Have you ever attended or hosted a blessingway? This past Friday I was invited to one to celebrate a mom that is about to give birth for the second time. Unlike baby showers where the focus is on presents and games, a blessingway is about honoring the woman. A blessingway can be based in religious teachings and scripture or it can be completely secular. Either way, it is a group of women coming together to honor, respect and care for the mother.

The food was incredible and gluten-free! Dr. Lorraine Caron, ND made the gorgeous cake and our hostess made the yummiest sugar body scrubs as favors. After eating we each made inspirational signs for the momma to reflect on as she gets closer to labor. Mine said “Let Go.” We also made flags with fabric and special crayons that represented home. I pulled my inspiration from the song Home Is Wherever I’m With You, by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.Instead of baby gifts we were asked to bring natural personal care items for mom and baby. We each brought two beads, one that we presented to the mom and the other we gave to her first-born. The beads were strung into a bracelet that she can use leading up to or during labor to remember that she has a loving and supporting community around her.

Beautiful baby belly!If you would like to learn more about blessingways I suggest you check out:

• Mother Rising: The Blessingway Journey into Motherhood
• Blessingways: A Guide to Mother-Centered Baby Showers–Celebrating Pregnancy, Birth, and Motherhood
• Timeless Spirit Magazine 
• Mother Blessings: Honoring Women Becoming Mothers

I preferred the blessingway to the traditional baby shower. I would love to hear if you have been to/hosted/been on the receiving end of a blessingway and what was your favorite part?