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Doula: a woman who comes alongside to assist the birthing goddess and god in the
Welcome of the newly re-born
A doula is not a midwife. She is not a trained professional versed in medical procedures. In times past the midwife played the role of doula also. In the evolving consciousness of “sacralized birthing” the two roles have begun to be separated and specialized.
In the 1970’s the birth partner (most of the time the father) was the “doula”, timing contractions and encouraging through the painful labor. This was a huge step in the birthing process. As I remember my first birth in the late 70’s (a c-section) my lover had to be covered head to toe like a doctor and still had to wait outside the operating theater! We had done our “training” in breathing and he was expected to be my coach for the whole thing! “No potty breaks allowed during transition!”
For the most part men eagerly stepped “up to the plate” and revolutionized the mysterious process for all of us. No more waiting rooms filled with anxious fathers, but these co-creators were now right there in the fray! More importantly, no more lonely hours of labor for a young birthing goddess with only a visit or two from the nurse. Can you imagine what that must have been like?
I myself remember the “tearing” feeling in my soul when my partner and I had to be separated (c-section determined to be inevitable) with my firstborn. The fear and loneliness were palpable even as I was surrounded by nurses and a doctor. How lucky we are in this present consciousness to have our lovers with us through it all!
My first home birth as a doula was when I was only 18 years old! A very forward visioning friend of mine had a midwife (a rather large sweaty woman), her doctor (evidently she was lucky enough to find one who would make a house call in those days, and then only popping in and out to make sure all was well), her lover (trained as her Lamaze coach), and myself (manning the camera and mouth hanging wide open the whole time). My job of doula was to be “woman-energy at birth” she said. Not being a woman for all that long at that point I didn’t quite grasp the depth of what I was being blessed with (even later that day as I stirred the pot of “Placenta Stew” I could never guess what this would do to my way of thinking).
So, what does a doula do? That depends on what is needed! When a womyn requests her mother/sister/girlfriend to be with her during her labor she wants spiritual loving support, she wants someone to share the pain with her by timing contractions, moaning or breathing with her and encouraging, encouraging, encouraging! She may want her womb-in friend to make sure that her “birthing god” is given breaks, cups of coffee, love and support too. After all, energetically it is both the goddess and her consort who are tearing open the space in the cosmic field for the newly arrived person. She is the one who is experiencing the physical nature of the birthing, but it is now recognized esoterically that the father is also “birthing” in his subtle body! A wise doula will understand that she has two to serve! Notice that I said two and not three, remembering the midwife is serving the needs of the newly reborn, the doula will concentrate on mother and father nurturing them both with mother-comfort.
It is interesting in our culture how the magick has been blotted out in the rituals we celebrate. Our Auntie Carmelita is from the Philipines. When she birthed the doula came to her house with herbs to ritually lay on her belly to ward off trouble, chants and charms being an integral part of the mystery of birth. Doulas are the “Shamans of the first portal”. Ritual sage, music, scents, candles, flower essences would be found in her bag. Crystals are set about the birthing space. She sanctifies (sets apart) the surroundings for one of the great Sacraments of planetary life to take place.
Many times, the birthing goddess and god will have spent the preceding months in preparation with the doula. This may include nutritional support, astrological chart, herbal or vibrational remedies, dream journaling, hatha yoga and pranayama asanas with hand mudras useful for strengthening their birthing process. Sometimes even consulting with the doula before conceiving is done in a “Conscious Conception” visualization, where mother and father ritually “coax” their child in from the ethers and learn to be sensitive to the child’s “voice” before their child is even within the goddess’ womb! When I was newly pregnant (with my first and had all the time in the world to lie around!) I would do an exercise whereby I would lay on my back for hours, hands over my womb, waiting patiently for the butterfly flutters of my darlin’ girl. To this day I can “go” to that place and commune with her greatness! It is completely possible to slow yourself down enough to have this kind of communication with your baby!
The type of before-care that one would receive with an experienced doula would be of a practical nature for the doula should have already raised a family of her own and be in the wise menopausal years dedicated to spiritual practices. Obviously one’s own mother fits this description perfectly, however in our transient, career oriented society many times one’s mother is not available for this type of invaluable service.
The doula normally is available to the goddess and god for three days after the birth. Here she will help attend to soreness with sitz bathes and to help mother with nursing the babe. The afterglow of these three days is of an “otherworldly” nature, like “time outside of time” where the sequestered bask in the innocence of the newly arrived re-born one and the eternal time clock. The importance of quiet and dim lighting is guarded by the doula who would prefer that the traditional 40 days of sequestered peace be kept, however in our day and age this is a monumental task with all the visitors that converge upon the nest. She will try to keep things as quiet as possible given the requests of the mother and father.
For these three days the doula will co-ordinate dinners and especially the celebratory birth day dinner. The favorite of the goddess and god!
An Astrological Natal Chart is cast for babe. This will be an invaluable tool for assisting parents in understanding the path that their newborn has charted for their life. It is very helpful to see what temperaments may show themselves in the future. Study of the Astrological Natal Chart can reveal some really incredible findings!
In our family we have had quite a few home births, but the doula is also very helpful in hospital or birthing centers. Wherever you chose to birth and whatever type of procedure you have is up to you. The doula is there to support you in what you feel comfortable with.
It is always an incredible blessing for anyone to be invited into the Holy Sacrament of Birth! It is new and different every time!
You may want to create some ideas of your own. In our family we have done OooooMMMMmmm
Chanting instead of the breathing exercises that have been popular. The sound in the room with goddess, god and doula in unison during contractions is really quite otherworldly! The tones blend together and “sing” at the ceiling and the vibration is so wonderfully healing! Sometimes we use a guttural sound that does the same thing.
We have also had water birth, where our little Water Bearer (Aquarius) swooshed forth through the sea to his mother’s arms!
The most interesting for me was the “Lotus Birth” (non-violent birth) where we didn’t cut the umbilical cord so that “Mama Placenta” could finish her work in peace. We learned how to use herbs on the placenta and how to wrap it up until the babe’s umbilical cord fell off on its own (thank gawd for Santa Ana Winds).
We always freeze “Mama Placenta” and have a one year old ritual. My son and daughter-in-love used this date as a “naming ceremony” and legally added the name Azuredea to our grand daughters name as she displayed a propensity for being “the little goddess with the deep blue eyes”.
There are a variety of ways to tailor your doula experience.
We could create a program that would include monthly meetings with me at Casa de la Luna Madre including exercises to heighten your pregnancy adventure, and email conversations about whatever happens to be on your mind or in your dreams, and have me there with you during labor and the three days after delivery.
This service is $1500
We could meet and discuss your labor and delivery over tea, meeting again at the onset of labor and have me there with you assisting for three days afterward.
This service is
$1000
There are many payment options available for any of the services we provide, one of which is prayer.
Contact the Moon Mother, Jacqueline DuBois
NannyCrone@cox.net/949-369-5378
www.TheMoonMotherMagickalBotanickals.com
Casa de la Luna Madre
126 E. Escalones, San Clemente, Ca. 92672
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