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| Val |
This is my good friend Val, although I haven't known Val that long, she has truly stolen a piece of my heart. Val is very close in age to my own daughter. Val is new to our area, her husband Javier just started a Naturopathic practice in a near-by town. Val is a graphic web designer. She is also a member of our weekly womens group called the "Radical Homemakers."
It was after one of these weekly meetings that I truly connected with Val. She stayed at my house after our meeting ended, to chat with me about my sheep, spinning, and knitting.........Val is also a knitter. We talked about her dreams of moving to their new five acre parcel of land, the yurt she wanted to buy for their temporary home, raising animals and babies. How could any of that be dull? When I found out that her mother lived in Maryland and that she had no siblings, I knew I needed to hold a blessingway for her. She needed women to surround her with love at this point in her life. So, we did...........
Welcome to the Sacred Ceremony & Smudging..........
We started the ceremony with smudging....smudging is the burning of sacred herbs in ceremonies for clearing, prayer, & purification. We used Sweetgrass and White Sage. I had previously chosen four women to invoke the "four directions" presence and power. Each women brought in a direction (the East first, then S., then W. & finally N.) Each women said a prayer and filled prayer ties with tobacco and sage, we tied each small prayer tie off with my sweet "Gracies" wool in a continuous circle. This was given to Val so that she would have these spiritual prayers and energy to take home with her. As she is having a home birth with a midwife, each prayer tie can be tied in her room or on her bed in the directions they belong. Red to the East, Yellow to the South, Black to the West and White to the North.
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Me welcoming the Women & Grandmothers |
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| Singing spiritual songs My good friend Maxie and my grand daughter Kiley, made a fresh flower tiara for Val. Kiley brushed and braided Val's hair, and then the tiara was placed upon her head. It was beautiful and fragrant.........flowers are symbolic of natures abundance and beauty just as a women is when she is in her full pregnant bloom. |
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Brushing hair and placing the tiara  We then took turns massaging Val's feet with cornmeal and warm Lavender water while she was able to relax and enjoy the moment. |
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| Lorraine, Val's midwife washing Val's feet |
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| Massaging her feet w/cornmeal |
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| Sharing the warmed sweet almond oil for a massage |
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| A massage from the ladies |
Each women was asked to bring a bead for a birth blessing necklace. Individually each women presented Val with a bead that they had chosen with care, something symbolic to them. As they placed the bead on a silver strand, they offered Val their individual blessing.........a safe passage for she and the baby, cherish and love each moment with your child as they grow so quickly, peace and love during your labor and so forth. This necklace will give Val a connection to all her women friends when she is birthing.
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| The oldest "sage" of the blessingway, Barbara Kerr, she is 85 yoa After our bead sharing, we made Val expose her belly so that all of us could paint her belly with henna (a natural & temporary dye). We got creative............ |
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The henna painting.....    We ended the day with an outdoor picnic. I had spent just a few days (ha!) choreographing and making an organic food buffet. We had fresh ground Kamut carrot cake with honey-cream cheese frosting for Val, some incredible apricot-raspberry bars, a bunch of organic finger foods & pregnancy iced tea. We also made prayer flags, similar to Tibetan prayer flags. Each women was able to choose a color of fabric, paint a blessing on the flags which Val will also be able to hang in her room during her labor. Another gentle reminder that her women friends are with her in spirit through this journey. Candles were sent home with all the women so that we can start a phone tree.... when I receive the call from Val's midwife Lorraine, that Val has gone into labor I will then call all the other women, we will light our candles and send positive energy and prayers for she and the baby, that they will indeed have a safe passage. Val, I was a bit nervous the day of our ceremony, but I want you to know one thing......if going through this rite was difficult, no women would have more than one child........from the moment you hold that lil' babe in your arms, nestle her to your breast, you will be hooked and smitten the remainder of your life. There is NO getting around it, you will be in love forever after! From the heart of Earth, by means of yellow pollen Blessing is extended. Blessing is extended. On top of the pollen floor may I there in blessing give birth! With long-life happiness surrounding me May I in blessing give birth! May I quickly give birth! In blessing may I arise again, in blessing may I recover, As one who is long-life happiness may I live on! --Navajo chant from the Blessingway Ceremony |
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