Embarking on the Journey of a tantric pregnancy

As of today I am officially 5 months pregnant. My experience these past five months has been a total and complete rollercoaster, both internally and externally. Something that I wasn't expecting about being pregnant was the amount of unsolicited advice that I have received. The number of times I've heard 'you can't...' or 'just wait until....' is truly mind-blowing. I've even been told that what I have felt/am feeling probably isn't real or just my imagination, because 'it's too early to feel that'. HA!

My initial reaction to these responses was fury and indignation. I tried to hide my frustration (AKA bitchface) behind a calm exterior. Beneath this surface feelings, however, these responses ignited a smoldering glow of my own power and a fierce dedication to my autonomy. I felt myself put up shields of protection from the stories and beliefs of others, those that don't serve or benefit my experience. I feel more rooted in my connection to myself, my experiences, and am reminded of the deep wisdom that lies in this body. I have only my long path of embodiment work and tantra to thank for this, and this is something I want to share with ALL women.

How I'm approaching this pregnancy through a tantric lens

I like to think of my personal experience as a tantric pregnancy. Tantra, often misunderstood as solely related to sexuality, is a spiritual path that honors the body as a gateway to deeper awareness and connection. It encourages living fully in the present moment, embracing all sensations, emotions, and experiences without judgment. And that is exactly how I want to embrace my pregnancy experience. By not judging my sensations or emotions, I am able to just fully be with them and experience them as they are, without trying to change them. What a relief to not have to control everything and just trust that things are unfolding as they are meant to!

A part of that trust is remembering that my body is literally made for this. Something my mother always reminds me of is to take a look around at how many people are on the planet. Now taking that into consideration, most births turn out pretty well! We've been around for millions of years and continue to populate the earth. Humans have reproduced successfully without modern medicine for a larger portion of our existence. Again, this feels like a relief.

Also, let us not forget that pregnancy and birth ARE parts of our sexuality and sexual lives. Sex is how we all got here, well most of us aside from those who were conceived with modern interventions. I read recently that sex is ultimately the "urge to merge" and what more of a merge is a new human being created from the act!? While exploring this path it has been important to prioritize my sexuality and remind myself that I am a sexual being and being pregnant only make me sexier! I do this by continuing my tantric practices, dancing, wearing clothes that make me feel sexy, pleasuring myself and engaging with my partner when it feels good.

Taking time to immerse myself in nature in my favorite way

Moments of connection with my baby and nature, a beautiful matrix of where we all come from.

Embracing the Body’s Wisdom Through Pregnancy and Birth

Based on what I've heard from other women and my own experience so far, pregnancy and birth are powerful portals. These experiences can be extremely empowering and can lead us into deeper embodiment, depending on how we approach them. The body undergoes incredible changes, and tuning into its signals can transform these experiences from stressful to sacred.

Listening to the body during pregnancy:

• Take time to slow down and just be with your body. Close your eyes and feel.

• Notice shifts in energy and emotions without judgment (or try not to judge anyway).

• Use slow, deep breathing to ease discomfort and connect with your growing baby. What you feel, they feel!

• Practice gentle movement like stretching, yoga, or walking to stay grounded.

• Don't forget to dance too! You have a semi-permanent dance partner for nine months. I like to imagine I'm dancing with my baby.

  
  

Approaching birth with tantric awareness:

• Try to view birth as a natural and normal part of your life. It's not a medical event unless there is an emergency, which hopefully there won't be!

• Not only view it as natural, but also as a spiritual initiation.

• Use breath, sound, and movement to navigate contractions and pain.

• Allow your body to guide the process, trusting its innate wisdom, from conception until your baby is in your arms, and then some!

this is your body & journey

Remember, everyBODY is different and completely unique. My experience won't be your experience, nor will the experience of the next woman. It's fabulous to share and exchange stories, but only let in what is helpful for you. I say this also as a reminder to myself. It's something I have to remember everyday with new advice and suggestions being thrown my way. Listen to your body, commune with your baby, stand in your power, and shine on mama!