Mother's Blessing

Are you or someone you love pregnant? If you’re looking to celebrate the momentous transition into motherhood — whether it’s your own or one of your besties — you can’t go past a sacred Mother’s Blessing…

What is a Mother’s Blessing?

A Mother’s Blessing is very different to a traditional baby shower. It focuses on the mama and giving her love, strength, support and encouragement as she embarks on this special journey. Rather than a traditional baby shower that focuses on the baby, presents for the baby, playing games and drinking champagne in your honor, a Mother’s Blessing is very much about honoring the mama and holding space for her as she embarks on this rite of passage and transitions to motherhood.

It is a pre-birth celebration, a ceremony where the mother’s soul sisters gather to support, empower and celebrate the mama in the lead up to birth. It can be an alternative or addition to the typical baby shower. The last Mother's Blessing I hosted, the mama had her close friends and family attend the Mother's blessing and then had her larger circle of friends and family join in afterwards for a more traditional shower of lunch and presents. 

The term ‘Blessing Way’ is often used to describe these events. A Blessing way is a sacred Navajo (Dine) ceremony that is unique to their tradition, and out of respect for the Navajo people, I use the term  ‘Mother’s Blessing’ instead.  Blessing ways are a beautiful ceremony to help celebrate, strengthen and support the mother as she gets closer and closer to labor. This Navajo ceremony focuses on healing, harmony, peace and appreciation for the mother to be. 

The Circle:

I welcome each women to the circle and we complete a smudging, using flower laced sage. This clears the circle and opens our hearts to sharing love and support for the mother to be. 

I opened the circle with a beautiful guided meditation to bring all our energy together. I get everyone to open their hearts and visualize sending the mama so much love. We visualized love pouring out of our heart and into hers, it is so beautiful. 

After the meditation, we began the ceremony.  Each guest introduces themselves if they feel comfortable doing so via their female lineage: For example mine sounds like this:  "Hello, I am Katie, daughter of  Sharon and granddaughter of Elaine and Rosemary" this pulls forward the strong feminine heritage into the circle. Then each person shares their connection to the mother to be, and what we love most about her. Strengthening the bond of the circle. The following list are activities that can be incorporated to meet the mother to be wishes. 

Mother's Blessing beads: each guest is instructed to bring a bead or crystal specially picked for the mother. These can be homemade clay beads, gemstones, wood or plastic. During the circle each women then has the opportunity to thread her bead/crystal onto a piece of ribbon or string. When it's your turn to thread the bead you say a blessing, prayer, or poem. or some other form of empowerment and strength to carry into labor. Each women can explain why she chose her particular bead, and what it represents - courage, joy, serenity, beauty, power, and the like.  This collection can be held or kept nearby during labor so that she can be reminded of the support and blessings she has during this very special and trying time. 

Lighting of the candle: While still in the circle we have our candle lighting ceremony, which honestly is so so powerful and bonding to me. The mother has one large candle that she lights, and then one at a time, each guest will light their candle (already provided for them) from the mother's flame. Once all the candles are lit, everyone will blow them out at the same time and save them for when the mother goes into labor. A phone chain is created so once labor starts everyone who has attended the Mother's Blessing can one-by-one light their candles again, to support the mother during her birth. How magical right??? The momma can use her candle as a focusing point for breathwork during labor. 

Winding of the thread: Most will choose the color red, however I have had momma's choose different colors such as pink, blue and yellow. As we connect ourselves to each other in the circle it is a reminder that this thread can be through of as the web of life that we are all apart of. The momma starts by wrapping the thread three times around her left wrist, then passes the ball of yarn clockwise ( which is also a direction for protection) and each guest wraps it around their left wrist three times and passes it to the next person. Once the thread has made its way back, a few words about connection are spoke. A few moments of quiet and reflection are provided. "As we are all connected in this moment, so we will remain connected, sending love to you and your baby up to and through the birth." A scissors is passed around and each women has the opportunity to speak about what it felt like to be all connected by the yarn as their yarn is cut. The women next to you will cut and help tie your yarn into the bracelet. The bracelet is left on until after the baby is born. Once again this is another way we have connected ourselves to the mother and her support system. 

Within the circle we have quiet moments, time for reflection and sharing. We open conversion and offer each women a chance to share words of encouragement/quotes/verses. These are meant to guide and bless the mama as she prepares for birth. There is such power in an intentionally spoken word of love and encouragement - it is rich and meaningful. 

Some other ideas that could be incorporated into the Mother's Blessing event:

-Washing of mamas feet: Using a lovely basin of Epson salts & essential oils topped with floating herbs and flower petals. This is a nurturing and feminine act, this can be done by one person, usually the mother or mother in law, or by everyone in the group. You can also just have a beautiful relaxing foot soak while poetry and readings are done. Mother's Blessings are all about empowering and relaxing the mama to be during her final stage of pregnancy. 

-Henna belly art  Painting of the belly to decorate the fullness of the mama figure is a beautiful reminder of the power us women have, the fact we can create life. Henna has slowly incorporated it's way into these ceremonies, and I absolutely am on board with it. Henna is a safe and natural type of body art. It lasts longer than paint and may still be visible during the mama's labor. 

-Flower crowns:  We can all agree that flower crowns all make us feel a bit more magical when adorned with one. What better way to celebrate motherhood than with gorgeous flowers worn upon one's head. The flower crowns symbolizes the transformation the mother is going through into a new and beautiful stage of her life. A craft activity as a group or premade crowns are an option. 

-Brushing/breading the mama's hair: A nurturing and feminine activity. If the mama has long hair having it braided in preparation for labor can be helpful 

-songs and mindful dance

The Mother's Blessing is not for the baby, but it blesses the baby by caring for the mother in their oneness. The Mother's Blessing is for the mother on her journey as she approaches the birth of her baby. It honors her as the vessel of life and love. It gives space for her to speak of her fears, her joys without receiving in return advice. It is a safe container to simple be and be held. She basks in the energy of her dear friends and family, only her inner most chosen circle. She is filled with wisdom, support, and love. She is while in her circle of women. 

It feels that this is how we were meant to mother - with our mothers and friends and grandmothers and sisters by our side, if only for that Sunday morning. With words and tokens to guide us and bless our path. So here's to the peace, joy, and strength to those who bless and are blessed by it. Consider this your lineage and invitation. Text me at 414-899-3891 for more information or to book your Mother's Blessing! 

Much love,

Katie