https://birthandbeing.com/new-blog daily 0.75 2017-02-18 https://birthandbeing.com/new-blog/2017/2/18/allowing monthly 0.5 2018-08-11 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/58a7ef9015d5db737e50a43f/1487400919322/ tribe de mama - allowing art- @elena.ray words- me As I met my moon-time this month with the intention of writing about ritual, I kept stumbling over definitions of what that was. Sometimes I need to soak my feet in warm water steeped with herbs. Or light candles, mist myself with rosewater and meditate to clear cobwebs from my being. Sometimes I need to sit down with Netflix and a glass of wine to watch something that will send my tears falling, emptying the emotion from my knotted center. Or dance alone in my room, limbs all ecstatic to remind me of this body's beauty. This month I needed all those. And with all the advice of how and why to do this practice or that, it’s easy to forget to just close my eyes, place my palms over my womb, and surrender to what wants to be. I feel the greatest gift we can give ourselves is the allowance to tune into the depth of our beings and let be. Because we are all great mysteries who may not know until the moment comes, what we need. I can try with my writer’s mind to define the paradox, but nature is not still and words will never contain it! It is not this or that, but constantly ebbing to flow. As are we. Great oceanic beings connected with dark mystery. We embody it, shedding our insides every month, bleeding to renew. Our bodies know what to do. In one moment we may feel broken open with the tenderness of a Divine Mother, and the next a feral cat ready to claw, and there is an honest and perennial beauty in these seemingly opposing forces. Don’t be afraid of your ever-shifting mystery, your needs or wild feelings, oh holy one, your body was made to transmute energy in motion. And there is great power in allowing what desires to be expressed through you, and naming that, ritual. So place your palms over the vast space of your womb, move like nature and swallow the mystery whole. https://birthandbeing.com/new-blog/2017/2/18/blood-mysteries monthly 0.5 2018-08-11 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/58a7effd46c3c4e069833e37/1487401003295/ tribe de mama - blood mysteries art - @serpentfire words- me I was not the little girl who was afraid of those first shades of pink tinting my underwear. I longed for my moon the way some longed for their crush of the week. Being a “late-bloomer” (as mom would say) I felt like all my other friends had it figured out, and I cried at night wondering if I would ever cross that magical threshold to womanhood. There was an innate awareness in me that to bleed, was to hold a secret. The first time I sat for an ayahuasca ceremony in Peru, I was just finishing my moon. The shaman said I could join if I chose to, but I was warned that menstruating women are usually excluded. It is not because we are unclean, but because we hold so much power we can sway the energy of a ceremonial space. I’d never heard it described that way, but didn’t give it much thought as I charged ahead. That night I entered one of the deepest inner journeys of my life, simultaneously painful and pleasurable, as I quite literally “re-birthed” myself. However, the other woman in ceremony fell asleep, and after two doses, my partner at the time had no effect at all from the medicine. I don’t believe it was a coincidence, but rather this “power” was real. When we’re on our moon we act as magnets, pulling energy in (both good and bad) like the moon pulls the tides. So what if our cramps are a manifestation of the pain around us, as much as our own unprocessed emotion? What if our p.m.s is a warning that our environment might be toxic? And what if our rivers of tears and blood are in fact alchemically purifying it all? I wonder how our feminine intuitive compassion could grow if we were conscious and empowered in the rites of our blood mysteries? Maybe taking space for alchemy during our moon is not only an act of Love for ourselves, but for others too. And even though its invisible, maybe from the safety of our own sanctuary we end up doing the real “work” for our tribe. https://birthandbeing.com/new-blog/2017/2/18/the-butterfly-as-me monthly 0.5 2018-08-11 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/58a7f6bb15d5db737e50c826/1487402806939/ tribe de mama - the butterfly as me art - @Soffronia words - me I once heard something about learning to love the way we would hold a butterfly in our hands. Something delicate and in need of presence and attention, but not too much force. Something we cannot squeeze, hold too tight, or pick apart else we destroy its beauty. And so we must resist that child-like urge to grasp or succumb to our own clumsiness, not to get too excited, not to fear it flying away. Rather we must hold space for this wondrous being, resting in grattitude. And are we ourselves, also just like this butterfly? As well as the hand that holds it? It helps me to see that there is the part of me that wants to hold too tight, to cling and grasp in attempts to own my life. There is a part that can destroy the magic and flow by questioning what is, picking myself apart from the inside out to try and understand. There is a part that can get distracted, or look too hard, both shaking my focus. But more importantly, there is the part of me that is delicate, with fragile budding wings and grace-filled ease. A part that isn’t nearly as tough as she would like to pretend, a part that knows this life is fleeting, and was never really ‘mine’ to begin with. And so it is a dance, as I learn to stretch out my palm so the butterfly as ‘me’ can balance in ease. To hold loving intent for myself, my planet and my beloved. To rest in living as the steady, open hand as well as the quivering winged being. https://birthandbeing.com/new-blog/category/self-inquiry monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/new-blog/category/sisterhood monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health daily 0.75 2020-11-18 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/2018/7/24/understanding-the-fertility-awareness-method monthly 0.5 2020-11-03 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b57cfd4575d1f147c68c8f8/1532481523642/DSCN1279+%281%29.jpg hormonal health + fertility - Understanding the Fertility Awareness Method https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/2018/7/24/the-key-vitamins-for-healthy-hormones monthly 0.5 2019-02-13 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b57b5341ae6cfeb15ac8ee0/1532481084001/DSCN0981.jpg hormonal health + fertility - The Most Important Vitamins for Healthy Hormones https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/2018/7/24/seed-cycling-for-hormonal-health monthly 0.5 2019-02-13 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b57cef4aa4a99e9296e615b/1532481297219/IMG_8009+%281%29.jpg hormonal health + fertility - Seed Cycling for Hormonal Health https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/2018/8/6/how-to-do-a-fertility-cleanse monthly 0.5 2019-03-17 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b68a6f570a6add62bfa133e/1533585157257/IMG_0344.jpg hormonal health + fertility - How to do a Fertility Cleanse https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/2018/8/6/8-ways-to-eat-for-your-fertility monthly 0.5 2019-02-13 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b68a7602b6a28624cf5821a/1533585263784/DSCN0729_2.jpg hormonal health + fertility - 8 Ways to Eat for your Fertility https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/2018/8/6/why-sun-is-the-ultimate-fertility-booster monthly 0.5 2019-03-17 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b68a83b758d46cbe65fa742/1533585476558/P3134921+%281%29.jpg hormonal health + fertility - Why Sun is the Ultimate Fertility Booster https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/bb26m0c6tzwid09yhg4h6cxrx2z72m monthly 0.5 2020-11-18 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5fb58cbb67862d7d964d3e21/1605733609633/merakilabbe.jpg hormonal health + fertility - 7 Underlying Issues FAM Can Show You About Your Body art by @merakilabbe https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/category/fertility monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/category/hormonal+health monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/fertility+awareness+method monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/sun+for+your+health monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/vitamins monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/menstrual+phases monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/fertility+cleanse monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/vitamin+D monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/fertility monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/conception monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/wellness monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/hormonal+health monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/seed+cycling monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/hormonal-health/tag/fertility+diet monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy daily 0.75 2020-11-18 https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/2018/7/24/65bvag8rdbw1p9wi06mjywunuxuyvv monthly 0.5 2019-03-17 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b57b78caa4a99e9296a65d7/1532480511164/ pregnancy + birth + postpartum - Pregnancy Diet and Prenatal Vitamins: What do you really need? https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/breathing-your-way-to-a-stress-free-birth-and-postpartum monthly 0.5 2019-03-17 https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/ayurveda-for-postpartum-care monthly 0.5 2020-11-03 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5d1fd3ef0b9e9c00016cd187/1562366970305/IMG_6049.jpg pregnancy + birth + postpartum - Ayurveda For Postpartum Care https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/on-miscarriage-and-space-holding monthly 0.5 2020-12-10 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5fa1a738996ab718976fa3c2/1604429818456/IMG_1349.jpg pregnancy + birth + postpartum - On Miscarriage and Space Holding - Holding Space… How to be a better listener https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/real-talk-on-immunity monthly 0.5 2020-11-03 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5fa1b522b95d7846e99660b9/1604433456369/IMG_7950.jpg pregnancy + birth + postpartum - Real Talk on Immunity - How Anyone Can Stay Healthy art by @spiritysol https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/everything-you-need-to-know-about-a-doulanbspnbsp monthly 0.5 2020-11-11 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5fac45ba48fd365a105b6776/1605125596935/IMG_8205.jpg pregnancy + birth + postpartum - Everything You Need to Know about a Doula   https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/managing-your-own-expectations-after-birth monthly 0.5 2020-11-11 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5fac4a5524c06f53734f948f/1605127106843/hatchling.jpg pregnancy + birth + postpartum - Managing Your Own Expectations After Birth - Do you wonder if your negative postpartum feelings are normal? https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/learning-to-say-no-is-crucial-for-your-pregnancy-and-postpartum monthly 0.5 2020-11-18 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5fb58b0ab9168b0756c71246/1605733148146/IMG_1488.jpg pregnancy + birth + postpartum - The Necessity of Creating Boundaries During Pregnancy and Postpartum - Why You Have to Start Saying “No”… https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/category/pregnancy+wellness monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/category/pregnancy+health monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/category/lifestyle monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/tag/prenatal+vitamins monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/tag/pregnancy monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/tag/pregnancy+diet monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/tag/ayurveda monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/fertility-and-pregnancy/tag/postpartum monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle daily 0.75 2020-11-09 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/2018/7/24/the-healing-properties-of-tea monthly 0.5 2019-03-17 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b57b93d8a922d266ab13c4e/1532479951432/IMG_7176.jpg lifestyle + self care - The Healing Properties of Tea https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/2018/7/24/why-you-should-swtich-to-nut-milk monthly 0.5 2019-03-17 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b57b9cd562fa7b97dad507a/1532475862644/001_1.jpg lifestyle + self care - Why You Should Try Switching to a Plant Based Milk https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/2018/7/24/castor-oil-packs-the-ultimate-wellness-tool monthly 0.5 2019-03-17 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b57b8c170a6adfc304ba5a8/1532480246489/IMG_0304.jpg lifestyle + self care - Castor Oil Packs: The Ultimate Wellness Tool https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/vaginal-steaming-for-healthy-cycles-fertility-and-postpartum monthly 0.5 2020-11-03 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5fa1ae127795980c544bf03e/1604431581182/apothecary.jpg lifestyle + self care - Vaginal Steaming for Healthy Cycles, Fertility and Postpartum https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/effects-of-stress-on-womens-bodies-and-how-to-manage-it monthly 0.5 2020-12-10 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5fa9a1211cc23f3fa8a327eb/1604952725496/IMG_8011.jpg lifestyle + self care - The Toxic Effects of Stress and What To Do About It - Stress Has a Huge Impact on a Woman’s Menstrual Cycle, Fertility, Birth and Postpartum Recovery… This is How You Can Deal with it. https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/category/hormonal+health monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/category/lifestyle monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/tag/nutrient+tea monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/tag/castor+oil+packs monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/tag/doula monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/tag/hormonal+health monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/tag/nervous+system+healing monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/tag/nut+milk monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/tag/DIY+recipes monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/tag/herbal+tea monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/lifestyle/tag/lifestyle monthly 0.5 https://birthandbeing.com/index daily 1.0 2022-01-09 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5f85012505f37e443808726d/1602552113829/headshot.jpg home - Weaving together my skills as an herbalist, re-birthing breathwork teacher and DONA certified doula I provide education and support to women in their childbearing years- specifically through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Learn more about me... here. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5c572923e79c702440a95022/1554415633517/IMG_2559.jpg home https://birthandbeing.com/breathwork daily 0.75 2021-04-21 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/57a36304579fb3f47b10059d/1532375459287/ breathwork https://birthandbeing.com/about daily 0.75 2021-04-18 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5bf32610cd83665a484d789c/1542661745097/IMG_4828.jpg about 2 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b57d80403ce64746b740f9b/1533999525378/IMG_4836.jpg about 2 https://birthandbeing.com/new-page daily 0.75 2018-08-11 https://birthandbeing.com/birthservices daily 0.75 2021-04-21 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5c4b7c994ae237479f9de60b/1548450981916/IMG_5659%2B%25281%2529.jpg birth services https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5b57e69f575d1f147c6c7f10/1532533320759/IMG_4611.jpg birth services https://birthandbeing.com/postpartumcare daily 0.75 2021-05-04 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5d47501c8560f600014a8285/1564954656683/IMG_9851.jpg postpartum care https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5c4a29514d7a9cf010e034df/1548364135277/IMG_6598.jpg postpartum care https://birthandbeing.com/herbalwellness daily 0.75 2021-04-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5c6479488165f5bc781ac892/1618771472212/IMG_6175.jpg herbal wellness - Herbal and Nutritional consults … to support hormonal imbalance, fertility, pregnancy and postpartum depletion … https://birthandbeing.com/virtual-support daily 0.75 2020-11-18 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5cf9792473413a0001e0d2ac/1559853354159/IMG_4347.jpg virtual support https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5cf978dad20c130001e7f088/1605730733057/IMG_7692.jpg virtual support - I look forward to speaking with you! https://birthandbeing.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-04-18 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57886593cd0f6801e85f503c/t/5e98a63a9f17a2270b43274a/1587062361983/IMG_4646.jpg contact Art: James R. Eads