Embodying the Sacred: A Spiritual Preparation for Birth - Paperback

by Peg Conway (Author)

Embodying the Sacred presents an innovative approach to both birth and Christian spirituality. Drawing from the actual physical processes of pregnancy and birth, Peg Conway relates them to Catholic-inspired practices in a wise and empowering way. Reflections, prayer, activities, ritual, and creative expression organized around the three trimesters of pregnancy invite readers to assemble a "spiritual birth bag," and in so doing, to inhabit and celebrate their bodies during this miraculous time. With its focus on the inner journey, this approach provides an ideal complement to other forms of birth preparation. The book also suggests a postpartum ritual format for telling birth stories and concludes with a reflection on birth history in America.

Author Biography

Peg Conway is a writer and community leader whose work has appeared online and in print with US Catholic and America magazines, as well as her blog, Sense of the Faithful. As a childbirth educator and doula, she earned certification from Birthing from Within, Doulas of North America, and BirthWorks. A former homeschooling parent and local elected official, she serves on several non-profit boards, founded a neighborhood women's group, and is active in her parish. She earned degrees from Xavier University and Northwestern University and resides in Cincinnati with her husband and three children.