Today marks our 120th day (after conception) which in some cultures and traditions comes along with a special celebration to welcome the soul! We’re taking a very conscious approach to preconception, pregnancy, birthing and parenting so I’m excited that I was introduced to this tradition through a beautiful ‘Welcoming The Soul’ celebration with dear friends a few months ago.
Pregnancy has lead me on an exploration of Kundalini Yoga which also speaks of the 120th Day Celebration. I just finished reading Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful which I highly recommend!! Here’s what the author, Gurmukh has to say about the 120th Day Celebration:
“In this very ancient tradition in which I live, we have a special celebration during pregnancy to honour the soul who arrives on the one hundred and twentieth day after conception, which corresponds to the fourth month of pregnancy, about a month into your second trimester. Before the end of the first trimester, the fetus that supports the soul hasn’t been completely fortified, and this is when the majority of miscarriages happen. Before that date, the entering soul is still unaffected by worldly influences, existing only in radiance.
When the soul enters the body, a baby’s subconscious mind begins to develop and absorb a multitude of messages, the way a dry sponge soaks up water. Usually morning sickness has subsided, and we are getting our bearings on life; the waters become more calm. In our homes, the father of the arriving soul, friends, and family of the mother organize the celebration so we don’t have to do anything. They prepare delicious food, arrange flowers, and light candles. They call together members of the community, who bring gifts to honour the mother. Singing, poems, and scriptures can be read – whatever they feel the new mother would love – along with plenty of good food served. Everyone prays for physical, mental and spiritual well-being so she is strong and able to pass those qualities through herself to the baby.
It is one of our most beautiful celebrations, and one I encourage you to take on in whatever context is appropriate for your life and your beliefs.”
I also like this introduction to the 120th Day Celebration by Kundalini Women.org:
“Yogic tradition celebrates that woman becomes a mother one hundred-twenty days after conception. The Creative Force grants full incarnation of the soul into the body. Previously, the soul was subtly linked to the growing cells in the womb. The woman is now the vehicle for the soul to fully incarnate; now she is mother.
Before the 120th day, the incarnating soul is still unaffected by the limitations and influences of the earth. After the 120th day of pregnancy until the navel cord is separated from the mother, the subconscious mind of the child is formed. While the child is in the womb, the mother is the vibratory receptor for the child.”
I didn’t realize that today was our 120th day until I looked at my calendar this morning. It’s interesting that I’ve only felt baby move once so far but last night I felt like I was drifting in and out of a dream state and baby was moving around a lot, then I woke up when I felt a distinct rolling around movement. Perhaps it was our baby’s soul reaching out to say hello? Baby was definitely communicating to me through my dreams last night.
While we won’t be celebrating with a formal get together, Rich and I plan to do a private celebration to welcome our baby’s soul tonight. There’s a great couples meditation in the book for connecting with your baby and opening the heart chakra that we’ll do together, for the first time. I also LOVE the song “Long Time Sun” by Snatam Kaur that we sing at my Kundalini Yoga class so I’m going to see if I can convince Rich to sing it with me to our baby tonight!
Did you welcome your baby’s soul with a 120th Day Celebration or is this the first time you’re learning about it? I’d love to hear from you!
I am just hearing of this! I would have loved to celebrate this during my pregnancies:-). Congratulations on becoming a mama! Blessings to you and your sweet little soul.
This is such a lovely way to document your pregnancy, Crystal! And the photos are beautiful. Happy 120!
Thanks for the great information!
Wow, this is so beautiful. We are well past 120 days but I would love to do a welcoming ceremony anyway!
Thank you for sharing this. I have never heard of this, but I love the idea and would like to do this for my next pregnancy.
It is interesting. Thanks for this wonderful idea. My next pregnancy i will celebrate 120days.
hello! I am first hearing of this but am surprised as I have practiced yoga for years and am currently at 12wks of pregnancy! I’m delighted to have stumbled upon it when researching Hatha yoga asanas for pregnancy.
I am also a HypnoBirthing instructor and am delighted to share this with all of the couples that I work with!
One question, if you don’t know exact conception date do you suggest calculating the 120th day from last day of last menstrual Cycle before conception?
Thank you for such a lovely post!
Andrea
Hi,
The concept of the soul entering the fetus at 120 days is actually an Islamic one. There are references for this in the Quran and hadiths….a miracle. I’m happy to see its being borrowed into yoga.