Creating Circles and Ceremonies: Rituals for All ... - reading...

Book II: Rites & Rituals 151
A circle is a continuous reminder of life. Life created by generations of women.
Through each of us, knowledge has been passed through by our mothers, grandmothers,
ancestors and our Great Mother Earth. Our ultimate teacher! We are a representation
of the ultimate gift. Life.
I want you to look at these women. (You may have to move the circle around so
mommy can see everyone at least once.) We are the reminder of your womanhood,
your ability to nurture and to continue the circle of life. We are your circle of
wisdom, hope and strength. As we stand before you, we stand bound together in truth,
trust and love to help support and guide you through your gift of love.
We are your sisters, mothers and friends!
Each woman states who she is a clockwise fashion—for example: “I am your sister and your
friend,” “I am a mother and your friend,” etc. At the end all should shout together “We are one!”
We have inscribed our names in your candle as a reminder of our strength to you. This
string that I want you to unwind and wrap around your candle is your spiritual umbilical
cord to us. If you need additional strength as a mother in need, please light the
green candle. Remember, the string may be untwined now, but it will always remain
unbroken in our hearts and mind.
Have the mother-to-be unwind the string from around each woman and then wrap it around
the candle (only go halfway up the candle). Have her light her green candle.
Now from this candle that is embraced and encircled with our energy of love, we bestow
upon you our wisdom of the ancestors. We light our candle from your divine pillar of
strength, to guide you upon your childbirth journey.
Going clockwise, the first girl will go up and light her taper off the “mommy candle,” saying:
“The blessings I bestow from my ancestry, strength, and wisdom are:” (Other participants
can give blessings or advice at this time.)
After each participant has lit her candle, give mommy a few minutes to look around at
all the members holding the candles.
Now, we will put our candles out (snuff out candle).
Remember…our light will always remain a divine guide and beacon for you to travel
through your journey of childbirth. We will relight this candle the moment we get news
of your upcoming labor!
Mommy can make a statement if she wishes.
Wrap up the candle in a very Earth-like cloth for mommy to bring home. At this time you
can do the standard baby shower, or if you are a bit more Earth-oriented you can do a belly cast
(or for a shy mommy, you can give her a cast of the baby’s and mommy’s hands). In the future,
when the hand cast is set, mommy can wrap a piece of the red string around the wrist of this cast
as a reminder of this special rite. These casts can be purchased at any large baby outlet store.
Gypsy Birth Ceremony
By Lewis Spence
Prior to the birth of a child, the Gypsies light a fire before the mother’s tent, and this
fire is not allowed to go out until the rite of baptism has been performed. As they light and
feed the fire, the women croon the following chant:
Burn ye, burn ye fast, O Fire!
And guard the babe from wrathful ire
Of Earthy Gnome and Water-Sprite,
Whom with thy dark smoke banish quite!
Kindly Fairies, hither fare,
And let the babe good fortune share,
Let luck attend him ever here,
Throughout his life be luck aye near!
Twigs and branches now in store,
And still of branches many more,
Give we to thy flame, O Fire!
Bless the mother; bless the sire.
Burn ye, burn ye, fast and high,
Hear the little baby cry!