gratitude – love – miracle – precious
These are a few of Marie’s own words, used to describe her transition into motherhood. They also formed a basis for the feeling of her Mother Blessing Ceremony, held last weekend with a circle of close friends, at her favorite beach.

Marie on a reflective walk before her ceremony

Marie has taken on the courageous work of becoming pregnant with her entire heart and soul. Her ceremony then, had to be incredible, like her. The small circle of us who experienced it together became transformed in the afternoon light. We read meaningful poetry, shared our mothers’ wisdom, shared our own sincerest wishes for her as she completes her pregnancy and gives birth and then shared hot tea plus some symbolic food, too!

Here is an excerpt from my spoken words:

“This ceremony upholds an old tradition of reverence for the sacred in motherhood, loosely based on the Navajo Blessingway. For centuries, women have nurtured, blessed, supported and assisted each other through the transition from maidenhood to motherhood. In our western ways today, we tend to get very caught up in the medical and commercial aspects of pregnancy, getting lost in the shuffle of doctor appointments and baby showers with people we hardly know.

Today we step out of that white noise. We leave behind the distractions. We are here to support and love you, Marie. And we stand in complete wonder of the miracle that you and your baby boy truly are.”

Kristine blesses Marie with sandalwood oil

And step out of the ordinary shuffle we did! With seals poking their heads above water to visit us, herons flying past and the pleasure of each others presence, we savored every moment. I burned sage and smudged Marie to help her release whatever she felt was not serving her highest good as she carries her baby. We celebrated Marie with a couple of songs – one to especially call on the presence of Goddess Kuan Yin – known for her compassionate care for mothers and children. We presented symbolic beads to Marie for her birthing necklace, explaining the meanings one at a time. Then we closed with a special circle activity and an oil blessing to help Marie stay centered in her daily living as she becomes a mother.

After having experienced some fear in her journey to conceive and the early weeks of pregnancy, she said this ceremony truly helped her “release my anxiety and step into really feeling joyful about being pregnant.”

A Mother Blessing Ceremony may serve highly individualized purposes for many women. This outcome for Marie is better than any I could have anticipated for her. I send you heartfelt congratulations Marie, and my sincerest wishes for your continued joy in this amazing phase of your life.

Morning after the ceremony, modeling her birth necklace!

Still feeling in awe of a joyful ceremony,

Kristine

Here is a public ritual full of creative expression and participation! I’m posting just a few photos I took during the Tucson All Souls Procession 2009. This phrase from the All Souls website helps sum up what I will feebly attempt to convey here:

“The Procession is a sanctuary for community members from all walks of life to express their grief and loss in a celebration of creative energy and a rejoicing of living.”

The wings of this bat bike flapped when he pedaled!

What I most relish in during this event is the spirit of calm respect. It emanates from everyone. People line the streets for the whole two-mile route, often five rows deep. It is a ritual we observe annually in Tucson, thanks to founder Susan Johnson and the hundreds of volunteers that sustain it.

An occasional sly sense of humor peeks out, too. Either through outfits or music (the kazoo troupe!) or modes of transit like the neon-lit bat cycle. Don’t you think we need some humor, to help us see death as less of a rigid and untouchable topic? With reasonable doses of humor, remembering our dead may become more a part of our living.

I am also moved by the deep reverence many people exhibit, who walk in devotion to whomever they grieve. People wear photos with names and dates, carry decorative banners with photos and messages, or whole series of photos in lantern light boxes. Many people this year walked in memory of Macho B, the last known jaguar in the U.S., who died earlier this year.

When you walk the procession, you mingle with dancers, drummers, dancers, bagpipers, singers, stilt-walkers, children, animal companions, people in wheelchairs and the elderly. Everyone walks in a slow sense of remembrance.

Cats and dogs are remembered, too.

I was on the move the whole time and only snapped a few pictures. There is such a delicious visual feast, plus what the other senses can drink in, too! Walking through clouds of incense, people chanting and the surreal make-up artistry gives me an amazing sense of being ALIVE. Quite a paradox, really!

For the finale, everyone assembles in a huge open lot to see the burning of the urn. This giant urn is wheeled along at the front of the procession. It captures participants’ written prayers and wishes, for their ancestors or for any being whom they mourn. A crane dramatically lifts the urn while fire dancers light it from underneath during a choreographed climax. We folks on the ground remain peaceful and cheer for the sense of completion! It is amazing to witness.

Burning of the Urn!

MY GRATITUDE GOES OUT TO EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE THIS RITUAL POSSIBLE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS!

I look forward to many more years to come. . .

If you are reading this and want to come join us next year, let me know! We’ll have a party beforehand and walk together.

With Love,

Kristine

What an amazing Procession last night! I love this event more and more each year. I walked in remembrance of my Tiny Girl this time. So many people (estimated at 20,000!) of wildly varied ages and backgrounds come to honor their dead – humans and animals alike. It is such a peaceful, sometimes wistful, and energizing experience all at once.

If you haven’t participated yet and are curious, here is a video from 2008. Please plan on walking with us next year! Just to explain a bit: the organizing group, Many Mouths One Stomach, has a mission of promoting Festal Culture which they refer to as:

“The expression and fulfillment of core human needs through public celebration, ceremony, and ritual. The All Souls Procession is an event that was created to serve the public need to mourn, reflect, and celebrate the universal experience of Death, through their ancestors, loved ones, and the living.”

I’ll explain more in my next post and add some pictures from my point of view while walking last night.

Kristine