THE PREGNANT WOMB
The Trauma of Abortion
by Roslyne Sophia Breillat
mentor at the Wise Woman University
The female psyche ebbs and flows with a subtle yet powerful rhythm that is ancient, intelligent and profoundly wise. And this rhythm is intricately aligned with the cyclic dance of the earth's seasons, the moon's phases and the ocean's tides. Anything and everything that disturbs the natural ebbing and flowing of this innately feminine cycle creates psychic, emotional and psychological imbalance within the pristine essence of this female psyche.
A woman's entire being is potentially aligned with the womb of the earth through her sacred phases of menstruation, lovemaking, pregnancy, birthing and menopause. Whenever any of these innate phases is unnaturally disrupted, waves of disturbance and shock reverberate through her vagina, her ovaries, her psyche, her womb, her heart.
The subtle yet profound power of these shock waves is too often suppressed, causing muscular tension in the vagina and womb, difficulties with menstruation, lovemaking and menopause and deep unhealed grief and sorrow without apparent cause.
And whenever she experiences a caesarian, stillbirth or miscarriage, it takes time for the loving wisdom of her womb to integrate and heal the deep reverberations of this physical and emotional wounding.
Her womb is a matrix of creative power, a sacred chalice, a sacred vessel that conceives, carries and births new life upon this earth. Myriad inner changes occur whenever her body becomes pregnant. For her psyche is mysteriously transformed and forever changed by the pregnant womb.
When she first senses she is pregnant, she immediately feels different, she immediately is different. And within this first moment of intuitive inner knowing, her arising joy, delight, doubt or fear are all instantly communicated to the tiny being within her womb. For many women, this miraculous discovery bestows a peaceful and loving pregnancy, an exalted sense of ripeness, femaleness and fertility that is deliciously sensual and filled with the expansive promise of new life.
But what of the woman who immediately knows this pregnancy is not "appropriate" or "right" for her right now? What of the woman who implicitly knows she must not carry this babe within her womb? What of the woman who instantly and intuitively knows she must not birth this babe, must not mother this babe, must not bring her pregnancy to fruition?
What of this woman, and who is this woman? She is the woman, who, for whatever reason, or for many reasons, is faced with the option, the anguish, the decision of having an abortion. And every year, thousands of women have abortions after experiencing their pregnancy as an emotional and psychological trauma, a tragical dilemma, a painfully traumatic "unwanted" situation.
Perhaps her womb has fully opened to the love of her partner, her husband, her lover, her friend within a few wildly unexpected moments of passion. And perhaps their life is somehow not conducive to the flowering of pregnancy. Perhaps her womb has become pregnant during a brutal act of violation, of trauma, of rape. Perhaps she has been cunningly seduced by a man who is charismatic, charming, uncommitted and filled with false promises of love. And perhaps this man is incapable, unwilling or irresponsible when faced with the reality of becoming a father.
Perhaps she is young, ignorant, vulnerable, isolated, afraid. Perhaps she is not emotionally mature enough for mothering right now. Perhaps she feels pressured by teachers, parents, grandparents, siblings or friends who insist that an abortion is "best" for her. Perhaps she is an exhausted mother who cannot physically or emotionally cope with another pregnancy right now. Perhaps she is your sister, your mother, your neighbour, your cousin, your friend. Or perhaps she is you or me.
This woman facing the possibility of induced abortion is many women. She is you, she is me, she is I, she is we. She is the primordial essence of the one woman within every woman's body. Her womb is the womb of Mother Earth. Her womb carries her child and she wants her womb to expel this child, to get rid of this child. How can we help her? How can we support her? How can we ease her anguish, her terror, her fear, her pain? How can we be with her, in compassion and in love in her moments of suffering, without judgement, without condemnation, without criticism, without blame? Are we willing to walk a mile in her moccasins?
Are we willing to be present with her while she faces the crushing impact of this potent situation? Are we willing to embrace her, to hold her hand, to see inside her heart while she wavers between "right" and "wrong", between "yes" and "no", between fear and flight, between darkness and light? And are we able to unconditionally give to her, to fully support her in this decision, without making her feel she has committed a sin or a crime or has done something "wrong"?
Somewhere amongst the tangled web of opinions that weave through the issue of abortion, we forget that this issue is not just about the fluctuating feelings of the mother. We forget about the father. For he too can also deeply grieve the loss of his child and the disruption of his partner's pregnancy. We forget that the bodies of two people, a man and a woman, came together, made love and created this child, created the miracle of new life.
Sometimes society declares this situation is all her responsibility, all her fault, as if somehow he has nothing to do with it at all. And ultimately, the final responsibility for this momentous decision does rest with her. For her body will lie upon the operating table, her womb will be scraped and invaded and penetrated during the vulnerable first weeks or months of pregnancy. It is her womb that will bleed. And it is her womb that will become unnaturally emptied of the fruits of her love.
Sophia...
Sophia is a wise woman who lives, writes, and paints from the heart. Her prolific articles and paintings embrace the wisdom and grace of the female essence and the beauty of the earth. She is acknowledged as a powerful and honest writer whose creative work features throughout many international websites and magazines. Her website is an abundant offering of female wisdom that nurtures and inspires.
Sophia is available for wildheartwisdom mentoring and counselling consultations via telephone or skype.
Website ~ www.wildheartwisdom.com
Email ~ sophia@wildheartwisdom.com
Copyright Roslyne Sophia Breillat ©
Not to be reproduced without author’s permission
Online Courses with Roslyne Sophia Breillat
DAWNING OF WISDOM
~ Beginning the Journey of Menopause
Are you ready to awaken more deeply to your female power and intuitive wisdom through fully embracing the profound transformation of menopause? This course offers gentle encouragement and loving wisdom for the woman who is beginning or approaching her menopausal journey.
Through welcoming the first signs of inner change that stir her wise whisperings we will explore how to consciously embrace the sacred mystery of this natural transformation. And through honouring the grace and strength of the menopausal woman we will celebrate her awakening power.
Welcome to “DAWNING OF WISDOM ~ Beginning the Journey of Menopause”… This is the first of a series of courses with Sophia that consciously embrace the deeper spiritual purpose of menopause. Through focusing upon the initial dawning of the menopausal call to wisdom we will explore the mysteries, joys and fears of this profound change. We are living in a society that dishonours, denies and ignores the sacred beauty, integrity and purpose of the wise woman elder.
find out more and REGISTER...
BEING WOMAN - She of the Earth…
This course provides a sacred and nurturing space where woman can learn to surrender more deeply to the natural receptivity of the female psyche. Throughout this series of lessons she will learn to trust the innate flow of her intuitive nature and to listen more intimately to the wellspring of her inner source. And we will explore together how to live more fully as the embodiment of the feminine essence within the structures of a masculine civilisation.
This course is a series of lessons that honour the fluid nature of the female psyche. Woman has forgotten who she is and the world has forgotten who she is. Her female truth has become clouded and polluted like her beloved Mother Earth. She has imbibed so much maleness that she has lost confidence in the sweet mystery of her receptive nature. She has become angry, forceful and self-doubtful because she is not seen, heard or loved as the creative power of the feminine spirit. It is time for her to stop sleeping. It is time for her to awaken from the dream of unreality that diminishes her true power. It is time for her to become who she really is, in the deep, in her mystery, in her sacredness.
find out more and REGISTER....
About the Mentor:
Sophia (Roslyne Sophia Breillat) is a woman who lives, writes and paints from the heart. The inner richness and profound healing of her life experiences are inspiration for her flowing creativity. Her articles and art embrace the beauty, power and sensuality of the feminine essence and celebrate the natural flow of woman’s transformational cycles. Her website offers a sacred space for woman to dive into the deep, to open to her true nature, to be who she really is.
Sophia’s training and experience includes primal therapist, intuitive massage, reconnective healing, writing, art, illustration, design, astrological counselling, instructional skills, training program design and teaching within the Aboriginal community. She has also facilitated many creative workshops and courses.
Sophia’s writing and art is featured extensively on international websites and her articles and illustrations have been published in many national and international magazines. She is acknowledged as a sensitive and honest writer with deep perceptions and penetrative insight. She is currently creating a series of books that honour the power and wisdom of the feminine spirit.
Find out more about Roslyne Sophia Breillat
Susun Weed's
One Day Workshops
(Wise Woman Center, Woodstock, NY)
These one-day workshops (10AM-5PM) are taught outside among the plants, with Susun and the goats. Open to men and women, they include a wild-food lunch.
At each workshop we will identify, harvest, and use local plants for food and medicine. Registration Fee: $75.
Women can join us for a moon lodge on the Friday of each of these weekends.
Overnight lodging for Friday and Saturday nights is available nearby.
