Mother blessing?!

[MrsDribbleDrawers]

Just wondered if anyone has thought about having a mother blessing/blessingway ceremony instead of a baby shower? I've been reading up about it, and it fits in with my woman-centred philosophy... I'd be fascinated to hear any stories you may have.

[Funkychicken]

My beautiful women friends gave me a mother blessing ceremony about a month before I had my baby last year. It was truly beautiful and I was so touched by the sense of womanhood and binding of us as mothers. My dear friend, who also attended my baby's birth) made some invites from a painting she had done and it became known as Sally's Soiree. On the morning of the day, my friends began to arrive, armed with buckets and cloths and began in earnest to clean my 'much-neglected' house. Windows, cupboard doors, etc...Two girls closed themselves into our bedroom and created the baby's corner of our room with pink and blue cloth's (the two colours suggested for a baby's crib by Rudolph Steiner) and began decorating the alter space for the baby's blessing gifts and candles. They also tided my clothes and drawers up which was lovely! A couple of women cooked up a wonderful lunch and set up a picnic style setting outside for us all. The ceremony itself was held in my loungeroom and we formed a circle with me being draped in muslin and each guest presented to me gifts for the baby and myself. Some were tangible, some were poems, one friend sang and another provided a guided meditation for us on a CD. Each friend spoke quietly some words from their hearts and we finished with tears of joy and celebration and then made our way outside for our lunch.
After lunch a bit more cleaning and then they each made their way to their own homes.
Up until that point I was still suffering some anxiety about becoming a mother again (our baby was a gift) but I felt so loved and nurtured by my friends and felt that no matter what I would be supported.
A few months ago a friend of mine had a baby boy and as we are not part of the same daily community we never got around to having a blessing ceremony so two weeks after har baby was born I hosted a 'baby welcome' ceremony for her. Again we each bought blessings, gifts, poems and I built a lovely place in the centre of our circle with jasmine and wisteria and placed it all with a candle on a wet-felted piece I had made especially for the day. We welcomed the new baby to our community and each spoke about how we would support this child as he grew. We had a short morning tea as she was only two weeks past giving birth and we didn't want to invade her 'closed space' too much. It was such an honour to give this day to my friend and it seems to bring out so much love amongst women when they experience this type of day.
Ok, so that was a really long post-sorry, I just feel so supported and loved by my women friends and wish this joy to every birthing mother. :)

I forgot to add, at my ceremony, I was also treated to a beautiful hand, leg, foot and head massage while all the cleaning was going on.

[pookiesossige]

That, Sal, sounds like it was heaven. Just beautiful. It brought a tear to my eye reading about what your wonderful friends did for you...
I havn't got anything else to contribute to this thread, I just wanted to say what a wonderful idea a 'mother blessing' is and that I now feel so inspired to do a similar kind of thing when someone close to me, like my sis or sil is expecting a baby.

[Funkychicken]

It really did mean so much to more-far more than a regular shower would have. When I was pregnant with my first bub, I didn't get a baby shower and I felt quite hurt that my friends then didn't organise anything but I now understand the true depth of friendship amongst women and it has nothing to do with expensive gifts for a baby. It is women celebrating motherhood and bonding as people that counts. :thumbsup:
I'm sure if you were to create a day like this for someone in your world, you will be long remembered for it. :yes: