Labyrinth of Birth : Creating a Map, Meditations and Rituals for Your Childbearing Year

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9781616230371
• ISBN10: 1616230371
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2010-07-01
• Publisher: Seven Gates Media

Summary

The timeless and powerful symbol of the labyrinth forms the core of this collection of twelve simple meditations and ceremonies designed to transform the experience of childbirth. The inner journey through the childbearing yearfrom pregnancy through labor and postpartum stagesis enhanced through the use of labyrinths as a tool for meditation and centering. Studies show that walking or finger-tracing a labyrinth slows down and balances brain waves, calms the body and mind, and helps access intuitive knowing. During pregnancy, labyrinth meditations help the mother focus on her emotional and spiritual preparation for birth and mothering. In labor, the labyrinth helps to calm the mind, steady the breath, and ease pain. Postpartum, the Birth Story Labyrinth helps parents process and integrate their experience in labor. A variety of labyrinthsincluding four childbirth-related labyrinths from the Hopi and Papago cultures in the American Southwest, and two others from Indiaare presented in this handbook. Instructions for drawing a classic labyrinth, ideas for personalizing the design, and labyrinth "seeds"start-up patterns for six variations of labyrinthare also included. The laborinth meditations and rituals may be practiced privately or may be used to enrich mother blessing ceremonies and baby showers.

Author Biography

Pam England is a former nurse–midwife who has taught childbirth classes and mentoring parents for 30 years, and leading workshops for birth professionals for 10 years. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. ix
Anatomy and Glossary	p. xv
Labyrinths from Around the World	p. 1
Labor is a Labyrinth	p. 19
How to Make Your Laborinth™	p. 27
Meditations and Ceremonies	p. 43
The Labyrinth in your Body and Mind	p. 85
Medical ôMapsö of Labor	p. 93
Birth Story Labyrinth	p. 99
How to Make a Clay Labyrinth	p. 111
Make a ôSandboxö Labyrinth	p. 115
Appendix: Six Labyrinth Seeds	p. 121
Bibliography and References	p. 153
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.