******these bags were given out at my Mother's blessing, but the meaning behind them was so cool I wanted to share with all of you!******
This little gift is filled with a candle and a few natural items I gathered from the forest for you to enjoy......each representing one of the sacred elements.....and each having a special place in reminding you to think about Jen as she continues her pregnancy and prepares for labor and birth. Each piece will remind you of Jen's journey to her place on the River....and will take you outdoors and into the forest, surrounded by the beauty of Nature. I invite you to place these items where you will see them throughout your day to remind you of Jen....so you can send her loving, positive and feminine energy for her pregnancy and labor. Here is a description of each item and why each is important. 
~The candle represents the element of Fire…..passionate and primal....like the incredible energy women find within themselves as they labor....like the ancient women before them. In Jen's journey, we send warm light and loving energy into a circle around Jen....light from the warm sun surrounding her on the bank of the River as she relaxes and prepares for birth. As she goes into labor, everyone will be contacted and invited to light their candle. Jen will know that her circle of women have been gathered in spirit and have begun sending their energy as she labors.... lighting your candle will help create the bright circle of our energy and warmth around her. Jen also has a special blue birth candle I gave her to light when she goes into labor, connecting her candle flame and energy with all of ours.
~The sea salts represent the element of Water….ebbing and flowing like swelling waves of the beautiful ocean….like the intense wave of every contraction we experience in labor.....like the salty and warm water within our wombs where our babies are nourished and growing. These salts come directly from the ocean and connect all of us to the powerful energy harnessed in those waves of water. The River in Jen's journey flows along in it's own journey out into the waters of the great ocean. Soaking in the salts is a wonderful and relaxing way to enjoy the ocean's nourishing minerals, detoxify your body and refresh your spirit.......it will connect you with Jen as she soaks in warm water as she labors at home. You can send her your relaxing energy and strength so she feels empowered and relaxed through her contractions.....and send her baby your love as he floats in the "ocean" of her womb. Enjoy your sea salts as a refreshing foot bath or two....add some fresh flowers or leaves, or your piece of cedar bough....as we did at Jen's blessing.....or draw a nice warm bath, add the salts and relax.
~ The river rock represents the element of Earth....ancient and grounding and solid....a beautiful piece from the Earth, tumbled by the rushing water and down the mountains into Jen's place on the River. I spent a part of a day walking in the cool water and selecting the beautiful rocks to give to each person in their bags. Each rock carries with it the energy of the rushing waters of the River.....and the calm and grounding energy of the Earth that formed the rocks so long ago. Jen and I love these rocks. Every time we visit the River, we take time to walk in the clear water and pick rocks for our gardens, it's one of our favorite parts of going up there. It is meditative and relaxing. We will be making one last trip to the River to select rocks for her to have in the room during her labor. I also gave Jen a beautiful rock I found from the River, it's a blue-green heart shaped rock as a gift for the baby.....and continues the tradition we have of giving birth rocks to each other. You can place your rock in a favorite place in your home, or carry it with you.....connecting you with Jen.....knowing it is a piece of her favorite place.
~ The cedar branch represents the element of Air.....the lacy boughs stretching and reaching tall into the sky as they grow towards the sun....their sweet scent carried in the warm breeze.....a piece of these ancient and wise trees that have been growing for hundreds of years.....their roots running deep into the moist and nourishing Earth below. As you walk into the woods up on the River, you feel the presence and beauty of these tall pines all around you.....as you breathe-in the clean air, you can enjoy the sweet and refreshing smell of the cedars and other pines, mingled with the wildflowers and cool Earth. Your cedar bough will dry out, but you can gently crush the needles and gently release the sweet scent.....letting your mind drift into the green, lush forest....and up onto the River .....reminding you to breathe deeply and calmly, relaxing with each breath.... just as I will remind Jen to breathe while she labors, following the natural rhythms of her body. 
~The pine cone represents and celebrates fertility, birth and new life. The tiny cones are beautiful to look at, but are also the seed and life-force of the tree......the beginnings of new life are contained within each seed inside each cone. Each tiny seed may someday grow into a beautiful and tall pine tree. When I found the cones scattered on the forest floor, they were so tiny and closed, I almost missed seeing them. After I gathered the cones, and brought them home and into the warmth, they began to open and "flower" into the cones I gave each of you. I found this to be a powerful symbol of the relaxing and dilating a woman must go through before labor and birth, she must feel comfortable and loved and supported before her body will share the new life inside her. Let your pinecone be a tiny symbol of the beautiful and tall pine trees in the forest, a reminder of the fertility and life within all living things.....and the joy of celebrating a new life. This loving energy you send out to Jen will help her to feel comfortable and supported.....so her body can relax and open itself to labor.....and let her baby come peacefully into this world.
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