A love for...women's rituals

Melissa is seven months pregnant. This afternoon a group of us gathered for a baby blessing and to nurture and honor Melissa as she enters into motherhood. She had her feet washed and head massaged; we shared with each other about how we knew her and passed on birth stories and wisdom about parenting; a couple of women painted her belly with henna; we gave her blessings, read poems, sang songs and we invited our female ancestors into the circle as we wove a web with each other by tossing a ball of yarn across the circle.

These are ancient rituals that have been mostly forgotten for centuries. The women in my circles are remembering these rituals and in doing so, are empowering ourselves and creating bonds with other women that have been broken through generations of suppression. Women have been taught that our ceremonies aren't important, that gathering with other women to honor our bodies and our spirits is silly and frivolous.

Those messages come from those who are intimidated by women, who are frightened of our power and of the changes that come from women coming together and discovering our strength.

I made this discovery about twenty years ago when I started participating in women's rituals and studying and practicing "women's spirituality." Yes, my life changed profoundly, and definitely for the better. I love women's circles and believe the ripples that extend out from them can make the world a far better place.

Missymoo's June challenge: today, "a love for...."