Labyrinth of Birth: Creating a Map, Meditations and Rituals for Your Childbearing Year

The timeless and powerful symbol of the labyrinth forms the core of this collection of fourteen meditations and ceremonies designed to transform the experience of the childbearing year. The labyrinth is four thousand years old and found the world over. A variety of labyrinths, including childbirth labyrinths from Hopi and Tohono O'odham Nations and others from India are presented in this book. Instructions for drawing a variety of labyrinths, ideas for personalizing the design, and a beautiful selection of "seeds" (start up patterns) are included in this book.

Studies show that walking or finger-tracing a labyrinth slows down and balances brainwaves, clams the body and mind, and helps access intuitive knowing. During pregnancy, labyrinth meditations help mothers prepare emotionally and spiritually for birth and mothering. In labor, the labyrinth becomes an inner map as it helps to calm the mind, steady the breath and ease the pain. Postpartum, the Birth Story Labyrinth helps process, integrate and give new meaning to their experiences in labor.

Labyrinth of Birth was written in response to a growing yearning among new parents for ceremony and personal growth during the childbearing year.