Beads and Blessings

8/31/09

Preparing for the birth of my child by setting up a nursery is all well and fine, but it doesn’t address the physical act of giving birth. To get ready for that, I found a rite of passage ceremony performed by the Navajo Indians, which I think will work nicely. Adela Stockton talks about it in her book Birth Space, Safe Place: Emotional Well-Being through Pregnancy and Birth. 

The ceremony is known as Blessingway, and the aim of the modern interpretation for expecting mothers is to offer support for a successful birth and to celebrate the new life soon to come. Typically, th ritual includes females only, and has activities that pamper the mother like massages and hair brushing. (Can’t go wrong with that!) Every guest is also invited to bring one bead, as well as a symbolic symbol to share with the mother-to-be. The collection of beads are strung on a thread and worn during labour as a reminder of the abundance of positive support she has around her. 

You can find out more in Stockton’s book, which contains many topics on mental well-being during pregnancy.