Sometimes i feel our American traditions are too commercial and not all that special. i confess, i do get envious of other culture’s traditions that seem special and close knit. i have to admit though, when i first heard about a Mother Blessing, i was a little wiggly in my chair. As with anything new, especially traditions, it can make one uncomfortable. Coming from the beautiful state of Oregon, my mind first went to the hippie place and though i am a nature lover, by no means a hippie. Upon further research i found this amazing experience.

~~The Blessingway Origin~~

The story of the creation of the Navajo people and their emergence onto their sacred homeland is recounted in a ceremony known as the Blessingway, which is the foundation of the Navajo way of life. Blessingway focuses on the story of Changing Woman, who is the inner form of the Earth through its seasonal transformations. She is the major deity for the Navajo.
The Navajo are instructed that in the beginning, First Man and First Woman emerged onto this world near Huerfano Mountain in New Mexico. One day, First Man found a baby on a nearby mountain. The baby matured in four days and became Changing Woman. Changing Woman created the four original Navajo clans from her body. Her sons rid the land between the four sacred mountains of dangerous monsters and made it safe for the clans to inhabit. The Blessingway recounts in detail the instructions Changing Woman gave to the Navajo people she created. These teachings concern history and major religious practices, such as girl’s puberty rite and the consecration of a family’s home. When performed in its entirety, the Blessingway is a two-day ceremony whose purpose is to obtain peace, harmony, protection, and to help realize the goal of a long happy life.

<p align=”center”>~~The Modern Mother Blessing~~

In the American culture, baby showers attempt to honor the mama-to-be. For the most part it becomes a showering of gifts for the baby doing little for the rite of passage for the mama. While baby showers can be a little commercial, the Mother Blessing is the exact opposite. The Mother Blessing is

~~The Basics~~

Who’s coming? Keep it intimate and small. Only invite those the mama is close to and can positively contribute. Don’t invite anyone just because you feel obligated. A group of more than 15 can become cumbersome. If there are more than 15 you really want to attend, keep the Mother Blessing intimate and have a reception after or have a celebration after the baby is born.

Where do we go? The best place is the mama-to-be’s home (offer to clean her home as a gift). This way, you can bless her home as an activity. If this isn’t an option, a nearby home of a participant or an outdoor setting that is calm.

What atmosphere? Think intimate. First and foremost, turn off all phones and pagers! Consider playing relaxing music, burning scented candles or incense. If it’s cold and you have a fireplace, this is a wonderful time to put it to good use.

Did someone say food? All of the food should have meaning. Think homemade and from the heart. Maybe have everyone bring a dish that is the mama-to-be’s comfort food, or a favorite food (a great excuse for a chocolate feast).

~~Rituals~~

You can adapt any of these or even make up your own and adjust them to the mama-to-be’s belief system. Whatever you do, make sure it encourages the mama-to-be. Begin with an invocation or prayer. End by thanking everyone for their positive contributions, and if you are giving little “favors” such as a candle or scented soap, have each guest take one as a reminder of their wishes they are to keep making until after the baby is born.

~Create a birthing necklace. It is intended for the woman to wear during birth to bring strength and positive energy. Ask each woman attending to bring a bead that best represents their wish for the mother and baby during labor and delivery. Pass around the string or wire cut for the necklace. Have each woman explain the significance of the bead they chose. You can even pass around a journal at the same time so the woman can write the meaning (we know preggo brain).

~The foot bath and hair brushing maybe the most intimate activity. Wash the mama’s feet in a small bath filled with flower petals or essential oils. Drying the feet with cornmeal will impart a nice glow that symbolizes luck and protection as she walks on her path. You can simultaneously brush/braid her hair or do them as separate activities. You can finish off the hair brushing time by decorating her hair with flowers. This would be a great time for storytelling.

~Storytelling is meant to encourage the mother (keep the horror stories to yourself please). You can have the other woman tell their own birthing stories, maybe say how they know the mama-to-be, or maybe even tell inspirational stories of motherhood. You can even invite the guests to read encouraging poetry.

~Smudging is taken from the Navajo tradition of the Blessingway. It is meant to cleanse and purify the home. A bundle of dried sage is lite, then the flame is blown out, and the sage is allowed to slowly burn down.

~Create a belly cast or paint the mama-to-be’s belly with henna or body paints.

~Lighting candles. You can have each woman bring a candle from home and light it at the beginning of the Mother Blessing. You can also incorporate candle making into one of your activities. These candles are to be taken home by each woman present and lit when she hears the mama is in labor.

~Making “help” lists isn’t part of the traditional ceremony, however a great idea. Have the guests commit to bringing a meal over after the baby is born. Also, create a list to help with housework. As any new mommy can tell you, this is the best gift of all

~Meditation stones. Have each woman paint or write a wish for the mama while she is in labor. Place all the dried stones in a basket and she has a great focal point for labor.

~Wrist Binding is probably the best way to end a Mother Blessing. Use a ball of wool, hemp, or cotton. Have all the woman stand in a tight circle and wrap the string around each woman’s wrist. After the string has been passed you can use this time to say a prayer for the mama-to-be, recite poetry, or just be reminded how we are all united. Then have each woman cut their string and tie it around their wrist. It is meant to be a reminder until the mama-to-be has given birth.

 

Tags: baby • baby shower • Blessingway • celebration