A pregnant woman and her baby belly is simply one of the most beautiful forms on earth!
In their empowering, often healing birth book, Birthing From Within, Pam England, CNM, MA, and Rob Horowitz, PhD write:
One kind of learning comes from books. But the learning necessary for you to participate completely in your birth must come from you. In making birth art or journaling, just bringing an image to light can be surprisingly revealing (and sometimes healing). Listening to it speak to you can tell you even more. Dreams, reverie and art all carry messages from the unconscious…
An active, gentle exploration process not only brings overlooked resources and strengths to conscious awareness, but identifies obstacles and inhibitions that might prevent you from using them.
Birth art doesn't have to be pretty, colorful or carefully planned. It is as raw, honest and spontaneous as birth itself.
It is important to notice how you approach making art, because it is a metaphor for how you approach doing things in your life, especially things you are unfamiliar with, such as birthing. Do you say, "I don't know how to do this!" and hesitate, or give up altogether (leaving it up to 'the professionals')? Do you find yourself comparing yourself and competing with others? Or can you be curious and say, "Let's see what I can do!"?
Your art, like your labor, doesn't have to be perfect. Just give it your best effort.
One expressive form of pregnancy and birth art is belly painting. What a fun celebration of the life growing within!
If you have a painted (or henna) baby belly photo you'd like to share here, we'd love to see them! Upload to the peaceful parenting Facebook page or drop them to us in an email at PeacefulParents@gmail.com
Happy Baby Growing!
cool beans
ReplyDeleteI had henna done on my belly with the previous pregnancy! It was so much fun. :o)
ReplyDeleteLots of cool pictures here!
I'd never seen or heard of belly painting, but near the end of my last pregnancy, I took out our face paints, and my children each had a turn to create a masterpiece on the unusual (and large!) canvas ... it was a great bonding time as they waited in anticipation to meet their newest sibling!
ReplyDeleteI did belly cast with both of my children. Also when I was pregnant with my 2nd I let my then 16mo old daughter "color her baby sister" she LOVED it!!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally doing a belly henna next time around!!! :)
ReplyDeleteMan I love this post. But facebook said that it won't let me post it because this is the message I get: This message contains blocked content that has previously been flagged as abusive or spammy. Let us know if you think this is an error.
ReplyDeleteThat is a bunch of crud!!!
bambimommyof4 ~ it seems to be a FB glitch that occurs at times. If you try again, it may work next time around... Copy/paste the URL as a link.
ReplyDeleteWith baby #1 I was due in October so we painted my belly like a jack o lantern. With #2 I was due in August and we painted it like a watermelon :)
ReplyDeleteAs a man, I'm going to have to grow a beer belly so I can take part! lol. Amazing artwork ladies!
ReplyDeleteHello! I am the artist who painted the top painting of the baby with the purple background. Thank you for including it in your post!
ReplyDeleteAmy
www.enchantedbrushstrokes.com