@potterybarn

Birth requires expansiveness and transcendence in order to bring a new soul into the world. 

To me, labor and delivery felt like a portal I walked into the moment I found out I was getting induced. I knew I wouldn’t be the same person on the other side and I new no one but me could walk this path and have this baby. When I was laboring, I felt as thought I was straddling two worlds. “Reality” as I knew it and this other in-between spirit world where I was able to usher my baby’s soul into the world. Maybe this is what one calls an “out of body experience” but to me it felt… so right. Complete and total presence.

Following birth I rode high on adrenaline, amazed at myself and what my body could do, and especially obsessed with my daughter. If I could do that [birth], I could do absolutely anything- I felt deeply empowered. Becoming a mother is so instinctual, primal even. I noticed I had a strong desire to protect my baby and was constantly scanning for threats around me. I also felt my intuition like never before. I was sharp and had a knowing about other energies I came into contact with. I remember walking past certain strangers or a certain house and feeling a chill in my bones that the energy there wasn’t right. And then on the other side of that coin, moments of incredible unspoken communication with my baby.

Then I began reading about other women and their experience energetically after birth. I read stories, spoke with friends and family members and realized that this is something to notice- something to tap into and acknowledge.

As birthing people, our energy field is vast and incredibly open immediately following birth, and while it is tempting to stay in that altered state forever, at some point it becomes time to emerge from it.  While birth requires expansion, the postpartum period requires the exact opposite: closeness, slowness, groundedness, steadiness, protection, and rest.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I began practicing shrinking and sealing my birth field to feel grounded and protected. I would close my eyes and visualize my energy as golden light. In the early days it felt like my energy was reaching out feet from my body. This exercise helped me pull it back in. 

The following practice can be easily done at home. Notice how your energy feels after this practice (your babe may like it, too) tips below ⤵️⠀⠀

HOW TO SHRINK YOUR BIRTH FIELD

• take a deep, cleansing breath
• (safely) burn Palo Santo wood or incense
• swirl the smoke in the corners of your space, along the doors and windows
• sit in meditation (this can be 2 mins!) and visualize the energy around your body as a golden light. Imagine it slowly getting smaller and closer to your body until it is at a place where you feel comfortable and protected.
• acknowledge your journey + experience for exactly as it is in this moment.
• ask for what you need. acceptance, love, peace, rest – whatever it is that you want. Invite and receive.
• take a deep breath in closing

ta-da! It’s easy and we think you will find this relaxing. You can also tailor this ritual as you please. Add journaling, card pulls using @lbreggy doula deck or instead of smoke, imagine a golden light so you can do this while holding your baby- get creative.

Oh, and (obviously) it’s best to burn Palo Santo when your babe is out of the home to avoid any contact with the smoke.  You can grab ethically sourced Palo Santo wood from @etsy

xx

kaitlin⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀