Weaving our lives with Ceremony

This woman! We have known each other for about 9 years, friends, both doulas, respect for each others work, she made a drum with me, we weaved in and out of the same circles.

And then she was pregnant and asked me to do her Mother Blessing ceremony for her first baby.. It was divine? Svenja wanted full ceremony, songs, drumming, smudging, sharing, and connecting.. Her circle was called and we gathered around her.. ?

Then her beautiful baby girl Luna was stillborn….. ? In all my years working in birth this was my first experience of still birth.

The next time I held space for them was at Luna’s ceremony where we sang and drummed her over back to the stars.. Luna brought us together, we are family now, sisters in this life. Luna left lots of messages so that Svenja and I would know that we needed to stay connected.

??And now, baby Arlo has chosen to come through to this amazing family. Arlo your Mama is one of the bravest and most beautiful souls I know.. We can not wait to meet you and look into your eyes.

Holding space for Svenja’s Mother Blessing this time was a deep honour and responsibility. How this Mama is showing up humbles me beyond words.. May every blessing in this life be yours mama. I love you xxxxxxx IFLY xxxxxx

Ceremony is everything. Darling Luna lives on through the Ceremony held in her name, the songs that we sang, the messages she gives us, the drums that were birthed, through Whale, through the Moon.

Ceremony honours all that makes Svenja the woman she was before Luna and the woman she is now, the warrior that is showing up for this little one,  Arlo, choosing this incredible Mother.

Svenja and I spoke today about the beauty of her Mother Blessing ceremony with Arlo, how right it felt, how perfect the circle was.. and she dreamed up a return to the circle once Arlo is here, so we may all look in his/her eyes and cover him/her in kisses and Aunty love, and honour Luna in her big sister role. I can’t wait for that circle!

@svennipetry #rainbowbabyarlo #weloveyoutothemoonandbackluna #pregnancyafterloss

Thank you for these beautiful pictures Jerusha! @jerushasutton ??? Please have a look at Jerusha’s work, she is Magic!