Want to have a naming ceremony for your new born child? Here is how I do ceremony.

When I do a naming ceremony I usually examine the family and the social customs regarding their heritage, what they are accustomed to and try to cater to that. Not every family is interested in a Native American naming ceremony. But assuming that this family is…

 

I prepare a large medicine circle on the ground outdoors perhaps made of sticks or pinecones or even things representing the baby or family. You could have each member present bring a symbol and lay it on the appropriate place of the medicine wheel during the beginning of the ceremony (refer to lesson three for more tips). Anyway, I make this medicine circle large enough to walk in. Approach the Circle leading the group and using a prayer such as this,

Facing east;

“Spirit of the east where light comes from and the element of air, enlighten this holy child.”

Facing south;

“Spirit of the south where the sun is the strongest, and element of fire, let this child seek.”

Facing west;

“Spirit of the west where the sun sets and element of water, give this child strength.”

Facing north;

“Spirit of the north where the sun rests and element of earth, give this child knowledge.”

 

Have the parents and god parents stand in the medicine circle while the others circle around the outside.

 

I choose a Native American prayer and explain a little about what a name signifies. I bestow the name on the baby and bless it with water poured on its forehead three times. I present the baby with a pair of little white moccasins with a hole cut in the bottom of one of them. The significance is that evil spirits will not harm the child in any way because the baby’s moccasins are looking old and worn with a hole in them so they don’t want to take these moccasins for themselves. They like new moccasins. I also present a white feather as the first feather of its life and wish the baby a long headdress of feathers signifying bravery and wisdom and leadership in its life. Many accomplishments. I give this feather to the parents and god-parents and remind them of their responsibility to help the child attain this long chieftain headdress in its life. I have the spectators respond with Aho! Maybe drum a song. Then walk everyone around the medicine circle saluting again the four directions and thanking Spirit for help.

 

That is my loose ceremony. I often let Spirit guide me where to exactly go with this as Spirit always makes it perfect. That is why I am not sharing a specific point by point description. But you have the ingredients here. The naming ceremonies I have done were all perfect. One time the mother laid her baby right down in the center of the medicine circle and each spectator came and laid a gift or symbol down around the baby such as feathers or leaves or shoes, gifts that represented some quality they wished for the baby. All kinds of cool variations can happen.

 

Hope this helps. What is the name of the baby and when is the ceremony. I will be there to add my blessings. Wrtie me at shaman@shamanelder.com if you would like me to come and do ceremony for you.

Shaman Elder Maggie Wahls has been a practicing Shaman for over 50 years. She now offers an online course at http://www.shamanelder.com. Learn over 20 traditional shamanic tools to heal yourself and others.
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Copyright 2008 Shaman Elder Maggie Wahls. All Rights Reserved.