In HypnoBirthing®’s pinnacle piece created by Marie Mongan called The Rainbow Relaxation she uses the chakras (which are energy centers/energetic life-forces that exist within our auric field as swirling masses of color that penetrate and interact with our physical body) to help relax the pregnant mother. In Reiki we use these energy centers to help heal and restore the life-forces through a connection to source. There are seven main chakras (body power centers) that start at the base of our spine. They follow from top (Crown of head) to bottom (Root of the Spine):


• Crown Chakra– Color of influence is diamond white (sparkles)
• Brow Chakra (the third eye) – Color of influence is indigo
• Throat Chakra– Color of influence is turquoise or blue
• Heart Chakra– Color of influence is emerald green
• Solar Plexus Chakra– Color of influence is bright yellow
• Sacral Chakra– Color of influence is burnt orange
• Root or Base Chakra Color of influence is deep red


This will be a continuing series discussing each chakra and its importance in our physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies. Of course my point of view will be from a women’s point of view and on the birthing year. I hope you will find this exploration enjoyable.


Root Chakra


Root Chakra – The root chakra is located at the base of the spine. This base chakra is the foundation of life. This chakra initiates life through procreation and represents our will to live. This chakra helps to draw earth energy upward through the feet and legs to process and stabilize it. A balanced root chakra helps us to connect to life in a strong and supported way. Our very foundation is considered secure and connected. We feel safe, grounded, alive, and peaceful. We are able to trust, accept, and feel fulfilled in our community. We are at home in our body and on this Earth.


If your root chakra is unbalanced you may be prone to experience fear, anxiety, insecurity, grief, worry, depression, low self esteem, disconnection to our bodies, earth and source. From a physical standpoint we may feel lower back pain, obesity, anorexia, constipation, hemorrhoids, or other issues. When our root chakra is unbalanced we may be addicted to food, alcohol, or sex. Clearly an unbalanced root chakra can present themselves as feelings of isolation, abandonment, and lack of trust. It may be hard to manifest a mate, job, home or friends. Often when the root chakra is unbalanced we may have an unhealthy addiction to material wealth and feel it is our only way out of our current set of problems.


From a birthing perspective having a balanced root chakra is incredibly important. In order to reproduce or birth our children our basic needs must be met. We need to feel safe, secure, and able to trust those who will support us in our pregnancy/birthing. If these conditions are not present it can cause infertility, premature birth, or even issues with being able to go into labor. Think about the animal kingdom and how animals birth. If they feel unsafe and not secure they won’t go into labor. If once they begin to labor and they feel threatened they will pick up their babies to relocate to a more secure setting. Safety is paramount in reproduction, pregnancy, and childbirth.


Affirmations for a balanced root chakra:


• I am grounded.
• I feel connected to source.
• I am safe and secure.
• I am able to let go of habits that do not serve me or my well being.
• I trust myself and my support system.
• I am rooted to the Earth.
• I believe in myself.
• I am loved.


Did you know that every seven years we are physically renewed? Within that time frame every one of our body cells is replaced by a new one! According to the Bhagavad Gita (an ancient Indian text) our human development revolves around the sacred seven years. From year 0-7 and 50-56 we are influenced by our root chakra cycle. We feel an overwhelming connection to earth and the material world. We crave stability and are filled with life force energy due to our connection to earth.


Quotes that support the root chakra:


There is deep wisdom within our very flesh, if we can only come to our senses and feel it. ~Elizabeth A. Behnke


I think we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. ~Henry David Thoreau




Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit the body lack. We give it orders which make no sense. ~Henry Miller




Every man is the builder of a Temple called his body, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead. ~Henry David Thoreau


The body never lies. ~Martha Graham




What we feel and think and are is to a great extent determined by the state of our ductless glands and viscera. ~Aldous Huxley




Surely a man needs a closed place wherein he may strike root and, like the seed, become. But also he needs the great Milky Way above him and the vast sea spaces, though neither stars nor ocean serve his daily needs. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Wisdom of the Sands, translated from French by Stuart Gilbert




To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another. ~Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved




And remember, no matter where you go, there you are. ~Confucius


John Stuart Mill said "A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself". In order for humans to prosper and grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually our base needs must be met. These base needs include security, safety, and feeling connected. The same applies to the birthing year.

Supporing a Grieving Family By Sharon Gourlay BA, C.Ht, HBCE, HBIMI, RMT

Supporting a Grieving Family
By Sharon Gourlay BA, C.Ht, HBCE, HBIMI, RMT
© March 25, 2010

Love one another and help others to rise to the higher levels, simply by pouring out love. Love is infectious and the greatest healing energy.--Sai Baba

As a birth professional one of the hardest tasks you may face is how to support a family who has lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal loss. Through my own personal loss and then working with families that have experienced this tragedy I have learned that the below three principals are critical:

1. Listen – "A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren't we like that wise old bird?" Don't try to find the perfect words. There are none. Listening from a loving and centered heart is what a grieving family needs.

2. Be there - When I say "be there" I mean help the family out if possible. No one wants to cook or eat during this time. Take a prepared meal to them. Offer to take the couple's children for an afternoon so they can connect. If you know the family's religious preference, bring them a candle, an icon, or some other spiritual gift. Help clean out the baby stuff. Offer to help clean the house. These little things can be of tremendous help to the family.

3. Compassion - The mother especially will need a safe space to express her grief (pain, anger, sorrow, sadness). What is a safe space? It's different for each person however I believe the following will uphold most people's desire for a safe space:
a. Create a space that is non-judgmental. Healing and releasing grief can be the work of extremes. For a mother to feel safe she needs to know she won't be judged if she is going through denial or anger and can say what needs to come out of her heart.
b. Being able to support in a whole way a mother that is"broken" (physically, emotionally, and spiritually).
c. Being able to express fears, anxiety, stress and know it will go no further than the safe harbor of your arms.
d. Being able to say nothing. Silence is golden when trying to grieve.
e. If you can hold this space for her please do. Not having a safe space causes us to go inward and retreat which makes the grieving process more physically, emotionally, and spiritually demanding.

One of the things most professionals are afraid of is words! What words can I use to help support this family? What if I say the wrong thing? To that I always say speak from your heart. When we use heart centered consciousness we spread love and that is actually thoughtful speech. We think before we speak and that is good.

Some things that I caution professionals never to say:
• It was God's will.
• You can have another baby.
• It was for the best.
• I know how you feel. (Unless you have personally experienced theloss of a baby.)
• Your baby is in a better place.
• Time heals all wounds.
• At least you have other children.
• It's been __ amount of time….get over it! It is time toget on with your life.
• You now have an angel in heaven.

There are many other things you can say or do that will help:
• What can I do to help you today? Asking to help can be incredibly beneficial. It allows the mother to decide that day on what level she needs help.
• Can I help you with contacting friends and family?
• Offer to help the mother with insurance paperwork etc.
• Offer to take the children for an afternoon at the park, zoo, or whatever might be comfortable for the family.
• I am running errands, is there something I can do for you?
• Prepare some extra meals for the family to put in the freezer.
• Bring the family a pizza or some other meal on a hard day.
• Use the baby's name when talking to the parents.
• Find local and online support group and give them to the family to use or not use.
• Remember birth dates, due dates, and angel dates.
• Participate on October 15th – Pregnancy and Baby Loss Remembrance Day
• Light a candle in memory of the baby and family.
• Give the family a candle they can light or seeds that they can plant in memory of their baby.
• Give the mother a remembrance book so she can write down important facts and events around her pregnancy/birth experience.
• Give the mother a journal so she can express herself in words or a scrapbook in pictures.

Birth Professionals need to remember to be gentle with themselves when supporting a family in this way. You can become emotionally attached and may need to work through feelings yourself. Take time to reenergize and connect with your family. Meditation and prayer support may be important for you to remain connected to your source. To support another being you need to feel connected yourself. You may need space when doing this type of work. Make sure that the grieving family has an alternate support system besides you. Asking for help within the birthing community by other doulas, childbirth educators, and midwives sometimes is necessary to ensure the family is supported those critical first three months after the loss (especially if you are working with other pregnant and birthing mothers). Remember, "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal". The love that you show the grieving mother and family can't remove their heartache but it can help them on their healing journey to see they are supported and love.

Love is, Love endures, Love is the answer.