Last weekend I attended a Blessing Way Circle for a friend who will be thirteen years old soon. The invitation had asked us to bring the gift of a single flower, along with words of wisdom and blessings for her future. That morning I walked downtown in the glorious autumn sunshine, stopped by the flower shop, and breathed in gratitude as I hiked along the flowing creek up to the gathering. On the trail, it was wonderful to watch people’s faces light up when they saw the big bright dahlia in my hand. Several people commented on how beautiful it was, and their joy increased my own.

I thought of the words that I had written down to give my friend, and I reflected on how beautiful it was that all of the women who were heading there were bringing words of wisdom from their own life constellations that were unique to them in that moment. I delighted in the passage of time and all of the changes it brings.

After gathering on blankets under some magnificent green trees, we sat in a sacred circle. Holding hands, we invited the spirits of our women ancestors to join us. A candle was lit, and the mother showered blessings on her daughter who will soon emerge from childhood to womanhood. Then we each offered our blessings along with our flowers. Here is what I said to her:

“I celebrate your birth and I offer this intention for your life: That you may be a master of the art of balance between REALLY loving people, places, and things, and not getting attached to those external people, places, and things…. So that you can stay centered in the Bliss of your own Being – so that you always know and love who YOU are! Blessings on being YOU!”

Several of the women echoed my own feelings when they noted how most of us women did not have blessingway ceremonies when we were young, and so attending these circles for the younger generation is a gift for us because it honors that place in ourselves. We all felt so honored and so grateful to be there in that circle.

Towards the end of the circle, one woman shared that any woman (and I would add that the same goes for any man) can call a circle for herself any time she needs to. I love that. I’m visualizing a world in which sacred circles are called regularly in abundance!

May all beings everywhere know Peace and Happiness.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of dahlia in hand by Teja Shankara.