relax and be mindful

The following dharma quote can be useful in every day life and in labor:

"Once mindfulness is continuously established, an unscattered mind is "just there," on the spot, whether we are walking, eating, driving, or performing other activities. We can watch the mind and see how our mental state shapes our world. But when we watch it, we should just relax. Milarepa advises us in a vajra song:

Rest naturally, like a small child.
Rest like an ocean without waves.
Rest with clarity, like a candle flame.
Rest without self-concern, like a corpse.
Rest unmoving like a mountain."

Relaxing and being present and minful in labor can help us be in control of our body and thoughts. Most of the intense energy (aka contractions) felt during labor can be redirected into positive, useful energy if we only realize what it is for. Bringing a baby into the world is one of the most powerful and miraculous things we can do. Feel your body work a miracle!


artwork by Laura Levy