Values Clarification Exercise. What is important to you?

So you are soon to GIVE Birth!  

What an epic passage.  

How have you come to know what is of value to you in regard to your birth experience?

In creating time to share clearly with your partner  (or important others) around your birth environment and the atmosphere you desire....what have you discovered?

Is your baby requesting or inspiring any specifics in the 'birthmosphere'?

I'm curious.  Tell me more. 

My name is Grace Murdock.  I am the founder of the School of Sentient Birth @ Krmel Mystery School.  As well, I currently have the immense honor to be a student of Quantum Midwifery with Whapio Diane Bartlett @ the Matrona in Asheville, NC.

Two weeks ago we explored options, expectations, and values in regard to birth via a simple, yet in some ways profound 'values clarification' exercise.  

I'd like to share the exercise with you.  

Whether you are soon to give birth, have given birth, or are involved in birth as a care provider the following questions may illuminate or inspire clarity around what is possible in the birth environment.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to:

~Consider the following options

~Add some Ideas of your own

~Inspire a deeper conversation through leaving a comment after this blog.

I'd love to know what you discovered.  Each one teach one!

En.Joy.

BIRTH*VALUES CLARIFICATION EXERCISE

Please # each according to importance.  ((10 being the highest value you can give))

BIRTH EXPERIENCE

Having my partner present during my labor and birth/As a partner-being present at the birth.

Having a medical doctor present.

Able to welcome my the baby gently, not have the baby taken away at all.

Feel at one with my partner, the attendants & the energy throughout the birth.

Be in my own home.

Able to do what I choose.

Be totally accepting of what may happen during the labor and birth.

Be in peaceful quiet surroundings.

Have the ultimate safety equipment.

Avoid Pain.

Maintain a spiritual perspective throughout the birth.

Be in a birthing center or hospital.

Have a lay midwife present.

Have a nurse midwife present.

Birth in the water.

Be able to eat and drink during labor.

Birth in the position I chose.

Have access to pain medication.

Have a doula present.

Have anyone present that I choose (children, grandmother, family, friends…).

Have access to emergency drugs for hemorrhage or newborn problems.

Be away from the family for a few days and get some rest.

Go into labor naturally without induction or augmentation.

Have an elective C-section if I choose.

Be mobile throughout my labor and not confined to bed.

Be able to refuse procedures I do not want – exams, IV, monitoring, routine drug..

Wild Card - Chose some of your own.

ATTENDANTS

Available throughout the experience but will not interfere unless we ask.

Have a high regard for me and my partners intuition and knowledge.

Have great expertise with complications and know how to handle them.

Maintain a spiritual perspective throughout the birth.

We feel like friends rather than have a professional-patient relationship.

They charge a low fee.

They take insurance or accept Medicaid.

Have had children.

Have had normal birthing experiences, not C-sections.

Can administer drugs, do suturing and have hospital privileges.

Won’t be offended if we don’t actually call them for the birth but deliver unassisted.

Can be depended on to take over in an emergency and make the right decisions.

Don’t hassle me about my diet, lifestyle, or any of my choices.

Encourage our responsibility and will consult with us before doing anything.

Wild Card - Chose some of your own.

The Paradox of Birth

Birth has called me to stand within it's field and hold the space of probability.

What IS possible in the 'Birthmosphere', the thread of moments when the alchemy of all creation is present and birthing Spirit into Energized Conscious Matter?

My name is Grace.  I am the founder Krmel's School of Sentient Birth.

This very morning as I was awakening from dreamtime, there was a 'knowing' being 'folded' into my consciousness through gentle and deliberate wording. I received.. "Understand that birth is truly a paradox. It is both a Sacred Rite of Passage and an Ordinary Everyday Mundane Occurrence. Allow both to exist simultaneously".

There was feeling tone that carried this wording, a felt sense of calmness co.mingling with the absolute potential of creation.  

I'd love for us recognize birth (and everything really) as an expression of the Sacred Mundane, to culturally hold the mysteries of Birth with thriving curiosity and trust.

Let's try it. Today I invite you to weave Birth directly into your life.  

Assume that miracles will occur as common place today. 

Lean into and listen for the emptiness between the activities.

Remember that emptiness is full of potential, image.in what can be birthed from that place.  

Approach your 'not knowingness' as a Gift.  Be fearless.  

Birth is as natural as life, as common as breathing.  

Birth has become my inspired 'work' in the world.  I trust Birth completely, come what may....for I never 'know' what will arise in her presence.  Those elements of common mystery and power, for me, usher Birth in as MY GREATEST TEACHER!  

Throughout the inquiries of my daily life I am noticing and asking...

"How does this apply to birth?"  

"How can I be stronger or more supple here?"  

"How can I, as a birthing woman, meet the intensity of these feelings, this change?"  

"What lies just below the surface of this moment, from where is this originating?"  

"Can I stay present with the 'hugeness' of this life?"  

It's ALL in there, and it makes sense, to me, to call upon Birth daily. I just love her depth and the accessibility!

  

Consider, Birth is the one experience that every human alive on the planet has in common. 

We've ALL been there.  Birth is our sole/Soul shared reference point and lives in each one of us now.

Of what will Birth speak to you today?  I'd love to hear.

In Light,

Grace

Founder, School of Sentient Birth

I think it was John Lennon who said "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." Can you relate?  My name is Grace Murdock.  I am the director of the Krmel Mystery Schools School of Sentient Birth and I began featuring this seven post blog series quite some time ago.  In the midst of it all I've experienced LIFE  HAPPENING at a rather rapid pace.  Thank You for your patience in receiving the seventh post in this series.

Although Krmel Mystery School and the School of Sentient Birth do not subscribe to any one lineage or system of belief, we are aware that conscious education is a key factor in the awakening process of our truest inner knowing.  I was touched by much of what Swami Jyotirmayananda has to share here.

These writings were originally published in Light of Consciousness Magazine in Winter 2008.

Education for Your Childs Soul, A Yogic Perspective/Pt. 7
TRUE SPIRITUAL EDUCATION

Spiritual Ideals should be given to children, but since people do not have a healthy understanding of the true meaning of spirituality, they often separate the spiritual from the material.  Therefore, you hear so much about the cruelty that occurs when children are trained to become everything that the parents are not.  Parents, finding in themselves many weaknesses that they cannot remove, want the child to be perfect, free from all those weaknesses.  This type of attempt to build perfection in others without bringing perfection within oneself is an erroneous movement.  Children are put into great trouble in the name of making them ethically perfect, training them to be pious, religious.

Religion is life lived in a healthy plane.  Religion is sincerity.  Religion is communion with love.  It is important not to adopt extreme measures in any direction and to provide conditions so that the children draw from themselves the inherent power with which they are born.  That is exactly the meaning of education.  Education is to draw out from yourself what you have.  For encouraging aspiration for greater things, all you need to do is awaken an interest in the child.  The moment a true interest is awakened, the child will follow that pursuit with intense concentration.

If a child develops an interest in Self-realization as the goal, he will start to read books that will help  him reach that goal.  Therefore, the art for parents is to plant in the child a profound interest then leave the child to peruse it.  Just guide here and there.  Do not go after every detail.  For parents to present higher thought patterns in the environment of their children, certain conditions must be present.  Firstly, the parents must have higher understanding themselves and be sincerely working towards their own evolution and personality integration.  Secondly, there must not be disharmony between the parents.  Thirdly, the parents must not seek too many amusements outside.  They must consider that the children provide for them an excellent panorama of experience and they in turn provide an interesting environment for the children.

Therefore, do not allow the children to just watch TV day and night.  It is a terrible defect in the present civilization that parents leave the children completely at the mercy of mechanized entertainment, and that children grow up cold, calculated and insensitive.  Therefore, they bring pain to their parents and pain to the society.  Rather, come in contact with the children by telling them stories and parables.  participate in their lives and come closer to their world.  Education is not limited to just training children how to write and read.  Education is sharing your life, allowing a child to imbibe vibrations which are necessary for his growth.

Bringing forth children, according to the Hindu tradition, is a powerful responsibility, a powerful Yoga.  If that responsibility is not understood, a person should not be a grihasta, a householder, and bring forth children he is not prepared to deal with.  On the other hand, if you know the art, you are promoting a Yoga. *(Union) Your doing good to the child enables you, in turn, to evolve faster.  You are not educating the child for the child's sake alone, but for your sake as well.  It is within the perspective of educating yourself that nature has provided a conjunction of a soul - the child - with you.

You must help the child unfold under your protection and guidance.  When children bloom into wonderful personalities, when they turn towards a life which in universal and truly healthy, and when they become enlightened sages, they benefit themselves, the parents, the forefathers, and the entire world.  That should be the goal of all education.

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We at Krmel's School for Sentient Birth deeply appreciate and welcome your thoughts, intuitions, and perspectives.  Please leave a comment and DO SHARE THIS POSTING with friends and colleagues who may enjoy it's contents as well. 

The Spirit of Discipline

Welcome to the School of Sentient Birth. You are reading part six of a seven part blog series authored by Swami Jyotirmayananda and originally published in Light of Consciousness Magazine, winter 2008.

My name is Grace Murdock and I'm founder and director of the School of Sentient Birth. As I was retyping this article for the Sentient Birth blog today I noticed myself contracting and questioning some of the content and/or the wording of the content.

It certainly is powerful to observe how much the subject of 'disciplining children' brings up for people, perhaps because the result of how we were disciplined lives somewhere essentially in each of us.

While reading you may encounter an * followed immediately, or shortly after, by an italicized comment. This is simply to introduce a suggestion or inquiry that supports the exploration of Sentient Birth Consciousness.

En.joy!

Education for Your Childs Soul Pt. 6

THE SPIRIT OF DISCIPLINE

Practical insight into how to train children must be gradually developed by the parents through experience. There cannot be set laws. Those people who read set laws from research books become like tinny computers, constantly looking into the books to find out exactly how they are going to react to a problem.

*Parents must build up an atmosphere of warmth and love and within that atmosphere firmness. Allow the children to taste the joy of your satisfaction when they have done well in meeting your healthy expectations. However, when they have not done something well they must also taste the bitterness of having made you dissatisfied. They long to please you and learn to enjoy promoting your satisfaction. That sensitive way in which children must be handled is the subject of profound understanding and the art of being firm in a healthy manner requires a special intelligence.

You should not allow the child to have their way all of the time. **You must train and discipline the child and your love for the child should not come in the way of that training. If a child gets into some wrong habits you must discipline them firmly, strongly. Even threats and little pats will do no harm. The children will appreciate your actions in the course of time.

Parents who are afraid that their children will leave them as they grow if they are firmly treated, have not developed deeper love for the children. If you are in a healthy relationship with your children, you will impress upon them the sincerity of your intentions to such an extent that even though you might have been very harsh at times, they will love you immensely.

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*I so appreciate the foundation of firmness being rooted in an atmosphere of warmth and love. How did you experience being disciplined as a child? Do you feel that a balance was reached that effectively guided your growth?

**I am aware of my reaction to the 'word' training in regard to raising and parenting children. That being said, I do agree that guiding children requires certain habits to be 'tried on' and put into motion.

As well, I'm not sure how I feel about 'threats' as an aspect of parenting. Can we cultivate agreements and consequence?

What are your thoughts?

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Though the School of Sentient Birth and Krmel Mystery School do not subscribe to any one school of thinking, we are seeded in the knowing that "the subject of educating of children is very vital because the future of mankind-culture, tradition, religion, all that is good and sublime--depends upon the way children (and all peoples) are educated."

Join us soon for True Spiritual Education the seventh and last blog post in this seven part series titled Education for Your Child's Soul; a Yogic Perspective.

See Through Your Childs Eyes

Blessings! Welcome to School of Sentient Birth blog.

Hopefully you are enjoying this 7 part blog series. I didn't make a lot of commentary on todays post but I would LOVE to hear what's moving through you in regard to what you read today. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Education of Your Child's Soul, Pt 5

SEE THROUGH YOUR CHILDS EYES

Parents must also understand how the values of children are different from the values of grownup people. It becomes important for parents to develop sensitivity into children's psychology. Not through academic learning, but on the basis of spontaneous love and affection, you must become able to commune with your children and understand them. You must try to see how the children think and how they ae looking at things. You should not impose your realities in a very harsh manner.

The Law of Karma can cause great differences among children in the same family. Children born of the same parents may be in totally different levels of evolution. Some children have the potentiality of becoming very great in a particular field while others do not. Parents with insight will be able to guide their children according to their potential and their state of evolution, encouraging them to unfold all their inner talents and resources. Parents should not become upset if the children do not function or develop the way they had excepted, because children have their own right to live and express themselves. They cannot be molded exactly according to the expectations of parents.

The parents attitude towards the children should be to present a healthy environment for growth, just as the sun and the rain provide a proper environment for seeds to grow. If proper circumstance are given in a society where various personalities are needed, everyone will fit in to perform a correct and right function. From Divine point of view no one is smaller, no one is greater. Therefore, parents should not imbalance their affection and lean more towards children who are brighter or more like themselves, and begin to ignore those that are not so bright or express themselves differently than parents had expected.

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Thank You to Alex Gray for the "Wonder"full image that tops this blog.

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Education of your child's Soul - A Yogic perspective' is a seven part series authored by Swami Jyotirmayananda which was originally published in 'Light of Consciousness-Journal of Spiritual Awakening. Volume 20.

Though the School of Sentient Birth and Krmel Mystery School do not subscribe to any one school of thinking, we are seeded in the knowing that "the subject of educating of children is very vital because the future of mankind-culture, tradition, religion, all that is good and sublime--depends upon

the way the way children (and all peoples) are educated."

Unique Sensitivity of a Child's Mind

Welcome, Thank You for Your Interest in Sentient Birth!

While reading you may encounter an * followed immediately, or shortly after, by an italicized comment in parenthesis. This is simply to introduce a suggestion or inquiry that supports Sentient Birth Consciousness.

Education for your child's Soul, Pt. 4

UNIQUE SENSITIVITY OF A CHILD'S MIND

A child, according to Yoga, has their kleshas, their afflictions, in a dormant state. Because the ego and it's selfishness have not yet developed, there is a unique form of sensitivity that nature has given to a child.

*(this may simply be that children operate from slower brainwave states than most adults)

In practical dealings with children, parent must understand the sensitivity of the child's mind and realize how deeply every experience penetrates that mind. You remember clearly many things from your childhood days while things that happened a few years ago, or only a few days ago are forgotten. The mind of a child is extraordinarily sensitive. Its sensitivity is mystic.

*(at early stages children may not have basic problem solving & thinking capacities but rather feel energy & communication in and through their bodies, often times at a very cellular/soulular level)

Sometimes the child is reflecting even the things that you feel and think. You may be able to conceal many things from other grownup human beings. You can come from your office tense, tired, and filled with explosions within your mind. You can conceal all that when dealing with grownup people, but when you are sitting before children you are sitting before tiny sages. They perceive your inner state though you have not uttered a word. There is a radiation from you and children are more sensitive to that and they imbibe it. So, it is important that adults consider carefully the sensitivity of the mind of a child.

*(perhaps children are accessing information known through Delta brain wave frequency).

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*In a Quantum Midwifery retreat in Sedona, AZ I learned that a child is in 'an altered state' until they are around 7 years of age. By 'altered state' I simply refer to the tendency & capacity of children to be navigating slower brain wave states as their default or 'normal' state of being.

In our every day lives, most adults are accessing primarily the frequency of Beta. Beta is our basic ''Get 'er Done'' state of being. However, pregnancy, birth, and parenting are all experiences that give women (and men) access to and practice navigating the spectrum of brain wave states.

I've found that a simple understanding and languaging of the brain wave frequencies allows my clients to more gracefully approach pregnancy, birth, parenting, and partnering....as well as their own personal growth.

The brainwaves of beta, alpha, theta & delta:

Beta - The here and now. Alert. Articulate. List Making. Beta are the brainwaves we use to navigate and negotiate everyday life.

Alpha - Relaxed detached awareness. Day Dreaming. Alpha provides the lucidity and vividness of our imagery. Alpha is considered the 'gateway' between conscious and unconscious.

Theta - Deep meditation. Personal Knowing. Stillness. Theta are the brainwaves produced by the subconscious mind. Theta is where we make our strongest spiritual connection. Theta is also the place where healing most readily enters our being.

Delta - The unconscious mind. Deep restorative sleep. Intuition. Instincts. Delta offers a true sense of inner knowing and psychic awareness. Delta allows us to glean information that isn't available on a conscious level. Provides access to universal psyche. (Whereas Theta provides insights from the depth our our personal experience).

As a conscious parent, how can a reference point to this practical wisdom facilitate a more graceful way of being with your child and yourself?

How can this wisdom assist you in creating a bridge of awareness between self, child, and the larger world?

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'Education of your child's Soul - A Yogic perspective' is a seven part series authored by Swami Jyotirmayananda which was originally published in 'Light of Consciousness-Journal of Spiritual Awakening. Volume 20.

Though the School of Sentient Birth and Krmel Mystery School do not subscribe to any one school of thinking, we are seeded in the knowing that "the subject of educating of children is very vital because the future of mankind-culture, tradition, religion, all that is good and sublime--depends upon the way the way children (and all peoples) are educated."

We invite you to join us tomorrow for See Through Your Childs Eyes, part 5 of this 7 part blog series.

You Can Create Peace Today.

A Child is A Reflection of the Self; Education for your Childs Soul Pt. 3

As you read you may occasionally encounter an* followed directly or shortly by insights in parenthesis. This is simply for the purpose of posing inquiries that support Sentient Birth Consciousness.

Education for your Child's Soul - Part 3

A CHILD IS A REFLECTION OF THE SELF

Why is a child so lovable to the parent? How can a tiny creature weighing just a few pounds capture their hearts, entrance their minds, involve all their energy? Why is it that the moment you see a little cub of a tiger or a lion, or any child of any species, the human mind develops such a sense of tenderness? What is the psychology behind it?

The answer, in brief, is that every human being wants to capture in his consciousness absolute tenderness, absolute beauty and harmony. That, of course, is God, the Divine Self. But since the urge for realizing the Self is very abstract, the complex mind is unable to understand that urge and nature must present various experiences in human life to promote its development. So, when parents love their child, in that love they are trying to capture the love of God. Your child reflects that God, That Divinity in it's simplicity and innocence.

When you understand how your child reflects your aspiration for becoming simple, symbolizing the goal you want to reach in life, you can develop an attitude of adoring the Divine Self in the child. This attitude however, should not interfere with your practical dealings with a child. *You must be able to separate your instinctive love from the objective needs of a child's growth. You should not make the child a tool of your love, nor become attached to and dependent on the form of the child to be happy. If you do so you will stunt their development and not let them grow up as they should. **Rather understand that a child exists as an independent personality and one day will walk out of your life as a bird that has wings will fly out of the nest.

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*(As a parent, how have you been able to separate your instinctive love from the objective needs of a child's growth?)

**(How do you, as a parent, navigate the experience of a child existing as an independent personality, yet being such a deep reflection of the YourSelf?)

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This seven part series is authored by Swami Jyotirmayanananda and was originally published in Light of Consciousness Journal of Spiritual Awakening.

Though the School of Sentient Birth and Krmel Mystery School are not affiliated with any one school of thought, we are seeded in the knowing that "the subject of educating children is very vital because the future of mankind-culture, tradition, religion, all that is good and sublime--depends upon the way children (and all peoples) are educated."

Please join us tomorrow for the Unique Sensitivity of a Child's Mind. Part 4 of the 7 post blog series "Education for Your Child's Soul - A Yogic Perspective".