When you have come to the edge of all the light you know
and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown,
Faith is knowing that one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid to stand on
or you will be taught how to fly.
– Patrick Overton
Blessingway Rituals
Blessingways are alternative rituals that recall our attention to blessing the way ahead as we move through life. I offer these ceremonies for many occasions that celebrate and honour an individuals transition through life altering moments or personal transitions.
Some other options
Blessingway ceremonies for special life transitions:
- Mother/birthing person-centered shower
- Baby-centred naming ceremony
- Coming of age ceremony
- Pregnancy belly casting
- End of life transitioning
Blessingways for mothers/parents-to-be
“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.”
Introductory paragraph from Mother Risingby Yana Cortlund, Barb Lucke and Donna Miller Watelet.
In our modern society we have focused a great deal of attention on the baby and subtly exluded the birthing person/mother from this important life passage. With the birth of a baby there is also the birth of the parent, mother, father and family union.
A woman/birthing person leaves their state of maidenhood to transition into parent/motherhood. Many people in labour and birth sense this moment of ‘death and rebirth’ while the birth is unfolding. It is an unseparable event. With one the other follows.
Much attention has been given to preparing women/people to give birth physically but little work is done to prepare a women/person emotionally, spiritually and mentally. The blessingway is a way to help connect all this knowledge together so that they can connect with and open up to their instinctive knowledge and step into their role as mother/parent.
A blessingway is a time of reflection, support and celebration that is focused on the mother/parent-to-be. It is a way of honouring their transition. The gifts that are given to them specifically are used to help raise their energy for labour, show them the support and care they have available and enable them to welcome their baby and gently walk into the role of mother/parenthood.
What I offer
I celebrate blessingways for all life transitions and I like to get to know the people whom I will be preparing a ceremony for. The ceremony revolves around the individual, so my preparation involves holding that person deep in my heart as I set to creating a beautiful honouring for them. I usually bring the necessary equipment and items needed and communicate what other items are needed to be available for use. Typically a Blessingway lasts a couple of hours but it can also be over a half-day or full day depending on what is chosen.
Pre-ceremony preparation
The cost is 150€ and this involves:
– Acquiring information about the individual being celebrated from a friend or family member via text, email or phone call
– Preparation of ritual blessings specific to the individual and the circumstances
– Collection of supplies needed for the ceremony
– Creation of individualised blessing cards
Ceremony set up and hosting
The cost for this is 100€ per hour and involves:
– Creating Sacred Space where the ceremony will be held
– Welcoming guests and orienting them to what their role is
– Welcoming the guest of honour and beginning the ceremony
– Creating the circle and beginning the celebration
– Closing the circle and ending the celebration.
