This is a poem about becoming a mother.
It was originally written during the transition between one child and two children.
But in hindsight this poem is relevant to all.
The space between being one woman and becoming another.
Allowing that death and rebirth without judgment.
Allowing that transition with ease,
Grace and compassion.
Simply being in that moment for one moment cannot evolve if we do not sit in it.
Allow it.
Give into it.
Die for it.
And grieve for it.
Giving ourselves full permission to grieve for that life.
And that person who is changing.
That person who is becoming.
That person is you.
After reading this poem you will be guided into a short meditation and a space where you can be for a few moments.
In the space between my heart expanded for you.
Finding my way in the darkness,
Searching for an answer and a breakthrough.
In the space between,
With a pen and paper asking,
Who have I been and who am I becoming?
Beneath the endless questions and unmasking.
In the space between,
Little by little,
Unease will arrive.
Nine long months waiting,
How on earth am I supposed to survive and thrive?
When another is depending on me for its life.
In the space between,
I'll sit still and wait.
Questioning it all and forever in a fight,
Flight,
Freeze,
Anxious state.
In the space between,
One woman dying to become another.
The most important role of all,
Becoming mum.
In the space between,
Until that space becomes whole and fulfilled.
Not only with a babe,
But the birth of a new me.
And here I will attempt to love,
To nourish.
And gradually.
Allowing yourself to become as comfortable as possible.
Adjusting your posture in any way you need to.
And perhaps setting the intention today to be in this moment.
Don't worry,
I won't take you too long from your day.
Knowing that for these few moments,
You are open to being nourished.
You are welcoming of whatever arises for you today.
And you are willing to offer yourself compassion and peace for the next couple of minutes.
You are deserving and worthy of this space and time.
If you haven't done so already,
Closing down your eyes or fixing your gaze softly.
And inviting yourself to become as present as you can in this moment.
For a little while,
If possible.
There are no tricks.
If possible,
There are no chores or to-do lists.
There is no one looking for your attention.
And there is nowhere else you need to be.
Drawing your attention to the sounds or noises around you now.
Allowing them to enter your awareness without distracting you from your practice.
Are these sounds inside or outside the room?
Are they gentle or loud?
Are they muffled or clear?
Maybe there are no sounds around you.
Perhaps your breath is the only sound you can hear as it enters and exits your body.
How does this sound or sounds land on your ear?
Bringing your attention now to the smells in the room.
Where do you notice these smells most?
Perhaps the aroma is strongest at the entrance of your nostrils.
Or perhaps the smell of a candle.
Perhaps the aroma is strongest at the entrance of your nostrils.
Inside your nose.
Or at the back of your throat.
Some smells may linger for a while or some may be brief.
Do these smells invigorate your taste buds and bring a taste to your mouth?
Sometimes smells and tastes can invite memories or sensations to arrive in our bodies.
Allowing whatever your experience is to be exactly as it is in this moment.
Bringing your attention now to the part or parts of your body where you're sitting or lying.
What parts are touching the surface and how do these surfaces feel?
Do they feel hard?
Soft?
Supportive?
Sinking a little more into the surface beneath your buttocks,
Your feet or your back now.
Sinking a little more into the surface beneath your buttocks,
Your feet or your back now.
Feeling the ground beneath you.
Feeling the support.
And exploring for a moment what this feeling of being held and supported feels like.
Bringing your awareness to your breath now and beginning at the bottom of your feet,
Breathing into them.
Breathing into each toe and noticing the space or the gaps between each one.
Spending some time here as you move from one toe to the next.
Moving from one toe to the next.
To the next.
Moving now up into your ankles.
Breathing into your left ankle.
And breathing into your right ankle.
Noticing as your breath moves up your legs now,
Filling in the spaces between your bones,
Your joints,
Your cells.
Filling each space with a nourishing breath.
Gliding over your knees.
Breathing into your glute muscles.
Breathing into your pelvic area.
And noticing your breath spreading across your abdomen area,
Where you linger for a moment.
Perhaps even placing a hand on this area and taking a few deep nourishing breaths.
Noticing for a moment now how relaxed your lower body may be feeling.
And how,
Almost melting into the earth beneath you,
You are feeling held and supported.
Bringing your breath up your body now and into your chest.
Again,
It may be nourishing and supportive to place one or both hands on this area.
Spending some time here and perhaps bringing your awareness into your heart space,
Where you may like to offer yourself a kind word or a brief moment of compassion.
When you feel ready to do so,
Bringing your breath up into your throat.
And then feeling your breath engulfing your whole space.
Perhaps your breath even draws your lips into a soft smile.
Relaxing your brow a little now as you breathe for a few moments into the different parts of your face.
Your chin.
Your cheeks.
Your ears.
Your forehead.
And finally the top of your head.
Breathing in.
And breathing out.
Pausing for a moment again now to notice how your whole body feels being held and supported by the earth beneath you and by your own nourishing breath.
As you return to the natural flow and rhythm of your breath now,
Allow yourself to be completely supported.
As you sit in this supportive space,
Bring your awareness to the slight pause at the top of each inhalation and again at the base of the exhalation.
So this is the space or the pause between each inhale and exhale.
Noticing that this space exists and does not require permission or acceptance.
It just is,
As it is,
Every time we take a breath.
This space can be long or short and it can take a while to get used to.
Every time we take a breath.
This space can be long or short and it can differ each time.
Exploring this concept with an open mind.
Perhaps you can offer the same openness,
The same curiosity and maybe even feel the same as the space between the chapters of your life.
Just like our breath,
These times come and go.
And each time the space between them,
Whether long or short,
Is crucial.
Because a breath cannot exist without these spaces.
Just like your journey cannot exist without spaces where you may find yourself questioning,
Questioning,
Uncertain,
Anxious,
Frustrated or confused.
But just like your breath,
Perhaps you can offer these spaces time.
Time to do what is needed.
Time to be.
And time to trust that what is happening is necessary.
And when each space becomes filled,
Only then you may understand its purpose.
Only then you may see how necessary it was for you to step into this next chapter.
Or you may never understand its purpose.
Only knowing and trusting that just as your breath is necessary to sustain life,
As each space fills time and time again,
You may learn that each time you can offer yourself a little more love,
Compassion and acceptance.
And slowly bringing your attention back to the room you are in.
Listening again for any sounds around you.
It may feel nice to gently move your body,
Stretch your arms above your head,
Move your head from side to side or rub your hands together to create a warmth between them.
And when you feel ready to do so,
Opening your eyes and returning to your day.
Knowing that you are held and supported and that you can return to this meditation at any time.
Well done for taking the time out of your busy day for yourself today.
Thank you.
