Rites of Passage Ceremony
Mother Blessing Ceremony
A Mother Blessing ceremony (sometimes called a Blessingway) is a gathering of the mother-to-be and her closest women family and friends to create a sacred bond of love, support and power as she prepares for the birth and the experience of motherhood. Each ceremony is unique to the mother and any rituals or traditions she is called to. The circle of women initiates a support team in the time of transition and through the powerful experience of birth. Because when the baby is born, a mother is also born, and she too needs to be received, nurtured and supported on her journey. A Mother Blessing is for a first-time mom or a fifth-time time - it doesn't matter how many children she has birthed, each experience is different and sacred.
Ceremonies are excellent gifts for a new mother! They can be incorporated into a baby shower or as a baby shower gift to recognize the importance of mother in all this birth stuff! I offer gift certificates for Mother Blessing and Postnatal Sealing Ceremonies (I even accept "group" payments).
“Dawn creates an ambience of warmth and safety. She doesn’t pressure you to know “where to start”, but she does guide you through the complex process of postpartum emotions. She guided me to accept the experience and what is. However, she never encouraged me to discount my experience by saying anything like “at least you have a healthy baby!” It matters how I feel too, and I felt that completely with Dawn. The icing on the cake was the guided meditation. I had no idea I’d be on a journey not only to accept myself and my body today, but also to accept the past versions of myself going back years. It was so cathartic, and I was surprised when I almost started sobbing at the end of the mediation. If you’re wondering if you should do this with Dawn, don’t, and just do it! It really was a mind altering experience for me in the most positive way.”
Closing the Bones Ceremony
After the birth of a baby, regardless of the method, a space is open and empty within mother. The Closing the Bones postnatal Ceremony includes a cleansing ritual, blessings, use of essential oils and/or Reiki if desired, the "closing the bones" ritual and space for processing. The purpose of the ceremony is to close the physical and energetic doorways that were opened during the birth, to nurture the new mother so that she may nurture her new baby and to allow space for processing the events of the birth.
After baby arrives a date will be set to hold the ceremony. I can come to your home and you only need a small, comfortable space on your floor for the ceremony. We work with and around baby, and I have given the ceremony while wearing a newborn.
The ceremony may also be appropriate for pregnancy loss in conjunction with a birth trauma and loss ceremony. This may include a cleansing ritual, Reiki, blessings, the "closing the bones" ritual and space for processing.
Partners or other friends are welcome to attend if desired.
If this sounds like something you missed when you were initially postpartum, it is never too late. The ceremony is for you too.
“I always feel at ease in sessions with Dawn. Her approach is professional yet warm, structured yet adaptive, and personalized to each individual. She combines years of hard earned wisdom with open-hearted intuition, and in addition is a gifted teacher. My recent Holding the Bones session with her was an entirely unique somatic experience. I would recommend it to any woman who is ready to explore well-being through connecting with their body. ”