A Day In The Life Of Shamanic Midwifery: A Stubborn Baby, A Psychic Cat And A Full Moon Blessing

This colourful, unassuming piece of cord has quite the interesting story involving a Full Moon, a stubborn baby and a psychic cat.

A few weeks ago one of my clients requested a Blessingway ceremony. She was expecting her first baby but had attended support sessions for many years before deciding it was time for she and her husband to add to their family. She attended with me while trying to conceive and throughout her pregnancy. I had been her spiritual mentor for some time and it was an absolute joy for me to see her grow and transform - not only physically - from pre-conception to maternity.

My blessing ceremonies are sacred, spiritual, shamanic ceremonies for expectant mothers. Each ceremony is individual to the mother and her baby. For some women, ceremonies are arranged as an alternative - or in addition - to a baby shower, where the expectant mother's female friends and family gather to honour the mother and the new life that awaits her. For others, it is a private one to one experience of deep spiritual connection with herself, her baby and the Divine.

One of my sacred practices during ceremonies involves my commitment to ongoing support by spiritually binding the mother and myself until her baby is born, an etheric cord of dedication and a declaration of my commitment, physically symbolised in my wearing a cotton cord on my wrist until her baby is released from the cord that connects them to her. (It is important for me to add here that this is a process of depth and purity of intent, contacting and working with the spirit realms for guidance and support and should only ever be conducted by a qualified, trained and experienced shamanic practitioner).

This cord was on my wrist a little longer than I had anticipated! Throughout my client's pregnancy it became clear that her little one had developed a very strong bond with his mother, and vice versa, and that he was very comfortable where he was, thank you very much. The in utero bond between mother and baby was a beautiful thing to witness, but as the time moved on he was getting just a little too comfortable and was overdue by many days.

My Due Date ReproReflexology sessions are only for women who are around or past their due date as they are intended to help initiate the body's contraction response. Usually the contraction response begins around 2 days after the session and baby makes their appearance 2 to 3 days after the session. Never have I had to conduct a second session. That is, until this little one.

My initial approach for my client's first Due Date session had to be very gentle in my encouraging him to make his entrance. No unexpected moves, just nice and gentle. This didn't work with this stubborn baby. Second time around I was firm but fair, employing different techniques and harnessing the call-to-action energy of both his mother and myself - it was time to bring the Yang aspects of assertiveness and action to the fore. This is the 'masculine' aspect that flows with the Yin ('feminine') and both of which are within all of us, men and women. This 'masculine' aspect is often found in the determined stares and unshakeable stances of exasperated women the world over - my client and I being two of those women!

The Familiar and Bearer Of News

Last night, just before 11pm, I was standing in my garden basking in the light of the Full Moon and felt that this little one was already here. He had told me in one of our shamanic midwifery sessions - where I am the intuitive conduit between baby and mother - that he would arrive when the time was right. His actual message was 'When the Moon is ripe and the Stars align.'. You would be amazed how beautifully poetic in utero babies are.

I checked my phone for any messages one last time before heading to bed - nothing.

This morning I was awoken by one of my cats, a jet black familiar with turquoise eyes, who was forcefully nudging his head under my arm and hooking his claws into the cord on my wrist, loosening the knot and beginning to untie it. It was then that I knew. I checked my phone and at 11.24pm last night I had received a photograph from my client of her little boy. I ceremonially cut the cord from my wrist and thanked the Divine for supporting and protecting my client during childbirth and for the safe delivery of a healthy, beautiful baby. The psychic cat got extra treats at breakfast.

I have many blessings in my life, one of the biggest is the work I do.

In the VOLVA Apothecary

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Copyright ©Andrea Doran, VOLVA and contributors. Initial publication date of post 9th March 2020, updated 13th March 2026.