Ritual
“A woman wanting a child spends time in nature. Through meditative practice she comes to know the sound of the baby who is to incarnate. She teaches this sound to her partner and when they make love, they make that sound. She teaches her midwives the sound and they use it during her labor. Whenever the baby is fitful or, in later life, unwell, that sound is used to soothe and heal. After the person dies the sound is never used again.” Lotus Birth by Shivam Rachana

Candle Blessing Ceremony
For this ceremony you will need a quantity of unused candles, and some oils to anoint them if you like. Lavender and rose are good for anointing. Long tapers work well, as do the large candles in a jar that burn for a long time. Sitting in a circle, ask your assembled friends to take a moment to think of the blessing or protective wish that they most strongly want to send to you and your baby. Ask them to concentrate that desire into their candle. You might suggest that they hold their thought or image clearly in mind while breathing slowly in their candle three times.

Once everyone has had a chance to focus on, ask her to go around and share their wishes with the group. Raising and focusing the group energy on the blessings increase the power of the candles. Each person will bring their candle home with her to be lit as soon as labor begins or whenever else they feel the need to send you energy. Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions by Starhawk

Untying the Knot
In preparation for labor, have an attendant loosen and brush you hair, untie any knots in your clothing. This is a very old custom for making sure that there are no physical of energy obstructions to a smooth delivery. Once your baby has arrived, have the same person retie those bows and knots, to reinforce the closing of the birth portal. Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions by Starhawk[ back to top ]Meditation and Prayer
Your inner knowing is your best ally during pregnancy and birth. Yet the stresses and challenges of the birth process often overpower the small voice of intuition. Meditations that center and ground you can help. Your desire for protection, reassurance, and blessing is strong throughout your pregnancy. Prayers for a safe childbirth can be said throughout your pregnancy, usually increasing as you’re due date draws near.

Naming Ceremony
Ritual of giving a newborn child its name. This can be done at a church or ritual center, but also at home. It should be a time of celebration and feasting. Ritual foods are useful here. Fresh baked bread symbolizes the birth itself. Wine or juice signifies that the soul or the Spirit of the child has gone through many journeys, many lifetimes, before this one. Fruit represents abundance and prosperity. We should not forget milk and honey, the foods that signify motherhood and the sweetness of life.

Beforehand, ask everyone to bring some small gift that will symbolize what he or she would like this child to experience in life. Make sure to include all ages. The parents should discuss the name they have chosen before the ritual. Does it have a special meaning?

Begin the ceremony with the guests in a circle holding hands around the mother, father and baby. Brothers and sisters also stand in the center. The parents speak of the name and what it means, and what they hope for the baby. Next, the children give their gifts.

As each guest presents the object they have chosen, they call on whatever deity or tradition they follow to five the child a gift. “I ask Jesus, Son of the God, to bless you with kindness and mercy.” “I ask Buddha to bless you with compassion for yourself and all of humanity.” People who do not feel an attachment to any tradition might offer something like “I ask the mystery of life to bless you with wonder.”

When everyone has spoken, the person who baked the bread brings it forth and speaks of its symbolism. Then the other ritual foods are shared, as a bridge between the ceremony and the simple joy of celebration.