Episode 05: The Art of the Ceremony - with Megan Sheldon
For most of human history, ritual shaped the rhythm of our lives. It helped us mark beginnings and endings, honour milestones, and make sense of the changes that quietly reshaped us. Rituals rooted communities, offered language for moments beyond words, and created a shared understanding of what it means to move through life together. Somewhere along the way, many of us drifted from these practices - or were never taught how to create them in the first place. And yet, especially in grief and in moments of transition, we feel their absence.
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Megan Sheldon - cultural mythologist, humanist celebrant, end-of-life doula, and co-founder of Be Ceremonial, the world’s first guided ritual and ceremony app. Megan has created hundreds of ceremonies for people around the world, honouring what she calls the “seemingly invisible moments of change” - pregnancy loss, organ transplants, menopause, living funerals, death anniversaries, and so many others.
We talk about why ritual matters, how it supports us at the end of life and long before it, and how simple, intentional acts can help us meet grief with presence and meaning. Megan also shares insights from her work in North Vancouver, where she leads workshops, virtual courses, and retreats - and where, when she’s not crafting ceremonies, she’s swimming in the sea or wandering the rainforest with her husband Johan and their two daughters.
It’s an expansive, grounding conversation about remembering what we’ve forgotten - and reclaiming ritual as a human inheritance.
Megan Sheldon
Megan Sheldon is the co-founder of Be Ceremonial, the world’s first guided ritual and ceremony app. Megan is a cultural mythologist, humanist celebrant, and end-of-life doula living and working in North Vancouver, BC. She has created hundreds of ceremonies for people around the world, focusing on what she calls the ‘seemingly invisible moments of change’, such as pregnancy loss, organ transplantation, menopause, living funerals, and death anniversaries.
Megan offers online workshops, virtual courses, and seasonal retreats in British Columbia, Canada. When she’s not crafting ceremonies, you can find her swimming in the sea or meandering in the rainforest with her husband Johan and two daughters.
Links and Resources for this episode:
Be Ceremonial
Be Ceremonial is the world's first guided ritual and ceremony app, created for anyone who longs for meaning and marking in their life - no religious background required. Founded by Megan Sheldon and her husband Johan, the app offers step-by-step ceremonies and daily rituals spanning the full arc of human experience, from fertility and birth to pregnancy loss, grief, end of life, and everything in between. Using their custom ritual technology, you simply share what you're going through and receive a personalised ceremony tailored to your unique situation and beliefs. Beyond the app, Be Ceremonial offers workshops, courses, and seasonal retreats in British Columbia, along with one-on-one and group coaching for those wanting to go deeper into specific rites of passage. It's ritual, reclaimed - and made beautifully accessible.
Workshops and Courses
If this conversation has sparked a curiosity about ritual in your own life, Be Ceremonial offers a range of live virtual workshops, multi-week courses, and seasonal retreats to help you go deeper. From their signature six-week Ceremonial Training to an End of Life Planning course and a year-long seasonal ceremony programme, there's something for every stage of the journey. One-on-one and group coaching is also available for more personalised support. Explore all upcoming offerings at here