Birth Passages offers a provocative and eloquent challenge to the nostalgia for the maternal, sometimes influenced by classic Freudian theory, which pervades many discourses. Theresa M. Krier suggests an alternative to the common characterizations of "the maternal" as a force inspiring both desire and dread, a force that must be repressed if subjectivity and culture are to be established. Instead, drawing on the work of Melanie Klein, D. W. Winnicott, and Luce Irigaray, Krier seeks to establish a new model of the relationship between mother and infant, one in which birth is seen not as the tragic ending to the prenatal union but rather as the child's claiming both distance from and proximity to this parent. Krier's insightful readings of poetic works from antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance show these texts in opposition to their cultures' insistent nostalgia for the maternal. Their authors, she maintains, recognize such longing as a symptom of a glamorous but false and disabling fantasy. In her analysis of the Song of Songs, Lucretius's De rerum natura, Chaucer's Parlement of Foules, Spenser's Amoretti and Faerie Queene, and Shakespeare's Love's Labor's Lost and The Winter's Tale, Krier details how the writings represent the intersubjective nature of birth.

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Millions of women have felt the power of birth, and countless women long for it. But for too many, birth can seem like a purely clinical experience — something to get through as quickly as possible in order to get on with the joys of being a mother. In Made for This, author Mary Haseltine draws on Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body to show that birth is an essential part of who God created women to be, body and soul. With real-life stories from many moms and practical tips — including preparing for birth, making informed choices, helping fathers embrace their role in the birth room, and encountering the work of labor — this book is an indispensable guide for navigating the physical and spiritual dimensions of pregnancy and birth. Expectant mothers will find the tools they need to approach birth as a gift, and to invite God into the experience. About the Author Mary Haseltine is a theology graduate and a certified birth doula and childbirth educator. With a passion for building a culture of life through the teachings of the Theology of the Body, she works to bring an awareness and practice of the teachings of the Church into the realm of childbirth, mothering, and pregnancy loss. She lives in Western New York with her husband and five sons. You can find more of her writing at www.betterthaneden.com.

A valuable resource for parents, counselors and educators of all faiths and philosophies. Includes creative ideas for celebrating contemporary rites of passage from birth to age 21. Over 20 rites of passage ceremonies, over 30 songs to honor life transitions, family rituals for celebrating birthday passages, guides for imparting age-appropriate rights and responsibilities in a young person's life, and ideas for parents and caregivers to reclaim and heal life passages from the past. Praise: "For such a ritually starved people as ourselves, (Living Passages) is a masterpiece. Shea is doing us an immense favor here, not just in offering us honest rituals and prayers for every aspect of our lives, but, in effect, letting us know we can do the same."(Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Franciscan Priest and author of Adam's Return) "What an encouraging and empowering book! Shea has shared her family's rich journey raising children from infancy to adulthood in a way that will inspire anyone with children to take the next step in creating meaningful celebrations and ceremonies to mark life's transitions. What a gift!" (Rahima Baldwin, Parenting Educator and Author of You Are Your Child's First Teacher)

Incorporating elders' recollections of the system of ruled boundaries and ritual passages that guided their parents and grandparents a century ago, Ann Fienup-Riordan brings into focus the complex, creative Yupik world view - expressed by ceremonial exchanges and the cycling of names, gifts, and persons - which continues to shape daily life in communities along the Bering Sea coast. Her analysis is illustrated with many contemporary and historical photographs

When pregnant, you become the very essence of the Mother Goddess-she who transitions from maiden to mother. Embark on this sacred journey with special guided meditations, affirmations, and rituals. Designed to help you attune to the divine energies of childbearing, Passages: Pagan Pregnancy shows you how to: Prepare spiritually for this extraordinary time Conduct rituals to aide conception, safe pregnancy, and easy delivery Practice responsible magick during these critical nine months Deal with unexpected developments as well as miscarriage The first book of its kind, Pagan Pregnancy is the perfect companion to prepare you to take on the most magnificent-and magickal role of your life. Arin Murphy-Hiscock is the mother of one son. She is the author of Power Spellcraft for Life, Solitary Wicca for Life, and The Way of the Green Witch. She is the New Age consultant for Provenance Press, the Series Editor for the Passages series, a High Priestess within the Black Forest Clan, and has been active in the New Age community for more than ten years. She teaches a variety of workshops on topics such as designing rituals, spellcasting, and seasonal celebrations. She lives in Montreal, Canada.

Pregnancy and childbirth are often depicted as a time of sickness and mood swings for women followed by twelve to twenty hours of pain and hard labor. Many women have been told they can never conceive. Others have suffered the pain of conceiving and miscarrying. Have you had enough of this picture? Supernatural Childbirth is a practical...