Mothercare Ceremonies
Mothers Blessings
A Mother Blessing is a ceremonial women’s circle, gathering together to celebrate and honour a mother’s pregnancy and witness her in her preparations and excitement for her upcoming birth.
Unlike a traditional baby shower, this event is much more mother-focused and the aim is to leave a Mama feeling nourished, loved up, held and supported during her transition into Motherhood.
A Mother Blessing also provides an opportunity for a Mama to gather her loved ones and share her desires for her postpartum and speak about ways her loved ones can support her in an open, loving and pressure free space. I have found this to be a wonderful way of calling in a Mother’s support network leading up to her birth.
If you feel called to having a Mother Blessing, reach out and we can explore your desires. We will go over a plan for the day and discuss which rituals and ceremonial activities you feel would most support you. Below are some of my favourites to weave into a Mama Blessing:
-Red Thread Ceremony
-Flower Crown Crafting
-Clay Goddess Sculpting
-Birth Blessing Circle
-Birth Affirmation Creating
-Fear Release Ritual
-Mama Love Sharing Circle
Over the years that we’ve been connected, her knowledge has helped my knowledge grow.
Every offering she put out, I jumped at. I devoured information about physiological birth and postpartum like I’d been starved; I had.
I knew too that instead of a baby shower like I’d had with my first (and been left feeling dissatisfied), I wanted a proper Mama Blessing. I wanted to be held and witnessed by my sisterhood.
As a women’s circle facilitator myself, I knew what I wanted from my Mama Blessing. I also knew that I could have facilitated it myself. But I didn’t want to. I wanted to sink into that Blessing, feeling held and supported, and not having to think about anything.
There was no one else.
It had to be Toyah.
I don’t know how to accurately describe Toyah’s energy. She’s grounded and genuine. Authentic, loving, and despite being hardly a life step ahead of me, she has this beautiful motherly, wise presence.
Knowing that Toyah was planning and facilitating my Mama Blessing meant that I could completely relax. Both beforehand, and on the day.
She wove us through the red thread of Motherhood and through a carefully curated selection of activities and blessings.
It far exceeded my expectations.
And when my labour began two days(!!) later, the energy of that Blessing, from Toyah and my sisters, was right there with me in my living room.
I highly recommend anything that Toyah has to offer; Mama Blessings, Postpartum Closing Ceremonies, workshops and more.
We are blessed to have Toyah serving us here in Aotearoa.
Nga mihi.”
“With my second baby I wanted to do things differently. In fact, I wanted to do everything differently; pregnancy, birth, postpartum. I have Toyah to thank for a lot of that.
Closing Ceremonies
Throughout my studies with Innate Traditions, I learnt many different cross-cultural practises to support a mother’s physiologic needs in the postpartum period. One of these practises is known “Closing of the Bones” or Cerrar la Cadera or a Cerrada (meaning: 'Closing of the Hips' or 'A Closing,'- while I learnt this practise through a Mexican lineage (taught by Rachelle Selina who was taught by Clara Alfaro Peña - this practise of “closing” can be found across multiple cultures around the world.
In Russia its name is Seven Locks, while in Morocco Al-Shedd or Shedd/Shadd ('Al' meaning The, 'Shedd' meaning pull or pulling)
The purpose of this practise is multi-faceted in the sense that it tends to a mother both physically, and emotionally/spiritually.
On a physical level, during pregnancy and birth our body expands, widens and opens to both grow and birth our baby. Physiologically there are multiple processes occurring with our body to support this process including increased blood volume as well as much higher than normal levels of relaxin.
This expansion and openness also occurs on a spiritual level as our energy field expands throughout the pregnancy and birth process. I witness the way in which this openness remains during early postpartum, often leaving us feeling open, raw and in many ways, exposed.
A closing ceremony is a powerful way to bring yourself home to your body, physically pulling the bones back together, reweaving body and spirit, coming into wholeness once again.
I highly recommend this practise near the end of your early postpartum period, and before a subsequent pregnancy.
“During the closing of the bones ceremony I felt so safe and held right from the beginning - the aroha and space Toyah held was incredibly comforting for me.
I had so many releases on so many levels and truly felt the pieces of myself that had left during such a traumatic time giving birth come back to my body & soul.
The blanket over each section brought up so much emotion that needed that space and healing to release & help me find myself again.
I was able to go back to parts of that journey I wasn't able to for so long and really heal a lot of the trauma I was carrying.
I truly believe this rongoa is so important for mamas to receive after child birth, especially those who have had a traumatic birth experience.
Your integrity and mana shines through Toyah - I am so grateful for the time and space you shared and this beautiful experience.”