honoured to serve Cape Breton Island,
the wider Nova Scotia region, & across Canada
Sacred Celebrant of Avalon Training
Coming to Canada
October 2 ~ 9th, 2026
IPHM Accredited | Presented by Sacred Steps
Facilitated by Lilli Vandermeer & Izzy Machado-Williams
📍 Cabot Shores Wilderness Retreat, Cape Breton Island
A Calling Into Sacred Service
A seven-day residential training is an invitation to step into the ancient & living art of ceremony. Rooted in the lineage of the Sacred Celebrants Academy, this immersive journey weaves ritual craft, elemental wisdom, & practical skill —supporting you to hold meaningful ceremonies with confidence, integrity, & heart. Held in a small, intimate circle & guided with warmth & reverence, this training is both a professional qualification and a personal initiation.
Arrival & Opening
The journey begins the evening before Day One with a Meet the Team Welcome Dinner, hosted by Sacred Steps. This gathering is an essential part of the training and gently opens the circle through shared food, connection, and intention.
The Seven-Day Journey
Days One & Two
Elemental Foundations, Ceremonial tools, incense blending,
the celebrant’s candle, subtle energies, & immersive work
with Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.
Day Three
Naming Ceremonies, Baby, & Adult,
Renaming, & Affirmation Ceremonies; Altar creation;
Client consultations; holding ceremony without a script.
Day Four
Handfasting & Renewal of Vows
Handfasting cords, Hoop & Wand Ceremony,
Jumping the besom, Cake & Mead.
Day Five
Pre-Wedding Ceremonies
Sacred anointing, couples incense blending,
bridal willow hoop, ring blessing.
Day Six
Civil Wedding Ceremonies
Structure, language, script writing,
consultation, & symbolic flow.
Day Seven
Completion & Thresholds
Sacred uncoupling, pop-up handfastings,
Certificate presentation, and Graduation.
Investment
Course Fee: $2,500 CAD
Deposit: $300 to secure your place (non-refundable)
Remaining balance payable via e-transfer, in instalments or full
All payments due by September
*Accommodation is priced separately from the course fee
Your Facilitators
Lilli Vandermeer
Sacred Celebrant, Ceremonialist, and Guide at Life’s Thresholds, with over 30 years of ceremonial experience and more than a decade as a funeral director. Lilli’s work is grounded, compassionate, and deeply human — shaped by land, grief, love, & lived experience.
Her teachings weave together elemental wisdom,
Celtic ritual, Ancestorial guidance, and
trauma-informed grief work—
helping people return to what truly matters.
Together, Lilli and Izzy hold a safe, soulful, and integrity-led container for learning and transformation.
Izzy Machado-Williams
Sacred Celebrant and Holistic Therapist, brings over twelve years of experience in kinesiology and craniosacral therapy, with over 20 years of
Celtic-Shamanic practice.
Izzy brings intuitive depth, elemental ritual, and a profound relationship with sacred space, shaped by years of healing work and ceremony held in nature, & running a thriving clinic on the magical Isle of Man.
Secure Your Place
Places are limited to honour the depth and integrity of the work.
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Reserve your place by Paying $300 non-refundable deposit via EventBright
2. You’ll receive a confirmation email with next steps and accommodation booking details.
3. Book your accommodation with
Cabot Shores Wilderness Retreat directly
to select either single or shared occupancy.
4. Complete your course payment
The remaining $2,200 course balance is paid via e-transfer, either in instalments or in full.
All payments must be completed by September.
Accomodations
The training takes place at Cabot Shores Wilderness Retreat on Cape Breton Island—
a land of deep ancestral memory, elemental power, & quiet magic.
Forest, ocean air, & wide skies form an essential part of the ceremonial journey.
Accommodation Packages Paid Directly to
Shared Occupancy
Chalet
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$1,350 CAD
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Includes:
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Shared accommodation
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Lunches, dinners & snacks
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Breakfasts not included
Single Occupancy
Lodge Room
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$1,760 CAD
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Includes:
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Private accommodation
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Lunches, dinners & snacks
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-
Breakfasts not included
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Sacred Celebrant, Ceremonialist, and Guide at Life’s Thresholds, with over 30 years of ceremonial experience and more than a decade as a funeral director. Lilli’s work is grounded, compassionate, and deeply human — shaped by land, grief, love, & lived experience.
Her teachings weave together elemental wisdom,
Celtic ritual, Ancestoral guidance, and
trauma-informed grief work—
helping people return to what truly matters.
Speaking & Guest Teaching
Ceremony • Grief • Transformation
One Sacred Step at a Time
International Women's Day
2025
I’d be honoured to join your gathering, retreat, or event.
Let’s explore what we can co-create.
Available For:
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Keynote Talks & Panel Discussions
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Retreat & Workshop Facilitation
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Ritual or Ceremony Hosting
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MC / Emcee for Soulful Events
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Grief & End-of-Life Conferences
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Wellness, Women's & Ancestral Retreats
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Sacred Circles, Festivals & Celebrant Gatherings
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Online Summits, Podcasts & Guest Interviews