Baby Blessings
Conceiving a child and bringing that child into the world are sacred acts. All cultures have rituals and ceremonies that prepare the way for and welcome a soul’s entry into the world. Baby blessings, baby namings, christening ceremonies or baptism, are all ways to acknowledge, honor, celebrate, dedicate and give thanks for the gift of a new child in the life of both its family and the larger community.
Rituals to prepare for parenthood can be created to honor and uphold the commitment and responsibilities of the parent/s to care for the new child. Intentions, expectations and goals for the child can be expressed to extended family and friends, and support for the parent/s can in turn be expressed.
After the birth of a child, ceremonies and rituals welcome and bless the infant. One purpose of such ceremonies is to give the child a name. To name is to call, give title to, choose, appoint, single out. A child’s name is often chosen for its symbolic characteristic meaning, as the parent/s might wish to bestow this attribute onto the child. Or they might wish to honor a beloved person of the same name by giving his or her name to the child.
A second purpose is the spiritual intention of opening the child’s awareness to, and promoting connection with, its sense of self as a sacred being. Family and friends dedicate themselves to supporting the new child’s growth as a spiritual being. Ceremonies and rituals create the context through which this recognition and designation can take place.
Stepchildren or adopted children can be welcomed, blessed and celebrated by their new family through these same kinds of rituals and ceremonies. The birth of a child, or the entry of any child into a family is a wondrous event!
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