Many blessing, krienne
A BABY
Spell for easy childbirth: (Dorothy Morrison)
Work this spell every morning for a week before your delivery date. Annoint a white candle with vegetable oil and roll it in some powdered lavender. Light the candle and sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Place both hands on your belly, saying:
"Mother Goddess, hold my hand,
And stay with me throughout this time. Cradle me in your loving arms,
and talk to me of nature's rhyme
Ease the pains of labor
when The time comes for this baby's birth;
Comfort me and guide me
through It's deliverance onto Earth, And grant that labor not be long,
And that this baby's born with ease, And that our lives be filled with laughter.
Thank you, Mother. Blessed be!"
. Burn the candle for 15 minutes every day. On the 7th day, let the candle burn down completely. Place the wick and melted wax (if any) in the centre of a piece of blue cloth 6
inches square and sprinkle it with lavender. Mark a pentagram over the cloth with your finger and tie it closed with a piece of yellow ribbon. Keep the pouch with you during labor and delivery.
Have a special candle burning during the late labour and birth. The candle was passed around during my Blessing Way shower. Guests held it and offered blessings to me. We also had a nice statue of Hathor next to the candle. She is a said to watch over birthing women and protect them. If you think you will be birthing in or around a certain bed or room you might want to construct a simple alter. The items can be gathered in advance and set up quickly. Candles, flowers, statues, and written blessings are a fine idea. Anything that smells – keep in mind that your sense of smell, taste, and hearing will be all over the place. Scents you usually like may make you nauseous. In early labour a warm bath is awesome and helpful in relaxing your muscles. Definitely consider adding some herbs and oils to it for a ritual soak. Your partner sould definitely join you and maybe even give you a shoulder massage. To honor your journey into parenthood you could annoint each other with a special oil before entering the bath. You could also say a few words of love to each other. One more idea….. I wanted a birth positive chant to say during contractions. I chose this popular song that is used in ritual sometimes.
" I am opening up in sweet surrender to the luminous love light of the One.
I am opening. I am opening. I am opening."
I would chant, hum, or sorta groan the word "open" sometimes. Again congratulations and blessings!!!! Tina Rhianna
From: "Tina Rhianna"
The good and the bad!
Feet Oil:
5 Geranium, 10 Lavender,
2 Cypress
Application: Combine in a warm bowl of water and soak feet for 15 minutes.
Bleeding Gums Oil:
1 each of Geranium, Lavender,
Tea Tree, Lemon
Application: 1 of each into a glass of warm water and use as a mouth wash. Helps to firm the softening action of progestrone.
Breast Abscess Oil:
15 Chamomile, 10 Lavender,
5 Eucalyptus
Application: Place 10 of this mixture in a saucer of warm chamomile tea. Soak a piece of cloth and place on breasts like a compress. Do for 5 days twice daily.
Faint Oil:
4 each of Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lavender
Application: Use in an aroma lamp or half the number of drops in a warm bath.
Cramps Oil:
12 Marjoram
Application: Blend in 1oz. of sweet almond oil and massage legs.
Depression-Postnatal Oil:
20 each of Clary Sage, Ylang Ylang Application: Once blended use 8 drops in a very warm bath daily until you feel better.
Edema Oil:
2 each of Ginger, Lavender, Cypress Application: Blend in 1oz. of sweet almond oil and massage/rub into back. Do not use on abdomen. Once daily for 10 days.
Energizer Oil:
5 each of Geranium, Lavender, Chamomile, Tangerine Application: Blend in 1oz. sweet almond oil and gently massage your back.
Flatulence Oil:
3 Spearmint
Application: Dissolve in 1 tablespoon of honey. Take 1/2 teaspoon of this mix, dissolve in a small glass of purified warm water and sip slowly once a day.
Heartburn Oil:
6 Lavender, 4 Lemongrass, 2 Ginger Application: Blend in 1oz. sweet almond oil and massage abdomen and middle back.
Hemorrhoids Oil:
5 Cypress, 15 Geranium
Application: Blend in 1oz. wheat germ oil and apply twice daily.
Skin Firmer-After Birth Oil: 2 each of Juniper Berry, Cypress, Grapefruit, Lemon
Application: Blend in 1oz. jojoba oil and massage the abdomen.
Morning Sickness Oil:
6 Spearmint, 1 Ginger
Application: Spearmint in an aroma lamp by your bed at night will help keep the stomach calm. Putting 1 ginger in a warm cup of herb tea or water will reduce nausea. After 1st trimester use spearmint instead of ginger.
Post Natal Pick-Up Oil:
7 Nutmeg, 6 Sandalwood, 2 Frankincense, 9 Lemon, 6 Geranium, 2 Rose
Application: Place in an aroma lamp or Blend in 1oz. sweet almond oil and massage the body.
Stretch Marks Oil:
10 Lavender, 5 Chamomile, 5 Tangerine
Application: Blend in 1oz. wheat germ oil and apply daily to abdomen, buttocks, hips and breasts (if necessary). (http://www.mothersherbs.com/)
by Camelyn
Raspberry leaves:
to ease the pain of childbirth
Bay leaves:
for strength and purification
Squaw vine:
This herb is normally ingested in tonic form , to ease the pain of childbirth, but I am including it in the charm, since it is so strongly associated with childbirth
Birthroot:
ease in childbirth
1 small bloodstone:
Because of the association with blood, healing and courage
1 small moonstone:
This stone has strong connections to all aspects of the Goddess. Traditionally used for women's healing magick, I thought it was appropriate here.
Lavender and Chamomile Oil: Relaxation and calm
1 small cotton bag:
I usually make my own, for this charm, usually in white or brown.
1 cotton ball
I will cleanse and `reset' the focus of the items above by passing them through the smoke of some sage, rose and raspberry leaves. Then I place the herbs in the bag first, and I usually use a 2:1:1:1 ratio of the herbs in the order they are listed above. Then go the stones, and finally the cotton ball. I add about 3-4 drops of each oil onto the cotton ball. When finished, you can say a few words of well-wishing to add to the bag.
Soon after the child is born, snip a few strands of it's hair and your own (if the baby is bald, your's and the Father's will do). From this, fashion together a braided anklet. As you work the hair together, repeat this phrase:
"Lady of Motherhood and Light, bind this child and me together in joy and love. Keep him/her always in your sight, blessed by Thy hand above,"
until it is long enough to tie onto the baby's ankle. Tie the anklet on, kissing the child's third eye, and allowing the braid to stay on the child as long as safety and health will permit. Then, remove it and store it with your other treasures. Give it to them when they reach the age of maturity, as a symbol of release.
"A Victorian Grimoire" by Patricia Telesco
From: LadyGarnetMoon
To be used in the bath or as a dream pillow to soothe away the discomforts of pregnancy.
1/2 tablespoon lemon balm
1 teaspoon lemon verbena
3 tablespoons lavender
2 tablespoons rose petals
1 teaspoon mugwort
7 drops of pure jasmine oil
Mix together all of the ingredients in your cauldron or a wooden bowl.
Cut a three-inch square piece of light blue cloth (a natural fiber always works best).
Place some of the herbal mixture in the center and tie up the loose ends with some matching yarn. While doing this, visualize the discomforts being soothed away. When you're ready, either toss it into a warm bath or hide it in the batting of your favorite pillow (or, if you want it to stay your favorite pillow for very long, put it in your pillowcase) and you've got a special dream pillow. Pleasant dreams!
From: LadyGarnetMoon
Lavender has been used since Roman times to help facilitate childbirth. Used in the delivery room during labour, it will help to create an uplifting, relaxed mood.
Circle Round by Starhawk, Diane Baker, and Anne Hill. There might be something in there that would inspire you as well.
Little Acorn
The timing of this ritual is up to the parents, but waiting for a waxing to Full Moon is probably best for positive growth energies. If done at home, the crib can be decorated with Daisy, Lavender, and Parsley for protection and bounty. If performed elsewhere, the parents may wish to carry sprigs of fresh herbs which have significant symbolism and keep these with the child during the ritual. Afterwards, dry them as a keepsake. This ritual, which is sometimes called a Wiccaning, often marks the naming of the child and welcomes a new soul to this world.
Invocation: A canopy of eventide spreads dark from out the glen, With ravens wings, a rising moon, and blessings that we send. To you, our friends, we build a bridge to span the air and sea, With beams of light and lavender that magick might move free. To touch the hearts of those we love, This child whom now, we bless With songs of hope and harmony, sealed with a holy kiss We call upon the Goddess Minne, to hold (baby's name) in Her arms With hands of warmth and comforting, And keep you ever safe from harm.
Activities: Friends and family often bring gifts. Having a pot luck supper is so that the family doesn't have to fuss is especially thoughtful. Use a sprig of Parsley to asperge the circle. Present the child to the four Watchtowers and to your group; give a small libation to the Earth in thankfulness.
Plant a tree; it is the traditional Victorian way to insure growth and joy to the child.
Tools & Ritual Components:
Incense: Cedar and Rosemary to bring consecration, purification, and protection to all participants.
Ritual Soap: Elder, which may also be used in bath water for safety and protection.
Anointing Oil: Milkweed juice to bless the child with growing imagination, inspiration, and creativity.
Ritual Cup: A mild cup of Chamomile tea for soothing. A bit of the tea may be placed on the baby's lips.
Altar Decorations: The Daisy is traditional. Iris may be added for joy. A small moonstone can be placed center table to bring happiness and health for the future, representing the phases of life as represented by the cycles of the moon. This stone should be set into a ritual tool. This tool should be given to the child at their Rite of Passage (Graduation).
Cakes: While the child may be too young to enjoy them yet. Zwieback cookies would be a nice touch to remember the child's part in the ceremony.
"A Victorian Grimoire" by Patricia Telesco
