Gather in a circle.

Bell.

“We stand here between earth and sky,

feeling the touch of the air and the sun on our skin,

feeling the solid ground of this land beneath our feet,

to welcome Ella Frances  into her family

and into our world”

Reading: “We are grateful for this new being…” by Anne Spring

“The circle is a sacred shape. When we come together in a circle we come as equals, each bringing the gifts of our own beings, our own presence, to share.  In a circle there is no beginning and no end, no first and no last.

Day and night turn in a circle. The moon moves in an endless circle from waxing new to crescent to full to waning dark, briefly disappears from sight, then reappears new born again.  The earth dances in a great circle through 365 days of the year, bringing us the gift of the changing seasons, each in its turn.

And the dance of our lives moves in cycles also, greater and lesser cycles of rest and play, of growth, decay and transformation.  Every beginning is also an ending, each ending a new beginning. 

And so it is with Ella’s birth one year ago – bringing an end to life as her mother and father had previously known it, beginning a web of new family relationships, beginning the unfolding adventure of discovery which is her gift to the world.”

“So we shall begin this simple blessing ceremony by honouring the cyclical, circular nature of things.. As we pass this bowl of flower petals around the circle, I invite each person to dip into it and scatter a few on the ground behind them.  In this way we create a special time and space, a space set apart from our ordinary day to day preoccupations, a sacred circle in time in which to ask blessings upon Ella and her family.”

Bowl of petals is passed around the circle.

Honouring the Mother

“Life is a great mystery. When you begin to open your mind and heart to the reality of what is all around us: the miracle of this blue-green planet and all her web of interconnected life, the thousands upon thousands of species of animal and plant life with which we share this earth; and the vastness of  space stretching out beyond this solar system we inhabit, endless darkness and galaxies full of suns so distant they seem like little pin pricks in our night sky… it is more than our hearts and minds can truly comprehend.  Yet it is part of the human condition to seek a relationship with this sense of deep mystery behind and within all that we experience.   

In my tradition, we call this mystery the Goddess, and we seek to remind ourselves of Her presence in simple ways.  One of these ways is by pouring a libation, an offering of something precious given back to the Earth.  Today I would like to offer thanks to the great mystery of life for the sweet, juicy gift of Ella’s presence in our lives, by pouring out an offering of sweet grape juice upon the earth.”

Ishara pours libation on the earth with words of thanks.

Reading: "At the world’s beginning there was a mother…" from the Tao Te Ching

Two quotes about giving birth:-

“There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don't ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it.”  Sheryl Feldman

 

“Babies are bits of star-dust blown from the hand of God. Lucky the woman who knows the pangs of birth for she has held a star.”

Larry Barretto

“One year ago, Kelly, having grown ripe and round, found herself in the grip of that great transformational energy which is birth.  I have no doubt that she, like every woman who has ever given birth, learned something new about herself that day.  For Ella’s birth day was also Kelly’s initiation day, her rite of passage into motherhood.  Motherhood is a journey which begins when we first begin to conceive of ourselves as mothers, and never ends..  In our culture we are not always good at acknowledging the vital practical and emotional work that mothers do, so today before you leave, I’d like to invite you to make a point of letting Kelly know how much you appreciate what she has been doing for Ella.

We know that it takes two people to start a baby.   Fathering a child is not a one-off act.  Fatherhood, like motherhood, is an endless journey, an invitation from life that calls and challenges us to grow and change.   Each new day knocks on the door of our hearts, offering us renewed invitations to consciously recommit ourselves to our relationship with our children, as the early days of family life unfold into weeks, and the weeks unfold into months, and then years.  Dads need acknowledgement too!

I’m going to ask Kelly and Brad to light this candle together, symbolising Ella’s birth and their new life together as parents.  I’m going to invite them to take this opportunity, in front of family and friends, to voice their love and appreciation for each other as parents and their commitment to support and nurture each other and their beautiful little girl through the years ahead.

Kelly & Brad to  light candle, and speak a few words  to each other from their hearts.

Ancestral Blessings

“Life is a gift of Spirit. Yet it is also a gift from our ancestors.  We enter the world through our mother’s body, but our own bodies are also the direct result of the accumulated life-experience and genetic inheritance that is our family line.  Without strong roots connecting us into the dark soil, no flower!

So today I’d like to ask Ella’s grandparents if they would like to offer a blessing to Ella on behalf of all her ancestors – their own parents, grandparents, great grandparents,  all the way back…  ”

Grandmother or grandfather choose one of attached prayers or blessings to read.  Give Ella a flower.

Elemental blessings

Blessings of earth –  Someone from the circle sprinkles some rice over her head

as Ishara says

 “We offer you blessings of earth, of ancient rock and rich fertile soil, nourishment and sensory delight to feed your body and your spirit, and bring you the gifts of steadfastness and strength, so you may grow tall and upright as a tree with its roots deep into the ground.”

Blessings of water – Someone from the circle sprinkles some on her

as Ishara says

 “We offer you blessings of water, of raindrops and lush wetlands and the wide rolling ocean, to bring you emotional sensitivity and resilience, flexibility and perseverance, and dreams of the treasures in the deeps of your soul “

Blessings of fire – Someone from the circle lights a sparkler from the candle and sharing it with Ella in whatever way is going to work 

as Ishara says

“We offer you blessings of fire, of sparks and flame and campfires under starry skies, to bring you passion, energy and enthusiasm to ignite hope and joy in your own heart and the hearts of those whose lives touch yours”

Blessings of air – using a small hand-fan

as Ishara says

“We offer you blessings of air, of the cooling sea-breeze and the wild winter westerlies, of the perfect stillness of a clear blue day, to lift your spirits up and inspire you, so that you greet the great adventure of life with easy breathing and a clear calm mind.”

(Possible song for all to join in with –  "Tall trees, warm fire…”)

Ishara says:

“Ella Frances we bless you and welcome you into this family and into your world. May the Goddess bless you and keep you, now, and throughout your life.”

Three bells to end the ceremony.

Reading "We are grateful for this new being.." by Anne Spring