i recently planned a surprise baby shower for a dear friend, J, who is expecting her second child, and didn’t seem into having a baby shower.
As part of the celebration of her and her baby, and in lieu of games and presents, i thought that a small bead ceremony would be quite meaningful. i asked everyone to bring a bead (or similar, it could be handmade, bought, rediscovered…) that reminded them of J, and think of a little blessing/wish/story that they would like to share with her and her baby. At the end of the ceremony, we strung the beads together and presented the bracelet to her as a reminder of the support of her friends. It was a very touching and emotional experience as each woman came up to her and gave a little blessing as they strung her bead and wished her love.
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.
