Pregnancy and birth are profound experiences that weave together physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. As we dive deep into the heart of spiritual birth we will explore what it means to exist.
A woman becomes a radiant mother when she herself is lovingly nurtured by other wise women, or mothered by her partner, her friends. This is why it is so important to choose consciously and seek out wise people when you are searching for support through your pregnancy and birth journey.
1. Deep into the Heart of Being Spiritual?
To say someone is a spiritual being implies that the essence of who they are is not limited to their physical form. This suggests that:
- There is an awareness or consciousness beyond the physical body. This a kind of knowing, feeling or intuition.
- The self (or soul) may be eternal, non-material, or interconnected with something greater—such as the universe, God, or collective consciousness. In the same way that electricity or radio waves are powerful forms of energy not seen with the human eye, equally the soul of a human is part of an energy stream that exists beyond our awareness.
- Life is not purely physical, but part of a deeper pattern or journey. This idea is sometimes called a soul journey that leads to evolution of consciousness in a physical body. The concept of love is not a physical attribute, yet it is understood through physical acts of kindness or recognition.
2. Deep into the Heart of Experience?
This phrase, often attributed to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience”), flips the perspective:
- A human having a spiritual experience implies spirituality is temporary or occasional, like a mystical moment or religious ritual. It implies that we are finite, we have a beginning and an end.
- Instead, to say we are spiritual beings having a human experience means life itself is the experience—this body, this time, this identity. If life itself the journey for a spiritual being, then procreation is holy and awesome.
- People are therefore vessels or conduits for another spiritual being in a human form as part of his experience. Preparing our own minds, hearts and bodies for the highest act of creation is, I would say, of prime importance.
3. Deep into the Heart of Energy?
We cannot see the heart of a person, yet it pumps blood all around the body and makes them alive to us. This describes some metaphysical or scientific-spiritual interpretations:
- Energy cannot be created or destroyed and this idea from physics is often interpreted spiritually to mean that our essence (or consciousness) is part of this unseen, infinite energy.
- Embodiment is the temporary form that energy takes in other words, matter shaped by consciousness.
- The “material dimension” is just one layer of reality. Some traditions describe it as dense or slower-vibrational energy.
In this view, you are a node of consciousness or energy, moving through form, time, and space.
4. Deep into the Heart of my Fall
Three years ago I experienced a bad fall from a horse and was critically injured with multiple fractures of my spine, my limbs, my ribs and a de-gloved elbow. I was not ready to die, nor be an invalid. I felt like I had a rushing waterfall of energy within me and willed my bones to grow, my torn flesh to heal. The skin and fascia on my raw elbow took eight months to heal with diligent daily herbal dressings. Yoga exercises helped me to regain movement and muscle strength.as well as cycling and walking.
Somehow, I felt connected to a divine source of healing energy to help me put flesh on my bones and provide a working home for my spirit, my soul, my higher self. The archetype of bones represents an indestructible force, the indestructible force of soul-spirit. Bones are hard to destroy. Three years later, I am fit and healthy, of sound mind and body. There is flesh on my bones! The life force flows through me.
So too is giving birth an experience of LIFE_FORCE Energy moving though the body, and creating a separate home for another soul-spirit. It is the most important job on the planet.
5. Deep into the Heart of cosmic or divine energy?
Many spiritual traditions say yes although they use different language:
- In Hinduism, Atman refers to the true soul or essence of a person. It is often described as a spark of the divine, intimately connected to Brahman, the ultimate reality. Consequently, we are all connected, a part of a much bigger whole.
- In Christian mysticism, God breathes life into us—divine spirit animates matter. The Holy Spirit infuses us with energy and guides us to align ourselves with God’s highest purpose in our lives.
- Quantum physics and mysticism/New Age tries to marry particle physics with universal energy and and consciousness. We are a literal piece of the cosmos becoming aware as we evolve into super humans.
- Even modern science shows we are composed of elements born in stars. The atoms in your body are ancient and are never lost as life is recycled in death.
6. The Heart of Ancient Wisdom
- In many Indigenous traditions, motherhood is seen as a direct extension of Mother Earth. Mother Nature is regarded as a force of life, fertility, and regeneration. Women who give birth are often viewed not only as caregivers but as creators in harmony with the cosmos.
- Among many Native American nations, the Earth is referred to as Mother Earth, and human mothers are considered her earthly representatives. Mothers are deserving of deep respect and special spiritual status.
- In Quechua and Aymara traditions, Pachamama (Earth Mother) is a divine feminine force who nurtures all life. Mothers are honoured in ritual and through connection with the land in ritual ceremonies.
In essence, if the universe is divine or conscious in any way, then so are we, because we are it, just shaped into a specific form for a time. Yet, here on this earthly plane, time is the concept that defines our worlds.
Conversely, time loses its significance during childbirth and it feels as if we are in a timeless zone until the baby is born. A few hours can feel like eternity and eternity stops when the baby takes his first breath.The first breath is the most important sign of life.
7. Deep into the Heart of Childbirth?
This is one of the most sacred expressions of spirit entering form:
- A child’s body grows through biological processes, yes, but something more seems to occur. Even unborn babies are consciously responding, learning and interacting with their womb environment. Babies will often kick more in the womb when their father comes into the room, or when their siblings are around. They can respond to a parent’s voice, singing, heat, cold, tapping, movement, touch.
- The womb also becomes a portal or a threshold between the unseen and the seen.
- In many traditions, motherhood is viewed as a divine act: not just producing life, but being a vessel through which spirit enters matter.
Ultimately:
- The act of conception and birth reflects the heart of the creative principle of the universe.
- Woman becomes a channel for cosmic energy to individuate into a new form.
- Childbirth mirrors the larger mystery of how form and spirit constantly interact.
To bring it all together:
You are both a spiritual being in a material form and a physical being absorbing a spiritual experience.
Therefore, Spiritual Birth is one of the most profound crossings between the eternal and the temporary, the unseen and the seen a human being can experience.
In addition, Pregnancy and Birth may be one of the few times we glimpse the full mystery of what it means to be alive and perhaps, what it means to be divine.
Michel Odent, in his writings, suggests that “Undisturbed, Physiological Birth” is potentially one of the most transcendent and transformative events in a family’s life, for both parents. And when intervention is necessary, birth is still a transformative portal. It brings about changes with powerful opportunities for transcendent experiences.
As you navigate this transformative journey, it’s crucial to embrace mindfulness and presence. It is critical to consider how you will prepare for and navigate this liminal event.
Inhale deeply, allow each breath to centre you, foster a connection with the life growing within.
Exhale slowly, release any tension or anxiety, and ground yourself in the moment.
Moreover, this practice of being fully present, enhances awareness and appreciation of the miraculous changes occurring in your body. Embrace each present moment, and cultivate a sense of calm and readiness for the adventure of birth and parenthood ahead. Choose people who are conscious and aware to guide you in this journey.
You can create a beautiful nurturing environment for you and your baby.