Closing the bones ceremony
The experience of pregnancy and birth is one that changes a woman forever. What better way to mark the intense emotional and physical changes than a ceremony that helps calm and ground you and reestablish a sense of self.
What is the Closing the Bones ceremony?
After a short ceremonial washing of your feet and hands with scented water, you will lie on a massage table and be wrapped in approximately 7 rebozos (traditional mexican scarfs that are used for everything from repositioning the uterus during birth, baby-wearing and ceremonies such as Closing the Bones). The wrapping of the rebozo scarves help contain you and assist the process of change.
What are the benefits of the Closing the Bones ceremony?
Physically, a woman’s pelvis opens and changes during pregnancy and birth and the ceremony supports the process of the pelvic bones reforming after the birth. Realigning the pelvis after birth helps promote pelvic stability and the long term health of your pelvic floor, fertility, urinary and digestive health.
However, it’s a lot more than a physical process. The Closing the Bones ceremony allows a safe and supportive place to release emotions associated with giving birth and motherhood (and other transitions and life cycle events). It can help you find closure around your birth story and help you find your center again while giving you confidence in your newly changed body and your new role as a mother.
When should you do the Closing the Bones ceremony?
The earliest I suggest is a few weeks after birth when your bleeding has stopped. However, many women find that a little early and wait several months until they feel like they are out of the intense newborn phase.
My last birth is a distant memory, can I still participate in the Closing the Bones ceremony?
The ceremony can be profound and powerful even if you are several years after a birth. I first experienced the Closing the Bones ceremony about six years after the birth of my youngest child and the experience was extremely profound and an experience I won’t forget.
Other times the Closing the Bones ceremony can be suitable:
Birth is essentially a transitional experience when a woman becomes a mother yet there are other experiences in life when we feel that we transition and are reborn and the Closing the Bones ceremony can be a beautiful way of honouring your experience and setting the intention to move to a different place.
Closing the Bones ceremony can be useful at other major transitions or periods of growth in life like menopause, after ending a significant relationship or job, moving to a new city or country, a significant birthday, after an accident, trauma or illness or if you have a scattered feeling and want to feel more grounded.
“Birth” can also be about creativity and creating something other than a new baby.
This ceremony is deeply healing after a miscarriage, the loss of a baby, a hysterectomy, or where fertility problems present themselves.
The hips and pelvis are areas of the body that hold trauma and unresolved emotions especially connected to the sacral chakra and our creative energy. The Closing the Bones ceremony helps release the unwanted energy stored in this area while preparing you for moving into a new situation physically or figuratively.
Where did the Closing the Bones ceremony originate?
The ceremony originated in Mexico and the original intention was about helping a woman after birth ground and stabilise herself. It is well known as a Mexican postpartum ritual amongst traditional midwives in the area. Similar ceremonies exist in other traditional cultures, too.
What is a Rebozo – traditional Mexican scarf?
The rebozo is a traditional Mexican shawl or scarf that is used to:
- keep warm
- carry things
- support the pelvis and belly during pregnancy
- encourage good positioning during birth
- carry and rock babies
In recent years, the practice of using a rebozo during pregnancy and birth has become more well known as birthworks spread the skills learnt from traditional Mexican midwives.
How long does it take?
I like to allow an hour and a half for the ceremony. This allows time for a conversation before beginning the ceremony, plenty of time for you to experience being wrapped in the rebozos during the ceremony and time to slowly come back to earth after the experience.
What should I wear for the closing the bones Ceremony?
Where loose comfortable clothing preferably without buckles, zips and belts.
I’m a holistic therapist and I am here to help you!
I love helping women to overcome their fertility challenges and other issues related to your cycles, pregnancy, periods and/or anxiety.
I treat women with abdominal and womb massage techniques known as Sobada (formally the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage) and reflexology.
I’m also an Advanced EFT Tapping practitioner and I work with women in particular issues around anxiety, depression, stress levels.
I teach Fertility Awareness to help women better know their bodies and improve their chances of conceiving or prevent pregnancy naturally.
I live in Modi’in, Israel and that’s where I spend my days helping women during their fertile years, pregnancy, menopause and other hormonal conditions. Bodywork sessions (massage and reflexology take place in my clinic in Modi’in but EFT Tapping sessions and Fertility Awareness education can take place online or in person).
Learn more about working with me here.
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