Welcome New Life: We Support You

"Make his path smooth, then shall he travel beyond the four hills!”

– Omaha Tribe Prayer

In traditional societies there is often a welcoming ceremony for newborns. While baby showers are popular in our culture, why not invite friends and family members over to greet the new arrival?

On such occasions I have invoked the powers that will protect the baby. These powers may be animals, natural elements or spiritual guides. I ask the parents to choose these forces.

On many such occasions I have use the Omaha Tribe Prayer as the transformational part of the ceremony, asking the community to participate in a call and response renditions of the prayer.

Ho! Sun, Moon, Stars, all that move in the heavens, I bid you hear me!

Into your midst has come a new life! Consent ye, I implore!

Make smooth his path that he may reach the brow of the first hill!

Ho! Winds, Clouds, Rain, Mist, all ye that move in the air, I bid you hear me!

Into your midst has come a new life! Consent ye, I implore!

Make smooth his path that he may reach the brow of the second hill!

Ho! Hills, Valleys, Rivers, Lakes, Trees, Grasses, all ye of the earth, I bid you hear me!

Into your midst has come a new life! Consent ye, I implore!

Make smooth his path that he may reach the brow of the third hill!

Ho! Birds great and small that fly in the air,

Ho! Animals great and small that dwell in the forest,

Ho! Insects that creep among the grasses and burrow in the ground, I bid you hear me!

Into your midst has come a new life! Consent ye, I implore!

Make his path smooth that he may reach the brow of the fourth hill!

Ho! All ye of the heavens, all ye of the air, all ye of the earth, I bid you all to hear me!

Into your midst has come a new life! Consent ye, consent ye all, I implore!

Make his path smooth, then shall he travel beyond the four hills!

Another method of creating magic in this ceremony is ask participants to encircle the baby, his parents and siblings. Each member of this circle may then offer a verbal commitment to the family to support them on their journey. Laughter, courage, trust, baseball, books, adventure, poetry and music are just a few of the things that might be offered.

Don’t forget to close sacred space, thanking the forces that held the community in ceremony. Request that the forces continue to support the newborn.

Now, it is time to celebrate with food, drinks and good cheer.