Abortion Resolution Workbook
Appendix B: Formal Rituals From Religions and Traditions In the following section you will find rituals from many religions, cultures and spiritual beliefs. These events help people and their supporters acknowledge their loss and think about it in a way that respects them and their healing. These ceremonies are quite formal and a strong part of the culture from which they came. Here, in the United States, we do not have widespread recognition and support for women and pregnant people as they make pregnancy decisions. It’s nice to know that there are cultures that consider people to be able to make good, moral choices, even if our modern world may not. These ceremonies show deep commitment to individuals and respect for their experience. Some of these rituals or ceremonies are quite lengthy. We may have printed only a portion here. You can find the entire ceremony in the online edition of this workbook. You may find one of these formal observances feels ‘right’ to you. Or, you may choose to create your own honoring ceremony from what you read. As always, let your heart guide you. Because the following are excerpts from published works, we have not edited them for more inclusive language. They refer to “women” so if you are a gender non-conforming person, please change the language to suit your needs.
Ceremony to Release Spirit Life Source: Taino Clan, Native American The woman who has spirit life within also knows the responsibility of motherhood. She does not accept this gift lightly. She knows that to accept motherhood is to make a commitment to insure the nurturing needed for that life to grow.
She lets the spirit life know that it is time to go back. She sings to her Grandmothers for their help in this process of change. She sings to her Guardian Spirit for strength and healing.
Sometimes a woman will find spirit life within her womb when she is not in a position to take on the nurturing responsibilities. The woman knows in her heart that the time is not now. She cannot sustain this new life. Then she asks for a ceremony of releasing spirit life.
Finally the woman must dream the spirit life back to the Great Womb where all spirits go at the end of life. She becomes a manifestation of the Wild Mother, who calls us at the end of our Earthwalk. When she returns her awareness to the circle of women, they give her hugs and gifts of flowers or other things. Or, they brush her hair or wash her feet.
There is a sadness, of course, at this releasing. But there is also honor. The woman expresses her thoughts as well as listening to the spirit voice within. She speaks with this spirit life many times. Spirit and woman are both in agreement with this separation. For the good of all, the spirit life gives itself away.
The path of each Earthwalk is exactly as long as we need it to be. Some of us have longer paths than others. For these young lives, there is always another opportunity at another time. Life begins... life ends.... life begins again, all a part of the turning of the Great Spiral.
After a ceremonial bath with rose petals, the woman sings a song to honor the spirit life. She thanks the spirit for the lessons this situation has brought her.
Adapted from Songs of Bleeding by Spider, 1992, Black Thistle Press, 212-219-1988, www.blackthistlepress.com
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