Blessing Way Ceremonies
In our endlessly
busy culture it is becoming less and less likely that we celebrate,
much less recognize the rites of passage in our lives. A Blessing
Way Ceremony (which may also be known as a Women’s Circle) is a
gathering of the most significant women in your life as you prepare
for the birth of your baby, and your transition into motherhood. A
Blessing Way may be conducted as an adjunct or alternative to a
modern day baby shower. The ceremonial gathering may take on any
variety of form and function. It may be as simple as a gathering of
friends who bring to the circle their own birth stories and
inspirational anecdotes, or it may be more formal, incorporating
activities such as:
- Pampering you by
braiding your hair, completing a belly henna design or belly cast,
or ceremonial foot washing
- Lighting of
candles that will later be lit during your labor
- Offering of
blessings and/or prayers for you and your baby
- Stringing of
beads, one contributed by each woman present at the ceremony, into
a bracelet or necklace for you to wear during your labor –
signifying being surrounded by a circle of supportive women during
your hard work in childbirth
- Each woman comes
to the circle with a swatch of material she had chosen which may
be sewn together for a baby quilt
For more ideas on how to conduct a
Blessing Way ceremony, visit:
http://www.mother-care.ca/blessing.htm
http://www.unique4baby.com/blessingway.htm
http://www.naturaltouchdoula.com/blessingway.php |
