Closing the Bones: A Ritual for Honouring Life’s Transitions
There are moments in life when we are forever changed—birth, grief, endings, or transformations that shift the very ground beneath us. In these times, we often long for stillness, for a safe place to pause, be held, and find our centre again. Closing the Bones is one such practice: an ancient ritual of deep rest and renewal, offering a cocoon of support as we move through life’s most profound transitions. Wrapped in woven shawls, rocked gently like the rhythm of the womb, we are invited back into a cocoon of safety. Here, in the quiet, we remember our centre, we honour all that has been carried, all that is changing, and all that is yet to come.
What Is Closing the Bones?
Closing the Bones is an ancient South American ritual passed down through generations of Curanderas (medicine women). Traditionally, it was used to honour and support women after childbirth, helping to physically and energetically “close” the body and pelvis after the openness of pregnancy and birth.
At the heart of the ritual are rebozos—long woven shawls—used to gently wrap and rock the body, pelvis, and womb. This creates a cocooning sensation of safety, warmth, and deep rest, offering a space to be held, both physically and emotionally.
More Than Postpartum Care
While rooted in supporting mothers, Closing the Bones has expanded into a practice for anyone moving through profound change. Whether it is grief, the end of a relationship, a major life transition, or simply the need to return to yourself, this ritual honours these thresholds with tenderness and intention.
The Power of Stillness and Holding
In our fast-moving world, Closing the Bones invites us to slow down. Being wrapped and rocked in stillness is like entering a cave—giving an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect. This stillness gives access to something deeper than the thinking mind: the wisdom of the body, the guidance of ancestors, and the quiet strength within.
It is a space to acknowledge what has been carried, to honour what has ended, and to rest before stepping into what is to come.
A Bridge Between Phases of Life
Life is full of portals—birth, death, endings, beginnings, transformations big and small. Crossing these thresholds can feel overwhelming, but rituals like Closing the Bones help us to honour the passage.
Through gentle wrapping and holding, the body finds grounding, the mind softens, and the spirit reconnects with its inner compass. These moments of care and quiet reflection can help us transform challenges into opportunities for growth—the gold hidden within the difficulties.
Why Closing the Bones Matters
Closing the Bones is more than a physical practice—it is a ceremony of acknowledgement, healing, and renewal. It reminds us that we don’t have to rush through life’s changes; we can pause, honour them, and allow ourselves to be held.
Whether you are healing after birth, stepping into a new chapter or grieving a loss, this ritual offers a way to return home to yourself, feeling steadier, softer, and more whole.
To allow ourselves to be wrapped, held, and witnessed in this way is to remember that we are never alone in our journeys. Closing the Bones is not only a ritual of tenderness and love for the body, but a ceremony of remembrance—of the strength within us, the wisdom of those who came before, and the gold that can be found even in life’s most difficult passages. May this practice be a reminder that every ending, every beginning, every transformation is sacred—and that in pausing to honour them, we find our way back home to ourselves.
If you are moving through a time of change—whether the birth of new life, the closing of a chapter, or a quiet transformation within—I invite you to honour it with tenderness. Closing the Bones offers a sacred space to pause, to be held, and to reconnect with your centre.
✨ If this practice speaks to you, it would be my deepest honour to hold this space for you. Book a session or reach out to learn more or simply begin a conversation about where you are on your journey, and how I can help.