.png)
Monthly East Bay Gathering
Village Prenatal
Pregnancy is a sacred time of growth, healing and expansion. In order to do the deep work of tending to our inner world, we need to be externally resourced. Community and connection, specifically with women — and especially other pregnant women — is one of the very best ways we can nurture ourselves during pregnancy. Come gather!
Event Details
Who: Welcome to all biological women, including maidens and those past their childbearing years
When: 1-4PM, once a month
Where: Canyon, CA
Cost: $20-30 suggested donation
Includes:
-
Conversations to explore the infinite variations of birth
-
Guided meditation
-
Nutritious snacks & drinks
-
Reunion after babies are born
Does not include:
-
Unsolicited advice or judgement
*Welcome to maidens, pregnant & postpartum women, and pre-crawling babies.
Vision
Can you imagine walking with the women, including the pregnant mothers, to the well or water hole each morning as did your great great grandmother?
Here, we are reclaiming our natural wisdom. We gather around the pregnant mothers, no matter where they plan to birth, how they plan to birth or with whom they plan to birth. We gather around them because they carry the future of our species. They are the Holy Mothers. They deserve our best.
We meet in the woods and shower them with our finest foods and make them a place of honor. We oil their feet and tell them positive birth stories, birth stories that are starting to sound like myths and miracles. We hand them the talking stick and we ask them, “What is your Ideal birth? If you could birth anyway you wish, what would it look like, sound like, be like?” We listen. We support their highest ideal with our listening. We respond, “May it be so! May it be so!” Then we ask, “What is your big fear, worry, concern, doubt, anxiousness or preoccupation?” We listen.
We hold the sacred space and we listen. We don’t solve the problem. We don’t let any professional hat crown the head of anyone present. We are wimyn together in this great mystery. We listen. Then we respond, “We are here for you!”
We ask permission to touch and listen to baby. We laugh and play and talk to baby. We bless her. We are your elephant circle!
This is adapted from our teacher, elder midwife, Sister MorningStar.
Meet Your Hosts
Hello! We are Celia and Lori. We met way back in our doula training in 2012 and have remained friends as we followed similar paths toward sovereignty in birth and nourished postpartum.
Between us, we have 7 children with varied birth experiences. We have attended births in homes, birth centers, and hospitals. We have studied with wise and experienced teachers in our field. And we are deeply passionate about families becoming healed and whole through their experience of birth and postpartum.
We can't wait to meet you at our next village prenatal!