Blessings | Paxton says | ENTERTAINMENT
Blessings
January/19/08 05:48 PM Filed in: Paxton says
I have always been drawn to the company of
creative, independent womyn. But I have always
had difficulty getting to know – and getting
known – by these womyn. I don’t make friends
easily – it takes quite a long time for me to get
beyond the superficial. Let’s face it – I suck at
small talk. I have always been the wall flower at
group events.
Unless….I have the opportunity to speak to the entire group. I love being in front of the room (assuming I’ve prepared for the event). The shy, wall flower me disappears when I have center stage – and the real me emerges. I get to connect with large groups of people in ways that I could never have managed one on one. And…better yet…after I speak people come up to ME and start talking! Much better than me having to break into other people’s conversation (can you say, terrifying?).
I had the honor of attending my first Mother’s Blessingway ceremony last week. It is a spiritual, affirming event to support and strengthen the womyn who is about to give birth. It replaces the commercial baby shower – and is, in my opinion – infinitely better. Instead of buying blankets or buntings or breastpumps we each made a quilt square (see my previous post for THAT comedy of errors) and food to share, and we brought a candle, a bead and a blessing.
The food was delicious – and the Mom had plenty left over to stock her freezer. We gathered in a circle and shared our stories about the Mom, our blessings, our encouragement. I wrote and shared this blessing:
May you relax and meditate on this blessed new person, yet to be born. Let your mind flow freely with thoughts of joy, peace and purpose. Enjoy these last moments of solitude.
May the womyn of the ages rise up to offer their support and encouragement as labor begins.
Feel their song: “Trust your body. Trust yourself. Trust your babe.” Revel in your connection to timeless generations of womyn, past and present, as all prepare to bring forth new life, new hope, new promise.
May you forever feel the power, the primal call of the universe, as you follow the timeless instinct to bring forth life.
May you bask in the blessed aftermath of birth as you caress your newborn babe.
May the womyn of the ages smile – and cry – with you as your babe first suckles your breast, seeking life and nourishment.
May the power and magick of these moments stay with you til the end of time.
We are womyn. We are powerful. We are life.
Copyright 2008 Cynthia Johnson
The Blessingway was incredible – we all felt so connected to the mother-to-be, to each other, to ourselves and to generations of other womyn. I have been SO much more creative this past week – it’s as if I’ve been re-born, and am re-discovering the creativity I have denied for so long.
And…I’ve opened myself up to the others in the group. I’ve worked with most of these womyn for about six months – but didn’t really start knowing them – and letting them know me – until that night. Yet another blessing.
I think we womyn need more nights like that. We need to get away from the commercialism that makes us want more, consume more, waste more and start reveling in the unique power and serenity we bring to the world.
When the Blessingway was over the mother wore a necklace of the beads we brought to her, to remind her that we were with her, supporting her through her last days of pregnancy and delivery. We each wore three beads on a string that the mother had tied to our wrist to remind us to continue sending her blessings and energy. We wear the bead until the babe joins our world. Every time I see the bead I am reminded of that evening, and the blessings we received – and I smile.
We are womyn. We are powerful. We are life.
Namaste.
Unless….I have the opportunity to speak to the entire group. I love being in front of the room (assuming I’ve prepared for the event). The shy, wall flower me disappears when I have center stage – and the real me emerges. I get to connect with large groups of people in ways that I could never have managed one on one. And…better yet…after I speak people come up to ME and start talking! Much better than me having to break into other people’s conversation (can you say, terrifying?).
I had the honor of attending my first Mother’s Blessingway ceremony last week. It is a spiritual, affirming event to support and strengthen the womyn who is about to give birth. It replaces the commercial baby shower – and is, in my opinion – infinitely better. Instead of buying blankets or buntings or breastpumps we each made a quilt square (see my previous post for THAT comedy of errors) and food to share, and we brought a candle, a bead and a blessing.
The food was delicious – and the Mom had plenty left over to stock her freezer. We gathered in a circle and shared our stories about the Mom, our blessings, our encouragement. I wrote and shared this blessing:
May you relax and meditate on this blessed new person, yet to be born. Let your mind flow freely with thoughts of joy, peace and purpose. Enjoy these last moments of solitude.
May the womyn of the ages rise up to offer their support and encouragement as labor begins.
Feel their song: “Trust your body. Trust yourself. Trust your babe.” Revel in your connection to timeless generations of womyn, past and present, as all prepare to bring forth new life, new hope, new promise.
May you forever feel the power, the primal call of the universe, as you follow the timeless instinct to bring forth life.
May you bask in the blessed aftermath of birth as you caress your newborn babe.
May the womyn of the ages smile – and cry – with you as your babe first suckles your breast, seeking life and nourishment.
May the power and magick of these moments stay with you til the end of time.
We are womyn. We are powerful. We are life.
Copyright 2008 Cynthia Johnson
The Blessingway was incredible – we all felt so connected to the mother-to-be, to each other, to ourselves and to generations of other womyn. I have been SO much more creative this past week – it’s as if I’ve been re-born, and am re-discovering the creativity I have denied for so long.
And…I’ve opened myself up to the others in the group. I’ve worked with most of these womyn for about six months – but didn’t really start knowing them – and letting them know me – until that night. Yet another blessing.
I think we womyn need more nights like that. We need to get away from the commercialism that makes us want more, consume more, waste more and start reveling in the unique power and serenity we bring to the world.
When the Blessingway was over the mother wore a necklace of the beads we brought to her, to remind her that we were with her, supporting her through her last days of pregnancy and delivery. We each wore three beads on a string that the mother had tied to our wrist to remind us to continue sending her blessings and energy. We wear the bead until the babe joins our world. Every time I see the bead I am reminded of that evening, and the blessings we received – and I smile.
We are womyn. We are powerful. We are life.
Namaste.