Closing the Bones
“When the rush of birth has passed, and the world grows quiet again, may you find yourself wrapped in warmth and whispers of love. May the soft return to your own body be as gentle as rain, and may the strength you found in labour and life stay rooted deep inside you. You have given life with your whole being - now let life give back to you”
~ Unknown
What is a Closing of the Bones Ceremony?
Closing of the Bones is a deeply nurturing postpartum ceremony which is rooted in the wisdom of traditional practices found in many cultures around the world to mark this transformational rite of passage. A practice to honour and support the profound transition a woman has been through physically, mentally, and emotionally. This ceremony is a spiritual process to energetically ‘close’ the body and help her integrate her experience into the wholeness of who she is.
As part of my services, I offer CoB ceremonies for mothers within my care who seek to honour their transition to motherhood in this way. I have adapted the teachings from three practitioners I have sat with, including a traditional Andean birth worker in Peru, and feel honoured to support women through this vulnerable time of mother-becoming.
What is involved in a Closing of the Bones Ceremony?
A Closing of the Bones Ceremony is a nurturing 1–1.5 hour experience designed to support physical, emotional, and energetic integration. A session typically includes:
A gentle conversation about what to expect, along with reflection on your relationship with your womb and body.
Setting an intention for the ceremony—such as inviting more self‑love, rest, pleasure, or grounding
Lying comfortably on a mat while beginning with breath awareness and a womb massage (optional). Then hands‑on touch to the head, feet, shins, and thighs
Rebozo cloth wrapping and rhythmic side‑to‑side movement of the body
Once fully wrapped, additional hands‑on touch to the head, heart, womb, and feet
A combination of medicine drum & sound bowl over soundtrack to invite deep rest while wrapped
Time without touch to fully drop and rest - soul merge
Slow, intentional unwrapping from feet to head, with supportive touch at each joint
Gentle grounding, debrief, and space to integrate the experience
What are the benefits of a Closing of the Bones Ceremony?
Closing of the Bones is a traditional practice in many cultures, originally offered to women after birth to help close energetic openings and restore warmth to the body.
Birth—whether vaginal or caesarean—can be physically and energetically expansive. This ceremony supports the return to balance by inviting Yin qualities of stillness and introspection, and Yang qualities of warmth and containment.
The firm yet nurturing wrapping is believed to help:
Encourage the realignment of bones and joints after birth
Support pelvic organs to shift back into place
Assist the uterus in returning to its pre‑pregnancy size Stimulate circulation and warmth throughout the body
Beyond the physical, this is a deeply spiritual and emotional process. It offers a mother the chance to pause, reflect, and integrate her birth experience.
Many women find it helps them:
Feel closure after birth
Reconnect with their bodies and their needs
Release emotions linked to birth or the postpartum period
Feel held, witnessed, and nurtured during a time of profound transition by a midwife and mother with experience.
