Nicole Sammut Ceremonies

✨Liminal Spaces✨

Otherwise known as the 'in-between'.

No longer who you were but not yet who you need to be.

You are transitioning, BECOMING.

My first series of rituals to acknowledge this moment did not go as planned, so I tried again. Yes, even Life-Cycle Celebrants don't always get it right the first time. We make mistakes too...we are human. But we persevere, and we try again.

I changed the natural elements, this time incorporating fire and water to acknowledge what I was holding, what I wanted to shed, release, and burn before reaching my next phase. 🔥

Then, for the very first time, I went for a night swim by myself, and as the lake held me, I acknowledged what I looked forward to receiving during this transitional time.

Later that evening, I visited the same dock to witness a spectacular sky cloaked in stars and meteor showers.

My kind of evening for New Beginnings. ✨

Nicole

Image 1, 2 & 3 Nicole (AI was not used to enhance these photographs)
Image 4 Pixabay

✨Death Anniversaries✨

Last month we marked the tenth anniversary of my dad's passing.

In honor of this milestone, we chose to dedicate a star in his name through Star Registration

It felt especially meaningful this year, as some of our most cherished memories were camping together as a family, sitting around a bonfire and looking up at the night sky, searching for constellations. 🌟

While he is no longer with us, we continue to honor him by cooking his famous meal and sharing it together that evening. It was one of his famous recipes he perfected in the kitchen that we only make to mark special festivities and celebrations.

We lit candles, one for each anniversary year, and acknowledged a story or memory for each candle we lit. 🕯

The beauty of this ritual is that everyone remembers different stories, and in sharing, more stories were brought to the surface.

We continued to share stories as they arose all weekend, long after the ritual was complete, which was a lovely outcome that we had not originally planned for but embraced wholeheartedly.

We also invited close friends and family members to share a word, memory, story, or saying that resonated with them from dad.

We read these shared messages from loved ones to help us feel a sense of connection and closeness to dad.

These rituals created space for grief and gratitude to coexist as we held both joy and sadness as we reminisced on all of our stories. ❤

Nicole ✨
XOXO

We're LIVE! 🎉🎉🎉

Nicole Sammut Ceremonies here, and we are THRILLED to showcase our brand New Homepage to the community!!!

This was truly a labour of love, which I could not have done without the creativity and brilliance of .alyse

The New Homepage better reflects the nature of our work, the breadth and scope of the ceremonies we create, and our collaborative and community based approach that is integrated within all of the work that we do.

A huge thank you for stopping by and giving our site a little visit.

We're feelin' the love. 💞

Nicole ✨

Children are naturally receptive to rituals.✨

They absorb its meaning and significance with ease as ritual speaks to their sense of wonder.

Ritual helps them process a deeper appreciation of traditions by actively participating in them, making them feel seen, valued and heard.

This past week, my guide-daughter visited to celebrate her birthday and to mark the end of the school year and the start of summer. ☀

Together, we placed our summer wishes on our tree to let them breath and lit candles, honoring the anticipation of the season ahead.

As a special gift, she received her first China teacup, which she can use as she begins her journey into junior school this fall.

We followed this with a lovely high tea that we prepared together.

See what lovely creativity and magic children come up with when you participate in rituals together.

Nicole ✨

☀Summer Solstice☀

Sunday, June 21st, officially marked the first day of summer...

However, the heat and SIZZLE of summer didn't arrive in Ottawa until our spring thunder, rain, and wind storms broke this week, making way for some sunshine.

We acknowledged the seasonal shift, saying goodbye to spring and welcoming summer last Saturday through the 'A Year of Seasonal Ceremony' course with Ceremonial and Alyssa Rose Healing Arts.

If there was a flower that symbolized spring for me it would be the peony. Bursts of vibrant colour across the landscape paired with sweetness.

Like spring itself, the peony's life is short and fleeting. 🌸🌸🌸

So we picked and washed the flowers, dried and dehydrated its petals to help sweeten our tea this season.

I also completed a reminder jar ritual.

Writing words and placing them in a jar that Ill need when the time comes this season.

I pulled a word I didn't know I need to hear: LIGHTNESS 🎉

It's a movement away from that 'New project energy' spring brings to the slow tempo and playfulness of the summer season.

Happy Summer Season to all! ✨

Nicole

✨Graduation Thresholds✨

The moments that mark change in our lives, both large and small, often shape who we become.

These thresholds signal endings and beginnings and are sometimes recognized through ritual and ceremony.

Graduation can be one such moment, acknowledging not only achievement but also the ongoing journey of learning beyond formal studies.

Every student's path is different. Each journey is shaped by its own experiences, stories, challenges, and milestones.

From one perspective, you can explore Ashley's story, A Graduation Ceremony to Mark a New Chapter by Be Ceremonial, or read it alongside others in Megan Sheldon's book, Ritual without Religion.

Nicole Sammut Ceremonies here, and we've got NEWS!!! 🎉🎉🎉

Our homepage is getting a revamp to better reflect the nature of our work, illustrating our collaborative and community based approach that is integrated within all of the work that we do.

Shout out to the following photographers that I have had the pleasure to work with. ✨

Thank you for capturing such incredible moments to showcase here:

Union Eleven Photographers

Josh Sauer Photography
Lauren McCormick Photography
Nicole Kirk Photography
Shawn Kerr Photography

Mel Shields

✨✨It's a retirement ritual day!!!✨✨

We are off today to celebrate a special friend, colleague, and peer as they acknowledge their milestone and career transition into retirement with a flower planting ritual.

Hydrangeas symbolize gratitude, grace, and abundance for new beginnings.

Congratulations , M! 🎉🎉🎉

See you soon! 💛

Nicole

A Ring Warming blessing is a ritual in which family, friends, and loved ones are invited to infuse the couples' rings with their hopes, love, and heartfelt support.

By the time the rings reach the couple, they carry warmth, well wishes, and the presence of everyone who has shaped their journey.

I am THRILLED to share that an upcoming ceremony will include a beautiful ring warming ritual for two friends, who, after years of shared history, will have found their way back to one another.

Their intertwined stories, lived experiences, and the emotional richness of their bond make this moment feel especially profound.

More to come on this soon!✨️

Nicole

Photographer:

Thrilled to be featured here, honoring growth, change and meaningful new chapters. ✨

💫 A Life-Cycle Celebrant's work continues long after the wedding, supporting life's transitions with intention and care.

❤️ If you feel called to walk beside people in these tender moments, celebrancy might be your path. Become a Life-Cycle Celebrant™️ with us.

✅ Registration is open now. Class begins August 20th.

🔗 https://www.naturaltransitions.org/certification

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Thank you to our collaborators:

Life-Cycle Celebrant: Nicole Sammut Ceremonies

Photographer: Josh Sauer Photography