Labyrinth of Birth A3 Original Painting

My original A3 watercolour painting on 300gsm watercolour paper. Will be sent rolled in a tube.

Follow in the footsteps of our ancestors and join in the timeless tradition of meditating on the labyrinth, which offers a wonderful holistic alternative to the common explanations of the medical model of the stages of labour. Instead of linear graphs and clinical measurements, the labyrinth invites us to use it as a 'map' of the hero's journey through pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

When using the labyrinth as a meditation and birth preparation tool, it beautifully illustrates that birth can take many twists and turns - and we don't always know how close we are to the 'end', we don't know what's ahead - but we can trust that we are always moving forward. We can trust that every step on our journey, every breath, every surge - brings us forward in our quest.

The labyrinth can represent the mythological hero's journey which has three phases - Preparation, the Ordeal, and the Return. In my picture I have used the symbol of a fairy door to symbolise the Threshold passing from the Ordinary World. Our quest doesn't end with the birth of our baby - as we are reborn as Mother. The journey back through the same twists and turns symbolises our return back to the Ordinary World as we navigate the transition and adjustments during postpartum.

"The first path a human being ever travels is the path that leads out of the maternal womb. Every human being's first labyrinth is that of woman" - Jacques Attali, The Labyrinth in Culture and Society

For guidance on how to use the labyrinth as a meditation for pregnancy and birth, I highly recommend reading Pam England's book 'Labyrinth of Birth'.

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Copyright

These images, text and files are copyright of Hannah Thomas of Womb to World Art and sole copyright is retained by them.