Rite of Passage ceremony

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

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 every transition in a woman's life. Today, in Sydney and across Australia not to mention around the world, women are quietly searching for a way back to this, back to ceremony, back to themselves, back to being witnessed in their becoming.

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. These life moments deserve to be witnessed, held, and honoured.


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.

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

What you’ll experience

Every ceremony is tailored to you, your transition, your intention, your body, and where you are in your cycle or life stage. 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.

  • 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

  • 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

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

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 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 consultation, with no surprises.

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

This ceremony is offered at $675 AUD and includes:

  • A pre-ceremony consultation

  • 2–2.5 hours of sacred ceremonial space

  • ‘Limpia’ energy cleansing

  • Womb massage (where appropriate)

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

  • Post-ceremony integration time

  • Possible additions: energy healing, sound healing


Meet your guide

Vanessa Del Castillo Rite of passage ceremony in Sydney

I'm Vanessa, a life coach, energy facilitator and shamanic apprentice under the Q'ero Nation of Peru, Rite of the Womb and Munay-Ki rites lineage carrier, and ceremonial guide 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—years of fertility struggles, womb imbalances, grief, and a deep inner journey that cracked me open and led me back to myself. I don't offer what I haven't lived.

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.

Do you want 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


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.


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. toyour 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 candiscuss 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.