My friend had been dreaming of having a baby for quite some time. So, when I finally heard the wonderful news, I knew I wanted to give her a baby shower that was truly unique. The last thing I wanted to do was plan a typical baby shower filled with gifts, fancy food, and party games. While there’s nothing wrong with these kinds of celebrations, I knew my friend craved a different experience. She wanted to simply gather with her closest friends and spend quality time together, sharing stories about womanhood, motherhood, and all the emotions that come with it. That’s when the idea of a Mother Blessing came to mind.
What Is a Mother Blessing?
If you’ve never heard of a Mother Blessing ceremony, let me explain how it differs from a traditional baby shower.
A typical baby shower is a lively celebration of the impending birth, often filled with themed decorations, food, games, and gifts for the baby and parents-to-be. The conversation usually revolves around the baby—guessing the due date, weight, and other details. It’s a very baby-focused event.
In contrast, a Mother Blessing is a more intimate and personal ceremony centered on the mother-to-be. It celebrates not just the upcoming birth but also the postpartum period and the mother’s own journey. Inspired by the “Blessingway” ritual of the Navajo people, this ceremony honors the transition from maidenhood to motherhood. Unlike a baby shower, the Mother Blessing is focused on the mother’s needs, her thoughts, her worries, and her wellbeing.
During a Mother Blessing, friends gather to show love and support, offering reassurance, answering questions, and wishing strength for the childbirth and postpartum period. This celebration often includes spiritual elements like meditation, singing, literature readings, and deep conversations. There might also be nurturing rituals such as massages or warm foot baths to help the mother-to-be relax.
Planning Our Mother Blessing
To begin planning the Mother Blessing, I gave my friend a new journal and encouraged her to write down all her worries and questions about motherhood and birth. We also discussed what she would and wouldn’t enjoy at the event. With this information in hand, we started organizing the ceremony.
We created a sacred, relaxing space by forming a circle on the floor with cozy cushions, playing soothing music, and lighting candles. We prepared healthy snacks and drinks, including a special “heart soup” made from beetroots to provide warmth and strength. As my friend is a chocolate lover, we also baked a massive chocolate cake for everyone to enjoy.
The evening included a warm herbal foot bath and a foot massage for our mom-to-be. One of the most touching rituals was creating a “power candle.” Each of us brought a colored candle and decorated them with colorful melting wax. Then, we combined the candles into one special power candle for our pregnant friend. She planned to take this candle into labor, light it, and feel our blessings and prayers with her. When her labor began, her partner was supposed to notify us so that we could light our candles at home and stay connected in spirit during her birthing process.
We also created a special birthing/blessing bead bracelet. Each guest brought a healing bead, like rose quartz or rock crystal, and we strung them together to form a powerful talisman. This bracelet was meant to remind our friend of our love and support throughout childbirth.
Toward the end of the ceremony, we gathered in our circle to address the questions our friend had written in her journal. We shared our personal stories, including the more difficult topics like labor pain, postpartum sex, and the challenges of motherhood and womanhood. We ate, drank, played with tarot cards, talked, laughed, and even cried. The evening was incredibly powerful, leaving a warmth in our hearts that lingers to this day. It was a beautiful way to offer our friend something truly special while also deepening our connection with one another.
What About You?
Have you ever participated in a Mother Blessing or a similar ceremony? What ideas do you have for celebrating the journey into motherhood? Share your thoughts with us in the comments, or let us know if you’d like to see more articles about this beautiful tradition.
If you want to bring more love and support into a mother-to-be’s journey, consider hosting a Mother Blessing—it could become a cherished memory for everyone involved.
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Meet the Author
Julia Kolbe, co-founder of No Taboo Mom, is a Berliner, psychiatric nurse, medical instructor, wife, and mom of two girls. Working in German healthcare, she saw firsthand the gaps in addressing women’s well-being, particularly during pregnancy and motherhood. These experiences inspired her to take action and advocate for a more holistic and compassionate approach to women’s health. “No Taboo Mom is about breaking the silence and fostering honest conversations. By sharing our stories, we empower women to navigate the unspoken challenges of womanhood and motherhood with strength and solidarity.
