The Sacred Art of The Closing of The Bones
- beyondbumpmamas
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
A Postpartum Ritual for Healing and Renewal
Birth opens you—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But what happens when the world moves on, and you still feel unheld, ungrounded, and raw? The postpartum journey deserves just as much reverence as birth itself, and that’s where the ancient practice of the Bone Closure Ceremony comes in.
Hi! I’m Hailey Pechan, a postpartum doula located in Phoenix, Arizona. I provide holistic, heart-centered support for new mothers during the transformative postpartum period —honoring their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs while helping them feel deeply seen, nourished, and empowered.
I strive to redefine postpartum care by blending modern knowledge with traditional wisdom. I offer compassionate guidance and personalized support that nurtures the whole mother from conception through postpartum. If you or someone you love is pregnant or postpartum, You can learn more about me and my services on my website.
Honoring the Postpartum Journey
The postpartum period is a time of deep transformation—body, mind, and soul. Yet, in modern society, this sacred window is often overlooked, leaving new mothers feeling disconnected, exhausted, and emotionally vulnerable. They often feel isolated and alone during this new and transformative period of their life.
Across cultures, postpartum healing rituals have long been practiced to support the mother’s transition, providing nourishment, warmth, and closure. According to Ayurveda, a holistic medicine approach rooted in ancient Indian practices, the quality of a mother’s postpartum care and experience will influence the trajectory of her life, as the brain is rewired during this sacred time.
One of my favorite ways to honor new mothers after birth is through a Bone Closure Ceremony. The closing of the bones is an ancient and deeply restorative ritual designed to bring physical and energetic closure to the mother’s body after birth. Rooted in wisdom passed down through generations, this ceremony is a way to honor your body’s journey, realign your energy, and step forward into motherhood feeling whole, nurtured, and deeply held. It’s a sacred time just for you, inviting you to come home to yourself.
What is a Bone Closure Ceremony?
The Bone Closure Ceremony is a postpartum ritual that symbolizes the “closing” of the body, spirit, and energy after birth. In many traditions, birth is seen as an opening—not just of the pelvis, but of the heart, mind, and energetic field. Without intentional closure, many mothers can feel unsettled, anxious, or even physically weak for months or years after giving birth.
This ceremony is a holistic experience that nurtures the new mother with:
Gentle bodywork to release tension and promote relaxation
Herbal treatments and aromatic oils to nourish the skin and tissues
Wrapping of the body to create a sense of safety, warmth, and containment
Sacred space for emotional processing, allowing the mother to reflect, release, and reclaim herself
The Healing Benefits of Bone Closure
A Bone Closure Ceremony is more than just a physical practice—it’s an opportunity for deep healing and integration. Closing of the bones offers new mothers the experience of honoring their bodies and brings closure to the beautiful journey they have been through during pregnancy and delivery.
Closing of the bones provides mothers with:
A way to restore balance – The process of birth expands the bones, ligaments, and energetic body. This ritual helps bring everything back into alignment.
Emotional release – Birth, whether beautiful or challenging, carries a deep emotional imprint. This ceremony provides a safe container to process emotions, grief, joy, or anything left unspoken.
Nervous system regulation – The gentle bodywork and herbal treatments calm the nervous system, reducing stress and promoting better sleep for the mother.
The opportunity to show honor – In a society that often prioritizes the baby’s needs over the mother’s well-being, this ritual ensures that you are seen, held, and honored.
What to Expect During a Bone Closure Ceremony
Each bone closure ceremony is unique and tailored to your needs, but a typical experience includes:
Intentional Opening – A warm, inviting space is created, often with candles, aromatherapy, and grounding herbal tea. A moment of reflection is encouraged with guided journal prompts.
The fourth trimester is a restorative time and a beautiful transition for the mother.
Enjoy these postpartum journal prompts that will help guide you through gentle self-reflection.
Herbal Oil Massage & Bodywork – Using warm herbal oils, gentle massage techniques, and marma point activation, your body is nurtured, allowing for deep relaxation. My favorite massage oils are from Banyan Botanicals Ayurvedic Supplies.
You can use the code Hailey15 to save 15%
The Wrapping Process – Using soft fabric or rebozos, your body is gently wrapped in sections, starting from the feet and working upward. This process creates a sense of containment, security, and closure.
Reflection & Integration – The ceremony ends with a moment of stillness, allowing you to absorb the experience. You may be guided through breathwork, meditation, or journaling to integrate the journey. Another herbal tea and a small, nourishing meal will be prepared to ease you back into the day.
A Sacred Gift to Yourself
Motherhood is a sacred rite of passage, and your healing deserves to be honored. The Bone Closure Ceremony is more than just a ritual—it’s an invitation to come home to yourself, to embrace the depth of your transformation, and to be fully supported in your postpartum journey.
If you are longing to feel grounded, nourished, and held in your postpartum experience, this ceremony may be the missing piece. You are worthy of this care. You are worthy of this closure.
If this resonates with you, I would be honored to hold space for you. You can learn more about my closing of the bones service here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closing of the bones massage?
The closing of the bones massage is a gentle and relaxing bodywork massage of the abdominal and pelvic area. It often uses warm massage oil and helps return the uterus and other organs to their normal position.
What is the 40-day postpartum ritual?
The 40-day postpartum ritual is dervived from Hispanic cultures and refers to the 40-day period of time follwing birth, in which the mother should be resting and recovering. Often times this is a period of slow intentional rest, warm food and drinks, and social support from the mother's family and community.
Does belly binding help postpartum?
Belly binding is a postpartum practice in which the mothers wears a postpartum wrap, or belly band, across her abdomen. Belly binding may help relieve pain, increase circulation, reduce swelling from surgery, and support the pelvic floor.
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