A child is a blessing unlike any other. Putting together a Baby Blessing is one of the sweetest events in a parent's life. It is their baby being celebrated by the world! It doesn’t get more special than that.

When Sienna was 6 months young, her parents gathered the family together and we took part in a ceremony that really welcomed her into this world. Sienna’s parents and I spent an evening deciding what they wanted her ceremony to reflect. We took ideas and rituals from their cultural as well as their religious backgrounds. We mixed some of the old traditions and invented some new ones. The elements of this ceremony were unique to Sienna and her family.

Each of her Grandmothers gave blessings of their own choosing and cultural background. Her Godparents spoke vows to her that promised they would stand by her side. Her Mom and Dad prepared a ribbon that had trinkets hanging from it. Each trinket represented a different path or career she might take in life. I remember there was one for a business woman, one that represented sports, one for the medical field and little books tied together told of a life as an intellect.

There were other trinkets as well. We laughed that her parents gave her so many choices. Finally, we applauded our approval as she chose to be in fashion! The point was well made that we will stand and support whatever makes her happy and fulfilled in this life.

We ended with Sienna in her Father’s arms as we Blessed her and welcomed her.  We wished her all the good life has to offer. It was special and tender. I heard tears of joy from the ones that loved her so much. Then we all cheered as we let go of the balloons we held onto through out her ceremony. The balloons brought our wishes and prayers and dreams for this baby, right up and into the Cosmos. What a welcoming it was!

 

 

Each culture has their own way of welcoming babies. I learned that in some of the Hindu traditions, part of the celebration is the baby taking food from a spoon for the first time. Grain is offered instead of Mother’s Milk. Many Christian traditions use Holy Water to purify a baby as in the Baptismal rights. And it is customary in a Jewish Baby Blessing to spell out the baby’s name where each letter has its’ own meaning.

 

I will assist you in finding what works for you and your baby to make this daya very special and memorable one.