Retreat · Jan 15, 2026 – Jan 18, 2026
New Year Ritual Retreat 2026
- When
- Thu, Jan 15, 2026 – Sun, Jan 18, 2026
- Format
- In-Person
- Location
- Rivendell Retreat Centre, Bowen Island, BC, Canada
- Schedule
- Thursday 3pm – Sunday 12pm
Step into 2026 with intention and community
Every January, we host a weekend retreat offering rituals to welcome the new year. Together, we release what we need to let go of from the previous year, find stillness in the present moment, and create a vision board to guide us forward. This is a wonderful way to set new intentions for what's to come, surrounded by a community of care in a natural environment.
This retreat is ideal for women of all ages and stages in life who are looking to invite more intention into their everyday life and start the year with clarity and purpose. Whether you're curious about ritual design, wanting a weekend to reset, or hoping to join an empowering community of women, this will be an opportunity to learn, share and connect with others in a magical setting.
Over the course of the weekend, we will explore rituals to release what was, find stillness in the present, and set intentions for the future. There will be meditation, movement, art, music, and time in nature. We will craft and create vision boards that capture the story we want to tell in 2026, and we will share our stories with each other. The weekend is steeped in ceremony and intentional gathering.
We host our workshops, circles and meals in the Lodge at Rivendell, and we have the entire space to ourselves. There is a meditation space, a community labyrinth, hiking trails, and lots of beautiful nooks to soak up the majestic views.
Most rooms are shared, with two single beds (side by side), modest furnishings, and a private shared washroom. You can request a private room for an additional fee (limited availability, on a first-come basis). All rooms are located in The Lodge where we gather throughout the day.
As part of Rivendell's focus on service, we are asked to clean our own rooms and the lodge before we leave.
We hire a private chef to prepare our meals and snacks throughout the day. Meals include Thursday dinner, Friday and Saturday all meals, and Sunday breakfast. All meals are vegetarian, with a focus on locally-sourced, organic produce and plant-based recipes. We can accommodate most dietary needs if given advanced notice.
Your weekend includes:
- 3 nights accommodation at Rivendell Retreat Centre
- All meals and snacks (vegetarian, prepared by a private chef)
- Workshop supplies
- A custom photo portrait
- A 2026 vision board
- Ritual treasures
Shared room $1,300 CAD + tax · Private room $1,600 CAD + tax (limited availability, first-come basis). Two partial scholarships (25% discount) are available, with priority for marginalized communities.
Itinerary
- Thursday, January 153:00 PM
Arrival
Please arrive at Rivendell by 3pm.
- Thursday, January 154:00 PM
Opening circle & dinner
Our opening circle begins at 4pm, followed by dinner and time to connect.
- Friday, January 16
Release the past year
Spent releasing the year gone by and being present in the moment (optional ocean swim!).
- Saturday, January 17
Set intentions for the year ahead
Focused on crafting vision boards and setting intentions for 2026.
- Sunday, January 18Morning – 12 PM
Closing & departure
Breakfast together, closing circle, tidy the lodge, and depart by 12pm.
What participants say
Megan has a unique way of introducing ritual and ceremony in a spacious way, helping us have more meaningful connections and time for reflection of what matters most.
Facilitators
Megan Sheldon
Megan Sheldon (she/her) is a cultural mythologist, humanist celebrant, end-of-life doula, and 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 focus on grief and the less visible moments of change and transition.
Marika Richoz
Marika is a private chef who specializes in vegetarian and plant-based meals, with an emphasis on flavour and nutrition.
Kim Lockhart
Kim is a documentary photographer who creates custom portrait sessions and photograph keepsakes that capture personal intentions and milestones.
Lisa Hemingway
Lisa is a communication designer who loves to create beautiful things offline as well as on. She is the co-founder of iilo Creative Alliance.
Melanie Steele
Mel is a potter and ceramicist living in North Vancouver. She teaches pottery classes for adults (and occasionally children!) and crafts the most beautiful objects designed with intention and care.