Slowing down

Slowing down and some ritual  is something I am always looking for. We do a good job of making diner, setting the table and slowing down to eat a good meal together, this is a ritual time for us.  Church is also supposed to be a place to slow down and find ritual. For me working with the high school kids, looking for service projects and developing our own curriculum, getting all the gossip from the week it’s seldom down time for me. Last Sunday morning I ditched my teenagers at church to attend a mother’s blessing for my good friend whom is expecting, well, any minute . I had never attended a mother’s blessing and I was intrigued. As we arrived tea was served and people milled about waited and chatted.

As we formed a circle  music by Sweet Honey and the Rock started and we all settled in, warm tea in hand to partake in this ceremony. We introduced ourselves, our names and then our lineage for example I am Leah, daughter of Kristie, daughter of Jessie, daughter of Josephine, daughter of Grandma Rye. In the invitation we were asked to bring  items that we feel needed to be recharged. After introducing ourselves we placed them on the alter in the middle of the circle along with seeds from everybody that they will plant later on. We shared our item, why we brought it and what it meant to us. Some people said it out loud, some to themselves. Some shared poems, thoughts or wisdom about birthing a baby and Thamora (mom to be) and Jen (other mom to be)  talked about their fertility alter, thanked the guys who donate theirsperm showed us what was items were a part of their alter and then smudged the house.

Thamora throughout her pregnancy has  been thinking about how her hair will fall out in clumps after birth and she decided she wanted to cut it and donate it before it started falling out. We all brushed her hair and then the last person to have a baby chopped it off. The ritual was then closed with the representation of the umbilical cord and how we are all interconnected. We wrapped string around our wrist each wrist connected to the next. We cut the cord and tied the string to our own wrists, we are to wear it until the baby safely arrives. One week later I am still wearing the string, the presences of it reminds me of the impending birth and I am sending energy to Thamora and the baby all the time.

We then painted cloth that they will hang like Tibetan prayer flags while we enjoyed homemade french onion soup and rubens (complete with homemade sourkraut). It was a peaceful morning in the midst of hectic lives and non-stop “stuff to do”. It forced Nola and I to slow down. We run from work, to all of our activities. Coaching softball, playing bells, committees, eating meals with friends making ,sure the dogs get enough exercise, board meetings, etc. We are usually exhausted by the end of the week.

We  decided last night to have our own quiet space. Our local bar celebrated earth hour by turning off lights, ovens, music etc. and serving drinks by candle light on Saturday night. We already had plans for Saturday night when we received the email. So, we had our own earth night last night. The dogs were walked, house was clean, to-do lists for the week written, laundry finished. Anything else would have to wait.

Dinner and the rest of the night was by candle light and fire in the fire place. No music, no computers, just us. We enjoyed dinner and sat on the couch and watched the candles dance, the fire burn and listened to the sounds in our little house. Turns out we have a busy house with 5 beings other than us bustling around. We both slowed down, talked laughed and sat in silence, it was nice. We are well rested and ready for another crazy week.