RITUALS OF MOTHERHOOD

RITUALS OF MOTHERHOOD
By Andrea E. Feeser

*Note: This file may be distributed freely, so long as it remains intact and

Credit is given to the author.
*The Full Moon of the Mother ritual is pending publishing in Circle Network
News, as of 1994.
*(C) Copyright 1995 Andrea E. Feeser


DIVINATIONS FOR THE CHILD

If you wish to do a divination for the child, it is best if you already
Feel mentally and spiritually connected to him/her.
Prepare as you usually do for divination, laying out the tools you will
Use. Now, relax and center. Open your mind to that connection. You should

Feel an opening of the Third Eye chakra. Visualize a stream of light
Connecting your Third Eye with your awareness of the child in the center of
your
Body. When you feel you have made this connection, proceed with your
divination
While maintaining this altered mental state.

BIRTHING SACHET

Here is a birthing sachet I devised. It should be held during meditations
Of peaceful childbirth. You should also have it with you during the actual
Childbirth, so that the associations with a peaceful and easy childbirth are

Awakened in your sub-concious.
Take some leaves from a willow tree (for ease of birth), lavender (for
Peace) and clove (for protection). Place them in a small bowl and empower
them.
Do this by building up energy in your body and concentrating it out through
the
Palms of your hands (which you should hold over or around the bowl).
Visualize
A peaceful and easy childbirth. Then, send all the energy out into the bowl
in
A final burst, while gently breathing onto the herbs (if you breath to
heavily,
The herbs will not be in the bowl anymore!). Now, place the mixture of
herbs
Into a white bag or cloth and tie it up. You should immediately use the
Birthing sachet while meditating on a peaceful childbirth.

FULL MOON OF THE MOTHER

When I was pregnant with my second child, I felt a need to experience my
Pregnancy in a spiritual vein. I set out to find rituals, meditations,
myths-
Anything I could in connection with pregnancy and motherhood. Much to my
Surprise, I found very little modern material specifically focused on the
Spiritual experience of pregnancy. This lead me to do my own work in
visioning
And research in order to come up with practical ideas. I was quite blessed
by
The Goddess and experienced a depth of the divine within that I had not
Previously thought possible.
I would like to share a ritual I created. It is a celebration of
Motherhood and a means of exploring the spiritual implications of motherhood

It is most effective toward the end of pregnancy (the last month or two),
but it
Can also be used by a mother who is not presently pregnant. This is a
solitary
Ritual, but it can be easily adapted for group use.

The Ritual
You will need your basic altar setup for your tradition, milk or juice for
The toast, and a personal anointing oil.
Relax, ground and center. Then, cast the circle according to your tradition

Invoke the Elements:
"Hail! Thou Element of Air,
Lord of the East!
May you bring the knowledge of the Mother,
And watch over this Circle."

"Hail! Thou Element of Fire,
Lord of the South!
May you bring the energy of creation,
And watch over this Circle."

Hail! Thou Element of Water,
Lord of the West!
May you bring the gift of rebirth,
And watch over this Circle."

Hail! Thou Element of Earth,
Lord of the North!
May you bring the promise of the Child,
And watch over this Circle."

Invite the Lord and Lady:
"Come Thou now, I pray,
Great and Dark Lord
Cernunnos with power of seed.
Bring me strength in body."

Come thou now, I pray,
Mother Goddess, divine,
Selene, Woman, full and complete.
Bring me wisdom in mystery."

Now, raise the cup in salute the Lord and Lady, and drink a toast in their
Honor.

At this point I usually do an exercise to open the chakras and build-up
The flow of energy. You may wish to do the same, or use another method of
Building up the flow if energy in your body.
Then, stand in an adoration position and call to the goddess (this may be
used
For drawing-down the Goddess-energy, or simply aligning yourself to the
Goddess).
"Hail to You, Great Mother!
Wisdom of the Ages,
Gateway of life,
You who are at the beginning
And the middle and the end,
Let Your great power shine through me.
Inspire me with Your passion.
Give me Your strength and gentleness.
Grant me Your wisdom and power.
Lead me through worlds unknown.
Reveal Yourself this night, I pray."
Spend time communing with the Goddess and receiving any messages she has for

you.
When you are ready, make the affirmation in preparation for the
self-blessing.
Speak in a strong, assured tone:
"Let me claim my power now.
As Woman, whole and complete,
I possess the power of Life,
I possess the power of Death,
I possess the power of Rebirth,
And I am the Threshold."

For the self-blessing, take the oil and anoint each area as you speak the
blessing.
Anoint crown:
"Blessed be the Crown
In wisdom and inspiration. "
Anoint third eye (above and between your eyes):
"Blessed be the Jewel
In sight and inner knowledge."
Anoint throat:
"Blessed be the Flute
In pure communication. "
Anoint heart:
"Blessed be the Door
In love and understanding. "
Anoint solar plexus:
"Blessed be the Light
That shines within the temple."
Anoint navel:
"Blessed be the Child (or Anchor, if not pregnant)
In strength and fortitude."
Anoint pubis:
"Blessed be the Gateway
Between Death and Life."
You may wish to spend time in meditation or divination. When you are ready,

close the Circle according to your tradition.

This may seem to be a simple ritual, but I have found it immensely helpful
in opening myself up to communing with the Goddess as mother and receiving
visions in connection with that Mother-Goddess- energy. I hope that it will
bring some fulfillment to other mothers. Blessed be!

OFFERING THANKS FOR SAFE CHILDBIRTH

This is a mini-ritual of thanksgiving to be offered sometime after
childbirth. It is in the form of pouring a libation in honor of the
Goddess.
You may wish to offer some of your lochia or breast milk as the libation
offering.

Raise the cup, saying:
"Hail and thanks to you, Great Mother!
You who have guided me through the darkness.
To the gates of Death you brought me.
And safely have I returned
With s/he who was waiting, in love,
To be reborn.
For this, Great Mother, I give thanks
And honor you this night."
Pour the libation.