Baby Namings

BLESSING BABIES AND CHILDREN
Where and How to have a ceremony for your Child, Children or Family

I've had the great privilege and pleasure of holding ceremonies for babies, children and families across Northern Scotland.  To give you some ideas of where the ceremonies take place outside a church - one was in a private shooting lodge, one in a barn, several in gardens both private and public, one in a tiny chapel, one in a function room attached to a pub and restaurant, one in a museum, one in a hotel, one in a front room, one in a stone circle in the forest - that should give you the idea that there are no restrictions as to where your ceremony can take place and it can be indoors or outdoors. 

The ceremonies have varied from being a tiny group of just baby with mummy, daddy, auntie and me, to a large group of around a hundred family and friends.

First birthday blessings have been popular and have varied from being entirely non-religious, to being like an alternative christening with prayers, parental vows and godparents.

I've done blessings of seven year olds because mum and dad didn't have a ceremony when the child was small because they didn't want a religious ceremony and they weren't aware of any alternatives.  

I've also done a blessing of a seven year old who had a Christening when a baby, but her family wanted to acknowledge her leaving behind young childhood and stepping into the next seven years between older childhood and puberty - to acknowledge and affirm her and help build her confidence and self esteem.

Sometimes it's nice to have a small ceremony of welcoming, naming and thanksgiving for a newborn baby if a birth has been traumatic or the baby was born prematurely - this can then be followed by a blessing and celebration at a later date for a larger group.

Whatever the age of the child, a ceremony is written to suit the occasion, and is about them and their character, and your hopes and dreams for them.  It affirms your love and support for them, strengthening the bond between you and other close family members and friends.

Family blessings can be very interactive involving all the family, perhaps as a celebration of togetherness in joyful times, or to mark a sad occasion and help the family to come to terms with a situation, perhaps the loss of a family member, or mum and dad separating.  A blessing provides a safe space for children to ask questions about life, and to know support is there for them and they haven't done anything wrong.

What I can't stress enough, is that I'm here to help inspire and guide you whatever kind of ceremony you have in mind - simple or complex, traditional or creative, for celebration or for healing.  

Whether you've chosen a date or venue or not, I welcome an initial conversation without obligation, to find out how I might help.

If you haven't read the pages already you'll find additional useful information on the website home page and in the general naming and related ceremony section.

Images top to bottom:
Baby Tallis (Naming and Welcoming aged 4 months), Bella (Birthday Blessing aged 7), baby Duncan (Alternative Christening aged 1 year), baby Juniper (Welcoming, Blessing and Naming aged 6 months), baby Helena (Blessing and Naming aged 1 year), Tormey (Rite of Passage aged 7)