>>>WHAT:
A Blessing Way is a ceremony created to spiritually support and empower the new mother for her journey of birthing and motherhood. This beautiful Ritual is an alternative to Baby Showers, where the focus tends to be more on the gifts and the baby, rather than on the Mother and her experience.
There is a lot of information on the web and wonderful books that you can buy that can give you great ideas about how to create one for the new mamma in your life, whether friend, sister, daughter, relative. I will list some ideas below but really, just have fun and make them your own.
Here are some excerpts from the book by Yana Cortlund, Barb Lucke and Donna Miller Watelet, Mother Rising: The Blessing Way Journey into Motherhood:
“If creating a Blessingway ritual seems at all daunting to you right now, we empower you to explore this idea in any way that feels right. A Blessingway doesn’t need to be an overwhelming, overcomplicated undertaking. If in doubt, try planning a ritual that is very simple, rather than abandoning the entire concept.”
“Perhaps you’re thinking all this stuff is too hippy-dippy or touchy-feely for you. Well then, stay in your comfort zone and don’t design a ‘way out there’ event. There are so many ways to put a blessingway together that no matter how you end up doing it, it will be an amazing experience.”
Here are some simple steps from Mother Rising: The Blessing Way Journey into Motherhood for creating a RITUAL that can help you structure it:
“STAGE 1: Beginning
“We create a ritual space that looks and feels special. Guests need to become centered and ready to participate in a sacred ceremony. We form a circle to create a container of support for the mother-to-be.
STAGE 2: Shifting
“We state the Blessingway’s purpose so we all know what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, and while we’re at it, we share our intention with the powers that be. Introducing ourselves helps us connect with one another. We help the mother-to-be let go of any negative beliefs or fears she may be carrying so that she can embrace all the blessings, prayers, and honor we wish to bestow upon her.
STAGE 3: Focusing
“We honor, pamper, and adorn the mother-to-be to fill her with positive and empowering energies. We tell her stories to encourage her, offer blessings to support her, and give her gifts that will help guide her on her journey.
STAGE 4: Completing
“We raise energy to affirm and charge the work we’ve done and to send our good intentions out into the world. We weave a web to maintain our connection with one another beyond the day of the ritual.
STAGE 5: Feasting
“We end our ritual by sharing food together in celebration. We eat together to ground our energy, help us shift from sacred space back to social space, and bring the work of the ritual into our everyday lives.”
“When we create Blessingways for each other, we women reach outside of ourselves and weave a web of community: a living breathing web of women who are blessing, teaching, and supporting one another-and as a result, we help to give birth to each other’s children.”
Even just reading this made me feel like I was part of something sacred. I am creating a blessingway for a dear friend and this was beautiful.
Thank you
One of my favorite parts at a mother blessing I just attended was toward the beginning. We went around the circle and each woman said something they love and admire about the mother-to-be. It was so heartfelt and loving, and reminded her of all her innate strength and wisdom that will serve her in labor and motherhood.
I LOVE this site!!!The photos are really great,especially the pregnancy photos.My very favorite photo is at the top.The pregnant belly art is just beautiful!!!However,there’s one other thing about that particular pregnant belly that really grabs your attention.That one thing is the deep innie bellybutton of the mom-to-be!!!!!
great ideas, thanks for inspiration*
I had this ceremony today, I had no idea how it was gonna be or turn out but I was truly amazed and still amazed at how wonderful this experience is for a pregnant woman! I felt 10th of pounds lighter than before the ceremony and would do it over and over again. Am now positive and ready to welcome my baby to the world with the help of all the amazing women that celebrated me today.
Thank you so much for this lovely site. We are at beginning of planning a Blessing Way Tea Party for my daughter. It is such a consciousness shift from the old showers, Wonderful. I really appreciate the inspiration!
I would like to hear what you did for the blessingway tea party! That sounds like so much fun!
I’m pregnant with my first child and reading this awakened a longing for deeper meaning in my life and a desire to instill a deeper meaning into my child’s life. I love this idea.
This feels soooo good. Sian, I am looking forward to be a part of this.
Thank you so much for this opportunity.
Is there some one that can tell me if this ceremony is aproved by the catholic church ? My friend. Says. It is not aproved Thanks for your help
Anilda, I pray that you find peace through your God-given breath and trust that your version of God supports you and your friends. I pray that you deeply support each other towards each blessed birthing. May the mother to be feel empowered in mothering, and be showered with love during her ceremony. A blessingway is a sacred event open to all. I can imagine Pope Francis giving me an Amen on this.
Blessings sister, I can see the pope agreeing too.
This is no- religious. Any and all women should feel safe with receiving a blessing from their sisters in love! :)
No, its not
you make it your own! There are many ways to make it approved by the church. It is essentially a giant blessing. Pray to the saints. Pray to Mary. Pray the rosary! Reflect on the saints. So many ways!!!! <3 While the ceremony has Native American roots, a Mother Blessing can be anything you want it to be.
So inspiring ;-) Thank you for your words and all that you put out into the world. Jai Ma!
A child is a miracle of life, a spark of Divine light and love from God, Source whatever faith you hold onto, to be bestowed blessings from loved ones near and far is truly a gift of love and appreciation for all life. The more love the Mother and baby receive before, during and after pregnancy is a web of love to be held sacred. Blessings to all Mothers to be, I am the Mother of two teenage children who I am blessed to have in my life. I hold dear in my heart two children in Spirit, who are as much a part of my life as my children on Earth.
Welch Schöne Idee!
Gott schütze Euch
This is absolutely beautiful! I will definitely do this one day.. So many blessings ? thank you so much for this website and all the inspiration and just so much good coming from it.
loving that white onesie with the navy dots—where is that cute thing from?
How wonderful and supportive. Who’s pregnant ??
WOW! I found out that I am expecting about a month ago. The only time I feel pregnant is when I am nauseous or tired. I feel the baby isn’t mine per say, but its of the world. I’ve been lacking connection until… I read this post (and others). OMG I am in tears. This is so beautiful, so sacred so much more than a baby shower (which I don’t want as it seems materialistic to me)
I am definitely going to gave a blessing circle. I felt the power of women so deeply while reading this.
Thank you for sharing this.
Hi all, have any of you had your guests bring their children? I’ve been asked by every guest so there would be a total of 7 children at least all ranging from 7 m onths to 12. If so how was it? I was hoping for a really personable and intimate cerem ony and ritual, a really energetic one? All lovely replies are welcomed and nothing negative please. Blessings xoxo
I am about to gift a Blessing Circle to my step daughter as she prepares to give birth to her third child, a daughter after two beautiful boys. She has not altogether been excited about having a third child so this will hopefully help her to feel the sacredness and the unity of our support.
I have loved preparing this and I’m really looking forward to sharing it with all the women present on January 2, the last full moon before her due date.
Now, I have a question … I love so much about this website and I’ve searched for the name of its creator to acknowledge her but I can’t seem to find it anywhere. Please help?
Thank you and abundant blessings be yours.
Dianne (Australia)
Hello Dianne! I’m sorry to be getting back to you a bit late as today is the 2nd, but I hope you are having or have had a beautiful Blessing gathering for your step daughter! Thank you for your acknowledgement :) My name is Mijanou Montealegre. Many Blessing your way!
I would like to do a blessing ceremony for my friend as a new grandmother. The mother to be lives away and cannot attend. I suppose this would be possible. Do you have any thoughts about this.