Blog has moved to Wild Mother Arts!

Hello everyone!

Just a short note to thank-you for all of your comments and follows. I've moved most of the content from this blog to its new home here: http://www.wildmotherarts.com - I hope you'll follow me over there. Lots of good stuff to come! Fertility and birthing jewelry, nursing necklaces and more will be available from our Etsy shop soon, too.

We've also got a Facebook Fan Page here.

Birthy blessings,

Jacquie @ Wild Mother Arts

BB: "I am in tune..."

I am in tune with my body and my baby.

Are you listening to your body? What is trying to tell you? Not quite sure? Then take a two-minute retreat from your day and listen, really listen. If you can, sit down somewhere comfortable and close your eyes. Breathe in slow and deep... breathe out just as long. Relax and try to quiet your stray thoughts. When you're ready, do a quick self-check of your body from head to toe. Are your feet sore? Are you hungry? Do you need to go outside? See something beautiful? Do you need a mental break from what you are doing? A physical break?

Sometimes women find it easier to sit down, close their eyes and ask their baby what they need. What do you need right now, little one? Spinach salad with strawberries, red onions, feta and raspberry dressing? A tummy rub? A nap with your mama?

Whatever you discover, make an effort to try and do what your body needs - what your baby needs. You'll be a happier, content mama with a happier, content baby. 

Garlic Lemonade

Pregnant and feel a cold coming on? Then try this remedy as suggested by Aviva Jill Romm in her excellent The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition and Other Holistic Choices. I highly recommend this book for all pregnant women who are looking for a holistic approach to their pregnancy.

Garlic Lemonade by Aviva Jill Romm.

Steep 4 to 6 cloves of chopped raw garlic in 1 quart boiling water (cover the jar while you steep) for 30 minutes. Then add the juice of 1 or 2 lemons and honey or maple syrup to taste. Drink warm, up to 1 cup every two hours. If you don't find this tea palatable, try steeping the garlic as above, but add a couple of bouillon cubes or 1 tablespoon of miso to the tea instead of lemon and honey. This is a warming tea if you have chills but can be used at any time of year.

I have made this wonderful tea for years, both when pregnant and not. I make it every time someone in my family is coming down with a cold, and besides my very picky three year old, they all take it and believe it helps them feel better (although my daughter prefers hers cold). I've just made it again this morning, as another cold hits our house. And this time, it's me. 

Wellness blessings to all...

P(amper) M(y) S(elf) Potion

The moon is waning, and tomorrow evening will be the New Moon, also known as the dark moon. This is a time to rest and reflect, to plant seeds of change, to ponder and start anew. My menstrual period will begin in a day or so, I've already started to spot and feel the need to nest and rest, and make comfort foods. 

Like many women, I crave chocolate during this time of my cycle and after careful research and experimentation, I came up with this recipe which combines chocolate with traditional PMS helpers. By the way, you do know what PMS really stands for, right?

Pamper My Self Potion Recipe

3/4 cup chocolate soy milk (rice or cow works, too)

3/4 cup red raspberry leaf or nettle infusion*

1 cup frozen raspberries

1 frozen banana cut in chunks

dark chocolate shavings for garnish

Combine the soy milk, infusion, raspberries & banana in a blender and blend until smooth. Add more liquid if you like it thinner. Pour into glass and garnish with dark chocolate shavings.

Soy contains isoflavones which are thought to balance estrogen levels. Red raspberry leaf infusion is an overall uterine tonic, and nettle infusion is good for water retention among other things. Raspberries and bananas contain nutrients vital for overall health, and dark chocolate is heaven!

Enjoy and remember to pamper yourself as often as you can!

* To make nettle or red raspberry leaf infusion, I use a 20 oz canning jar and put in about 3 TBS of herbs. Fill with boiling water, put the lid on and steep for 4 hours. Strain and drink as desired.

Moonwise Mondays

In Old English, most Germanic, Norse, Dutch, Japanese, Korean and in many other languages, the word Monday literally means Day of the Moon. Monday is traditionally for new beginnings, healing and the feminine mysteries. Thus, we've decided to devote our blog entries on Mondays to all things Moonwise...

Our Moonwise Mondays will offer ideas for embracing and celebrating your cyclic nature, nurturing yourself, tracking your fertility signs, and following as the moon waxes and wanes. One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves & our daughters is a healthy, positive attitude towards menstruation. 

Are you in tune in the moon?

BB: "My baby is..."

"Shh... my baby is listening."

Pregnant mamas often find themselves the target of someone else's advice about pregnancy, labor and child rearing. The sight of a pregnant belly often compels complete strangers to share their stories of labor and birth, most of which dwells on the negative. If someone is telling you their story, feel free to interrupt them and say, "Shh... my baby is listening. Happy stories only, please..." 

Red Tent Jewelry...

During the last few weeks, the Bellyblessings store was opened! We have Fertile Myrtles for women trying to conceive, an Earthy Birthy Collection for those who love the earthy, symbolic stones related to pregnancy and birth. Our Mother's Milk jewelry celebrates the special bond of breastfeeding. A Cesarean Awareness collection for women healing from c-sections - with 10% going to ICAN. A Baby-on-Board collection in classic pinks & blues and our newest section, Red Tent Jewelry.

Our Red Tent Jewelry is named for Anita Diamant's inspiring novel The Red Tent, this collection was created with the intention of embracing, honoring and celebrating our moontime - our menstrual cycle.

Menarche is the first menstrual period of a young woman, and many of our Red Tent designs are created as a symbolic gift for the first moontime. We feel that a healthy, positive attitude toward menstruation is one of the best gifts we can give our daughters. Celebrating her menarche as an important event, is a great way to start her womanhood journey.

Celebrating menarche can be a simple gesture or a grand affair. From a full-fledged Moonrise Party, to a girl's day out at the spa or shopping, to sharing a cup of red raspberry tea with mum in private. Only you will know what the right way is for your daughter to celebrate this important rite of passage.

Be moonwise and pass it on to your daughters...