midwife
This past weekend I hosted with a lovely woman who also happens to be a nurse. A compliment she gave me, “you would have been a fantastic midwife”.
This got me thinking, I kind of am.
Historically, a midwife was a woman whose profession was to support other women through transitions. We typically think of the transition from maiden to mother. But what about the next transition? Who is our support team from motherhood to crone?
I love that this is truly becoming my position- midwife to the next transition. Women come to me on retreat when life is overwhelming. They have children, grandchildren, caring for parents, their husband is newly retired (thus another person to care for), they are still working and the hormonal shifts of menopause have them wanting to SCREAM. They are DONE.
They come on retreat in search of rest.
What I actually provide is nourishment. Nourishment for the belly with feminine and grounding foods. Nourishment for the energy being through connection with nature, guided meditation and sound healing. Nourishment for the physical body through gentle yogic movement and breath. Nourishment for the soul with creativity and nourishment for the emotional body through personal reflection.
Our mission is not to achieve balance, but to place ourselves before everyone else. Everything else will survive. But the woman who has come to me, she needs to be caring for herself. Together, we find ways to weave what we learn into our everyday lives. Because without self-love, then we are left burnt, exhausted and resentful.
Join me on this journey. Wherever you are, I am excited to support you.
This Week’s A Door Within:
How am I carrying the weight of others?
How can I set down their needs so I can pick-up myself?
What can I do today to take a few minutes to care for myself?
What is one thing I truly love doing that I am going to do TODAY?
♥ Ashley
