Abortion after care for the spirit

Jan 4

Like the body and the heart, the spirit also often seeks tending after an abortion. Some people may relate to their spirit or soul as their Higher Self, the Observer, or Witness. Some may relate to spirit as their intuition or subtle feeling sense. Interwoven with the heart, body, and mind, the spirit also needs care.

Kali, the dark mother

Cycles of light and darkness, life and death. The Mother archetype both creates and takes life. She welcomes the darkness as fertile ground for new life to be born. Psychologist Maureen Murdock identifies this archetype in the ancient Hindu goddess Kali. Both the Divine Mother and the Dark Mother, she represents that both forces of light and darkness are necessary driving forces of nature. As such, she has the ower to create, preserve, and destroy. Our culture tends to only reinforce the nurturing and creative aspects of the Mother, while her power to create endings in cycles of death and rebirth is often dismissed.

In the context of abortion, psychologists Candace de Puy and Dana Dovitch write in The Healing Choice, “When a woman integrates more aspects of the inner mother, she is able to understand that her decision to say ‘no’ to a pregnancy is as much a part of her nature as her decision to give life. If she feels anger, it must be honored and utilized.”

We’ve seen how connecting with the energy of Kali in ritual or ceremony can help people release emotions like shame and guilt. Abortion is part of the natural cycles of death and rebirth. When we say no to a pregnancy, we act in accordance with nature just as much as when we say yes.

Mugwort and artemis, patroness of midwives

Mugwort, or Artemesia, evokes the spirit of Artemis, Goddess of Nature - a being of adventure, freedom, and wildness. She calls in sovereignty, strength, wisdom, and protection. Her fierce and wild spirit reminds us that this choice to carry a pregnancy or not lives in the spirals of life and death. Nature models these cycles as the seasons change, the Snake sheds her skin, the Moon waxes and wanes.

Artemis was also known as the Patroness of Midwives, who often used the Mugwort plant to support abortion, miscarriage, and delivery. Centuries ago, the midwives called on the goddess spirit for support and protection. We can continue to do so today.

Drinking a cup of hot tea, using either dried or fresh leaves, offers energetic protection while also physically supporting uterine cramps.

transformation with blue lotus

Blue Lotus is a sacred plant filled with ancient wisdom. Historically, only pharaohs and royal families had access to it. Ancient Egyptians held that the Sun God Ra emerged from the golden center of this flower that represents transformation and rebirth. With roots digging deep into muddy, mucky waters, the flower also honors darkness, the fertile void from which seeds of creation emerge.

Although the Blue Lotus is truly a lily, it brings to mind the symbol of the lotus that represents the sacral chakra, or energy center. Located below the navel, this is our womb - the center of creation, pleasure, emotion, relationship, and flow. Working with Blue Lotus helps connect the womb to the heart to support healing. This anti-spasmodic plant will also help the physical body by relieving uterine cramps.

We recommend using 1 full flower or 1 TBSP of petals in 1 quart of hot water and allowing to infuse either overnight, or at least for 30 minutes.

What If

By Dr. Stephanie

What if
With unplanned pregnancies,
We were taught to tell our swee bodies
Thank you for doing
This thing you were designed to do.
I love you.
But now is not the right time.
Maybe later.
Or maybe not.

Instead of being taught to say
Shame on you.