Providing birth education to empowered women everywhere. It's time to take back birth.

In this episode of Taking Back Birth, I got to answer some questions from Scott Kirschenbaum (OfWomanBornFilm.com) about labor…while in labor!

Download this podcasts transcript

 

Providing birth education to empowered women everywhere. It's time to take back birth.

In this episode of Taking Back Birth, I talk about what it’s like being just weeks before birth and wondering “when” it’s going to happen!

Download this podcast transcript

 

In this episode of Taking Back Birth, I talk about how to navigate the confusing world of supplements in pregnancy. Listen in!

Download this podcast transcript

 

In this episode of Taking Back Birth, I talk about the truth about birth centers. Listen in! This episode also has a podcast transcription. Click here for the PDF.

In this episode of Taking Back Birth, I talk about my own thoughts and feelings just 8 weeks from the birth of my baby. Listen in!

Download this podcasts PDF transcript

 

In this episode of Taking Back Birth, I talk about how it’s time to move beyond the old paradigm of “black and white” birth options.

Download this podcasts transcript

In this episode of Taking Back Birth, Maryn talks about the Sacred Blood Mysteries and how they have been lost in our modern patriarchal society, as well as how we can remember and honor them.

How can we help women connect to this deeper knowledge we all have within that can support us with our births and mothering? To dive into that question we must first understand more about the Sacred Blood Mysteries.

Download this podcasts transcript

What are the Sacred Blood Mysteries?

All five mysteries are natural physiological processes. Although the origins are unclear, there was an ancient understanding about them and rituals to honor and protect them.

* Birth

* Menarche – first bleed

* Pregnancy and Birthing

* Menopause

* Death

Maryn describes the amazing and wondrous fact that women can bleed with no injury. In the past women were seen as magic – holders of this incredible power.

Why is the sight and thought of blood so powerful and what did our ancestors understand?

* Blood is a source of personal power

* Blood is life in its simplest form

* The uterus is a sacred temple

* Menstral blood is life giving

* Women were considered clairvoyant and connected to another dimension when bleeding, and their wisdom was respected and protected within their community

* Rituals and rites were in place to protect and celebrate the blood mysteries

* The word ritual comes from the Sanskrit work rtu, meaning menses. So ritual comes from the word for menses!

What is happening in our world today?

Maryn started to wonder about why people are so scared of blood during birth, postpartum, and with miscarriages. In the past these events were surrounded in mystery and now they are cloaked in fear. Maryn references midwife Elizabeth Davis and discusses the transition from matriarchal to patriarchal society as a cause of the fear and shame around women bleeding. The biggest tragedy of all, says Maryn, is these mysteries aren’t being seen as mysteries and deserving of our attention at all. There is a cultural denial of women’s moon time, birth, and loss for as long as the patriarchal model has been around.

Bleeding is now:

* Seen as unclean

* Viewed as shameful

* Often not recognized at all

* Controlled with pills

* Seen as a nuisance

* Felt as embarrassing

We are repressing our power and hurting ourselves physically and emotional, and Maryn believes this is the bind we are in when it comes to birth. It can help explain why there is no simple way to help connect women with their innate wisdom – there is a strong repression of a woman’s own personal magic! If women don’t understand the Sacred Blood Mysteries it’s very hard to reach them when it comes to birth. In our world, blood is seen as shameful and gross. Our knowledge, wisdom, and rituals are suppressed. Maryn discusses how blood is seen as chaos in our modern lives, as something needing to be controlled. Even home birth midwives are treating blood during birth with fear, even though the majority of the time it is normal.

How can we remember the mystery?

Bringing knowledge, wisdom, and ritual back can look like anything you want! Any kind of celebration and honoring can help bring the change we need for ourselves and our children.

How can we remember and acknowledge all five blood mysteries?

* Learn more ourselves – use online resources and books

* Connect what you learn to your heart – what feels right?

* Explore your own beliefs and feelings on bleeding

* Consider how your religion or spiritual beliefs align with what you learn

* Examine which feelings and beliefs are yours and which a...

In this episode of Taking Back Birth, I offer a simple meditation for the womb space – to help you connect with your internal knowing.

Download this podcasts transcript