Birth as a Sacred Rite of Passage

In our society, it’s common to spend large amounts of money on weddings or baby clothes and gear. We celebrate these external milestones with grandeur—yet how often do we pause to truly honour the mother, her inner transformation, her rite of passage?

Childbirth is not only a physical event—it is often a spiritual experience, described by many women as a peak moment of connection with something larger than themselves (Blum, 1980; Colman & Colman, 1971; Leifer, 1980).

For some, birth becomes an encounter with a higher power that walks alongside the mother and child from conception to the first breath, offering protection and presence.

Women who are invited to explore the spiritual and emotional depth of their birth journey—who feel seen, supported, and safe to express their beliefs—are more likely to experience birth as a positive and empowering event (Schneider, 2012). These experiences often shift a woman’s self-concept, leading to profound interior change (Davis-Floyd, 1992).

From the liminal space of “betwixt and between” (Benedek, 1959), the pregnant woman emerges as a mother—changed in body, mind, and soul.

A Mother Blessing embraces this truth. It acknowledges that motherhood is not just an identity shift—it is a soul passage, one that deserves reverence, preparation, and celebration. When we tend to the bio-psycho-social-spiritual aspects of a mother’s journey (Ayers-Gould, 2000), we give her the tools to birth not only her child, but herself.