What is the Closing of the Bones Ceremony?
A Closing of the Bones ceremony is a rite-of-passage ceremony that can occur multiple times in the early postpartum time. Typically when I am working with mothers, we will hold this ceremony at six weeks to mark the end of the sacred window— the early days of postpartum when many mothers are prioritizing the time to slow down, bond with baby, and integrate— and after this time frame are beginning to emerge from their postpartum cocoon back into the world in a new configuration. However, it can occur at any time.
I was taught about Closing of the Bones by Rachelle Garcia Seliga of INNATE Traditions, through the lineage of her husband’s family in Mexico. However, this type of ceremony is common across the world, which shows that it is an important part of the motherhood journey and caretaking of new mothers. You can learn more about this history in Rachelle’s blog post here.
What does a Closing of the Bones ceremony look like?
We will begin with you sharing about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. We will take some time to set your intention for this time together and for your mothering journey.
When you feel ready to begin, we will make a comfortable area for you to lay. We will start by massaging your arms, legs, and belly with a warming oil and then you will be wrapped in several rebozos (woven cotton shawls) starting from head to toe. Each area will be held for a period and then tied until you are completely wrapped.
You will stay wrapped and we may go through a guided meditation together if you would like. You will have time to soak in the feeling of a big, grounding hug through your entire body.
When you feel complete, you will be unwrapped and given some snacks and a warm drink and space will be held for you to integrate what you have processed from this experience.
That is what it looks like practically. What does this feel like as a new mother?
Pregnancy is a time of massive outward expansion that continues in your mothering journey. Your belly expands, your rib cage opens, and your pelvis opens as your baby grows and is born. Your energy is expended outward during pregnancy, birth, and caring for your baby. A Closing of the Bones ceremony gives you a chance to come back inward after all this outward expansion energetically and physically. It brings your ribs, belly, and your hips back in, it hugs you, and it thanks you for all that you have done and are continuing to do.
It gives you a bit of time to yourself, which can be hard to come by in the early days of mothering. It makes space for this enormous shift that is motherhood. It is a chance to honor you for the work you have done, bringing this new life here. It is an opportunity to process your emotions about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in a safe, nurturing environment. It is a way to be witnessed, held, and cared for when you have been doing so much holding and caring.
It is so important to honor you as a mother: the work, the sacrifice, the caretaking of life, all of you through this life-changing journey. This is one small way to incorporate that acknowledgment and reverence for the journey you are on.
It doesn’t matter if you have been a mother for weeks or many years, you could still feel the benefits of this. Some mothers have shared that this was something that was missing in the years of their mothering journey and helped them feel a sense of completion when they felt something was lacking.
As one mother I worked with shared, “This ceremony was NECESSARY and potent!”
Have you experienced a Closing of the Bones ceremony or a similar postpartum ceremony? I’d love to hear your stories and thoughts. Please share in the comments below!
If you are feeling called to this, please reach out today. It would be an honor to honor you, mama.
xo,
Alyssa