The Pagan Families facebook page gets lots of requests to share other pages and links. In order to maintain the quality and focus of the page, I only share them if they have something to do with Paganism and pregnancy/parenting/family life (you’d be surprised how far off-topic some requests are). There were plenty of great on-topic links in July:
On being embodied:
- “She offers us the possibility of understanding and experiencing the menstrual cycle that we embody as kin to the cycle of moon phases and the circling of seasons in nature at large.”
- “The pelvic exam has been a standard part of a woman’s annual checkup for decades — yet it serves no clear purpose and may do more harm than good.”
- “It’s like a simple ritual when I swim or shower. A way to let the water wash off my self-esteem issues. Especially the shower, where no one else is watching me become enthralled with being alive and having a body.”
- “My body is enough. The breath in my lungs a prayer, the touch of my fingertips on stone a holy moment. The fire of life in my eyes an every day and yet wholly incredible gift.”
- “Her fertile body is swollen with grain, sheaf after sheaf—enough to bring bread to the whole planet, even to famine, if we work with the climate, tend our fields as holy places, share with those who lack as an act of Compassion.”
On raising Pagan children:
- “I plan to raise good Heathen children. Let me be clear, I’m going to keep my word and raise our children to be Jewish; however I intend to try and instill the best of my own traditions values in my children.”
- “I recognize that my daughter’s spiritual education stands as yet another place in my parenting journey which I must re-invent the wheel.”
- “Some day this little girl is going to be chief priestess of the Midwest. I hope I live to see it. Where are they going to take all this, those that come after us?”
On experiencing pregnancy loss:
On growth along the path:
- “I finally let myself return to Witchcraft after I gave birth to my daughter.”
- A new nurse-midwife meditates on her growth process.
“If a woman doesn’t look like a GODDESS in labor then someone isn’t treating her right.” -Ina May Gaskin