What Is A Mother Blessing Ceremony?
I had your classic American ‘baby shower’ during my first pregnancy. Family and friends gathered at my house, we ate, they all drank, and we opened lots of gifts. It was a nice way to celebrate but I wanted something different with my second pregnancy.
I stumbled upon ‘Mother Blessing’ ceremonies online one night. It looked to me like a group of women circled around a pregnant momma–showering her with love & support.
I was fascinated.
And two weeks ago I had my dream Mother Blessing Ceremony.
photo by Haley Newton
My hope & wish is for EVERY mother to have this same experience.
The Mother Blessing celebration is becoming an increasingly popular way to celebrate the beauty and power of the female body and the transition into motherhood.
So what is it?
Where did it originate?
What was my ceremony like?
How can you have one yourself?
I believe, as with all traditions, it’s important to honor their lineage or history. Let’s learn where this special ceremony originated from & why it’s the best way to honor pregnant mothers…
What is a Mother Blessing Ceremony?
A mother blessing is a special ceremony held for a ‘mother to be’. Whether it is her first or fourth baby, the ceremony holds space for the mother on her journey towards birth.
Important women in her life gather to shower her with love & support. A traditional ‘baby shower’ focuses more on the baby whereas a ‘mother blessing’ is alllllll about the mama!
photo by Haley Newton
Some common activities during a Mother Blessing Ceremony include:
Belly painting or henna
Each guest brings their favorite meal to make or share & everyone feasts together
You can create a birth altar, which is a special space set up to honor the mother's journey into motherhood. The altar may include items such as candles, flowers, and a photo of the mother and baby
Speaking or writing words of support and wishes for mother and baby
Making bath salts with oils and herbs for the mother's postpartum recovery
Giving massage or soaking the feet of the mama to be
A string of yarn or cord gets passed around the circle and tied around everyone's wrists. The cord is then cut and each person ties it around their wrist. The cord will be kept on everyone's wrists until the baby is born
Everyone is given a candle to take home and light and send their well wishes during the birth/labor
Each guest brings a bead to make a necklace for the mother-to-be. The beads will be strung together into a necklace for the mother to wear during labor/birth
Guests will be invited to sign up to bring food to the mother-to-be after the birth
One of the most important aspects of a Mother Blessing is the creation of a sacred space for the mother-to-be. This can look different for everyone! Making the ceremony unique to that mother is part of what makes it so special.
Where did the Mother Blessing Ceremony originate?
A Mother Blessing is originally called a ‘Blessingway’. They are traditional to the First American Navajo (Dine to be exact) who mark the transition a woman makes when she moves into motherhood.
This ceremony is a time when the woman is nurtured and honored by the other women in her community.
The Blessingway Ceremony acknowledges the commitment and energy involved in being a mother and gives her a time when all the energy is available for her to receive. Traditionally this ceremony can be given to a woman each time she has a child, as with each child comes a new level of commitment.
To make the most of the ceremony the mother-to-be should allow herself to receive all the positive female energy being offered to her.
The Blessingway ceremony is also a great way for the mother to prepare for the birth. This is an opportunity for the women to share their experiences and for the mother to express any fears or worries she may have within a safe and sacred setting, receiving much-needed support.
Out of respect for Navajo traditions and their sacredness—the ceremony adapted to the term ‘Mother Blessing’ and that is why we use that title today!
My own Mother Blessing Ceremony
My Mother Blessing Ceremony was one of the best days of my life. I have never felt so loved & held.
Here are the invitations I sent out for my ceremony:
As you can see the invites asked each guest to bring a few items! A dish to share, their favorite flower, and an opal bead to string onto my birthing necklace.
The ceremony started with my henna belly painting. Guests filed in & placed their food dishes down. They were able to get themselves some tea & chat while I relaxed.
photo by Haley Newton
We had some beautiful paper and a jar set out near the circle. My guests were invited to write well wishes, prayers, or words of encouragement for my & my baby.
After the belly painting, we got comfy laying on the ground with pillows. We then received an amazing sound bath. A ‘sound bath’ is a deeply immersive, full-body listening experience that intentionally uses sound to invite gentle yet powerful therapeutic and restorative processes to nurture your mind and body.
photo by Haley Newton
I had never experienced a sound bath before and it was truly incredible. Our sound bath was performed by Justin Scharf (@sincityshaman on Instagram). He was amazing!
After the sound bath we sat around and told stories & laughed. My doula, Jaqulynn, took the beads everyone brought and strung together a beautiful birthing necklace for me to wear.
photo by Haley Newton
At the end of the mother blessing, with all of us sitting in a circle, we each wrapped beautiful red thread around our right wrist. We kept moving around the circle, keeping the thread attached to it all. When everyone had the thread around them we spoke about what it symbolized: connection with me until I birthed my baby. We then cut the thread, tied it around our own wrists, and keep the thread there until the baby is born.
photo by Haley Newton
The ‘red thread ceremony’ is an incredible and intentional way to stay connected to the mother through her last days of pregnancy & birth.
photo by Haley Newton
How can you have a Mother Blessing ceremony?
There are so many ways to have a Mother Blessing Ceremony!
In person at a facility you like (just like mine).
Out in nature at your favorite spot.
In your home.
Virtually.
And so many amazing doulas, birth workers, and creatives love to help you plan your Mother Blessing.
My amazing doula, Jaqulynn, with her company Terra Birthing, helped me plan & facilitate mine. It was so nice to have someone set up all the decor & guide everyone in the right direction the day of.
Jaqulynn, founder of Terra Birthing, holds space for so many women. She is a beautiful guide through your pregnancy & matrescense journey. Photo by Haley Newton
Jaqulynn is a major reason I felt so special & loved. She thinks of so many little details for the day & makes sure the mama-to-be can relax.
If you are local to the San Diego area and would love a Mother Blessing ceremony SHE IS YOUR GIRL. You can reach out to Jaqulynn on her website, or via Instagram here.
My purpose for sharing this journey is rooted in a strong belief that all mothers should feel special, loved & appreciated. And a Mother Blessing Ceremony does just that.
This ceremony is a beautiful and meaningful way to honor the journey into motherhood. Whether you are a first-time mother or have experienced childbirth before, a Mother Blessing can provide a powerful and transformative experience that celebrates the strength and beauty of the female body and the power of community support.
photo by Haley Newton