About this time in my life, I began to teach childbirth
education and prenatal yoga classes. My goal was to help
more babies be born consciously ~thus, creating a sustainable
future for my own child ~ and future grandchildren. I
had a significant dream during these years. In my dream
two brilliant white doves flew to me. I watched them land
on my hands, and when they walked from my hands, now tingling
with energy, up my arms, to my heart, I was filled with
radiant light. I understood at that time that my hands
and heart were agents of the healing light. It was awhile
later that I met this archetype in the Greek myth of the
two midwives who flew to the birth of the twins Artemis
and Apollo in the form of doves. By then I was well known
as the "baby lady" of my community and preparing
for my next challenge in reclaiming birth.
My second and third births were twins and when I was
in the hospital, they x-rayed me and announced that my
pelvis may be too small and I would need a cesarean section.
I checked myself out of the hospital and went home to
give ecstatic birth to my footling breech baby, Oceana
Violet and her head first twin, Cheyenne Coral. From that
point on, 1974, I have only birthed and midwifed at home.
I clearly saw what a distraction hospitals can be when
giving birth.
After my third birth, I understood that I needn't hire
anyone to be paranoid for me when laboring to bring forth
my young. In 1975 I became a spiritual midwife whose main
tools are my faith in the naturalness of birth, my healing
hands and word medicine. My community made me a midwife
by asking me to attend births. Rather than getting trained
by an institution, and learning a medical set of rituals
to take women through birth, I apprenticed directly to
birth itself. My promise as spiritual midwife is to honor
the journey, be attentive to what presents itself, and
remind a mother by my presence that she already knows
how to give birth. I trust that if a woman consciously
conceives her baby without the help of experts, she is
able to give birth unassisted by the medical experts.
My "back-up is whatever God-Us is "on call"
that night ~ in over a generation of attending births,
every woman I have midwifed has given spontaneous birth.
Once I was called to a birth and forgot to bring my birthing
kit. Then I realised that I am my midwifery kit ~ I had
my ears through which I could hear the baby's heart, I
had my hands through which I could feel the baby, and
I had my heart ~ which loves the baby earthside. After
that experience in 1980, I founded HYGIEIA COLLEGE, a
mystery school in womancraft and lay midwifery I teach
the "inward skills" ~ how to cultivate intuition
and know our embodied perception is the medicine bundle,
or midwifery kit par excellence.
At this writing, mid-90's, there are over 600 students
currently enrolled in Hygieia College, studying an essential
midwifery which locates the power to give birth in the
God-Us ~ a divine life-force which brings our babies to
the light. It is an international mystery school which,
I am proud to say, graduates midwives who practice differently
than I. Each midwife serves her own community, and is
responsive to what is best-for-life in the moment. Rather
than a method, or a training course, Hygieia College is
a journey to the sources of healing and an un-training
of erroneous beliefs and actions which interfere with
spontaneous childbirth. I see this un-training process
akin to removing the mind swaddling of the prevailing
technocratic culture.
From attending birth mindfully, I recognized that there
is a lot of work to be done to heal fertility, specifically
the abortion epidemic and on the other extreme, infertility.
Women who had abortions as well as women who had difficulty
conceiving, are more likely to have difficulties surrendering
to the power of the birth-force. In 1986, my partner Frederick
Baker and I published the tome CONSCIOUS CONCEPTION: ELEMENTAL
JOURNEY THROUGH THE LABYRINTH OF SEXUALITY. In this book
we articulate the practice of fertility awareness as an
opportunity for Self-realization, in the specific focus
of fertility. My work in spiritual midwifery includes
conscious conception and I often connect with a family
before they conceive their baby in capacity of midwife.
What I notice is that a baby who is consciously conceived,
who is desired by both mother and father, already has
the foundation for health, wholeness and holiness in place.
A baby who is not wanted, on the other hand, is spiritually
handicapped in that their Source, the earthly mother and
father, are disconnected. Children who are not wanted
are more likely to be abused, and "act out"
for negative attention ~ for it is better to be wanted
by the police than not at all.
According to research reports, babies who are born in
violence (standard obstetrical management of birth in
hospital) are more likely to be involved in violent crimes
as youths and adults. (See the Jonn Vascocellos congressional
report from California.) My work in conscious conception,
toward making every baby a wanted baby (rather than a
mistake in a contraceptive method), contributes to a more
peaceful society.
My firstborn son, and fourth baby, Gannon Hamilton, was
our first freebirth. We didn't pay anyone to be responsible
for our baby's birth and in 1980, my partner, the baby's
father, and I experienced a most powerful spiritual initiation.
There were no other adults present to distract us from
the immense sexual bonding of the original lovers greeting
their newborn together. The Holy Trinity has new meaning
for us since Gannon's birth ~ Mother/Father/Baby. And
we honored the Son as he is ~ already enlightened, whole,
perfect. Needless to say, no circumcision.
When I conceived and birthed my fifth baby, Quinn Ambriel,
in 1985-86, I prepared for these experiences as a vision
quest. I was given a vision which has sustained me spiritually
ever since. When I ecstatically gave birth underwater
to my fifth baby Quinn, I saw every mother on this earth
giving birth with her lover between her legs ~ in a unique,
and creative expression of love. No masked man, no paid
paranoid in attendance ~ only the original lovers who
first invited the new one to join them in holy family.
I see this as central to what will bring peace and an
authentic self-sufficiency to the world. Once parents
birth their own babies, in a balanced partnership, they
know they can also take care of this baby. The trust that
is established in a freebirth, a delivery free of MANipulation
and medical control, lasts a lifetime.
The fear-based imprint of hospital birth is "the
institution will take care of me". The consequence
is socialized welfare ~ the institution of government
taking care of our own responsibilities. Again the experience
of being my own midwife has made me freer ever since and
the sequel of homebirth naturally follows: natural healing
at home (no pediatricians), home school (no teachers),
and the living experience of spirit (no churches). We
do not rely on institutions to mediate or make safe life
for us. Birth is as safe as life gets.
Continued …part2
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/July05/childbearing.htm
Copyright © Jeannine Parvati Baker
author of Conscious Conception
Conscious
Conception
http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.php?id=1000047&item=conscious-conceptionp
by Jeanine Parvati Baker is the comprehensive reference
for fertility awareness. All natural methods of family
planning, both ancient and current, are presented within
the larger context of sexuality and an evolving spirituality,
which embraces the religious wisdom traditions and goes
beyond.
"This book is a beautiful, breath of fresh
air! Ms. Baker is a goddess, and will thoroughly help
you to see the goddess within yourself. What can I
say about this lovely work of art? As you meditate
through the words of this "bible", you will
begin to cultivate a fertile self you never knew you
had. I bought this book to help with my fertility
problems, and it is wonderful in this aspect, but
it is oh, so much more! Please read this book."
Order
Jeanine Parvati Baker's book at our bookshop
http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.php?id=1000047&item=conscious-conceptionp
Or order via mail: Ash Tree Publishing PO
Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 include a check
or money order for $29.95 (CONSCIOUS CONCEPTION retails
for $25.00 plus $4.95 shipping)
Wise
Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year
http://www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/item_view.asp?estore_itemid=1000019
by Susun S. Weed. Simple, safe remedies for pregnancy, childbirth,
lactation, and newborns. Includes herbs for fertility and
birth control. Foreword by Jeannine Parvati Baker. 196 pages,
index, illustrations. Retails for $11.95.
Now in its 24th printing. A confirmed favorite with
pregnant women, midwives, childbirth educators, and new
parents. Packed with clear, comforting, and superbly helpful
information.
Read a
review
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/Weed_letter_Jan-02.htm#book
Read an excerpt: Herbal
Birth Control http://childbearing-year.com/excerpts-Herbal_Birth_Control.php