Today I worked on the spindles, I still see more work to do on them and the crib rails. I still have details on the bedding to finish and tones to darken. Not finished yet but the end is in sight. I can almost hear his giggles.
Today I attended a Blessingway (another great Blessingway site). A Blessingway was traditionally a Navajo ritual created to spiritually support and empower the new mother for her journey of birthing and motherhood. In recent times, this beautiful ritual has been adapted as an alternative to Baby showers, where the focus tends to be more on the gifts and the baby, rather than on the mother and her experience. This ceremony helps the woman to prepare herself for the birth, emotionally, spiritually and mentally, for the all important role of a new mother. She feels "held" and supported by those she loves and respects - a great way to help her release any blockages she may be feeling and allow her to embrace what's to come. Hearing other womens birth stories as you share around the circle can be surprising, exciting and heartwarming to hear. A mother blessing can be very affirming, empowering and uplifting. This is the explanation on the back of my invite. I was very intrigued and luckily I was able to attend!
When we arrived the mother to be was receiving a henna tattoo being created on her pregnant belly. Then we as a group, first washed our hands in rose water (cleansing ourselves), then we sat in a circle. We introduced ourselves, named our mothers lineage and each lit a candle. We meditated together and sent positive, uplifting energy to the new mother. We also read aloud our wishes, poems and blessings to the mother and with a bead we had chosen, placed the bead on a necklace the mother would wear while she labors. We also wove a web with hemp around each persons wrist, then cut between each person and we tied our string on the candle for the mother to take with her to the hospital. Then we ended in prayer. To end it we feasted together!
Everyone was asked to bring a offering from nature, I chose to make a dream catcher for the baby. Each item from nature will be made into a mobile for the baby to hang in the nursery.
Traditionally, Native Americans believed the night air was filled with good and bad dreams. The legend of the Dream Catcher is that it captures the bad Spirits and filters them. Protecting us from evil and letting through only the good dreams. It is believed that each carefully woven web will catch bad spirit dreams in the web and disappear by perishing with the first light of the morning sun. The good spirit dreams will find their way to the center and float down the sacred feather. Dream Catchers are believed to bless the "sleeping ones" with pleasant dreams, good luck, and harmony throughout their lives.
Dream catchers were given to newborns for good dreams. The larger sizes were hung in lodges, for all to have good dreams. The dream catcher that you have received was made by me with your new baby in my thoughts, while sage was burning and a prayer said at each knot in the web. Many prayers were made for health, happiness, love, growth, inspiration, honor, kindness and all things beautiful. At the finish I saged the dream catcher and said prayers of protection and sweet dreams for your baby. It is a sacred object.
All the parts of the dream catcher have meaning. To begin, the web made of hemp represents the spider our brother of life for ever repairing the eternal web of life. Thus weaving your life dreams and energy in the universe when you dream. The grapevine ring represents the earth mother and the humble walk we do upon her. The beads on the web are turquoise, stone of sky, stone of water, stone of blessings, good fortune, protection, good health and long life. The feathers are Pheasant and symbolize balance, family, aspiration and protection. In your Dream catcher, I have finalized the eye with turquoise again. May your new baby have a happy, dreamful life with this dream catcher and good Karma.
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