Last week I met a retired medical doctor who said her favourite part of practicing medicine was obstetrics. We were in our chiropractor’s waiting room and she was interested in the book in my hand, Ladies Who Launch, which launched a conversation about what we do and what we love.
I also love the birthing process, metaphorically speaking. I love “birthing” new things myself, and I love facilitating that in other people.
In Growing Spiritual Redwoods, William Easum and Thomas Bandy talk about leaders as Spiritual Midwives: visionaries, synthesizers, and motivators (p. 184). Spiritual Midwives “do whatever is necessary to facilitate the potential for birth that lies within others” (p. 185).
Doula is a similar role. Sandra Vander Schaaf (The Art of Seeing) is a doula who has helped to bring human babies into the world. She also helps with other kinds of birthing; our friend Rosie engages Sandra as “organization doula.”
Sandra views her work this way:
“The role of doula is one I apply in a lot of non-birthing settings insofar as it speaks to the notion of coming along side to empower, encourage, equip. I love that it's not at all hierarchical—it's not me teaching someone who doesn't know, it's about peer-to-peer support, lending one's presence and experience to the benefit of another in a gentle and generous side-by-side relationship.”
I am a Creativity Doula, coming alongside others, lending presence, experience, and support. Some births are easier than others, but every new “mother” needs helpers and companions.
No comments:
Post a Comment