How Community and Rites of Passage Creates Smooth Transitions to Motherhood
Being a new mother is an incredible transition in our society. As with many other things, we are expected to make this transition sharply and abruptly. What if we took a moment to slow down and honor the enormous change that is happening? To give ourselves a moment to consider what it means to step into motherhood? It can be helpful to have initiation and support from our fellow humans, and especially the women around us. Let’s consider things in a different lens, one of support from our community and the natural world. When we engage in ceremony and rituals in community, powerful support and unburdening happens.
From Maiden to Mother, the Therapeutic Benefits of Ceremony and Ritual
When we think about our community as a whole and the rise of mental health concerns in our society, a common struggle can be the feelings of isolation and loneliness. While technology has created improvements and connection in some ways, it has also created a sense of disconnection. Because of convenience, it’s getting harder and harder to show up and be with our community. When we sit in council with our community, the sense of isolation and loneliness has the opportunity to fall away. When we involving ceremony and ritual, we remember the poignant moments within the council that honor our struggles, triumphs, and witnessing of our life flowing forward. Motherhood can feel isolating and we need this connection and support as the mother-to-be considers this deep shift in identity.
The Circle of Support
I propose sitting in council with other women, allowing yourself to be honored and cherished as you transition from maiden to mother. A ceremony or ritual can be separated into 3 parts, a beginning, middle and end. Here are suggestions for a motherhood ceremony to spark inspiration:
Beginning: Gather your dearest humans around you and allow yourself to begin the ceremony in a way that is meaningful and engages the senses. Burning sage, lighting a candle, having a moment of silence, taking deep breaths are some examples of beginning this ceremony.
Middle: your community writes well wishes to you in your birthing journey, your community holds space for you to speak your hopes and fears, and have each woman speak any intentions or well wishes.
Closing: an extinguishing of the candle, deep breaths, placing a flower crown on the Momma to be.
Keep in mind that these are all suggestions for ceremonies. This process is about honoring your deepest callings as you make this transition. I encourage creativity and play as you consider what you want your ceremony to look like.
Trusting your Intuitive Genius
It is never too late for the ceremony, even if your children are grown. Sitting in council gives us the opportunity to slow down and to see what aspects of ourselves we need to honor as a woman in this world. Exploring the past in our bodies and minds and honoring the before time can heal wounds that we didn’t even realize were there. As you embark on this creative process, I send you encouragement, connection, and creativity. Remember that there is no way to do this wrong, and you have all of the wisdom inside of you to create a ceremony and/or ritual to mark your transition to motherhood. Together we can honor this specific sect of Therapy for Women, as we weave in ceremony and ritual into your therapeutic path.