to bring forth a life from the void
the ultimate act of manifestation
transforming thoughts into words
for baby: memories of your creation
Ingredients
+ a journal & pen
+ photos, ephemera
+ thoughts and time
+ love
It begins with a journal
We’ve all heard of the Law of Attraction: if you want to manifest a desire into reality, you need to vibrate at the same frequency of this desire in order to attract it. But what does that really mean in practical terms? I’m not entirely sure, but I have a hunch it’s more nuanced than focusing solely on positive thoughts. And so I asked myself, how can I create something from nothing? Because childbirth is like that, isn’t it? To create life from the void. In the end I decided to do what I do best: journaling. And this is the beginning of this ritual. I’m inviting you to journal an entire notebook filled with your experience of matrescence for your child.
Create a book of wisdom
Think of it as a grimoire that contains all the ups and downs of your journey to parenthood, from the simple desire for a child all the way to the moment of birth and beyond. The idea is to eventually hand down to your child this book full of your wisdom at the opportune moment, like when they themselves enter matrescence. It can be as elaborate and decorative as you want, or you can also just keep it simple with only pen and paper. But it’s important that this remains a journal (and not a scrapbook): you want to include a lot more writing than art, because what you’re passing down is information and knowledge.
Make it personal
You’re essentially telling your child the story of their birth: focus on what it feels like from day to day, journal about your worries and fears, talk about the pressures from family or the challenges at work, etc. Write intimately; you’re talking directly to your baby. It’s a long love letter after all. (I’m pretty sure spirit baby can read it too!) Be generous with what you share and don’t censor yourself (or at least, not too much). A lot of times, people think they will remember all this information 20 years from now (sure, childbirth is unforgettable), but it’s those small everyday moments of doubt that can be a source of comfort for the person experiencing all of this for the first time. You don’t need to journal on for years, or even daily. It can be as simple as recording a few thoughts here and there until the fourth trimester.
Start a spiritual legacy
Imagine if every parent in your family could hand down such a grimoire of their own. This practice could become a really important spiritual legacy of matrescence for your children, grandchildren.. and they in turn would be able to connect directly with their ancestors (that’s you down the line) at one of the most pivotal moments of their lives. Additionally, putting thoughts onto paper is transforming the immaterial into the material, it’s creating something from nothing. And this is not just a direct transmission of your love to your child. It’s also the transmission of all those that have loved you into being; it’s a powerful act of manifestation from your entire lineage. Law of Attraction, hi.
If journaling sounds daunting, you could create an email address for your child and send them emails & photos. Or you could also handwrite letters. I find there is more pressure to perform with those, because they feel very “official.” Journaling can be a very raw draft, no need for pretty sentences or poetry. You can cross entire sentences or even rip out pages. Don’t pressure yourself with perfection. Birth is messy anyway. Also, you can always purchase a pregnancy journal with writing prompts (the baby business is big business after all). If those journals inspire you, go for it. But there can also be something really magical & sacred about creating a grimoire from a simple notebook (creating something from nothing, yah?).