Murphy-Hiscock - Passages pagan pregnancy : a spiritual journey from maiden to mother

S HE CHANGES EVERYTHING S HE TOUCHES

A ND EVERYTHING S HE TOUCHES CHANGES .

chant written by Starhawk

W HEN A WOMAN is pregnant, she becomes the very essence of the Goddess: she who carries life within her, she who will rebirth new life created from old.

There is more to a Pagan pregnancy than simply recognizing that pregnancy and birth have spiritual aspects. This book addresses those aspects of pregnancy and birth from a uniquely Neo-Pagan perspective, using rituals and meditations to help you attune to the energies that shift throughout pregnancy.

This book in no way proposes to replace medical care or practical advice from professionals; it exists to explore the Pagan spiritual view of pregnancy, to work through the
spiritual changes that occur over the course of pregnancy and birth within a Neo-Pagan context.

To attempt a Pagan examination of anything is nigh impossible, as the term Pagan encompasses so much. In general, it refers to a spiritual path that embraces an earth-honoring spirituality, often based in a non- and/or pre-Abrahamic faith, that is polytheistic (a belief in, or acknowledgment of, many deities), panentheistic (the belief that the Divine is immanent in the universe, or the animating force of the universe), or pantheistic (the Divine and nature are synonymous).

When I was pregnant, I looked for some kind of book that examined pregnancy from a Pagan point of view to help me provide a context for my experiences and spiritual shifts. And I found not one single thing. There were books on natural childbirth, how to take care of yourself while pregnant, and how to nourish your spirituality while pregnant, but nothing that explored pregnancy in a specifically Pagan spiritual context.

So I wrote one.

Like all other Pagan books, this is not a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. With Paganism being such a broad umbrella term for a multiplicity of paths and practice, not everything presented here will fit into your own views and practices. In essence, this book exists as a source of inspiration for you. I hope youll absorb what is within it with an open mind and make changes and adjustments as necessary in order to provide yourself with the kind of spiritual framework you require to meet your own unique needs during your pregnancy.

This book in no way attempts to replace your doctor, doula, midwife, birth coach, or whatever medical professional youre working with through this incredible experience. Well be looking at the Pagan spiritual aspects of pregnancy, not the medical side of pregnancy. Although those physical changes are an essential element of the spiritual evolution throughout the gestational period, and well unquestionably refer to them, Im not a medical professional and I cannot stress enough that the lore in this book is to serve as inspiration only and should not be taken as diagnosis or prescription at any time. The advice concerning oils and herbs are not in any way intended to replace the directions given by your medical professional. If you have concerns or sensitivities, refrain from using them until you have spoken with your medical professional. All efforts have been made to ensure that these oils and herbs are safe to use during pregnancy, but if you are apprehensive, avoid all use of essential oils and herbal products throughout your pregnancy, including tisanes.

The only physical thing I will urge you to focus on is eating properly, sleeping as much as you can, exercising gently, and taking it easy. If this is your first pregnancy you may be confused or alarmed at how much TLC your body is demanding. I certainly was. The amount of sleep I needed was particularly disturbing: I felt like I wasnt accomplishing anything because I spent a good twelve to thirteen hours a day asleep. The second most disturbing thing was the amount of food I suddenly wanted to consume from the very beginning of my pregnancy. I grazed all day long. Make sure that you have plenty of snacks on hand. Remember that every bite counts, so try to keep the majority of those snacks healthy. (I was lucky in that I lost my sweet tooth for most of my pregnancy, but not everyone has this kind of luck!)