A Mother Blessing is a ceremony which puts the mother at the centre of the attention.
Inspired by an ancient Navajo ceremony in North America called hoshooji (meaning blessing ceremony). A ceremony to honour the pregnant mother and her journey to motherhood. A gathering of her close friends in their home for this one-time event. To celebrate mothering their upcoming birth journey and to shower them with love, support and encouragement. To give strength for the journey ahead.
I love that it creates a sense of community and support around the expectant mother. It makes them feel very loved and special, and it makes everyone who attends feel this way too. I love that it helps put community support in place for after the birth too and that the feeling of belonging lasts beyond the ceremony.
A chose of different activities to make your Mother Blessing as individual as you are.
- Creating a sacred space with an alter or centre piece, music and aromas
- Wearing special clothes for the mother and the guests
- Flowers, candles, drumming
- Purify the space and people before a ceremony either with smuging with the use of the smoke of sacred plants such as Palo Santo or Sage or essential oil spray.
- Guided meditation
- Poem which a guest may like to read
- Circle of Women song
- Belly painting, henna or casting
- Adorning the mother with gifts, flower head-dress, beaded necklace (beads from guests)
- Washing of feet and/or massaging of hands
- Collage made on the day or hand prints with words of support and love
- Fear release, mother can write any fears that she may have, share them to the group, then they are burnt
- Postpartum pledges
- Singing, music and drumming
- Goddess cards – mother and guests pick a card
- Red thread binding – Using a thread to bind the mother and the guest is a simple yet powerful symbol. It serves as a beautiful reminder of the ceremony that took place, and of the support of the circle of women around the mother until the birth.
- Candles as gift to the mother and her guests – when you goe into labour, guests get told to light their candles (this can be done with a WhatsApp group for example), and spend a few minutes sending good wishes to the mother whilst she labours
- Closing the ceremony with food, either a lunch or cake.
If you would like to discuss any of the above suggestions, or want to book your Mother Blessing, please contact me proctorw2002@yahoo.co.uk