Matrescence is one of the greatest initiations we can go through as women, carrying us into a new relationship with our body, our power and our divinity. It’s also an invitation into deeper layers of self knowledge and growth. This episode unpacks the many gifts of parenthood, with learnings from different spiritual traditions, poetry and my own experiences as a mother. I share my birth story and discuss this pattern many of us share as women, where we bond through victimhood and downplaying various aspects of our lives, rather than standing tall and proud. I argue for a more nuanced and expansive conversation around birth and motherhood where we hold space for each other to share the full spectrum of our experiences from the dark and traumatic, to the sacred and ecstatic. We look at the impact of capitalism on motherhood and the ways in which most of the crises we are facing globally, are crises of leadership. Better parenting = better leaders… It really is the most important job. Many different traditions teach that babies and children, in their unmasked innocence, are naturally close to God / source. Becoming a parent is an opportunity to step into this liminal space of presence, awe and unconditional love, alongside our wee ones. Parenting is a huge physical and emotional stretch, constantly asking us to expand our capacity. We explore parenthood as a practice not unlike yoga, where we humbly face our own unhealed patterns, respond imperfectly to our children, fall off the path, and get back on again and again and again. Finally we discuss the grief of parenting through divorce, and some practices to help navigate this often painful journey. For more info please make sure you sign up to my newsletter at madeleineeliza.com where you’ll receive a free ebook and audio meditation. You can also keep in touch with me on Instagram @madeleine.eliza - and if you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to rate and review the show and share it with your friends. Thanks for listening! References Athan, A & Miller, L. 2013 Motherhood as Opportunity to Learn Spiritual Values: Experiences and Insights of New Mothers, Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health 27(4), Summer 2013 https://apppahjournal.birthpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/journal/published_paper/volume-27/issue-4/dt93wt9T.pdf CalmBirth Antenatal Classes https://calmbirth.com.au/ Gibran, K. 1923 The Prophet, Knopf https://poets.org/poem/children-1 May, I. 2008 Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Vermilion Taylor, S. 2011 The Path of the Parent: How Children Can Enrich Your Spiritual Life, Natural Health Magazine, March 2011 Wordsworth, W. 1807 Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood, Poetry Foundation https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45536/ode-intimations-of-immortality-from-recollections-of-early-childhood