Our Birth Story

One of my sadhana's (spiritual practices) during challenging times, is to look for the clearest, easiest path. I know we are taught that struggle brings glory and good things come to those who wait. In my life, however, I've found that when I am most unclear, if I step back, allow the clouds of ego to part, what the great Quaker teacher Parker Palmer calls "way opening" becomes obvious. As does what he calls "way closing." I can sometimes get mired in turning backwards, ruminating on the door that has closed. This time, I only looked at that door for a little tiny bit, because the way opening was almost immediately and abundantly clear.

Need a new space?
Here it is.
Need help?
Here it is.
Need a place for the interim?
Here it is.
Need decorating skills?
Here's Annie.
Need a vision for a play space so that folks can attend with little ones in tow?
Here's Kristen.
A cozy tea nook?

Hi, Rachel!
Need paint?
Hello, Carl's painting!
Need painting?
Christopher, Annie, Ananda
Need AV?
Emily and Ernesto
Need to peel off a thousand Nascar stickers?
Erin and Charlie
Need customized childbirth ed, high caliber wellness offerings, natural health basics, yoga for kids?
Dolores, Kat, Lauren, Brenna
Need wood toys, furniture, tea kettle, handmade fabric swings, changing tables, inspiration, motivation, visioning?
Here's C O M M U N I T Y
Thank you. Pranams. Thank you.

"And you're high enough that you won't have any run off from the river." That's what my friend, Jesse, said when he came in. When my partner, Christopher, came to see the space, he noted that the parking lot is shared with a bar. My dear one, Jesi, said "Wow! This is a brave thing you're doing!" Annie, said, "I want to take a risk and do that back wall dark grey." And there have been dozens of responses like that. What I LOVE about all of these offerings, comments, questions, and observations is that I would have never thought of them. I don't have on my radar to watch for flood plains, consider surrounding businesses, the degree of bravery needed to start a new space, or (definitely not this!) the color the walls could be. And that is the beauty of communal birthing. It's what Thich Nhat Hath refers to as "interbeing": the notion that we are not here to attain individual enlightenment. That we are here to do this together.

And so, yesterday, a dozen or so big people and five babies showed up at The Womb Room. That was today's birth team. Yesterday was a hearty workday - all walls are painted, the couch is obviously popular, the tea nook whispers "you are welcome here," the play space is ripening and sweet, and we checked out arrangement possibilities with both our imaginations and our muscles. There were mommas wearing babies painting walls.  There were teens laughing with babies and AV strategy going on between feeding babies. Good, good stuff. I can't wait for you all to see and be welcome in The Womb Room!

I couldn't escape this giddy, purposeful, smiley feeling every time I came to the door and opened it. A feeling of "this is so right" rode with me all day. I am so surprised, grateful, and in service to this loving community. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

{photo creds: Ann Carl and Amy Bluhm}