Baby Namings are a way to honor the sacred power of a new life, its connection to Spirit, and your intentions to bring it up in a way that honors its soul and soul-path. It invokes protection, implicitly or explicitly, for the new one. And offers a chance for your family, friends and community to welcome your child into the world and promise their support.

Baptism of an adult is a way of making the end of an era in a life, cleansing and sanctifying yourself in the present, and initiating a new path for the future. I do not baptize a being into any particular faith (for that you need to return to the church or temple in question) but into the path of Spirit.

We can make the baby-welcoming or baptism as simple or complex as you like, drawing from the traditions and symbols that mean most to you and your family. Below is one example of a non-denominational baby-naming.

Naming Ceremony for a Baby: { for Ruby Anne, child of Fred and Bridgette. Grandparents are Jewish and Irish Catholic, parents retain their cultures, but lean towards Buddhism Earth-honoring paths.} Parentís requestó: "Please come up with something that allows the families to feel honored and included, but doesnít allow them to project their views on the baby."

Setting- Home-Kitchen. Everyone is given a paper with a picture of the baby, a brief explanation of the ceremony by the parents, and the words to a river-chant. We meet in the living room and move to the kitchen, where a white cloth is spread over the center prep island, with a large bowl in the center, a pitcher of warm water standing near by, a small pot of earth with a little tree growing in it, a basket of washed sea shells, and a tall candle behind. We leave a blank book waiting in the living room for peopleís comments afterwards.)

Welcome to this little one, the first arrival in this new generation. She is a new being in and of herself, and also a product of all that flows in the rivers of these two wonderful families gathered here today. Remember the cultural and spiritual lineage that flows through you and into this child, and join me as we sing her into the kitchen, the heart of her home, to bless her and welcome her together:

ALL:

The river keeps on flowing
Flowing and growing
The river keeps on flowing
Down to the sea
Mother carry me,
your child I will always be
Mother carry me down to the sea.
Father carry me,
your child I will always be,
Father carry me down to the sea.
The river keeps on flowing Ö( chorus)

(Father rings a bell once, now- and at the endóding!)

Reverend: (R:) We gather here together to welcome and celebrate this precious new being into our heart, our family, and the circle of our community; and to support her wonderful parents, Fred and Bridgette, on this great adventure. Family life is a mystery and a miracle where each one of us learns from the other, where each one of us is a teacher and Spirit works through all. It is a dharma lesson, a core-deep soul-learning, as well as a joyful gift of the heart.

"Why are we all here to witness her naming? throughout many historical and spiritual traditions, the act of naming forges a special bond, it is a vow to see the unique individuality of this being, while accepting,- in partnership with Spirit- a responsibility to watch over and nurture, to take care of and teach, this precious being, this divine love made manifest- until she is ready to bloom on her own.

"Every family needs support through this growing process, every child needs its network, its web of special adults that guide, nurture, protect, and play with them along the way; fresh adults to look in their eyes and see their personhood, and to offer the fruits of their experience in lifeís trouble moments. What do you wish for this child? (I pick up the basket of shells and pass them around) Please take a shell from this basket and hold it though the ceremony, and infuse it with your wish; whether itís a gift you want to give this child, a trait of your own youíd like to share, some ability or attitude youíd like to invoke for her. Afterwards, please write your thought or gift down in the book in the living room so she may look at it in years to come, and feel your support.

"I am happy to see such wonderful family support in the room, and I light this candle to call in the memory of this little oneís ancestors, back through the halls of time, that the best of their attributes, their wisdom and example, may be a guiding light to this child, and strength to her family; may she never forget where she came from even as she adventures in to the uncharted terrain of her future.

"Fred and Bridgette come forth and let us bless and support you in this new path of parent hood. May each and every one of us in this room, all family past and present, and may Spirit --in all its many forms-- support you in this new beginning. Leave your preconceptions behind and approach this mystery of family anew, with the distilled wisdom of your past as a resource, but present to the amazing possibilities of the future.

"May our support help fortify your love for one another and for your child, and strengthen your family that you can feel so fed in your hearts that you operate in emotional abundance throughout the years ahead. Know you can reach into this pool of love around you whenever your own fires burn low.

"This miracle of family dives us deep into the ocean of soul. May we all, with grace, support you to dive deep and swim to the surface, and remind you to stay in touch with your own feelings as you care for one another.

"May we all support you in practical ways as well, hold you in our embrace and help you manifest your love and dreams even as you stir the oatmeal and tend the hearth together.

"Let us all meditate for a moment on the love and strength these two have together, and bless them with our confidence in their role of parenting ahead. Let us hold for a moment in our minds the image of this family guarded and watched over, whether we see them watched over by the 4 guardian angels, or the 4 directions, by Avalokitesvera, Christ, light, or the ancestors; let us see these good people surrounded by Spirit in whatever form is most dear to us, and ask this Spirit to watch over them and guide them throughout the years ahead.

"Remember this vision, and return to it should you ever worry.

"Bridgette and Fred, youíve been gifted with this precious offspring and begun your journey together. What name have you chosen for this child?

"We choose Ruby, because she is our shining jewel, and Anne after her maternal great-grandmother, whose enthusiasm and longevity weíd like to invoke.

"Hello Ruby Anne, we see you. we hope to discover who you are in the years ahead".

To the room:

"Are you all willing to be part of her circle or support?"

ALL: Yes

R: May your community blossom in response.

(to the parents) Who do you ask to be her special parents of Spirit, to help guide her soulís explorations and make sure she has the spiritual resources she needs?

"We ask John, longtime friend and teacher, and Julie, circle-sister to Bridgette, to be her Spirit parents.

"John and Julie, do you agree to enter into partnership with Spirit and guide this child in the exploration of her spiritual heritage and potential spiritual resources? Will you be there to help her ask the tough questions and seek answers that work for her soul? To find her own truth?"

Spirit Parents: Yes we do.

R: May this bless you as much as it will her.

R: Will you grandparents agree to share with this child all your stories, and though those stories, the richness of her familiesí history and her people, while still allowing her to find her own way to he future?

Grandparents: We will.

R: May your life be enriched with love returned.

R: Wonderful, your circle is here to receive you, Ruby Anne.

To the circle:

"Please spend another minute with your shell, breath into it the blessings you hold for Ruby Anne, and then put your shells, imbued with your gifts and good wishes into the bowl. Fred, will you pour the warmed water over the shellsó

(Bridgette is holding the child)

"Ruby Anne- (I blow a puff on her head-top, belly and feet), I welcome you with air. May you always find the breath of life, inspiration, wings for your words, and the willingness to be awed and made hopeful by each new dawn.

"I welcome you with fire (as I pass my hand over the flame and touch her heart) ñ may your heart always be warmed by those who love you, and by your contact with the inner flame of spirit, and so pour for the warmth of compassion to all living beings. May you find your bliss in life and let it pour forth in abundance to enlighten your world.

"I welcome you with water, blessed by the spirit that has poured through the hearts of all present. Bridgette, will you dip her feet into the water? (I touch her belly, heart, third eye, crown and back of her head with water.)óRuby Anne, May this cleanse you of all the soulís clutter you may have arrived with, while retaining the soulís wisdom youíve earned; may you see our world afresh though your new infant eyes (touching her eyebrows); bathed in our well wishes and dreams for you, but never so immersed in our dreams that you loose track of your own. May the love infused in this water encourage you to stay in touch with your heart and feel buoyed by the infinite sea of Spirit all your life.

"I welcome you with earth (taking a bit of earth from the pot with the tree, and touching her feet,)óthat you may feel nourished by your life, and grow deep roots, as deep as this tree can grow; roots of body, mind, and soul to ground and manifest. Grow the tree of your life into a mighty tree; live in health, abundance and productivity, supported by roots deep in spirit-made-manifest, the earth itself, as well as the roots of your lineage, and roots deep in the community around you.Welcome little oneó

In closing, I offer a traditional blessing:

May Spirit bless you and keep you
May Spiritís presence shine upon you and be gracious to you
May Spiritís presence be with you;
and grant you those most precious gifts of
life, love, good health, joy, and peace,
Now and forever more.
Amen

"Letís hum ourselves back into the living room with our river song, and all share the wonderful food youíve brought to shower sweetness and nourishment on this baby and her family. Please fill the book on the table with the blessings you imbued into your shells. Thank you ancestors and elements for your presence, and thank you all for being here, the circle is open."