Mother Blessings
A Mother blessing is a ceremony inspired by the native Navajo tradition that honour’s mother to be and celebrates her rite of passage into motherhood with a Blessing Way. It is a fantastic alternative to a baby shower a more baby focused event.
I was honoured to have one for both of my pregnancies and found it to be an incredible opportunity for me to feel supported and topped up by community. This gave me strength which I carried through when in labour and the early days of mothering.
They still are and may always be peak moments of my life, bathing in the yumminess of sisterhood. They are not only a gift to mama to be but all those that partake.
“The special ceremony to honour the Mother-to-Be is the Mother Blessing. This is your wider circle of friends, your community, gathering together to bestow you with their wishes and to honour you for the important role you play in the community, bringing in a new person. The point of this ceremony is that your friends, family and community thank you and honour you for that. “
Ten moons, Jane Hardwicke Collings
Essentially the ceremony deeply holds the mother to be and supports her to own her innate strength and power as she blossoms into motherhood.
One may decide to have a mother’s blessing at home, if your having a home birth this can be beautiful way of warming your home for babies arrival, alternatively being out in nature can be gorgeous. For my second pregnancy we had it by a river which was very magical.
Make it a cosy nest for everyone, especially the pregnant mama. You could create a circle with pillows for everyone to sit and in the centre could be an alter, with some flowers candles or special objects. Often a friend or relatively will help to organise and facilitate the ceremony.
If you can all bring a plate to share, this can be a great way to nourish everyone.
Ceremony ideas for your Mother Blessing:
Sharing positive birth stories, poetry or songs: Invite women to offer in the circle
Belly Cast: Using plaster make a keep sake of the mama’s belly
Painting on belly: Or using non toxic paints or henna women can take turns to decorate mama’s belly, a mandala can look beautiful.
Massage: If the mama desire’s there could be opportunity for her to lay down and get pampered, feet and hands can be lovely with a little oil.
String around wrists: Tye a red string to women’s left wrist- going left in the circle. You may say “from women we were born into this circle, from women we were born unto this earth’. This connects all women and when baby is born string may be cut.
Wreath of flowers: Celebrate the beauty of the pregnant mama with a wreath of flowers to wear during the ceremony, each woman can bring some to weave in.
Positive attributes and a blessing: Going around in a circle, possibly holding a candle or other object, share positive attributes you see in the pregnant woman and a blessing.
Beads: Everyone women brings a bead to thread onto a necklace, sharing also an affirmation or quality when beading. The women may then choice to either wear this or place on an alter during the birth.
Mobile for baby: Similar to the necklace each women can bring beads, feathers e.t.c. to create a mobile for baby, putting a blessing or intention into there creation.
Crystal Box- I created my own ritual for my first and asked women to bring a crystal, each women blessed the crystal and placed it in a special box for my son.
Create pray flags- for baby with positive words or drawings on them
When a woman goes into labour women from circle can light a candle or cut string they have been wearing. One women at the blessing way may be chosen to share the news once labour begins.
There are so many beautiful idea’s out there, so feel into what is right for the pregnant woman. The main thing is that mama to be feels held and supported and reminded of her power as a woman. Often simple can be very powerful!!
Example of a poem to share:
We are grateful for this new being
who is small in body
but great in Soul,
who has come into our midst
as a gift.
May we be sensitive
to the Sacred
as we nurture and learn from
this child.
Give us patience.
Give us strength.
And grant us wisdom and love,
to help this child
learn to sing
his own song.
~ Anne Spring
Many Blessings beautiful women and babes XXX