Rites of Passage Events

The Irish Goddess Rites of Passage, Blessings and Ceremonies awaken seeds that lie dormant within every woman. In ancient times sacred Rites activated these seeds to educate, empower, and enliven including the triple spiral of Maiden, Mother and Crone energies.

Karen Ward, Moon Mná

Thank you so much for facilitating such a warm, welcoming, sacred, and safe space for all of us but especially Jamie! I know it meant the world to her. Everyone kept raving last night about how amazing your energy is and how much they love you. You truly have a gift, and I feel so blessed and grateful to experience it and be in that space with you.

Zanna, December 2023

Let’s Connect!

Interested in creating a special celebration or rite of passage event for yourself or a loved one? I would love to work with you to create a truly meaningful and magical milestone celebration. Reach out to me today …

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Event Details

Circle Format

Our Heart Space celebrations and rites of passage follow the time-honored tradition of the women’s circle. Here are some of the elements of our women’s circles that we can incorporate into our special events:

Circle: We sit together in circle on the floor, gathered around a beautiful central altar space. Women bring their own cushion, blanket or backjack/floor chair to sit on, as per their comfort.

Altar: All of our circles have a spiritual center. We sit around our sacred altar which includes special items representing the elements, the directions, and the seasons and cycles of life. Women are welcome to bring their own sacred items and place on our shared altar.

Ceremonial Cacao: Our gatherings always include either sharing ceremonial cacao or herbal tea together, to open our hearts and help us relax into our sacred circle together.

Shamanic Drumming: We open sacred space together and call in the directions, elements and aspects of the seasons and cycles of our lives with drums, bells and rattles. Women are welcome to bring their own drum or sacred noise maker, or I have some rattles and bells to share.

Singing Bowl & Meditation: After a simple cleanse (which may involve a flower or sacred smoke), we’ll relax to the sound of my crystal singing bowl attuned to the heart chakra, and we’ll have a short heart space meditation, grounding everyone and anchoring them in their own heart spaces.

Sharing Circle: Using the tradition of the talking piece, we move sunwise around the circle, each sister sharing one at a time. When holding our talking piece, it is a time to look within and share from the heart, while everyone else gives their full attention. There are no interruptions and no fixing. It’s a time for sharing and being heard deeply.

Treats & Oracle Cards: Towards the end of our circles, we enjoy some celebratory treats together. We often divide into groups of 2 or 3, and choose some oracle cards to gain special messages or additional insight before our circle closes.

Take Home Gift: Each woman receives a special Ask the Light Miracle Card as a gift to take home!

For more information about my circles and their format you can visit my Women’s Circles webpage.

Location Options

Where you wish to hold you or your friend’s special celebration is up to you. I’m based in south Austin, and am open to travel to locations nearby (south, east, west, central Austin). If your location is further north or out of town, we can discuss a travel fee. So here are the location options:

• I can come to your home.
• You can find a venue yourself.
• Or we can host your event at TreeGarden.

TreeGarden, 638 Tillery St., Austin TX 78702, is a beautiful nature-based venue focusing on cultivating collaborative community, nestled into Austin’s eclectic east side. Since 2021, I have been facilitating all my Austin women’s circles at this location. TreeGarden’s private indoor and outdoor settings are perfect for special heart-centered gatherings. Our circles are mostly held indoors in the TreeGarden studio – an inspiring space with amazing art, friendly plants and large windows looking out on the trees! This is an intimate space, fitting about 10 women in a circle. We also spend some time outdoors under the trees, where we gather around the TreeGarden fire pit, howl at the moon, and release intentions into the fire!

Thank you, Brenda! Last night was beautiful and just what my heart needed. You put together such a meaningful experience with thought and intention into each detail.

Tanzi – Austin, February 2022

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Menarche Celebrations

In addition to our circle format outlined above, here’s a list of some themes, rituals and sharing topics we can include to create a very special coming of age gathering for your daughter:

Red Tent Theme: A “Red Tent” themed gathering can include items like a red altar cloth, red roses, red candles, perhaps with some beautiful menstrual art on our altar too. All guests can choose to wear red clothes and bring red-themed foods to share like strawberries, raspberries, red velvet cake etc.

Red Thread Ritual: We unfurl some red yarn and pass it around the circle so we’re all holding part of it. The red thread connects us to all women and people that have bleed throughout the millennia, including all our menstruating ancestors. We welcome the girl into this lineage of the red thread. Afterwards we can present this red thread to the girl of honor, perhaps wrapping it around her wrist as a bracelet, or including it in a special gift box.

Maiden Blessings Circle: As we sip ceremonial cacao together, each person in circle shares wishes, blessings, advice, or stories to support the girl on her journey into womanhood. This can be done while still all holding the red thread, or the wishes can be written on paper and placed in a special gift box, which is then presented to her after the sharing round.

Fire Release Ceremony: A ceremony to acknowledge her journey out of childhood and into womanhood. Everyone gathers around the fire pit and plays our drums or sacred noise makers. The girl is given time to think of what she’d like to release that would help her move forward into the fullness of her womanhood. Perhaps it’s something relating to childhood that she is now ready to release. She can write it on paper and when ready toss it into the flames, to the support of the women gathered around her (howls, drum beats, singing welcome!). The girl may choose to share what she wishes to release or keep it private.

Flower Intention & Crowning: The girl has time to ponder what it is she’d like to embody / wish for / manifest for this new phase of her life. While holding a red rose flower crown, she can set that intention. She can choose to share this with others or not. Then she crowns herself with these intentions.

Maiden Rites of Gráinne: Working directly with the girl of honor, I can share a very simple rite of passage blessing with her from my own Irish Celtic and pre-Celtic lineage, passed on to me by my Moon Mná mentor. It involves the use of a “Maiden Stone”, which, unless she already has a special stone, statue or crystal that she’d like to use, I can gift to her.

More Ideas & Inspiration: You may be interested in including certain themes, topics and rituals from other rites of passage celebrations too, so scroll down for more ideas!

For more information on my work mentoring young women, visit my Girls Circle page.

Sample Coming of Age Celebration Schedule

2:30 – 3:00pm: Set Up

3:00 – 3:15pm: Welcome & Settle

3:15 – 3:45pm: Open Sacred Space & Meditation

3:45pm: Serve Ceremonial Cacao

3:45 – 4:15pm: Red Thread Ritual & Maiden Blessings Circle

4:15 – 4:45pm: Fire Release & Flower Crowning Ceremonies

4:45 – 5:00pm: Maiden Rites of Gráinne

5:00 – 5:30pm: Celebratory Treats, (Gifts) & Oracle Card Shares

5:30 – 5:45pm: Close Sacred Space & Relaxing Sing Bowl Meditation

5:45 – 6:00pm: Clean Up

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Bachelorette & Birthday Parties

In addition to our circle format outlined above, here’s a list of some themes, rituals and sharing topics we can include to create a super special, soulful and fun bachelorette or birthday celebration:

Goddess Theme: A Goddess themed celebration can include flowers, crystals and decks of Goddess cards on our central altar space. Guests can dress in whatever makes them feel like divine goddesses. And I love to bring along some additional “Goddess Adornments” to my women’s circles and special themed gatherings, including bindis, Indian jewelry, simple flower crowns, hair feathers, and coin belts that the women can adorn themselves with!

Bride-To-Be / Birthday Gal Blessing Circle: As we sip ceremonial cacao together, each person in circle shares wishes, blessings, advice, or stories to support the bride-to-be on her journey into marriage, or birthday wishes and blessings for the guest of honor. These blessings and wishes can be written on paper and placed in a special gift box, which is then presented to her after the sharing round is complete.

Síle na Gig Sacred Sexuality Rites: Working directly with the bride-to-be, I can share a very simple rite of passage blessing with her from my own Irish Celtic and pre-Celtic lineage, passed on to me by my Moon Mná mentor. Síle na Gig is often referred to as the Irish Goddess of sexuality, and her rites assist us in embracing our full sexual power as women.

Sovereignty Rites of Eriú: These rites may be more appropriate for a birthday celebration, but both the Sile na Gig Rites and the Sovereignty Rites of Eriú are available for either a bachelorette or birthday celebration. Working directly with the guest of honor, I can share a very simple rite of passage blessing passed on to me by my Moon Mná mentor. Goddess Ériu gifted her name to the island of Ireland. Receiving her rite will assist you in feeling powerfully aligned with your soul destiny and connected to your own true north.

Fire, Drumming & Chant: The rites can be accompanied by the Goddesses gathering around the fire outside, playing drums, dancing and chanting a special chant that relates to either the Síle na Gig Rites or the Sovereignty Rites of Eriú.

Divine Feminine Anointing: After gifting the rites to the bride-to-be or birthday gal, I can anoint each Goddess with special Divine Feminine oil, as we gather around the fire.

Bachelorette Party Games: The last section of our circle is a great time for sharing celebratory treats, perhaps some champagne, receiving oracle card guidance, and playing some bachelorette party games. “What did the groom say?” is a fun game, typically arranged in advance by a friend and the bride-to-be’s fiancee.

Birthday Gifts: If receiving gifts is part of the event, we can include gift-giving during the last section of our circle while having some treats, perhaps some cake, and also having the opportunity to choose some oracle cards.

More Ideas & Inspiration: You may be interested in including certain themes, topics and rituals from other rites of passage celebrations too, so scroll through the others for more ideas!

Sample Bachelorette Party Schedule

6:30 – 7:00pm: Set Up

7:00 – 7:15pm: Welcome & Settle

7:15 – 7:45pm: Open Sacred Space & Meditation

7:45pm: Serve Ceremonial Cacao

7:45 – 8:15pm: Bride-To-Be Blessings Circle & Gift Box Presentation

8:15 – 8:30pm: Fire, Drumming, Chant & Síle na Gig Rites

8:30 – 8:45pm: Divine Feminine Anointing

8:45 – 9:30pm: Champagne, Treats, Party Games & Oracle Card Shares

9:30 – 9:45pm: Close Sacred Space & Relaxing Sing Bowl Meditation

9:45 – 10:00pm: Clean Up

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Mother & Baby Showers

In addition to our circle format outlined above, here’s a list of some themes, sharing topics and rituals we can include to create a beautiful, supportive and meaningful mother and baby shower: (Note that while you may wish to combine your Mother and Baby Shower, you may also choose to have just a Mother Blessing Circle or a Baby Shower.)

Rose Theme: A rose themed gathering can include items like a pink altar cloth, pink roses, rose quartz crystals, rose essential oil to share, rose flower crowns etc. All guests can choose to wear white clothes, or come wearing their own flower crowns.

Motherhood Blessings Circle: As we sip ceremonial cacao together, we start with the mom sharing about her motherhood experience or perhaps her own wishes for motherhood, and then each of her friends share blessings, wishes, advice, or stories to support her on her motherhood journey.

Rose Crowning: As each woman is sharing their motherhood wishes and stories in circle, she is holding a beautiful rose crown. This crown, holding all the energy of this beautiful support and blessings, is then presented to the new mom after the sharing round, acknowledging her passage into motherhood.

Mother Rites of Danu: Working directly with the new mom, I can share a very simple rite of passage blessing with her from my own Irish Celtic and pre-Celtic lineage, passed on to me by my Moon Mná mentor. It involves the use of a “Mother Stone”, which, unless she already has a special stone, statue or crystal that she’d like to use, I can gift to her.

Baby Blessings Circle: Each person in circle, starting with the mom, shares blessings, dreams and wishes for the baby. These blessings and wishes can be written on paper and placed in a special gift box, which is then presented to the mom and baby after the sharing circle is complete.

Faerie Rites: I can perform a very simple faerie blessing for the baby (if the baby is present) from my own Irish Celtic and pre-Celtic lineage, passed on to me by my Moon Mná mentor. We can also include some faerie celebration music, as we co-create some sacred sound together with our drums and bells!

Gifts: If receiving mother and baby shower gifts is part of the event, we can dedicate the last section of our circle to having some treats and time for gift-giving. This may also be a good time to receive some oracle card guidance and insight too.

More Ideas & Inspiration: You may be interested in including certain themes, topics and rituals from other rites of passage celebrations too, so scroll up and down for more ideas!

Sample Mother & Baby Shower Schedule

2:30 – 3:00pm: Set Up

3:00 – 3:15pm: Welcome & Settle

3:15 – 3:45pm: Open Sacred Space & Meditation

3:45pm: Serve Ceremonial Cacao

3:45 – 4:15pm: Mother Blessings Circle & Rose Crowning

4:15 – 4:30pm: Mother Rites of Danu

4:30 – 5:00pm: Baby Blessings Circle & Gift Box Presentation

5:00 – 5:30pm: Celebratory Treats, (Gifts) & Oracle Card Shares

5:30 – 5:45pm: Close Sacred Space & Relaxing Sing Bowl Meditation

5:45 – 6:00pm: Clean Up

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Wise Woman Celebrations

In addition to our circle format outlined above, here’s a list of some themes, rituals and sharing topics we can include to create a meaningful and magical celebration honoring your journey through menopause and into your full power as wild wise woman:

Wise Woman Theme: A Wise Woman themed celebration can include nature-based items on the altar, owl feathers, Goddess adornments like bindis, simple flower crowns, hair feathers. Guests can dress in whatever makes them feel like divine goddesses. And I love to bring along some additional “Goddess Adornments” to my women’s circles and special themed gatherings, including bindis, Indian jewelry, simple flower crowns, hair feathers, and coin belts!

Wise Woman Blessings Circle: As we sip ceremonial cacao together, we start with the wise woman sharing about her crone hood experience or perhaps her own wishes for her wise woman years, and then each of her friends share blessings, wishes, advice, or stories to support her on her wild wise woman journey. These blessings and wishes can be written on paper and placed in a special gift box, which is then presented to her after the sharing round is complete.

Shamanic Drum Journey: Journeying or ‘Imramma’ is a traditional Celtic and pre-Celtic way to connect with our own spiritual guidance. With eyes closed, following spoken guidance and a primal rhythmic drum beat, the sisters gathered in circle can travel to their own inner world to gain personal insight. Connecting to the theme, the intention for the journey can be to connect to your own inner wise wild woman and receive a message or guidance from her.

Crone Rites of An Cailleach: Working directly with the wise woman, I can share a very simple rite of passage blessing with her from my own Irish Celtic and pre-Celtic lineage, passed on to me by my Moon Mná mentor. It involves the use of a “Crone Stone”, which, unless she already has a special stone, statue or crystal that she’d like to use, I can gift to her.

Fire, Drumming & Crone Chant: In support of our Crone Rites of An Cailleach, we can gather around the fire in wild woman sisterhood beating our drums and chanting the Moon Mna Crone chant, “I am an old woman, I am a young woman, I am a new woman, ancient as before.” 

More Ideas & Inspiration: You may be interested in including certain themes, topics and rituals from other rites of passage celebrations too, so scroll up for more ideas!

Sample Wise Woman Celebration Schedule

6:30 – 7:00pm: Set Up

7:00 – 7:15pm: Welcome & Settle

7:15 – 7:45pm: Open Sacred Space & Meditation

7:45pm: Serve Ceremonial Cacao

7:45 – 8:15pm: Wise Woman Blessings Circle & Gift Box Presentation

8:15 – 8:45pm: Shamanic Drum Journey

8:45 – 9:00pm: Fire, Drumming, Chant & Crone Rites

9:00 – 9:30pm: Celebratory Treats, (Gifts) & Oracle Card Shares

9:30 – 9:45pm: Close Sacred Space & Relaxing Sing Bowl Meditation

9:45 – 10:00pm: Clean Up

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Package Details

Facilitation Package: $300

I facilitate your special event and you choose the location!

Includes:

• 3-hour specially curated event facilitation
• Complimentary ceremonial cacao (for up to 10 women)
• Sacred space and altar set up
• Oracle cards (including Divine Feminine, Goddess, Rose and Celtic themed, as appropriate)
• Extra noise-makers to share (shakers and bells)
• Cups, plates, napkins (option of simple terra-cotta cups or fancy tea cups and saucers!)
• Take-home gift of an Ask the Light Miracle card for each woman

Specific Items Also Included:

• Menarche Celebrations: Red tent themed altar decor, Red thread, “Maiden Stone” (red jasper keepsake for the girl, for her Maiden Blessing).
• Bachelorette & Birthday Parties: Goddess themed altar decor, Goddess adornments (bindis, Indian jewelry, simple flower crowns, hair feathers, and coin belts), Divine Feminine anointing oil
• Mother & Baby Showers: Rose themed altar decor, “Mother Stone” (rose quartz keepsake for the mom, for her Mother Blessing).
• Wise Woman Celebrations: Wild woman themed altar decor, “Crone Stone” (clear quartz keepsake for the wise woman, for her Crone Blessing)

Each Guest Brings:

• Cushion, blanket or backjack/floor chair to sit on
• Drinking water
• Celebration treats to share (optional)
• Drums or noise-makers (optional)
• Written wishes (if part of the event)
• Gifts (if part of the event)

Guests are Responsible For Providing (if part of the event):

• Flower crowns
• Gift box
• Champagne & glasses

Facilitation + TreeGarden Package: $500 (TBC)

I facilitate your special event at beautiful TreeGarden!

In addition to the above, this package includes:

• TreeGarden venue rental for 3 1/2 hours
• Use of indoor studio, with space for 10 women sitting in circle
• Use of outdoor space which includes fire pit, stage, outdoor lighting
• Use of tables and chairs if needed

Working Together

One Point of Contact: I ask that I work with just one main point of contact for your event.

One Payment: Payment in full is to be made by this one point of contact, leaving you to divide up the cost among your friends in whatever way works best for you all.

Austin Location: I’m based in south Austin, and am open to travel to locations nearby (south, east, west, central). If your location is further north or out of town, we can discuss a travel fee.

Inclusivity: These events are suitable for all cis and trans women, as well as non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centers on the experiences of women.

Lineage: Our circle rituals are rooted in Irish Celtic and preCeltic wisdom because that is my native lineage and indigenous tradition, and therefore the tradition in which I can hold us all in the most powerful, respectful and integral sacred container. You do not need to have any Irish or Celtic ancestry in order to connect with the rituals in these gatherings. Our themes are universal, and all wisdom teachings of the world are honored and respected in our sacred gatherings.

Reach Out!

Interested in planning a rites of passage celebration for yourself or a loved one? Let’s work together to create a truly magical, mindful and meaningful celebration. Reach out …

This circle was so Alive with ‘Heart and Soul’. Medicine for me!

Oriane, October 2021

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Additional Vendors

We have a list of some wonderful vendors showcased on our Sisters in Business page that you can include in your special celebration. These are not included in our rental packages, but we encourage the support of the sisterhood! Perhaps you’d like to gather for yoga before circle, or include a special edible table for everyone to enjoy, or finish your event with an ecstatic dance party.

Certain activities can be included as part of our 3-hour event, or before or after, in which case you’ll need to organize additional time with the venue.

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Go Raibh Gach Duine Sásta

May All Beings Be Happy

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Go Raibh Gach Duine Suaimhneach

May All Beings Be Peaceful

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Go Raibh Gach Duine Saoradh

May All Beings Be Liberated