The Birth House

I was surprised to find The Birth House by Ami McKay at my local library. I wasn't exactly looking for it, but upon finding a novel based on birth, I figured it would allocate a break from the usual brainy list of books that I forever have my nose in. Impossible to escape into a land of fantasy, due to the need to constantly take notes and highlight facts, these books leave little to the imagination. The Birth House offered an opportunity for me to delve into something deeper. A past, a connection to being a woman, and the journey that so many women before me took, so that we could freely chose today.

Surprisingly, events that this book are based off of took place nearly 90 years ago. I couldn't help but wonder how these customs affected my great-grandmothers, or their mothers, and so on, and in turn, subconsciously but directly affect women today. It is hard to reflect on a time when women had no choice about whom or when they would marry, how many children they would have and where they would birth those children.

We live in a time where lack of choice is not even fathomable, more so it is the over-pouring of options that I believe gets us into trouble. How can we even make a slight connection to what holds true in our heart, when we hardly take a moment to become fully aware of it with all of the distractions in our day to day existence? Our capabilities, true desires, where we have travelled from and where we long to go.These seeds of wisdom are buried beneath the snow, and the ever changing seasons of our busy lives.

I am sending my deepest gratitude to all of the women who have walked before me, will walk after me, and who are walking side by side. I look forward to honoring them all by learning and sharing their rituals, stories and wisdom!

I would highly recommend this book, even for someone who is not interested in birth. It is eloquent, and well written. I love that it offered a brief history of a time period that really changed birth in our culture. From home to hospital. Although I was upset when I finished it,(because I had nothing else to read while on vacation) I was pleasantly surprised by a list of further reading recommendations.

A seed can't stay a seed forever.....



Pam England, ME:), Virginia Bobro



My encouraging advisor, Susan and I



I dreamt I was a seed

Buried deep below

In the dark, dark earth.

My quest, unknown to me, was to grow.

Day by day, i nourished my core.

On the 21st day,

I thought I was dying

I found out later,

I was sprouting.

It ached inside while i tore.

If I had had any idea

How much pain it would bring

To reach the sunshine,

I may have forever remained a seed.

For even a seed hurts

On its journey to becoming a flower.



The journey is the reward! 

I spent a week surrounded by mountains, wise women and food that my taste buds delighted in. I met Pam England, who has a kind and uplifting spirit, and a refreshing sense of humor. I enthusiastically re-united with Virginia, who taught the Introductory training so well that I was forever hooked. And finally met my advisor Susan, who optimistically encouraged me to take this journey. A journey I had not felt I was ready for.

Appropriately titled

I started out on Wednesday ready to go, in some ways. I knew from my Introductory workshop that anything I had been avoiding, would not so soon be swept under the rug here. That is what Birthing From Within is about- the "From Within" part is the core. I learned storytelling, metaphor and much much more. But I mainly learned things that I could not discover on my own or in a book. I learned to step out on a limb, and was caught several times in a soft nest. Pure and safe from judgement. Thank you all, you have played an integral part of my growth. I enjoyed our time together more than words can ever explain.

Trying to make sense of the "underworld"

This creatures metamorphosis also took place at Bend of Ivy :)