The childbearing year is a transformative period encompassing the two months before conception, the nine months of pregnancy, and the two months following birth. This time is marked by rapid physical changes and intense emotions, offering a unique opportunity for growth and self-discovery. The childbearing year touches every season, reflecting the cyclical nature of life.
Five hundred years ago in Europe, men persecuted and executed Wise Women—herbalists, midwives, and those who celebrated the cyclical ways of nature. Branded as witches, millions were tortured and burned, severing the transmission of knowledge from mother to daughter. This dark period in history disrupted the flow of traditional wisdom and healing practices.
In the Americas, the descendants of these persecutors continued the violence, killing medicine women and curanderas. The existence of Wise Women was denied, further erasing their contributions from history.
Without connections to each other and the earth, and deprived of our mothers' wisdom, women forgot their inherent power. When told they had no souls, minds, or sisters, they believed it. When informed that childbearing was too dangerous for women, midwives, and herbs, they accepted it as truth.
Despite this, the spirit of Wise Women lives on in dreams, visions, and deep memories. Their whispers are heard and heeded, guiding a resurgence of traditional healing practices.
Wise Woman healing aligns with the cycles and seasons, the turning of planets, and the pulsation of life. Each herb is gathered at its optimal time, used to nourish and build the sixty million cells created every second in our bodies. This practice honors the attunement built into our cells over thousands of generations nourished on wild foods.
Wise Women herbalists view the whole herb, respecting both its physical and subtle forces. They use the entire plant, not just its "active" principles, recognizing the symbiotic relationship between humans and herbs.
Wise Woman healing is grounded and rooted in the earth. The Wise Woman accepts herself and her changes, tending to birthing and dying without alienation. She is attuned to the life song surrounding her, with all necessary health and well-being resources growing within her reach. Her creativity shapes her life, children, art, and healing practices.
The book "Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year" speaks to the Wise Woman within every pregnant woman and her support network. It is based on the belief that women are capable of observing their own bodies, hearts, and minds, responding to the messages received during the childbearing year, and caring for themselves with loving support.
The information shared in the book represents the careful experiments and experiences of many herbalists and ordinary people. It is not a mere collection of remedies but a record of practices tested in various situations and with diverse individuals. This work aims to reconnect women with their Wise Woman heritage, joining with traditions in China and other regions where herbal medicine remains unbroken.
Do you remember? Is that a picture of your grandmother in her garden? We are all Wise Women, connected through generations and the earth.
Susun Weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 Fax: 1-845-246-8081
By reconnecting with the wisdom of Wise Women, we can embrace a holistic approach to the childbearing year, honoring the cycles of life and the power within us.
The Medicine Wheel of Plant Uses Part 2
The Medicine Wheel of Plant Uses (Part Two) copyright: Susun S. Weed The Medicine Wheel of Plant Uses begins in the East, place of the rising su...
How to Lead a Joyous Life
I aspire to be a joyous human being. As with most aspirations: It is easier said than done. Easier imagined than put into practice. Easier to search for than to have.
The Medicine Wheel of Plant Uses - Part 1
There is so much to learn about herbs and healing. How can we assure ourselves of our own competence?
