Rumour of angels and heavenly midwives: anthropology of transpersonal events and childbirth.
Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives March 1, 2007 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2006.10.002 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractSome women experience non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC) during childbirth. This paper applies a transpersonal psychology framework to understand these experiences, drawing on stories collected from mothers, fathers, and midwives in Auckland, New Zealand between 2001 and 2006. It compares local women's NOSC with ethnographic accounts of spirit-possession in indigenous midwifery and reinterprets Medieval European witch-hunts from this perspective. The author argues that midwives should learn to identify and support women's NOSC during labor, as many women find strength and wisdom through these states. The topic is also relevant to men present at births as fathers or health professionals. The inquiry aims to revalorize NOSC among mothers and educate birth attendants.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mothers, fathers, and midwives in Auckland, New Zealand who participated in transpersonal events during childbirth |
| Duration | 2001 to 2006 |
| Citations | 33 |
| Key finding | Transpersonal psychology offers a useful framework for understanding and supporting women's non-ordinary states of consciousness during childbirth. |
Abstract
Some contemporary women can experience non-ordinary states of consciousness when childbearing. The purpose of this paper is to bring a 'transpersonal' frame to these non-ordinary states of consciousness (hereafter: NOSC). Transpersonal psychology is an interdisciplinary movement in Western science that studies 'religious', 'peak' or 'healing' experiences in different cultures and social contexts. Between 2001 and 2006 in Auckland, New Zealand, while engaged in anthropological fieldwork, I collected stories from mothers, fathers, and midwives who had participated in transpersonal events during childbirth. I will compare the local women's NOSC with ethnographic accounts of spirit-possession and its relationship to indigenous midwifery then revisit and reconstruct the witch-hunts of Medieval Europe from this perspective. Midwives are encouraged to learn to identify and support women's NOSC during labour and birth as many women find strength and wisdom by passing through these states in labour. The subject is also critical to men, whether they are present with women and birth as fathers or health professionals. The hoped for result of this inquiry is to revalorise NOSC among birth-giving mothers, and to educate birth attendants in this field.