2011 - Talk Birth

thought maybe I should never post quotes ever again! (now who’s taking something too personally? ;)).
Then, I realized a strong personal reaction is normal, because birth is such a strong and personal issue, so
now I try to be extra mindful of the subtexts that might be perceived in a quote (regardless of original
intent) and clarify that below the quote. I truly think the intent in this one is of the potential to discover
our own hidden strength via birth, not to say that birth is the only powerful experience available to women.
I know that I draw on my ”birth strength” in other important moments in my life. I also realized after the
miscarriage-birth of my third son that the strength found in birth is present in women, period. It is woman
strength and it rises up during birth, but it is always there.
During a recent women’s retreat we reflected on sources of personal power and how we feel when we are
standing in our personal power (this question comes from a fabulous book, [1]A Mother’s Guide to Self-
Renewal). When I first considered this question, I was somewhat sad to discover that the only instances of
personal power I could come up with from giving birth—it would be nice to have piles of personal power
experiences! More reflection revealed that I also feel like I’m standing in my personal power when I teach.
Not a sense of ”power over,” but in power with. More freshly, I’ve realized that I find personal power in
Goddess spirituality/images and ideas of the Divine Feminine. And, I also experience personal power when
I am alone. I feel most whole and authentic when I am just by myself. I like quiet space in my own head in
which to think and I also enjoy my own company :)
”A woman meets herself in childbirth” –Cynthia Caillagh
Each time I gave birth I realized I was a pretty amazing person with inherent worth and value. The woman
that I met in birth was very strong and very capable and very focused. And, she is me.
I hope my baby girl grows up standing in her own personal power and having a profound sense of her
own worth.
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