Mother’s Day can stir tender emotions for other reasons though. And it’s making me realize that it’s not just a day about biological mothers. It’s about those who mother those they haven’t birthed, those who have lost children, egg donors, surrogates, those progressing through fertility treatments, and all supporters and champions of children. It’s about the energy of mothering and about the symbolism of peace and nurture and new life and Spring.
…we all have access to the creative spark, fierce love and nurturing qualities of Mother: the transformational power of birthing an impulse into form and committing to its growth and development.
As I sink more deeply into womb work in both my healing practice and my critical ecopoetic work, I see that we are all mother. This is not to detract in any way from those who inhabit motherhood in all its wild, intense, joyous, sweet awakening, all its nappies and dirty dishes and paint on the bath tub and banged heads and random joy shrieks. But rather to honour that we all have access to the creative spark, fierce love and nurturing qualities of Mother: the transformational power of birthing an impulse into form and committing to its growth and development. Now more than ever, we need to remember and activate that. For when this energy of the mother and of femininity rises, the masculine can too. The true masculine that is – robust and playful. As fiercely committed to our children as we.
In honouring your own mother, then, honour your children who enable you to be mother and the men who walk alongside you and bring your babies up on to your chest. And honour yourself in all your creative potential for doing your sacred, everyday, repetitive, unique, enthralling work in the world. And if you feel tender and billowy too, allow it to run through you. Re-experience your birthing as a mother. You are one.
Loveday is a writer, healer and coach. She offers in person and distant Rahanni energy healings and is currently leading workshops in movement, meditation and writing practices from Studio Tula, Dunedin. You can find more of her simple, nourishing recipes and vibrant, heart-led living on her website Wild and Good.
