Blessingway rituals are Native American in origin, from the Navajo tradition, to celebrate life events. Blessingway rituals connect women to one another, weaving a virtual web of support for a woman during the most intimate and important moments in her life.
In a Blessingway, we draw upon our relationship with the honored girl/woman, as well as the traditions and experiences unique to her, to celebrate and support her as she experiences her rite of passage.
Blessingways are a special way to celebrate the milestones we experience as women: coming of age (onset of menses), marriage, birth, menopause. While these are the most common themes for a Blessingway, there are many other journeys to honor with a Blessingway, such as graduations, adoption, moving away from one's community,trying to conceive, miscarriage or loss of a child, grieving the loss of a loved one, divorce or parting of ways and many more.
I have been attending and performing Blessingways for over a decade, and each one has not only made an impression on who I am, but how I see the world. I am honored each and every time I am able to assist or witness someone's rite of passage- those essential moments when we need love, support, encouragement, community, and the tools to move forward with our whole selves the most. My journey began with my own, but I am so grateful it has continued and expanded into a greater community of women under the red tent.
To get more information or begin the journey of a Blessingway, please contact me: sam@ritesofpassageblessingways.com
photo credit: Kate Henze
