This is so exciting! Looking forward to keep reading!
You know, the quote you share about the zoon ... here in Brasil some women* until now a days talks about the "mother of the womb" or the "mother of the body" who misses the baby who was inside the pregnant body and needs to be tendered and well fed not make the new mother sick. I loved to discover that this idea it's spread all over the world.
*it's indigenous knowledge and became folk history. In the north of Brasil more popular still. But usually now it's more kind of a "my granny used to say", you know? But not forgotten.
And also, I loved all the women you started to talk about in the beginning, all the "once there was". I fell like I want to meet them all, know all their histories!
Thank you, thank you! The world needs this work of yours so very much! I’m reminded of Marija Gimbutas’ work, particularly of the hedgehog, frog, and fish epiphanies of The Goddess of ancient Europe: the Divine Womb. Like the snake, what once was divine has been recast as evil, but the truth is still there, waiting for us to uncover and remember. The animal inside us is our divine guide through the utterly physical experience of birth. Also, you probably have it already, but Italo Calvino’s anthology of Italian folktales is full of barren women praying for a child, then giving birth to a plant, a chicken, or some living creature that upon closer inspection is one of the life-force symbols abundant in pre-Indo-European sacred pottery, paintings, and carvings. There is always so much more to the story! I am looking forward to reading your exquisite explanations of what you are finding!
Your words are prayers answered, an birthday gift from the universe, warm milk to sooth my nervous system. I recently discovered the gift of public libraries and how with a few clicks I could gain access to books weaving together my devotional curiosities- all topics circling pregnancy, labor and postpartum time. The question I was circling is HOW did/do other indigenous cultures, including my own lineage- birth? What are the traditions, myths, stories. I found none of myths and little of indigenous ways (although I am sure I could do a better search). But I did land on a question- where are the oral traditions/ myths of this life way seeing as ALL OF US come from this beginning? Where are the stories encoding the blueprint of birth? I am currently a student midwife and continued birthworker for 8 years. I am still wee in the realm of birth experience but notice how almost every birthing person reaches a point in labor of feeling defeated, unable to continue forth. I sit in that moment with them and wonder how myth could be a technology for offering high spiritual guidance for that moment of complete openness and and utter vulnerability to life. I share with my partner, also one of myth poems and storytelling, of your work and how it elivens me and pulses chi through my vessel. They shared how important it is for me to tell you that yes, yes yes we need this body of work, I need this body of work, those with bodies that swell and pull life from their own womb need these stories.
May my flame of excitement be light for you in the long laborious hours of your devotional work. May the mother of all gods bless the path forth for you so that we all may drink the honey milk of your labor. Your work has offered me tremendous healing in the practice of remembering the power of what it means to be woman, hearth tender, one who thinks in cycles, in remembering the power of bleeding bodies. Your work is essential for humanities path forward.
And in the realm of real- I live in San Anselmo and read you are coming back to California. I am sure that the arrival back requires slow inward integration but if/when you feel a tickle to reach into the beyond zones once nestled back into the green oak hills, I would love to do a hike and conversation. My email is carissarosehayes@gmail.com and my number is (415)720-6537
I went on a mad hunt for folklore behind pregnancy and childbirth earlier in the year, and came back with absolutely nothing. I'm very happy to hear of (and learn from) your endeavors!
As a mumma of 4 children and two babes that decided not to come through I’m not sure I could conjure the words to match my heart while reading this today. Your words always find their way the deepest into my heart of all and your stories have been deeply profoundly healing for me over the years.
So this!!!!!!
This is everything!!!
This is what I long to give to my daughters.
Thank you for being a vessel to nourish and enliven us.
What an incredible anthology and a book I too would love to hold in my hands and give to my loved ones in their various stages of life. I’m very much looking forward to the installments of Mother Animal! And of “the deep collective understanding of this wombic process, the creation story of us all”. Truly a bountiful “collection of flowers” that is so needed in our world. Such a deep healing you weave, Sylvia. xo
Oh so lovely and just the thing I wished I would have had when I was preparing to be and became a mother many decades ago. I can't wait to follow you on this beautiful journey. xo
This is so exciting! Looking forward to keep reading!
You know, the quote you share about the zoon ... here in Brasil some women* until now a days talks about the "mother of the womb" or the "mother of the body" who misses the baby who was inside the pregnant body and needs to be tendered and well fed not make the new mother sick. I loved to discover that this idea it's spread all over the world.
*it's indigenous knowledge and became folk history. In the north of Brasil more popular still. But usually now it's more kind of a "my granny used to say", you know? But not forgotten.
And also, I loved all the women you started to talk about in the beginning, all the "once there was". I fell like I want to meet them all, know all their histories!
Thank you, thank you! The world needs this work of yours so very much! I’m reminded of Marija Gimbutas’ work, particularly of the hedgehog, frog, and fish epiphanies of The Goddess of ancient Europe: the Divine Womb. Like the snake, what once was divine has been recast as evil, but the truth is still there, waiting for us to uncover and remember. The animal inside us is our divine guide through the utterly physical experience of birth. Also, you probably have it already, but Italo Calvino’s anthology of Italian folktales is full of barren women praying for a child, then giving birth to a plant, a chicken, or some living creature that upon closer inspection is one of the life-force symbols abundant in pre-Indo-European sacred pottery, paintings, and carvings. There is always so much more to the story! I am looking forward to reading your exquisite explanations of what you are finding!
Lovely. Just lovely.
Your words are prayers answered, an birthday gift from the universe, warm milk to sooth my nervous system. I recently discovered the gift of public libraries and how with a few clicks I could gain access to books weaving together my devotional curiosities- all topics circling pregnancy, labor and postpartum time. The question I was circling is HOW did/do other indigenous cultures, including my own lineage- birth? What are the traditions, myths, stories. I found none of myths and little of indigenous ways (although I am sure I could do a better search). But I did land on a question- where are the oral traditions/ myths of this life way seeing as ALL OF US come from this beginning? Where are the stories encoding the blueprint of birth? I am currently a student midwife and continued birthworker for 8 years. I am still wee in the realm of birth experience but notice how almost every birthing person reaches a point in labor of feeling defeated, unable to continue forth. I sit in that moment with them and wonder how myth could be a technology for offering high spiritual guidance for that moment of complete openness and and utter vulnerability to life. I share with my partner, also one of myth poems and storytelling, of your work and how it elivens me and pulses chi through my vessel. They shared how important it is for me to tell you that yes, yes yes we need this body of work, I need this body of work, those with bodies that swell and pull life from their own womb need these stories.
May my flame of excitement be light for you in the long laborious hours of your devotional work. May the mother of all gods bless the path forth for you so that we all may drink the honey milk of your labor. Your work has offered me tremendous healing in the practice of remembering the power of what it means to be woman, hearth tender, one who thinks in cycles, in remembering the power of bleeding bodies. Your work is essential for humanities path forward.
And in the realm of real- I live in San Anselmo and read you are coming back to California. I am sure that the arrival back requires slow inward integration but if/when you feel a tickle to reach into the beyond zones once nestled back into the green oak hills, I would love to do a hike and conversation. My email is carissarosehayes@gmail.com and my number is (415)720-6537
I went on a mad hunt for folklore behind pregnancy and childbirth earlier in the year, and came back with absolutely nothing. I'm very happy to hear of (and learn from) your endeavors!
Your writing is so divinely inspired lately it’s so wonderful to read.
Oh Sylvia
As a mumma of 4 children and two babes that decided not to come through I’m not sure I could conjure the words to match my heart while reading this today. Your words always find their way the deepest into my heart of all and your stories have been deeply profoundly healing for me over the years.
So this!!!!!!
This is everything!!!
This is what I long to give to my daughters.
Thank you for being a vessel to nourish and enliven us.
Reading this was def a felt experience.
I am well beyond grateful 🙏🏼🌿💗
Goodness! So kindled with excitement for this anthology, Sylvia. Thank you for everything you dream and write and birth forward.
What an incredible anthology and a book I too would love to hold in my hands and give to my loved ones in their various stages of life. I’m very much looking forward to the installments of Mother Animal! And of “the deep collective understanding of this wombic process, the creation story of us all”. Truly a bountiful “collection of flowers” that is so needed in our world. Such a deep healing you weave, Sylvia. xo
I’m so glad you are doing this sensitive and essential work, Sylvia!
Oh so lovely and just the thing I wished I would have had when I was preparing to be and became a mother many decades ago. I can't wait to follow you on this beautiful journey. xo