Reflections from my closing of the bones ceremony.
Facilitated by Kathryn from My Scared Birth, https://www.mysacredbirth.co.uk/birthkeeping-services
Closing of the bones is one such postpartum healing ceremony. Created to nurture the mother after her passage through giving birth, and her journey into motherhood, it is setting of a sacred space, and way to nurture her physically and emotionally as she goes about her enormous work of motherhood.
During pregnancy, the hips, open, becoming wider and wider to accommodate the growing baby, and prepare the body for birth. It is vitally important to help the hips close post birth, otherwise, mothers suffer from pelvic instability as a result, and they “leak energy”.
The closing the bones treatment involves the use of a traditional shawl called a “Manta” or a “Rebozo”, to rock and articulate the mother’s hips, followed by a complex abdominal and pelvic girdle massage using a warming oil, and then finished by tightly wrapping the cloth around the woman’s hips. (words from http://healthy-mother.com/postpartum-care-the-closing-of-the-bones-ritual/ )
We started the process with a nourishing cacao and a chat about how I was doing. Any further reflections on the birth and postpartum. As I knew this was booked in and we would be talking about this, I had taken some time to journal and reflect on this topic beforehand. I suspect that without this prompt I may not have delved so much into my personal refections, putting it off for another time (as easy to do with a small baby right!)
After we had completed a ceremony for planting the placenta (separate post) we came to my Zen Den where Kathryn had set up sacred space and a place for me to lie on the floor over lots of scarfs.
It felt really good to be in this room and using it for healing and ceremony. SInce the birth of my daughter, it has become where my husband often sleeps or for practical over spill from other areas now filled with baby stuff. Before my baby I was in there nearly daily for Soulful self care and or healing therapeutic work with my clients.
I was guided to lie down, in my underwear (apologies were given for hairy legs) This felt open, raw and vulnerable but the birth portal is an open, raw and vulnerable time too and I got through that!. It helped as Kathryn has already seen ALL of me and I mean ALL anyway.
There was then a weaving of relaxation prompts and beautiful words about birth and motherhood throughout the process. I was massaged with gentle light touch using almond oil which felt sooo nourishing and relaxing, it made me remember to practice self love for myself as my body was being honored and cared for by Kathryn. My body has certainly changed, I do try to self compassionate and grateful for all it did during pregnancy and birth, but I also catch myself feeling critical too.
Sections of my body were then rocked with the rebozo scarfs and wrapped up snuggly. It reminded me of rocking the baby and being held and supported.
I sent Reiki to myself and called in my guides. I felt Mother Mary and Quan Yin, who had supported me through my pregnancy and birth journey. Also grandmother energy by the top of my head, my ancestral grandma's but the grandmother energy of Earth as well.
During some sound healing, I sensed portals of light from above going into my body in my third eye, sacral and solar plexus chakra.
I felt Eagle energy and Bear and they placed a gem within my heart and sacral to remind me of my inner strength and fire moving forward. My black Puma guide lay beside me, supporting me loving me.
I felt a return to self and creative energy, calling back my power and strength. Creative ideas ran through my mind. Overall, it felt subtle but powerful energetically. A beautiful, loving act passed through generations and being taught to passionate birth-keepers. I am grateful for receiving and having that time to do something for me, body and soul. I wholeheartedly recommend it as part of your birth and motherhood journey.
Overall, I feel I have found peace and a release of some difficult emotions and events from birth and early postpartum. I feel more energised and empowered to embrace the next stage, not just of motherhood, but of me, my new, evolved identity. I trust in myself more tol find a way through, whatever that path looks like - because really who the hell knows what each day of being a mum will bring!
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