I’m so excited to announce the birth of my new project: Pagan Families: A Resource for Pagan Pregnancy and Birth.
Pregnancy and birth are mysteries. They are, in fact, among the great mysteries of life. I believe that they’re also initiatory mysteries. There are things you learn by experiencing them that are very hard to understand otherwise. But one shouldn’t have to go into pregnancy and birth without a map.
When I was pregnant with my daughter I read lots of books about pregnancy and preparing for birth, about postpartum depression and breastfeeding, about emotional changes in motherhood and about . . . no, not about the spiritual aspects of this huge life change, because I couldn’t find sustained resources that spoke to me. So now I’m making one.
Actually, I’m making it with a lot of help and I need a lot more help. Sierra Black has already graciously allowed me to re-post her birth stories and Niki Whiting has contributed a new essay on being a holy mother. Other writers have promised to make contributions.
I know lots of Pagan families have already performed baby welcoming rituals or written prayers to mother goddesses for a healthy pregnancy. I want to pool this wisdom and also nurture the creative work of those who want to write on these topics.
So the vision for Pagan Families only works if many people contribute to the site. Take a look at the submission guidelines and consider whether you might have something to contribute. Thanks!
What an incredibly exciting idea! I’ve shared this information with my spiritual community and can’t wait to see how this project develops.
Thank you so much!
Oh, how cool! Like I needed another reason to try to start making a baby.
In the realm of what’s out there: have you read Maren Tonder Hansen’s Mother Mysteries? I thought it was sometimes frustratingly Joseph Campbell and sometimes perfect.
And I have to think about what I might submit.
Heh. You can contribute regardless of your reproductive status!
I vaguely remember reading Mother Mysteries but I think it was actually a couple of years before I got pregnant. Is it set in Santa Barbara or is it just that I read it there? You could review it for Pagan Families!
Yup, she used the same midwives as I did for her third birth.