Blessingway

The practice of celebrating pregnancy and the birth of a new mother transcends almost all human cultures. Unlike the American baby shower which is usually focused on gifts for the baby, the Mother's Blessing (or Blessingway) is focused on giving positive energy, special gifts, and happy blessings to the mother, which are a powerful way to prepare the mother for labor and childbirth.
Weather a mother is having her 1st, 3rd, or 10th baby, I think the Mother's Blessing reminds her, once again, that childbirth is one of the most transformative events of her life. I was very lucky to have a group of wonderful friends throw me a Mother's Blessing this last weekend. Here's a few pictures that Erika took, which keep reminding me how fun it is to celebrate bringing children into this world.


A warm soak and a foot massage.



Each friend brought a unique bead, each given with a good thought or blessing for the birth.



Tying strings around our wrists, which will remind friends to send positive energy to the baby and mother, each day before she gives birth. String can also represent the umbilical cord, and ancestral ties between birth, life, and death.



Everyone decorated onesies with puffy paints! So cute! Can't wait to wear them!

More pictures of our lovely evening.







Rebekah's blessingway last year was the first I had been to. I wrote about it here. This is definitely a tradition that I would love to pass on for friends and family; for those who think birthing is something special to celebrate. :)