Blessing the Wait to Become an Adoptive Parent

By Cindy McPherson. This post is reprinted with permission from her blog Pearls.

Last week was the week before my 44th birthday. I had hoped to become a mom this year. A year ago James and I signed on with the Independent Adoption Center, and it’s nine months since we leaped through the hoops required for us to go into circulation and begin waiting to bring a baby into our family through open adoption. Last week also a baby was born to a Berkeley couple that contacted us in November when they for a few moments considered adoption. (I was especially tickled at the synchronicity of their due date, nine months from when we went into circulation. But after we met them, they decided to parent.)

The arrival and passing of these milestones created rough interior weather for me. I realized I needed to let go of the expectations and hopes that we would be different: we wouldn’t wait long; that a baby would come in nine months and before my next birthday. One night I went to bed inexplicably sad and woke up the next morning feeling exactly the same way. Grateful to connect with a good friend, I tried to articulate what motivated so many tears:

“Sometimes I want to give up; I’m afraid it will never happen. It’s like if it wasn’t in nine months it might not be for three years… I want to know people are with me… I want a ritual… I want reassurance… like when women come together to create a Blessing Way, nourishing an expectant mama on her way to birthing and motherhood… I want a blessing… Oh, it will be a Blessing Wait!”

A wave of calm washed into me, and then happiness and excitement. Soon after I hung up the phone, I poured out my vision into an invitation:

“You are invited to my Blessing Wait… Why: because we are still waiting for a baby… It takes courage, self-love, and fortitude sometimes to keep wanting and believing in it… Please join me to celebrate longing and faith.”

Fortunately I circle with women in several spirit-filled communities, and twenty people responded to my call.

They came and circled me last night on my birthday. We danced to create sacred space and call in the four directions as allies. I shared with them my dream, having written and created a collage to depict my vision of harmonious relationship and joyful motherhood.

We passed a ball of yarn around the circle, forming a web as each woman wrapped a loop around her wrist (or ankle) and shared what she, as part of my network, offers to me. And, like a ritual often done at Blessing Ways, each woman cut her loop free from the web and tied off a bracelet to wear in support of my dream, until Baby safely arrives. We sat together in meditation, each imagining and holding that the dream had already come true: the longing was sweet, my faith strong, and a baby come to us in right timing, for the good of all involved.I asked for their help: “How do you long for something you really want, and not go into fear or despair? What helps you keep your faith strong?” They gave their insights and so much love. They wrote their prayers to add to mine, for a bundle of reassurance on my altar.

We released the circle and celebrated with sweet fruits and an amazing chocolate cake. I, in my wait, was thoroughly blessed – infused with hope, faith, trust, and care! I couldn’t be more moved or grateful.

Have you heard of the “red thread of destiny?” Typically the yarn used at a Blessing Way is red, but for my ceremony I saw blue. Then I read on The Next Family blog about the legend in Chinese and Japanese culture of a matchmaking god who ties a red thread around the ankles (or fingers) of those who are meant to meet or help each other in some way. In adoption community this reference is used to explain the quality of connection adoptive families feel once they find each other.

I understood: the red thread is for my baby.

Cindy McPherson is a prospective adoptive parent. Learn more about her and James at http://www.iheartadoption.org/users/cindyjames (and spread the word that they are ready to adopt a baby through domestic open adoption). Cindy apprenticed for many years in Toltec shamanism, through Toci, the Toltec Center of Creative Intent. She works as a spiritual life coach and a technology project manager. She loves to create ritual.