Closing the bones ceremony
Let’s not forget the rituals.
The quiet, sacred moments that honour the mother — for all she has given, all she is giving, and all she has become.
At our Mama Baby Retreat, we hold space for the Closing the Bones Ceremony, a deeply nurturing ritual that invites the mother to return to herself.
This is a time of slowing down. A moment of integration, of emotional exhale. To acknowledge the birth journey she has walked. To close what was once opened wide, physically, energetically, and spiritually.
To release what may still be held in the tissues, in the belly, in the heart. And to gently gather herself back together - into her center, into her body, into her softness.
What happens during the ceremony
Closing the bones is traditionally rooted in Latin American postpartum care and has been passed through the hands of midwives and women who knew the importance of holding the mother, not just the baby.
During the ceremony:
The mother receives a belly massage, if she likes.
The mother is wrapped in rebozos (traditional woven scarves) across different parts of the body; head, shoulders, hips, belly, legs, and feet.
She lies down and is held in stillness, wrapped and supported by the women around her.
Through these gentle wrappings and breath, she is invited back to her own body, to feel herself fully held.
She receives beautiful words & wishes during the wrapping to give her strength and support during this intense time of motherhood.
It’s not about fixing anything. It’s about honouring. Witnessing. Creating space for what’s ready to be released and what’s ready to be remembered.
Why we offer this at the retreat
In the immediate postpartum period, everything revolves around the baby. But the mother is still tender, raw, and newly born herself.
This ritual is for her. A space where she doesn't have to give, explain, or perform. Where she is the one being cared for. Where her transformation is seen, and celebrated.
A few glimpses from our ceremony
"The closing bones ceremony was completely life changing for me. It has given me so much healing and peace from within.”
May you feel held. May you feel whole. May you remember the wisdom of your body, and the power of being wrapped, not just in cloth, but in presence and love.
