A Celebration of Birthing {My Blessingway Experience}

This past Monday I reached the 38 week marker. The evening prior found me reflecting on this pregnancy and the upcoming birth of this babe, surrounded by amazing women who spoke words of life and beauty over me, pampered me, and celebrated with me, sharing in love and life.

The blessingway originated from a Native People traditional ceremony (some call it a mother-blessing instead when it’s not done by Native Peoples). It is now used in non-Native culture as an alternative or addition to the typical baby shower. It focuses on the spiritual aspects of the pregnancy and birth, rather than the typical gifts and such.

In the words of the blessing way book website, it is “a ceremony that can be designed to provide a deeply meaningful and transformational experience for a mother-to-be while honoring her personal belief system”.

My own blessing way, hosted by my amazing friend, Ashley, was exactly that for me – deeply meaningful and personal to my own relationship with the Creator God and Jesus Christ. Rather than just give you a rundown of the evening, I want to share a few favourite photos with you. Some of the photos are from my friend Katherine’s blessing way, held just 3 days after mine, as she’s due 4 days after me. The symbolic elements varied slightly from mine and hers, but each evening was similarly rich with meaning and beauty.

Burning fears, written out on slips of paper and released into the flame.

Beautiful henna belly art, kindly done by the amazingly artistic Ruth-Anne and Ashley.

Foot soak for the tired mama’s feet, followed by toenail polish and massage (she said it was her first foot massage – she’s a total natural – it was amazing!)

A candle tied with strings brought by the women, each unique and colourful, reminding me of the unique strength of womanhood of which I am a part, to be lit and focused on while I labour.

The blessing.

My personal favourite part of the evening – a simple ceremony in which we all stand together in a circle, and bind our wrists together with one long strand of string, beginning with my left hand and ending at my right. Each woman wraps the string several times around her wrist, and passes it to the next woman. While we are bound together, they prayed over me and the baby and the coming birth, then the strings are cut between women and each tied theirs onto their wrists, to remind them to pray for me in these last days and weeks until baby is born. (I now have two – my own, and Katherine’s).

Another significant part that I loved was the words of encouragement/quotes/verses that were chosen and read aloud to me (and Kat) as we listened. The words that were given to me will continue to bless me in the days to come as I finish this pregnancy and prepare for birth. There is such power in an intentionally spoken word of love and encouragement – it was rich and meaningful.

I didn’t mention the laughing and the (glorious!) food and the fabulous-as-usual girls’ night atmosphere that permeated the in-between moments, but that was all there too. It was lovely and perfect, and I couldn’t ask for better friends to have blessed me so as I prepare for this new little person about to change my world forever for the better.

{I love you already, dear one}.