• Woven within webs of support • |
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Dear Friend... We have been creating circles of support for mothers and parents for many years now, as they cross the threshold and hold their babies and children. Only in the past few months have we felt the true strength of our own circle, as others have stood with us and behind us, and we have stood firmly behind ourselves. What had felt, at times, like a heavy responsibility, is now shared and much laughter can be heard these days in the Summer House, the HQ of Radiant Mama.
What created this change?
Having a layer of support around us and welcoming more M/othering energy in our lives, for ourselves.
A generous friend has sponsored El, our new admin person, to do the most wonderful work of creating structures (and newsletters) and bring consistent solid ground under us! We are so grateful to him and to Naveena who has joined our team and is bringing her bright self to our groups! Each one of us also has more support in our personal lives, turning more of the M/othering energy towards ourselves and receiving it from others.
From this more solid and resourced place, we can make better choices, born out of what is truly moving through us. This month we chose to join Mother Roots and others who are addressing the bigger changes that are needed in the world.
In this newsletter, we'll be sharing about some of the new connections we made at the Mother Roots event, as well as updating you on Radiant Mama news and exciting developments.
You will also hear from the Friday group and how they are creating support for themselves.
Hoping to inspire you to invite this level of support in your life. Newsletter Contents.... |
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Reflecting on the Mother Roots event; Theatre. Art, film, and important conversations. "Can Mothers Have it All?" an enquiry with Olivia Radiant Mama News Introducing the Radiant Mama Directory and Blossom Tree Clinic Our Counselling Service: Please fill in the questionnaire to help make is accessible to all. "Teatime"
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Mother Roots: amplifying the mothering energy that lies in all of us...
On the 18th of May, Johara Bellali and Helen Jacoby hosted the Mother Roots event in the Totnes Civic Hall. They brought together community as a way to "explore, tend, celebrate and amplify this vital, regenerative and inclusive perspective within our communities and enable us to weave more inclusion and resilience in facing the future together." They believe that everyone has access to to the M/othering energy - regardless of gender and family status - and that's why they refer to it as "M/othering". Snippets of the event by Johara:
'Emotions flowed, stories were heard and performed through the fantastic RedEarth Playback Theatre, a beautiful grief corner received messages, fantastic art pieces were displayed, heartfelt songs were sung and amazing poems recited. The project corner exhibited offerings from the community's local herbalists, activists, birth and mother supporters. Our voices were beautifully harmonised in communal singing and a carousel circle of sharing contained the visions rooted in M/othering'. We held a Radiant Mama stall there to support the Mother Roots project, and to connect with others involved in this wave of change-making. We met a number of inspiring individuals and projects, some of whom we thought to share with you here. Prominent themes that were expressed included the unrealistic expectations placed on mothering/parenting, the sacredness of the journey of parenting, the lack of support for parents, drawing on empty as they give so much and the vital need for community and activism on a local and global scale. The Red Earth Playback theatre explored these themes in such a moving way, tears flowed and hearts melted as people saw themselves reflected and understood.
The artists brought their voices and their prayers to these themes too: |
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Tribeless Mother Yearning Rima Staines shared a piece she made in 2016 when her eldest son was a baby: "It speaks to a powerful feeling I had after my babies were born, longing for the grandmothers over my shoulders who were not there, a sense that I was alone in a fragmented culture holding the most precious thing in the world in my arms, with the biggest task in the world ahead of me." |
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In this piece she remembers and yearns in the midst of her overwhelm and exhaustion for what would once have been her birthright. |
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Black Madonna Artist Kamini Gupta presented the Dark Mother Goddess, honoured by Indigenous farming cultures across the world: "symbolic of the dark moon, the night sky, the winter cycle and the bleed phase of a women's menstrual cycle and the rich fertile soil beneath our feet." "Evolving and surviving through the millennia She is venerated by the faithful in different cultures in all her guises." | | |
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How do we bring more of this M/othering energy into the world?
Here are some examples or local and global actions that were represented at the Mother Roots event: |
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The Friday Circle, a group of Local Mothers shared their experience of creating community:
"We are a group of local women who met in pregnancy. One of us called out for other pregnant women to meet in a weekly share circle. A few of us had been to radiant mama retreats and community days, where making community was advocated to survive parenting.
We have been meeting weekly for over one year now, all our babies are born and some are nearly one.
Every Friday we meet in someone's home, taking it in turn to use a talking stick to share our internal world without interruption.
We then eat together.
We meet at the same time and day every week. We speak the joys, lows, rage, relationships, bodies, feeding journeys, shame, love, care and tensions entailed in our mothering.
We are a radical act as we prioritise care and community
in our mothering.
The mother or couple alone are not enough to raise a child(ren) and the support of other mothers is essential to keeping well in oneself." At Mother Roots, Chelsea shared an audio recording of a body check in before a group share, alongside a visual recording of a circle in one of their gardens. Chelsea hopes their group and the video inspires other women to set up circles when pregnant. If you like to watch the audio and video recording, you are welcome to contact Chelsea via Chelsea.church@hotmail.co.uk. |
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For Mothers and children globally: Mothers Manifesto A group of mothers heart broken and determined to bring change. We sat together in a stall space with Emma Hopkins, and were touched by her determination to address child hunger as part of Mothers Manifesto. This group of mothers is calling for action on food insecurity now and into the future both here in the UK and globally, as this dire situation escalates. Globally 2.3 million children are dying yearly from malnutrition, a situation which is completely avoidable, a political choice. "We have achieved a lot in just over a year with two meetings in parliament and cross party support from a number of MPs, connecting with various key organisations along with huge amounts of positive press. We will continue to build on this momentum. As women and as mothers we have a powerful voice. Join us to bring about the positive changes needed, there are so many ways to be involved. To find out more visit our website or contact me, Emma, directly on 07875292434." |
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How do we bring this M/othering energy into our lives as new parents, not just for our children but for ourselves too? |
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Can Mothers have it all?
In Alignment with this theme, Olivia follows a similar inquiry in her work and upcoming offerings... "In a society which offer little support and education for mothers/parents, how can a mother balance her instinctual drive to love, protect and do the best for her child, with her personal and relationship needs?" This was the question that Olivia wrestled with for many years as she raised her four children (now adults). It’s the same question that preoccupies many of the mothers who come along to the Radiant Mama groups Olivia has facilitated for the past 10 years.
"Since the sixties, feminism has fought for the rights and welfare of mothers in the workplace, but it also seemed to create an expectation that women/mothers can have it all and do it all. Is that true? “Many of us walk into motherhood blind, filled with unexamined beliefs and expectations, and very few skills. This can lead to a sense of failure or a loss of confidence when we’re not able to meet the unrealistic standards we’ve internalised from the family or culture we were raised in.” Pregnancy can be the perfect time to ponder, enquire and learn. What better environment to do this in than in the company of other expectant mothers, in a beautiful setting, with yummy food and enjoyable activities? The Midsummer Pregnancy Retreat could be such a place, just outside Totnes, in two converted barns on seven acres of land, from the 20th-23rd June, with the option of shared or single-room accommodation.
"Rest, nourishment and inspiration and guidance can be yours, whether you have experienced pregnancy before or this is your first time.” https://www.oliviaseck.com/midsummer-pregnancy-retreat
Our Early Bird discount is available until Saturday 1st June, so if you book before then you save £50. As always, some low cost places are also available. Accessibility is important to us. Please enquire if you need this. |
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Radiant Mama News
Radiant Mama projects currently in full swing include our weekly circles facilitated by Sarah and Naveena, and community days too. We are expanding our Network Directory of Practitioners, so please get in touch if you would like your services listed. We have applied for National Lottery Funding again to support us to continue with this work and develop a free/donation based counselling service; all of which you can read more about later on. |
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Our Network Directory
The aim of the directory is to enable the community to access experienced practitioners who specialise in the areas of pregnancy, birth and postpartum, as well as support those practitioners to make a living doing what they are passionate about. |
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So you can get to know the practitioners we will be highlighting a different one in each newsletter. This time we have chosen the Blossom Tree Clinic who offer a much needed and accessible acupuncture service. Blossom Tree Clinic is run by Charlotte Johnston and Mim Lilley who are both experienced acupuncture practitioners and mothers. Inspired by a passion for Chinese Medicine and supporting pregnant women and children, Mim and Charlotte run a Children's clinic and a Pregnancy clinic on the Dartington Estate. These are both community multi-bed clinics run on a sliding scale on a Thursday afternoon. You can get in touch with them by email: hello@blossomtreeclinic.com. |
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Counselling Service
As mentioned briefly in our news updates, Radiant Mama has applied again for National Lottery Funding; both to continue our existing services and also to implement a new counselling service to support people through the perinatal period, an important transition which can sometimes be very challenging, personally and for the relationship.
We have been doing some research to better understand the needs and barriers that exist regarding access to counselling support. If you'd like to tell us about your experience to support this process, we would really welcome your input via this online questionnaire. |
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"Teatime"
To conclude our updates and sharings, we wanted to offer this very refreshing picture of the breastfeeding relationship between this mother and baby. It was displayed at the National Vietnamese Museum for Woman. A portrayal of contented M/othering, one of the ways to embody this energy in all of us. |
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We are signing off today with immense gratitude to all of the individuals, groups and movements working towards change-making in the field of pregnancy, birth, motherhood and beyond. It is an honour and a privilege to be a part of this enriching network of mutual support. As always, you are so welcome to reach out to us here at Radiant Mama, via radiantmamahome@gmail.com. We would love to hear any reflections you have regarding all that we have shared, or any questions you may have for us. Blessings on your day. El, Olivia, Sarah and Naveena. |
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