.
Complete Four-Session Series: $600
Experience all four elements across four Sunday afternoons for $150 per session, saving $60 compared with booking individually.
Earth: February 21
Water: February 28
Fire: March 7
Air: March 14
All sessions take place from 1:00–5:00 PM at Nectar Yoga Retreat.
ABOUT MEGAN SHELDON
Megan Sheldon is a cultural mythologist, humanist celebrant and end-of-life doula, and the co-founder of Be Ceremonial, the world's first guided ritual and ceremony platform.
She is the author of Ritual Without Religion: A Humanist Guide to Creating Secular Ceremonies, and has spent years crafting ceremonies across the life cycle, with a particular focus on grief and loss.
Her passion is helping people cross the silent thresholds, those seemingly invisible moments of change that so often pass unmarked.
Megan teaches her virtual Ceremonial Training: The Elements of Ritual twice a year and offers workshops and in-person retreats near her home in North Vancouver and every January on Bowen Island. She is thrilled to bring her ritual knowledge connected to the elements to Nectar.
