I’m guest-blogging today over at Midwife for your Life.
Both of my girls were delivered in a training hospital. I was surrounded by a LOT of nurses, aides, and for one of the two, a first-time-delivery teaching moment for a young intern. Craziness! And amazing. ‘Wouldn’t trade a second of it, as it’s my story, my memory, my earliest moments with my two precious daughters.
If I had it to do over again? I might have gone the midwife route. There’s something about the power of that relationship; of the idea of another advocating, guiding, compelling, and comforting in such a significant time/place that resonates with me.
That might be why I use the metaphor of midwifery to talk of Spiritual Direction. “It is a profound privilege for me to be in these spaces; to listen to your questions, to feel and honor your labor, to be with you in sacred and painful places – places burgeoning with life in the midst of doubt, struggle, and the unknown.”
And that is definitely why it is my profound privilege to be guest blogging at Midwife for your Life with Stacey Curnow. As a midwife Stacey has helped thousands of women achieve the birth of their dreams. And as a life coach she helps others give birth to a life they love.
I’m grateful to have the opportunity to speak in her realm; to be invited to “give birth” in a new and life-giving space. Thanks, Stacey!
Click to read today’s post over at Stacey’s site:
YOUR LIFE: AN AMAZING, ADVENTURE-FILLED STORY!
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this metaphor. Midwives attended both of my births and I have often, often thought seriously about going back to school to become a midwife myself. I think the advocacy, coaching, and gentle empowerment that marks all midwifery care that I’ve ever experienced or heard of is a fabulous model for both healthcare and spirit care.
Now I am off to check out your post!
Thanks, Lindsey. And I can totally imagine you in this role. You already serve as such as a mother, for sure; but also as a writer. Your voice is all of these things: advocacy, coaching, and gentle empowerment – often for yourself as you reflect, wonder, and weave, but implicitly for all of us who have the privilege of reading you! You are a gift to me in this spacious, virtual/real, desert-like world. Thank you.
Well…this is right up my alley! Did I ever mention to you that my older two were born in hospitals, and the youngest at home with a midwife? Nine years after his birth, I began assisting a midwife in her homebirth practice with an end-goal of becoming one. That changed a couple of years later, when for various reasons, I decided to focus more on doula work and teaching HypnoBirthing classes, where I describe myself as a “midwife of the mind – helping you reconnect with what you were born knowing how to do.”
Now I’ve added Personal Renewal Groups for moms – helping them (and myself) reconnect with who we are at a core level after many of us have “lost” ourselves in motherhood. In the short amount of time I’ve been formally doing this, I’ve been truly amazed at the power of these groups.
So to know you’re guest-blogging on a midwife’s site is really exciting! You have touched the passions of my heart. I’m headed over there right now to have a look:-)
Love all these connections, paths, and journeys Anita!
I do like the word midwife here–the idea of guiding a birth or re-birth. I also appreciate the word catalyst in this situation. It has a very different feel to it, but some similarities in ideas of bringing something into being (out of materials that already existed but just needed some help). A life coach I really appreciate is Michael Neill, and he refers to himself as a catalyst. Right now, I’m thinking about different ways that I could be something in this realm. It is interesting to think about the goal of what you do in this way. Thanks!
.-= Nicole | Blue Bicicletta´s last blog ..A Message from my Heart to your Heart =-.
You’re more than welcome, Nicole; and, of course, thank you! ‘Wonder if this birthing/catalyst-work isn’t very closely linked to your heart-singing…