Rite of Passage ceremony

Come be witnessed, be held, be (re)born

Whether you are stepping into motherhood, moving through grief, closing a chapter, or simply feeling the call to honour who you are right now—this sacred ceremony is here for you.

A Rite of Passage is not just a ritual, it is a return to the sacredness of your becoming. For thousands of years, women gathered in circles to mark these transitions. Today, women in Sydney and around the world are quietly searching for a way back to this—back to ceremony, back to themselves, back to being witnessed.

This ceremony is for you if:

✓ You are moving through a life change and want to be seen in it, not rushed through it

✓ You feel called to mark your transition with ritual and reverence

✓ You are ready to release an old version of yourself and step into the new

✓ You feel the call to reconnect with your feminine essence

✓ You are reclaiming ancestral, feminine, or indigenous wisdom

✓ You are in Sydney or travelling to work with me in person

Rite of Passage ceremony, closing of the bones Sydney Australia

This isn’t for you if:

✗ You are not open to energy work, touch, or spiritual practices

✗ You prefer a clinical or psychological approach to transitions

✗ You are uncomfortable receiving bodywork or guided inner journeys

✗ You find it difficult to show emotions or be vulnerable (although if this resonates—this ceremony might be exactly what you need)

Rite of Passage ceremony, closing of the bones Sydney Australia
Person lying on a bed with a colorful, woven blanket, while another person drapes a similar blanket over their stomach.

What is a Rite of Passage ceremony?

A Rite of Passage is a sacred, intentional ceremony that marks a transition in your life, from maiden to mother, from one version of yourself to the next, from grief to becoming. It is not therapy. It is not a workshop. It is a deeply personal, ancestral experience rooted in earth-based traditions from Central and South America.

This ceremony is held in a safe, intimate, and beautifully prepared sacred space. It is designed to support you in letting go of past versions of yourself, softening the protective layers you no longer need, and allowing yourself to be truly seen in your truth.

You don't need any prior experience with ceremony or spiritual practice. You only need an open heart and the willingness to receive.

This is your invitation to mark a sacred threshold in your life with ceremony, intention, and ancestral remembrance.

Come and let go of who you were.
Reclaim who you're becoming.

book your ceremony
rite of passage ceremony, closing of the bones, cerrada de cadera ceremony

What you’ll experience

What is shared below is a guide, not a fixed formula. If you are pregnant, postpartum, or moving through a specific kind of transition, the ceremony will be shaped accordingly.

  • Preparation call — When you book your ceremony, we'll first meet online to learn your intentions, purpose, and to answer any questions you may have. After the call, you will receive a Preparation Guide so you know what items to gather, what to wear, and feel confident during this time.

  • Altar creation — together we create a space of beauty and intention to open the ceremony

  • Elemental invocation & intention setting — calling in the directions, the elements, and your ancestors to witness you

  • Limpia (energetic cleansing) — a traditional energy clearing with sacred smoke, plants, and flowers to release what no longer belongs to you

  • Sobada Womb massage — a gentle, sacred touch to reconnect, soften, and awaken your centre of creation (included where appropriate depending on your cycle and life stage)

  • Cerrada de Cadera (Closing of the Bones) — rooted in Curanderismo ancestral tradition, this powerful practice wraps your body in cloth and invites you into the cocoon of deep stillness, where you journey inward with the drum. This moment is an energetic rebirth.

We close with time for integration, sharing, and grounding back into your body.

You will leave not just transformed, but witnessed, remembered, and empowered.

limpia, rite of passage ceremony, closing of the bones, cerrada de cadera ceremony
Vanessa Del Castillo Rite of passage ceremony in Sydney

A Note before you book

This ceremony may include a womb massage, which is not recommended in the following circumstances:

  • During pregnancy (please reach out, I can adapt the ceremony for you)

  • During menstruation or the days leading up to bleeding (ideal timing is one or two days after your bleed has finished, or two before it starts)

  • Within 6 weeks after a vaginal birth. Within 3 months (12 weeks) after a C-section or abdominal surgery

  • If you have an intrauterine device (IUD), as the massage may affect its placement

  • If you are unsure about timing, get in touch and we will find what works for you.

Investment

This ceremony is traditionally held in your own home, a space that already carries your energy, your vibration, and your story. If that is not possible, I can recommend alternative sacred spaces in Sydney that feel right for the work.

I travel to you with all ceremonial materials, tools, and altar elements included. If your location requires complex transportation logistics, a small travel fee may apply. This will be discussed openly and transparently during your preparation call, with no surprises.

Payment plans are available for women in financial constraint, reach out if this is you.

book your ceremony

This ceremony is offered at $675 AUD and includes:

  • A preparation call

  • In-person 2–2.5 hours of sacred ceremonial space

  • ‘Limpia’ energy cleansing

  • Sobada Womb massage (where appropriate)

  • Closing of the Bones (Cerrada de Cadera) with shamanic drum journey

  • Post-ceremony integration time

  • Possible additions: sound healing

Meet your guide

I'm Vanessa, a life coach, energy facilitator and shamanic practitioner and apprentice under the Q'ero Nation of Peru, I’m a shamanic initiate of Rite of the Womb and Munay-Ki Rites lineage carrier, all my work and ceremonies are rooted in Central and South American earth-based traditions.

I learnt womb healing and curanderismo practices with Cecilia from Reconexión Uterina, an Argentinian medicine woman. I also study with the Shipibo-Conibo tradition of the Peruvian Amazon.

I came to this work through my own initiation—a journey through the womb, grief, and the depths of my own becoming that ultimately reconnected me with my true nature and the joy of being a woman. Every step of that path shaped who I am today.

Now based in Sydney, I hold this work with reverence, integrity, and a deep respect for my teachers and the lineages that gifted it to us.

Get to know my story →

rite of passage ceremony, closing of the bones, cerrada de cadera ceremony

This sacred container is an invitation to pause, connect, and celebrate life’s most tender transitions.

Testimonials

  • Person holding a sparkler firework at night sky, with a blurred background of city lights and bokeh.

    ★★★★★

    “Vanessa guided me through her Rite of Passage ceremony and I’m grateful I said yes. From the very beginning, she was thorough as the intake process felt intentional and clear, and I could tell she actually cared about who I am and what I was walking into, not just “checking boxes.” During the ceremony, Vanessa came prepared on every level and held real space the entire time. As things opened up and shifted throughout the experience, she stayed grounded, present, and steady and I felt safe to let whatever needed to come through… come through. No forcing or agenda, just deep reverence and strong, calm leadership. I truly feel every woman should experience something like this at least once as a way of honoring the feminine — not as a trend, but as a real initiation and remembrance”

    —ASHLEY J

  • ★★★★★

    “Vanessa supported me with a Rite of Passage ceremony that was instrumental is shifting my relationship with dependency on certain plants in my day to day life.

    This ceremony was supportive of honoring the role this plant played in my life with reverence while also re-patterning and rebirthing me through the limpia into a new cycle. I felt truly transported into a healing realm and emerged lighter, more present and committed to my path. I highly recommend this session for anyone struggling with addiction, codependency or feel like they need to reclaim their womb and rebirth themselves into a new chapter”

    —KATYA S

  • A heart-shaped light made of string lights on a sandy surface at night, with a blurry background.

    ★★★★★

    “Rites of Passage is so needed and Vanessa’s passion for it makes the whole process that much more powerful and enjoyable. I wish and hope every woman receives such an incredible experience!”

    —ANASTASIA S

  • A woman with shoulder-length black hair, smiling, wearing a gray top, standing in front of a light-colored wall.

    ★★★★★

    "My sacral/womb ceremony with Vanessa was deeply healing and nurturing. From the moment we began, I felt completely safe, supported, and able to release what no longer served me while receiving beautiful spiritual insights. Vanessa creates a space filled with deep ancestral reverence and beautiful sacred energy. When she wrapped me in the blankets, it felt as though I had returned to the womb. I felt held, cared for, and embraced by the Divine feminine. It was an experience of profound comfort and renewal. She is highly intuitive and gifted in her ability to connect with Pachamama and her shamanic roots. I highly recommend a session with her to anyone seeking deep reconnection to their feminine magic and ready to step into their true power."

    —MIN LEE

  • A woman with long brown hair sitting and looking down.

    ★★★★★

    “Vane good evening, I wanted to thank you for the group ceremony that you shared with us today, I feel so connected to my womb and to the women in my family. This terapy helped me free myself from many past ties. I feel energetically freer, and my womb feels healthier. Thank you so very much!. May the universe always bless you”

    —MONICA P

Rite of Passage ceremony, closing of the bones Sydney Australia

Ready to be held in sacred ceremony? If you are walking through a transition, big or small, and feel the call to be witnessed, honoured, and supported, I invite you to book your Rite of Passage. This ceremony is a gift to your body, your spirit, and your path.

Book your rite of passage ceremony

FAQ

  • Approximately 2–2.5 hours, depending on your intention and process.

    • Not at all. This ceremony is designed to be accessible to any woman regardless of her background or experience. All you need is an open heart and a willingness to receive.

  • No. This ceremony is open to all women from the moment they have had their first period. It is not limited to motherhood — it is a celebration of all transitions. Whether you are moving through a breakup, menopause, grief, a first menstruation, or simply the shedding of an old identity — this space is for you.

  • No. The ceremony includes a womb massage, which must be received between menstruations. You can refer to the Womb Massage page for more information on timing and preparation.

  • You may invite a sister, mother, or friend to witness you — if that feels right. The ceremony is designed to centre your own inner journey. If you wish to be celebrated and held in a group setting, let. me know during our initial consultation.

  • The minimum recommended time is 40 days postpartum, aligned with la cuarentena, the traditional 40-day resting and integration period after birth.

    If you recently gave birth:
    The ideal window is 6–12 weeks postpartum. There is no "too late", this ceremony can be deeply beneficial months or even years after birth, especially if you feel energetically open or scattered, disconnected from your body or womb, emotionally raw or unfinished around the birth, or are finding it difficult to transition into motherhood or back into yourself.

    If you are currently pregnant and wish to have a Rite of Passage:
    I can customised an experience in alignment to your needs and desires.

  • I am based in Sydney, Australia and offer this ceremony in person only.

    If you are travelling from interstate or internationally, please get in touch and we can discuss logistics.

  • After booking your ceremony, we will have an online pre-ceremony video chat and I will send you a short preparation guide so you can arrive with full presence. All ceremonial tools, herbs, and setup are provided.