When we think of the common rituals in our culture the ‘big-two’ often come to mind: weddings and funerals. This course will take a deep dive into other rituals to mark the common, but often overlooked, transitions in our lives, as well as the less well known.

As a Celebrant + Officiant, your work is not limited to weddings and funerals, but can encompass the full spectrum of your client’s lives from birth to death. Baby naming ceremonies, housewarmings, divorce rituals, pet memorials, coming out rituals, and death anniversaries are just a few of the life transitions that can be marked by ceremony and ritual. 

In this course, you will develop a familiarity with the significance of life transitions and the secular rituals that can accompany them and develop skills and confidence in designing and officiating rituals honoring life transitions. Learning will take place through assigned reading/viewing, class presentations, group discussion, and break-out rooms. Progress will be assessed through class participation, three written assignments, and a final project.

Course Schedule:

The Life Transition Ceremonies and Rituals course meets four times with course preparation required prior to the first meeting and a final project due a week after the final meeting.

Course Preparation:

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 – Course Reading/Viewing for First Class Posted in Portal

Live Online Instruction with Kristabeth Atwood:

Tuesday, November 2, 2021 @ 7:00pm-8:30pm (ET)

Tuesday, November 9, 2021 @ 7:00pm-8:30pm (ET)

Tuesday, November 16, 2021 @ 7:00pm-8:30pm (ET)

Tuesday, November 23, 2021 @ 7:00pm-8:30pm (ET)

Additional Dates & Assignments:

Tuesday, November 30, 2021 – Final Project Due by Midnight (ET)

Week of December 6-10, 2021 – One-on-One Meetings

Course Outline and Objectives

• Students will review the importance of marking life transitions and how ritual and ceremony has been used historically in rites of passage.
• Students will develop skills in interviewing clients to deeply understand the importance of a particular life transition in order to create a meaningful ritual experience.
• Students will become familiar with the most common life transition rituals and develop a foundation that will allow them to meet less common life transition rituals with skill and confidence.
• Students will explore the benefits of developing life-long relationship with their clients.
• Students will consider how offering life transition rituals can fit within their celebrancy business and marketing plan.
• Students will be coached on how to educate the public on the value of life transition rituals and offer themselves as an expert resource.
• Students will create an original life transition ritual.

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