Blessingway

What is a Blessingway -

Blessingway ceremonies create a sacred and safe environment where a mother-to-be can explore the challenges and joys that lie before her as she approaches birthing and mothering. Surrounded by the most important women in her life, she gains a sense of power, confidence, and support that will help her rise to motherhood.

Birth is a key life passage for women. But modern culture has become preoccupied with the arrival of the baby-to-be and has lost touch with birth's profound impact on the expectant mother. While our most common birth preparations focus on getting women physically ready to give birth, the blessingway ceremony helps a woman to prepare mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for the work of birthing, and it opens her to her instinctive abilities, which will guide her as she steps into the role of mother. (from www.blesingwaybook.com)

This was my first blessingway ceremony and it was beautiful. It was held here at my house and 5 of my dear friends came to share in this beautiful time. One mom is due with her 3rd baby 2 weeks after me, so this Blessingway way for her too. It was nice to share this time with a friend ! With the 6 of us mom's there we have a total of 14 kids (soon to be 16) and 7 of them have been born at home (soon to be 9)

We started by Steph lighting a Sage brush and cleansing the house and each one of us. Then they took turn presenting us with special beads to make our birth necklace. A necklace we can wear or have near by during labor to remind us of the support we have.

Each of us wearing our finished necklace:

Next in the ceremony was the Henna bellies. It was fun and little Adeline must of enjoyed it from the womb, because she kept moving around. Each mom decorated a petal on the flower, including me. The lavender smell from the henna was so relaxing - I can still smell it!


Everyone also made birthing flags. Little blessings, verses or words of wisdom to have hanging up. It will be a great thing for me to focus on during labor.
I added my sweet babies to the nature table which is now the "birthing table" until the baby comes. A reminder that I have done this 2 times before and everything was fine.

My friend Steph said
"Your labor can't be stronger than you , it is you"! My babes will help me to remember this.
The birth candle to be light at the time of labor. I then will have a candle chain for each one of the moms who were here today and they will light their candles when I am in labor. The idea is that the baby will be born before the candle goes out (let's hope)

It was a wonderful and spiritual morning that I will always remember and cherish. To have such amazing friends who give me so much strength and confidence in not only having my first homebirth, but as a mother and a friend.

Thank you Steph, Marie, Karen, Kim, and Anna! I am ready!