An Environmentally Conscious Diaper Option

C & The Moon
Lead Co-Author

Each year, 200,000 trees are cut and 3.4 billion gallons of oil are used in the production of disposable diapers. 92% of these end up in landfills, with each taking at least 500 years to decompose due to its absorbent gels and plastic components. With most babies using about 3,500 diapers per year, that amounts to 27.4 billion diapers being added to landfills annually. 

This poses a threat of soil and groundwater contamination thanks to the improper disposal of raw sewage and synthetic materials used to make diapers - which, even worse - your child is being exposed to. These components include wood pulp, bleached paper, polyester non-woven fabric, adhesives, chlorine, tribunal tin, glyphosate (a harmful herbicide), polypropylene, and sodium polyacrylate - which has been connected to urinary tract infections and more. Traces of dioxin have also been found - a carcinogenic chemical recognized by the EPA as the most toxic cancer-linked chemical. These chemicals strip the baby's skin of good bacteria, harming its pH levels. Plus, the ultimate absorbency and leakage prevention prohibits air circulation, which increases risk of infections.

What to Look For

It’s no surprise that absorbency and convenience are a top priority in diapers for new parents, but what you really should be looking for are diapers that are organic, non-toxic, biodegradable, chemical-free, and made with renewable resources or certified sustainable materials. Avoid diapers made with fragrances, bleach, chlorine, tributyltin (TBT), phthalates, latex, and parabens, and check out the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Tips to Safer Diapers for more information.

Cloth Diapers

Cloth diapers are cheaper, reusable up to 200 times, made of breathable material like cotton that is gentler on the skin, do not give off chemical smells, and aid in temperature regulation. Consistent higher temperatures of male genitals have been associated with reduced sperm count, so temp control matters. Cloth diapers even support earlier potty training, as they allow for a sensation of wetness - something disposable diapers try to minimize. Finally, cleaning cloth diapers also means waste ends up in the sewage system or a dedicated compost pile, not landfills. 

One of the most popular styles of cloth diapers are the pocket diaper style, which consists of a shell (outer piece), pocket (inside the shell) and insert (tucks into, or is placed on top of, pocket). This type of cloth diaper is super easy to use and wash; just have a wet bag placed in a small trash can to place used diapers into, and throw them into the washing machine every two days or so. This, of course, requires a bit more effort than simply throwing away a disposable diaper, but the long term benefits and cost savings are noteworthy. Without a doubt, cloth diapers are a valid option for those desiring a more mindful diapering experience.

While the routine required of a cloth-diapering lifestyle can feel overwhelming at first, there are a variety of adjustments that can be made to make things simpler. The Lively Table blog has an amazing breakdown of how to master cloth diapering as a busy parent, written by Kaleigh McMordie. Some of our favorite takeaways include putting inserts on top of the shell pockets as opposed to inside of them so as to reduce laundry and help the shells last longer (brilliant), and the uber specific detergent recommendations that will save you future stress when mineral buildup on your diapers inevitably becomes an issue. 

McMordie also notes in her blog post that cloth diapers don’t need to be an all or nothing commitment. Doing a hybrid of cloth diapers and compostable diapers, for example, is another fab way to do better by baby and the environment when it comes to elimination.

Dyper: A Better Disposable

If cloth diapers are not right for your family, our favorite, safer disposable option is Dyper! Their certified plant-based diapers are made with viscose from responsibly sourced bamboo fibers and Standard 100 certified by OEKO TEX, a leading Swiss safety certification body. They're unprinted, unscented, hypoallergenic, breathable, soft to the touch yet extremely durable and absorbent, and free of chlorine, latex, alcohol, lotions, TBT, and phthalates. With each delivery, Dyper also purchases carbon offsets on your behalf to help reforestation efforts.

What really sets Dyper apart is that their disposable diapers are fully compostable! You can return your used diapers for disposal through an optional REDYPER™ pick up service so they don’t end up in a landfill. 

How the Dyper Process Works

Dyper is a subscription delivery service that serves families who choose to cloth diaper, practice elimination communication, use compostable diapers, and potty train. They essentially have every base covered, all while keeping the best interests of both families and Earth in mind. The service can be used for multiple children at a time, allowing you to manage a variety of diapering options and circumstances. Through the use of AI technology, Dyper is able to predict how many diapers you need and when, taking the stress and guesswork out of managing each subscription on your own. The best part? If the AI prediction is wrong, they’ll deliver replacement diapers to you in just a few hours. 

For families who choose compostable diapers, the shipping process in regard to soiled diapers couldn’t be smoother. Dyper provides you with compostable trash bags to fill with Dyper-brand compostable diapers and wipes. The bags are then picked up from your front porch every two weeks. What happens next? According to Dyper’s website:

“Our Industrial Composting process with REDYPER, accelerates the natural process of decomposition by actively controlling the composting conditions (temperatures, aeration, carbon, and nitrogen content) that allow aerobic bacteria to thrive, producing the end product in as little as 14 weeks.”

DIY Diaper Composting 

This differs from what the composting process would look like if you were to DIY at home - an option you might choose if Dyper doesn’t have pickup services in your area, or if you’re concerned about the impact of the fossil fuels related to the transportation involved in the process. Composting human waste at home is a somewhat controversial topic, though it was a pretty regular occurrence up until synthetic fertilizers appeared on the scene in 1913. If done properly, the time-tested consensus is that it’s okay to process feces in a dedicated compost pile designed to reach the bacteria-killing temperature of 140 degrees or more (never going lower than 131 degrees), so long as it is tended to diligently and you wait a year prior to using it in your garden. This route makes more sense for families with a decent amount of space (and time) to do such a thing, as the feces-dedicated pile would have to be separate from any other compost pile that requires different temperature considerations.

That being said, composting diapers that only contain urine is a much less intensive process. The amount of diapers your baby uses could be too much for strictly at-home composting, and it isn’t recommended to do so if you’re relying on worms; they simply won’t be able to work with the volume. However, it’s totally possible (and admirable) to compost urine-soaked (compostable) diapers, and doing so will create a pretty kickass fertilizer at the end of it all. 

If DIY composting is speaking to you, here are resources provided by the US Composting Council to help you get started. They may not speak directly to diapers or human waste, but they will inform you as to how composting is supported by your state. There are a variety of books on the topic of composting as well.

Conclusion 

Modern parents are growing more and more thoughtful when it comes to their impact on the planet in relation to the amount of waste their families produce. It comes as no surprise that diapers are at the forefront of the conversation, and while the process of composting diapers is still evolving, the options available today are absolutely headed in the right direction. Whether you commit fully to cloth diapering, compostable diapering, or a combination of both, you should give yourself some love for making a conscious choice to do better for our environment. The care and keeping of children requires a commitment to taking care of the planet that they live on, for their future depends on the many choices we make in the present. 

Babywearing 101 and The Brands We Love

C & The Moon

One of the sweetest ways to stay deeply connected to your baby once they’ve been born is babywearing. Whether worn in a wrap, a ring sling, a padded carrier or any other form of fabric that can securely attach a baby to their mother’s (or any other caregiver’s) body, the benefits remain the same, and they also remain vital.

BENEFITS OF BABYWEARING

Babies spend nine to ten months in the womb being lulled by their mother’s heartbeat, soothed by her warmth, and informed by all sensations felt within the entirety of her inner world. We call this period of growth “gestation,” and thus refer to the following nine months spent outside of the womb as “exogestation,” or “exterogestation.” Human infants thrive when a womb-like environment is created and maintained for them during their time of exogestation, and babywearing is the best way to provide the security the mama-baby dyad craves in order for that thriving to happen. It helps to imagine there is an energetic umbilical cord that connects a mother to her newly born baby; in this way it’s easier to understand just how close a newborn needs to be to their mother in order to truly thrive.

1. Co-Regulation

Babywearing primarily provides the opportunity for co-regulation. Babies rely on their caregivers to help them regulate their nervous system from the moment they are born up until about nine months old (the end of the exogestation period). Co-regulation is a keyword in regard to the postpartum healing experience of the mama-baby dyad. Because babies primarily co-regulate with their mothers, it is important for mothers to be efficiently cared for in their first year of motherhood. When a mother is cared for in such a way that her body heals in a proper amount of time, her ability to comfortably babywear increases, and the benefits of consistent babywearing for her baby are profound.

2. Brain Development

One of the main benefits of co-regulation via babywearing for babies is that their brain development is allowed to flourish. When a baby is in a safe, restful, comforting, womb-like environment, their brains are uninterrupted by stress and anxiety and thus stay in a delta brainwave state more often. This allows them to grow and adapt more readily to life on land, resulting in less stress, less crying, and less burnout for parents. Skin-to-skin is one of the ultimate “techniques” for meeting the co-regulatory needs of infants and mothers alike. Pro-tip: naked skin-to-skin while babywearing is a great way to calm a babe. 

3. Neck Strengthening

Babywearing also serves as a near-effortless way to naturally weave tummy time into a caregiver’s routine - and babies rarely protest a tummy time venture that requires them to be heart to heart with someone who loves them. Using babywearing as a tummy time exercise helps babies calmly build their neck and core strength, especially as they begin to get curious about everything going on around them. It’s amazing how far a baby will strain their little upper body to try and see what’s being cooked for dinner.

4. Sustainable Milk Supply

Another critical benefit of babywearing is the potential for an increased milk supply. This happens for a variety of reasons, including the low-stress factor, which allows oxytocin (a necessary hormone for breastfeeding) to flow and be felt in the mother’s body. Another factor is touch and warmth. The physical connection between a mother and her baby when they are placed directly against their mother’s breasts signals to her body that milk is needed. Babywearing gets bonus points for helping mothers be better able to discreetly breastfeed on the go; simply position a baby’s head directly in front the breast so they can latch on while in their carrier, wrap, or sling.

5. Free Hands + Learning Opportunities for Baby

The final benefit we’ll touch on in this article is the fact that babywearing frees up a caregiver’s hands so that they can do whatever their heart desires while baby enjoys an endless snuggle against their body. This is especially beneficial for parents with multiple children. When a caregiver’s hands are free to accomplish routine tasks or to simply read a book while baby takes a long sleep, their stress levels are often lowered because they feel less nap-trapped. If baby is awake, they get to enjoy the show put on by the adult they are strapped to! Through observing the daily goings on while safely attached to their caregiver, babies engage their curiosity and learn about what it takes to be an adult in the modern human world.

COMFORT AND STRENGTH BENEFITS

Babywearing is a powerful tool for new mothers, but it must be done respectfully and with intention. A newly postpartum mother has a pelvic floor that needs to rest and heal. Improperly placing additional pressure on a mother’s pelvic floor could lead to discomfort and pain. Here are a few considerations to be had when beginning one’s babywearing journey in the interest of longevity and building strength.

1. Closed Pelvis

It is extremely important that a mother ensures her pelvis is closed after giving birth - no matter which way that unfolds. One of the best ways to do this is with a legitimate closing of the bones ceremony. Mothers should also ensure that they are at least six weeks postpartum, and that during their minimum six-week resting period they did in fact rest and lay low. This is important when it comes to protecting their pelvic floor.

2. Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is similar to a bowl that is designed to carry that which applies pressure to it from above. If a mother’s pelvic floor isn’t in a state that would allow it to handle extra pressure and weight on and off throughout the day (or night), it could potentially sustain trauma that results in the sensation of pain. This trauma could also increase the possibility of prolapse, or worsen an already existing prolapse. For more specific details regarding protecting the pelvic floor while babywearing, we recommend reading this brilliant article by Ibukun Afolabi of The Mama’s Physio.

3. Posture

In her article, Afolabi emphasizes the importance of proper posture in regard to the impact placed on the pelvic floor - especially when babywearing. Many caregivers overcompensate for pained areas when babywearing, often because they haven’t readjusted their carrier after long wearing periods or because they simply have a habitual standing pattern that is incompatible with the act of babywearing. Taking time to evaluate your posture in the mirror is always a good idea; make sure you aren’t leading too much with your pelvis, and also that you aren’t hunching over - or both. She recommends working with a physical therapist to give you insight as to where your unique posture pattern might benefit from re-wiring, as well as exercises to help you create new, more supportive patterns. This is helpful for any type of baby carrying, whether baby is being worn or held in arms.

4. How it Should Feel

Babywearing should feel like baby is being held in arms. There shouldn’t be too much pull downward on shoulders, nor should there by too much downward pressure on uterus. If either of these feelings are happening, it’s best to readjust baby until the ideal comfort level is attained. Never sacrifice your own physical stability when it comes to babywearing, as it will only wear down your reserves. Either reposition baby, readjust straps and waist belt, or try a different carrier style. 

5. Take a Breath

The breath is incredibly important during babywearing because the diaphragm is “intimately connected” to your pelvic floor, as Afolabi shares in her article. Being able to take a deep inhale followed by a full exhale will ensure that the pelvic floor is able to work with the diaphragm more synergistically. More oxygen also results in less pain throughout the body overall, as well as better regulated stress levels. Practice taking a breath when baby is in the carrier and it’s tightened. If it’s hard to take a deep breath in, loosen the carrier a bit. 

In regard to the breath and proper waist belt/tie positioning, Afolabi advises imagining a balloon that has a belt tied around the middle. In this visualization, the balloon represents the belly and the belt represents the carrier’s waist belt or bottom wrap tie. “The tighter the belt gets,” she writes, “the more the pressure inside that balloon is forced upwards towards the diaphragm and downwards towards the pelvic floor. Both muscles have to work harder to move against that pressure.” The goal in this scenario would be to have the waist strap placed below the belly as much as possible to avoid the potential forcing of pressure against the diaphragm or pelvic floor, and to also make sure it’s not too tight.

6. Optimal Positioning for Baby

“Ergonomic” is the key word for proper baby positioning in baby carriers. The ideal positioning is having baby chest to chest against the person wearing them. In this position, babies’ legs should be M-shaped/froggy style, with their knees slightly higher than their bum. They should be equal on both sides with no one hip positioned lower than the other. Toddlers handle outward/forward facing carriers much better than infants, as facing out can be extremely overstimulating for young babies, and thus it’s not recommended. The final component is ensuring that baby is high up enough to comfortably kiss the top of their head, meaning no neck straining is taking place to do so.

7. Symmetry

If you’re going to use a ring sling/wrap and plan on doing hip carries or putting weight on one shoulder at a time, make sure you switch sides often in the interest of balance. It does not serve the wearer to have a preferred side, as the brain desires variability. In keeping your left/right options open, your body will revel in gratitude and feel less pained over time.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A CARRIER

There is no one-size-fits-all option when it comes to babywearing. Each caregiver has their own unique body and equally unique routines and environmental factors to take into consideration. The following are what we believe are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing which carrier is the best fit for you or the person you’re gifting one to:

1. Consider the Season

What is the primary season or temperature range the carrier will be worn during? If babywearing is going to be a year-round thing and/or used for travel, it may be beneficial to purchase a few options - one for warmer months, one for cooler months - and to make sure that those options are appropriate for baby’s age during those months. For example, a lightweight Solly Baby wrap would be perfect for a newborn in the summer, while a thicker Artipoppe Zeitgeist carrier would be awesome for a one-year-old in the winter. 

2. Weight + Body Type

This goes both ways: make sure the carrier you choose is appropriate for baby’s size, and also that it can be tightened or loosened to ensure a comfortable fit for the adult who will be doing the wearing. Some ring slings can be purchased at a longer length to better suit tall people, for example. 

3. Location

Where will babywearing take place the most? At home? On hikes? Around town while running errands? Again, a few options may be required, as not all carriers are suited to all activities. For example, a ring sling may not be as ideal for a hike compared to a symmetrical padded carrier, and a symmetrical padded carrier may not be as ideal for wearing around the house during naptime as a stretchy wrap might be. 

4. Support Needs

Special needs in regard to the postpartum healing time should always be considered, but they aren’t always known until after baby is born. Regardless, following the basic how-tos as described in the section above will help to ensure that a caregiver knows how to make the carrier they choose work for them. Generally speaking, an adult with back issues will want to choose a carrier that can be tightened and stay tightened so as to maintain a good and supportive posture while being able to maintain a centered position for baby. Additionally, a one-sided ring sling may not be the best option for a caregiver who experiences localized shoulder pain. Meeting with a physical therapist or babywearing educator can be incredibly helpful when choosing the most supportive carrier for you if you aren’t able to intuit your needs on your own. 

5. Waist Belt

As you’ll see below, there are baby carrier options that do not have waist belts, which make them fantastic options for caregivers who are concerned about a prolapse or are babywearing while pregnant. On the other hand, caregivers who need extra support for their backs may desire a waist belt to ensure proper ergonomic placement of baby, as well as to provide extra support when babywearing over long periods of time. 

BRANDS WE LOVE

From simple and affordable to luxurious and limited edition, our top four baby carrier brands are crafted with high quality fabrics, certified Hip Healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, sustainably made, and ethically resourced. Each brand was also started by a mother who believed in the power of babywearing with her whole heart, turning her shared passion for connected parenting into a business venture that gave the gift of comfortable and beautiful babywearing to families worldwide. Read on to learn which brands we recommend the most, what types of carriers they make, and why we love them so much.

1. Artipoppe

Netherlands-based Artipoppe was founded in 2012 by Anna van den Bogert. The brand thoroughly explains its founder’s ethos, which includes tenets of beauty and the freedom to both be seen as mothers and to enjoy motherhood as the profound blessing that it is, all while fearlessly engaging in eye-catching means of self expression through attachment parenting. 

“Motherhood is in need of a paradigm shift,” van den Bogert shares. “Mothers should have the time and space to deeply bond with their child and take up their place in society as unique and autonomous beings.” In this way, Artipoppe is rooted in the future of motherhood and the ways in which the brand can assist with the paradigm shift its founder speaks to.

Styles: Zeitgeist Baby Carrier, Baby Wrap, Ring Sling - all of which are certified Hip Healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, and are suitable for babies weighing 7-45 lbs.

Price Range: $230-$7,484

What makes Artipoppe unique: Artipoppe is a brand that prioritizes quality, luxury, and artistry. They want the women using their carriers to feel confident, beautiful, secure, empowered, and majestic while wearing their babies. The brand is high fashion, if you will, in the realm of baby carriers - especially considering the detailed artistic designs and investment-worthy limited edition carrier options that are available for purchase. 

The unique fabric options to choose from include linen, hemp, cashmere, cotton, silk, and velvet - as well as organic options and a variety of blends. Sustainability is a big deal to Artipoppe, so much so that they plant a tree for every item they produce and have made a commitment to invest in nature-based solutions to soften the impact they have upon the planet. All in all, Artipoppe carriers are fantastic heirloom pieces for sentimental families who seek meaning in everything they invite into their sphere.

Additional Offerings: Artipoppe has inserts available to ensure proper ergonomic forward-facing positioning for baby. 

Video Tutorials: Informational videos for all carrier styles can be found here.

2. Sakura Bloom

Known for their incredible textile options, Sakura Bloom is one of the most oft-recommended carrier brands in the game. Sakura Bloom was founded by mother Lynne Banach, who runs the business with her partner, Eric, by her side in San Diego, California. You can learn more about them and their operations here. 

Styles: Scout Carrier (7-45 lbs), Onbuhimo Carrier (no waist belt, 15-45 lbs), Ring Sling (7-35lbs) - all are certified Hip Healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

Price Range: $198-$560

What makes Sakura Bloom unique: Crafted in Southern California, Sakura Bloom’s carriers are crafted in small batches by artisans and family businesses that are founded upon the same slow fashion, full circle ideology that the brand’s founders wholeheartedly adhere to. Fabric options include cotton, linen, and silk. Their Scout Carrier is unique in that it has leather shoulder straps and a ring sling style waist belt, while their Onbuhimo Carrier is unique in that it has leather shoulder straps, but no waist belt at all. 

Additional Offerings: Mini Doll Slings for littles to use with their dolls and stuffies.

Video Tutorials: A variety of how-to videos, including how to wash your carriers, can be found in the “Learn” section of the top menu. 

3. Solly Baby

Named the best wrap by NYT Wirecutter Magazine, Solly Baby is a much-beloved brand in the world of babywearing mothers. The fabric is wonderfully soft and stretchy, allowing for an easefully personalized babywearing experience for both caregivers and babies alike. The brand was founded by Elle Rowley, a mother of four, and is based in Carlsbad, California. 

Styles: Stretchy Wraps (8-25 lbs) and Loop Carriers (“ease of a sling with the support of a wrap”; 15-45 lbs) - both are certified Hip Healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

Price Range: $69-$92. Sign up for 10% off & free shipping on your first order of $80+!

What makes Solly Baby unique: The uniqueness of the brand is found in the fabric and textile patterns used for the wraps. The classic modal Solly Wrap is made in Los Angeles, while the newer organic cotton Loop, described as a perfect transition carrier for babies who outgrow the wrap, is made in Zhiangjiagang, Jiangsu, China. One of our favorite features of the brand is access to a free virtual 20-minute consultation with a certified babywearing educator, so as to receive feedback on fit and troubleshooting support. Solly Baby also created their own acronym to help caregivers remember the most important factors in regard to safe babywearing: TICKS.

Tight and High

In View at All Times (referring to air passageways)

Close Enough to Kiss 

Keep Chin Off Chest (it should be raised above chest to lift airways)

Straight Up Back (avoid curvature or horizontal positioning)

Additional Offerings: Solly Baby has a large variety of swaddles, sleeper sets, and more, as well as a sweet Solly Dolly wrap for kids to use when wearing their own dolls or stuffies.

Video Tutorials: Instructional videos for both carrier styles can be found here.

4. WildBird

This baby carrier brand has one signature style - the ring sling. Handcrafted in part by independent seamstresses, WildBird ring sling carriers are a true labor of love. The brand was founded by mother Tayler Gunn as a way of honoring the bond between mother and baby, and is praised for using lightweight, minimal fabric that allows for noteworthy ease-of-use. Investing in a WildBird sling provides caregivers with the feeling and benefits of shopping small, such as ownership of an affordable, handcrafted, high quality product created by a business that values sustainability.

Style: Ring Sling (7-35 lbs, available in two lengths as well as double-layered options) - certified Hip Healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

Price Range: $35.98-$129.95

What makes WildBird unique: Besides its use of independent seamstresses for production purposes, WildBird is unique because of how transparent the brand is in regard to their processes. The #seedtosling movement is centered upon the idea that it is important to know all about the fabric their slings are made from; in this case, it’s Belgian flax. Their website includes videos to accompany the hashtag, all of which are beautifully made and extremely detailed as to how the fabric-making process unfolds. You can get to know their seamstresses via video, too. They even include a fabric comparison chart so you can make an adequately informed choice when purchasing one of their slings. 

Additional Offerings: There are plenty to choose from, including Mini Slings for kiddos, linen sleep sacks, play mats, quilted blankets, crib sheets, pillows, loveys, maple + linen teethers, and totes. 

Video Tutorials: Ring sling tutorials can be found here.

IN CONCLUSION

Babywearing is a lifestyle. It is a commitment to closeness and to creating the environment an infant needs to safely and comfortably adapt to life outside of their mother’s womb, while also allowing for mobility and ease on behalf of the mother or other caregiver. While babywearing isn’t always possible for everyone, whether that’s due to physical limitations of caregivers or because a baby simply doesn’t enjoy the process, a womb-like environment is something that can be created in many different ways; all is not lost. 

It’s also important to remember that, while one carrier may not be enjoyable or doable for a mama-baby dyad, another style, fabric, or brand could totally be the perfect fit. Scheduling an appointment with a pelvic floor physical therapist or a babywearing educator could make all the difference in one’s babywearing journey. Check in with your local midwives, doulas, and childbirth educators to learn about babywearing resources available for you in your neck of the woods.

Cannabis: My Co-Creative Dreamweaver of Choice

Fat Nugs Magazine Blog

When I began to engage with cannabis, my third-eye opened wide, and the co-creative dreamweaving commenced. I didn't realize this is what was happening - at the time I simply felt relaxed and inspired. But that's the way things of this nature tend to unfold. Our conditioned minds aren't yet able to fully process all of the transformations taking place within our bodies and spirits when we consume cannabis, and so they allow us to ease into the ultimate knowing that we are so much more than just really smart animals with accessories. We are life creators, dreamers and unrestrainable forces of nature, and we are meant to be in relationship with plants.

Cannabis came to me through my husband, who recommended I smoke some whilst suffering from what ended up being a two-year-long migraine and subsequent fibromyalgia diagnosis. I was the mother of a then-three-year-old and one-year-old, and I desperately needed something that would enable me to function and care for my sweet daughters. I loved being a mother, and yet I couldn't even open my eyes or get off the couch to play with my children unless I wanted to once-again experience an excruciating wave of agonizing pain and defeat.

My doctors prescribed me steroids, antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications and more. They said my pain came from the fact that motherhood was "hard" and told me to avoid cannabis because it makes people "angry." They were completely, obviously and serendipitously wrong, and I couldn't be more grateful for their polarizing explanations of what was required for me to once again feel safe and good in my own body. Needless to say, I ditched the pills and fully committed to natural healing remedies, with cannabis leading the way.

My healing journey since then has been filled with immeasurable amounts of unlearning, deconditioning and discovery. Cannabis taught me how to trust and fall in love with my body, and that was step one on the path toward reaching my fullest potential as a human being, as an artist and as a mother. While I am still walking this path, fully aware that it takes a lot of work to reach a state of embodied enlightenment, I am also able to acknowledge that my mind is more open than ever before, and my reality is shifting as a result. The mindful use of cannabis as a tool of artistry has taken me on an epic internal quest that I consciously committed to. The impact this has had on my outward life is profound, and yet my personal co-creative cannabis rituals are themselves noticeably simple.

When I smoke, I feel the presence of another. Soon enough, this presence becomes fully intertwined with my essence, and the ideas born of this union come forth. A pen and paper are required at all times, or, at the very least, my phone and its array of note-taking apps. The task of channeling and documenting becomes a bit challenging if I smoke before taking what I call a Song Shower. A Song Shower is a bathing ritual that requires a specially curated playlist of songs I love to sing and/or dance to - which is great medicine for my nervous system. This sort of cannabis-supported cleansing and embodiment ceremony regularly produces the most exciting thoughts and ideas and poems. Oftentimes in these circumstances I end up racing from the shower to my journal, determined to get the many swirling thoughts that have arisen out of mind and onto the paper before they disperse and disappear altogether.

Not all rituals are meant to take place in the home, however. One of my favorite outdoor rituals is that of enjoying a cannabis gummy or tincture on the beach, first snacking and sunbathing on the sand while the TCH slowly enters my system, and then arising to either write very long poems, engage in a humbling ocean photography session or play with my daughters as the waves caress our legs - a sensation that feels like an act of gratitude for us coming to enjoy her presence and heal in her waters.

You see, human beings are meant to be outside in the elements and under the sun, which reflects to us the shining heart beams of all people so as to energize and bring healing to our beloved bodies. We are meant to be in communion with all of nature under the eye of the cosmos, be it day or night. And this applies to literally all parts of nature, not just the pretty parts, not just the socially accepted parts, not just the heavily researched parts, not just the "safe" parts and not just the parts shown to us on our screens. We are nature ourselves, and we are incomplete beings when we aren't engaging in a co-creative relationship with the many plants who seek interaction with us, whether they alter our minds or not. Plants are not free of spirit and desire. They want us as much as we want them, and they are available to us in so many forms. Some can be smoked, some can be teas, some can be steams, some can be oils, some can be all of the above - like cannabis. They are here to assist us on our earthly journeys, and it has been made clear to so many of us that living an intentional, plant-accompanied life is the real way, truth and light of our time.

Now, every single one of us is an artist. Our ability to convey meaning and feeling through our creations is the true gift of humanity; it is our purpose. We all have a choice as to how and what we create. So many human beings choose not to consciously create anything at all, and in so doing they inevitably and unconsciously create pain, sadness and deprivation for themselves and others. How this shows up in society is obvious to anyone looking. The cure to our ills lies in creation, not pills, and co-creating with cannabis is an incredibly potent way of connecting to one's humanity, and the artist that lies within.

The only way we can right the wrong of separating humans from plants is to more fully engage with them right now. And so I share with you this dreamweaving practice, which you are welcome to adopt as your own. Learning to use cannabis as a creative tool, no different than a spiritual paintbrush, is a key component of learning how to thrive on this planet and meet our destiny as humans. We are meant to create joy and pleasure with our own natural gifts, and the natural gifts provided to us by Earth.

The first thing you must do to begin this ritual is consume cannabis in whichever way is best suited to you and your body. Allow its essence to flow and settle in your center while you seek a sunny spot outside to lie down. Once you are horizontal, breathe rhythmically and in sync with the inhale and exhale of your surroundings. Try to match your heartbeat to a pulsation that only you can sense in the deep below of the Earth herself. Now, allow your eyes, which are closed, to roll up toward the center of your forehead where your third-eye is awaiting your attention. Your eyes may feel a bit strained, as they are somewhat "cross-eyed," but that is of no concern. Allow it to be so, and relax. You may see colors that transform into other colors, a process greatly influenced by the warm sun shining on your face. Your eyelids may start to twitch. This is a good thing.

Remember to keep breathing rhythmically, continuously tuning in to the sounds of nature and observing the colors and shapes that appear on your inner eyelids. It is at this point that you are invited to dream while remaining in a wakeful state. Allow the cannabis to flow with your thoughts as you dream freely of everything you desire to be so, so long as it is good for yourself and for others and does not bring harm to any other living being. This part matters and is very important. Do not be shy, and do not hold yourself back in any way. Feel what it would be like to live the life of your dreams, keeping in mind the following - ask and you shall receive; dream and you shall weave. The plants are here to help in the creation of your chosen reality. You aren't meant to do it alone.

Stay in this state of creation for as long as you can, only rising from your sunny disposition when you feel complete. Revisit this state regularly to check in on your dreams and their manifestation, making adjustments as necessary. Refinement and simplicity are important, but so are specifics. Again, do not hold yourself back. Weave the most beautiful life-oriented  tapestry you ever thought possible, and remember, everything is possible, even more so when you are receiving the support of one of humanity's greatest and most powerful plant allies - Mother Mary Jane.

12 Ways to Change Birth in Our Culture, Part 3: Initiating, Nurturing and Supporting Birth Workers

Birthing From Within Blog, Through The Labyrinth
Lead Co-Author

In 2010, Pam England wrote a series of pieces about ways in which we can change birth in our culture. The Birthing From Within leadership and blog team has chosen 12 of these pieces and updated them to reflect current understandings within the birth world as well as our current approaches and offerings as an organization. We will be sharing one piece for each month of 2018, both on the blog and in our monthly newsletters. We hope you enjoy this wonderful material, both as archival treasure and as new, innovative insights!

When someone is drawn to birth work, we often say that they were “called.” Don’t think of this Call in a romantic, adventurous sense, but rather as a soul-calling. Birth work is not a job that simply falls in your lap; it is, at its core, soul work that you are compelled to choose and re-choose again and again.

What calls someone to birth work? Sometimes it is a tangible event in our lives that awakens the interest. Some philosophers say it is work we “agreed to do before we were born.” So, at some point after first hearing it, we say “yes” to this Call, and off we go!

Every experience a birth worker has when training and then working with an expecting family ignites many sparks, guiding them further down the path of deeper knowing and wisdom.

This is good, but it is not free from challenges and discomfort that can spark anger, fear, and disappointment; without the proper support, this can lead to depression, inflexible thinking, and/or burnout. Unhappy, inflexible, burnt-out birth workers cannot keep themselves healthy, let alone the birthing people with whom they work. This brings us to the next important shift that needs to happen in order to change birth in our culture: initiating, nurturing, and holding space for birth workers during their training and throughout their careers thereafter.

To “initiate” someone means to guide them through a transformative experience that allows them to experience the personal development necessary to join a new group within their culture. For example, many traditional cultures included initiatory ceremonies, rituals, and experiences meant to mark the passage from childhood to adulthood. Within such traditional and wise cultures, initiates often had to fully participate in the preparation for their ceremonies. They had tasks to complete, and were often guided in these tasks by elders. A Great Story often provided a “map”for the initiates to follow, and preparation often included real or symbolic risk, illustrating the death of the initiate’s old self, and allowing a new self to be born. The preparation was itself a soulful journey, taking the initiate away from an old life toward new understanding and self-knowledge.

Childbirth educator and doula training organizations often neglect this initiatory function, and they fail to provide the support that fledgling birth workers need in order to complete their transformations. They tend to value, and therefore focus primarily on, “evidence-based” material, techniques, performance evaluations and outcomes. They also tend to value the concept of objectivity – the ability to remain impersonal, professional, and in-service to the client or corporation, rather than to themselves.

As a result, there are many birth workers who are taught to give endlessly to their clients, without being adequately supported by their training organizations. This is problematic because birth work, while beautiful, meaningful, important, and inspiring, can exhaust a person who is not held by a supportive community of others on similar initiatory journeys.

The intensity of birth work requires community, wise counsel, emotional support, safe spaces for processing, and a lot of soul exploration. With these things in place, a birth worker can evolve spiritually and emotionally with the work, rather than remaining perpetually exhausted and wounded by it.

Without others to lean on and seek counsel from after beginning such a profound journey of service, it is far too easy for an initiate to become lost and strangled by doubts, fears, traumas, and pure emotional fatigue. A lack of true soul preparation and support can result in defeating burnout, which is itself a harrowing journey.

Equally important to providing soulful trainings is the willingness of the initiate to participate in and take advantage of all that is available to them, without any concern of appearing incapable or weak. Just as a new parent needs validation, support, story, ritual and ceremony to complete their journey, so does a doula, mentor, midwife, obstetrician, labor and delivery nurse, pediatrician, and so forth. In the absence of these components, the likelihood of feeling that something is missing from the preparatory process is strong.

For birth to really change in our culture, childbirth educator and doula training organizations must understand the initiatory nature of their work, recognize and welcome their trainees as initiates, and deliberately nurture and grow them as they evolve. These organizations must become the elders who answer their own Call to “heal the healers,” not only in training but throughout the new birth workers’ careers.

Birthing From Within’s childbirth educator and doula trainings are specifically designed with initiation in mind, and include the ongoing community and support that all birth workers need to maintain the integrity and health of their work.

Crossing the Threshold and Heart of Mentoring are coupled initiatory offerings (one in-person, one online) that are to be experienced and completed before doing any other part of the Birthing From Within certification programs – and they can be taken independently from the certification programs as well. This is Birthing From Within’s way of providing heart-opening initiatory ritual and ceremony to those answering the Call to birth work. These offerings allow initiates (some of whom may already be established birth professionals) to take the time and space required to look within themselves and discover new insights about what they believe to be true, and why. This is such a crucial part of laying the foundation for a sustainable birth work career; we must tend to the soulful aspect of the person answering the Call before they can share their soul with the families they support.

Of course, setting aside a month or so to do the above is not the only piece required for a more holistic way of training and nurturing birth professionals; the support must continue. This is why we also conduct regularly scheduled live calls and online support groups for all initiates and members, certified or not. We encourage all of our members to reach out to their peers and colleagues when they feel they need to work through something they’ve experienced, or are struggling with some of the more emotional aspects of the work. We also offer personalized one-on-one mentorship and Birth Story Listening support for birth processing purposes, as doulas and other birth professionals are unavoidably affected by the births they attend.

As an organization, we continuously work to establish a stronger foundation upon which birth professionals and care providers can build their practices, filling them with a sense of deep meaning for what it is they do or hope to do.

Through our enhanced training and certification programs, specialty workshops, and active, inclusive member community, we are taking the initial steps required to truly change birth in our culture. Stay up to date on all of our offerings by signing up for our monthly newsletter, The Compass, and checking out our upcoming trainings and workshops page on our website. Together, with proper preparation and support, we are bringing about the change that we seek and crave.

This is part of a 12-part series about Changing Birth in Our Culture.

12 Ways to Change Birth in Our Culture, Part 2: Embracing Our Elders

Birthing From Within Blog, Through The Labyrinth
Lead Co-Author

In 2010, Pam England wrote a series of pieces about ways in which we can change birth in our culture. The Birthing From Within leadership and blog team has chosen 12 of these pieces and updated them to reflect current understandings within the birth world as well as our current approaches and offerings as an organization. We will be sharing one piece for each month of 2018, both on the blog and in our monthly newsletters. We hope you enjoy this wonderful material, both as archival treasure and as new, innovative insights!

In January we tuned in to how the way in which parents speak to their children about their births can have a long-lasting impact on their children’s perceptions of birth, both now and in the future. This month, we span the years to explore how our relationships with our elders can impact our understandings of birth both for ourselves and as a component of our shared past. In order to invoke true change, we must reach down deep to our roots and call forth our elders to do what only they can do: patiently instruct us through the telling of cultural and mythical stories, and preserve and perform the rituals that guide us across thresholds that we might hesitate to cross on our own.

If we reach far enough back, we will find that all human cultures have traditions of initiating their youth; the practice of initiation and moving into elderhood is thus in all of our blood. Being cut off from this practice is affecting us in the same way that we would be affected if a vital nutrient went missing from our diets. Our growing lack of true relationships with elders and resulting lack of initiatory paths are part of the roots of sickness in our modern systems.

To regain our well-being as a culture, and to change the ways in which we perceive and prepare for the life-changing experience of giving birth, we must once again draw upon medicinal stories and rituals of initiation.

In cultures that utilize the wisdom, extra time, and patience of their older members to initiate its youth, there is a bridge by which youth can cross over into adulthood. But not just any older person can build that bridge, as author Michael Meade points out. Meade makes a humorous distinction between elders and “olders.” He says that most people — particularly in our culture as it currently stands — just get old and become “olders.” All of us become older without effort. Few become elders.

This isn’t to say that the olders of society are to blame for their lack of bridge-building skills. If they themselves had been truly initiated into adulthood, their story would likely be different. Their knowledge would encompass more than just our modern stories of order, hierarchy, and facts. They would be more in tune with the cycles of life and familiar with loss. They would not be at all ashamed of imperfection, for they would know that in imperfection lies wildness, and that wildness is a cornerstone of growing into a true elder, one who is not to be contained, controlled, or subdued.

Imagine how birth would currently be perceived had all of our grandparents and great-grandparents been celebrated at their time of puberty and menarche, and supported in being conscious and wild when birthing their babies.

Perhaps we would have very different understandings of the importance of these life events. Maybe we would be less fearful, confused, and overwhelmed. Maybe we would be more connected to our bodies and our lush inner worlds. Maybe we would be more confident in our ability to create life, and in our worthiness as parents. We can only wonder how different the rates of induction, cesarean, and postpartum depression would be, both nationally and worldwide, if only today’s “olders” had been nurtured and initiated as the elders they were meant to be.

So what happens to a culture – a birth culture – with few elders? Just look! It becomes a culture populated by uninitiated adults who are trapped in eternal adolescence.

Adolescents who are victims, rebels, or princesses; who are following ego-centric whims; who seek security and avoid risk, age, or death at all costs; and who are depressed and numbed. A culture without elders becomes eternally adolescent in this way because when it was time to “leave home” and leave the adolescent identity, there was no elder, no death-embracing or death-defying tasks, no ritual to allow the child to “die” and the adult to be “born.” Today’s adolescents are primed for career and material gains as opposed to true life success. They are encouraged to find ways to ensure that they are always comfortable and never lacking in “things” to solve their problems and provide entertainment, and they are taught to market themselves from a young age so they always have something to sell. These values lack soul, and soul is a crucial element of being human, particularly for a human who is about to embark upon the winding journey that is the childbearing year.

In his book Nature and the Human Soul, Bill Plotkin, the founder of the Animas Valley Institute, addresses the “indigenous process by which a human child grows into a soul-initiated adult…Every step of leaving becomes a step of arriving…As you separate from your former society-centered identity, you claim more of your nature-and-soul-centered identity.”

What does an elder look like? Plotkin captures the essence as follows:

A genuine elder possesses a good deal of wildness, perhaps more than any adult, adolescent, or child. Our human wildness is our spontaneity, our untamed vivacity, our innocent presence, our resistance to oppression, our rule-transcending vivacity and self-reliance that societal convention can never contain. We are designed to grow deeper into that wildness as we mature, not to recede from it. When we live soul-centrically, immersed in a lifelong dance with the mysteries of nature and psyche, our wildness flourishes.

If you are not yet an elder, commit yourself to knowing yourself and to completing the tasks of each stage of life. Prepare yourself to become an elder, not just older. Prepare yourself to be approached and asked for guidance by those in generations to come: those who you’ve helped to be born; those who you’ve fed, clothed, and prayed over; and those who you’ve observed from afar as they grew up around you.

One day you will be an elder, so long as your wildness remains reachable and your fear does not cause you to recede from it.

The mechanisms of modern society are no replacement for our children, family, elders, and ancestors – the individuals who are listeners and givers of rich stories and life experiences. In nourishing our relationships with those to whom we are directly connected, especially those who have come before us and have much life experience to draw from, we nourish ourselves and build the potential to nourish those for whom we will be elders. This change is a beautiful one and can lead to the weaving of a deep spiritual and familial tapestry for all who commit to diving in deep.

Though our “olders” may not all be the elders for whom we yearn, many of them are ripe and ready to burst with the fruits of their lifelong labors. Often they are simply waiting for someone to show some interest in what they have to offer, to acknowledge them as people of value who are worth engaging with and listening to, and to truly appreciate them as members of society who want to see things improve for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They may not have many rituals to pass down, as they too suffer from the lack of eldership, but they very likely have recipes to share, stories about becoming parents, stories of failure, stories of accomplishment. The possibilities are innumerable and intriguing.

Let us cherish our elders and remember how they can make a lifelong impression on those who are willing to call on them to share their wisdom and insight.

This is part of a 12-part series about Changing Birth in Our Culture.