Okay, first thing’s first: What is a Blessingway?
According to Natural Birth and Baby Care:
“A Blessingway is a wonderful ritual for the mother-to-be. It celebrates her step in motherhood (or motherhood again!) …. and is a unique way to honor the mother.
During the gathering, friends of the mother come together to give her support and encouragement as she waits for labor to begin. It is a wonderful and affirming time for her.
Oftentimes the friends at the ceremony agree that as soon as they receive word labor has begun they will say a prayer and light a candle for the mother. This support can mean so much to a laboring woman.”
So, the regular (non-virtual) Blessingway is basically a small party designed to get the mother psyched about birth. I’m hosting my Blessingway for friends and family in my home on March 26th, but as I created the invitation, I realized I have so many online buddies that I wish I could teleport to the party as well. I started talking about it on Twitter, and Melodie from Breastfeeding Moms Unite gave me a wonderful idea for a way to include my cyber-community in on the fun. Here are the two ways I came up with, and all readers are welcome to participate in both.
1. Create and Send a Prayer Flag:
Photo courtesy of Melodie Towers. These flags were hung in her home during her HBAC, and were created by her Blessingway guests.
Prayer Flags are a beautiful Tibetan ritual used during healing ceremonies, and are a powerful piece of symbolism that has been borrowed by many Blessingway hosts to bring wisdom, peace, and compassion into the mother’s birthing space. The flags are small, square pieces of fabric with words of encouragement or affirmation written on them, created by the mother’s Blessingway guests. When they are finished, the flags are all strung together and hung around the room where the mother is laboring so she can be reminded of all the love and support around her. If you’d like to participate, all you need to do is create an 8”x10” flag adorned with some words of comfort, and drop it in the mail to me. There is no need to be an artist or seamstress – it can look like anything, and this is one of those situations where it really is the thought that counts. Your very special flag will be hung in my home during my birthing time. I prefer to receive all the flags before the actual Blessingway on March 26th so that friends can help me string them up.
Mail the flags to:
(SORRY – I can’t take any more mailings)
Of course, you can also use this address to mail me bags of money, live-in nannies, and law degrees from Tier 1 law schools. Ready… Go! 
2. Sign Up for a Text Message When Labor Begins
One of the most important parts of the Blessingway ceremony is that the guests promise to light a candle and send good peaceful birthing vibes to the mother when they hear her birthing time has begun. The form below will allow you to enter your mobile number so I can send you one text to let you know when the big day arrives. This is also a great way to be notified that my Live Blog has been fired up! I’ll be sending out one big group text, so don’t feel obligated to reply (but you can if you want!)
Sorry! The text message form is closed now to give me time to prepare the numbers. Thanks to all those who submitted their number, and look for a text soon!
Thank in advance to everyone who participates! And thank you, also, to everyone who simply sends positive thoughts of support, encouragement, and caring as I approach one of the biggest days of my life. It really means a lot to me.
Did you have a Blessingway of your own, or have you been to one? What are your thoughts on the celebration?
Finished the flag tonight...going out tomorrow!
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like