It was iguana nesting season on Cozumel when we visited the archeological site. The guide warned us not to let our feet stray too near the holes along the side of the rocky pathway. Momma iguanas are hyper-protective and practice preemptive strikes on whatever looks like a threat to her vulnerable eggs. This gave us a healthy respect for the prehistoric-looking creature.
When Samantha and I returned to the temple area several days later, we aimed at giving our offerings to Ix Chel, Maya goddess of the moon, women, herbs and water. Samantha hoped to become pregnant soon and I brought offerings from a client also seeking fertility blessings. Samantha had previously asked a guide where the best spot might be to make such an offering to Ix Chel. Kana Nah, a moderate sized pyramid, was the suggestion.
We walked the rocky pathway, still punctuated along the edge with holes the diameter of small cantaloupes. We carefully sidestepped them.
As we approached the temple we anticipated scrambling to the top to place our offerings. But first we encountered a group of tourist at the foot of the pyramid. We asked the visitors to take our photo. As we chatted, a large snake, 5-6 feet long, fell (or jumped?) out of the tree near us. After catching our breath after that surprise, the others left us alone at the pyramid.
At that time the temple was not yet roped off from explorations. It was somewhat irregular in places, where the rocks had loosened from its sturdy structure. As we looked for a good place to ascend without damaging the temple or ourselves, we saw that we weren’t really alone. Two gigantic iguanas were about two-thirds of the way up the pyramid, eyeing us and not backing away at all as we approached. They were about 3 feet long. Very dragon- like. Probably guarding giant eggs.
Samantha and I looked at the iguanas, looked back at each other.
I said, “Let’s just throw our offerings upward and sing our prayers from here.”
She readily agreed. “It’s OK, iguanas. Your eggs are safe.”
So we sang our prayers en place and threw our offering towards the pinnacle. After standing in a meditative moment for some time, we saw more visitors arriving and climbed back down to earth.
We knew that Ix Chel had heard our prayers. Before we left the temple area, a gentle sprinkle of rain fell on us for just a moment, signaling her favor.
And both supplicants were soon guarding their own nests, full of offspring.
--Terra Rafael
Showing posts with label fertility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fertility. Show all posts
01 January 2010
20 August 2009
Natural Fertility Enhancement
Natural Fertility Enhancement Protocol- WiseWomanhood
Stress Reduction
-Lifestyle evaluation
-Self massage techniques
-Meditation techniques
-Yoga/exercise guidelines and support
Weight Normalization- Best begun before actual trying to conceive
-Body type evaluation
-Dietary & exercise recommendations
-Herbal support for digestion and metabolism
Western Herbs
Vitex agnus-castus. Vitex, Monk’s pepper, Chaste berry.
-Great for women in their 40’s who want regular ovulation. Tends to affect pineal and pituitary glands.
Fairly slow-acting, generally large doses. Tincture more cost-effective. Take 1 dropperful 4 times a day, for 2-3-4 years. Many women do feel it helps within 6 weeks. You should see an improvement by 4 months.
· Trifolium pratense—Red Clover
-one of the most pro-fertility herbs. All 4 hormone groups present. Works on human endocrine glands and provides basic building blocks. Helps with fertile mucus production. Infusion also mineral-rich.. Make quart of strong infusion and drink 2 mugs a day.
Female Tonic—RainForest Remedies from Arvigo Institute
-Blend of traditional Maya herbs used to cleanse and nourish the womb and female organs:
-Take according to Terra’s directions, for your particular situation- wrong use may be counter productive
Menstrual Cycle Nourishment – adapted from Shelley Torgrove’s handout
Herbs & internal processes to support the cycle. May not all be appropriate if doing Assisted Reproductive Technologies—check with Terra
Ex. When women live more outdoors without artificial light—women ovulate at full moon and bleed on new moon. Getting woman hooked with the moon cycle will tap into this natural regularity of the moon.
· Phase : Menses 1-7 days Bleeding Phase
New moon – time of letting go—inward & introspective visioning, dreamtime
A wide variability of amount & quality of blood can be considered normal. When starts or ends with old brown clots – old endometrial tissue not released last cycle.
Hormones - All hormones low, around day 4 pituitary starts pulsing Follicle Stimulating Hormone FSH so the ovaries start stimulating the eggs to begin developing.
Self nourishing – resting, warm clothes, baths; drawing; writing; new cycle—clean slate
Wear Red. Cloth menstrual pads—tampons work against the natural flow. If no periods—hook into the moon cycle to go through the cycle of nourishment.
Nutrition - Iron rich dark leafy greens, miso soup with ginger (helps w/ spasms), diluted carrot juice w/ parsley (if lots of clots in menses—seems to thin out clotting), mineral rich sea weeds—kelp , kombu, nori; light eating to avoid congestion of belly
Nourishing herbs – nettle infusion w/ black strap molasses, fresh ginger decoction or compresses, clary sage essential oil: low doses = antispasmodic; high doses = euphoric antidepressant
(2-10 drops for euphoric bath; with equal parts jasmine)
· Phase: Follicular days 5 – 14 or 15 Building phase
Waxing moon
Open strong grounded
Hormones: Eggs ripening in the ovaries—both ovaries ripen and produce estrogen. Causes endometrium to become thick & rich and fertile mucous in the cervix. Stimulating effect—creation energy
Self nourishing—journaling, giving voice to what is building & growing
Exercise, building new projects
Nourishing foods to build= lean animal or vegie proteins; raw almond butter; fresh flax seed oils, raw seeds
Herbs = estrogen balancing : dong quai, black cohosh, red clover
· Phase: Ovulation day 12- 16
Full moon – triggers pineal gland (can use night light) that stimulates the pituitary to stimulate ovulation (sleep in dark except during ovulation phase for lunaception)
(Many hormonal reactions to light is on skin, not necessarily the eyes.)
Peak of aliveness, senses more acute, heightened sexual energy & creativity
Determine ovulation backwards about 12-14 days from the beginning of the next menses or use BBT to see temperature shift indicating ovulation is occurring .(Each woman has her standard luteal phase length until perimenopause begins, when it begins to be more variable.)
Hormones - Dominant follicle produces lots of estrogen; pituitary reads it in blood= egg is ripe and sends out Lutenizing Hormone Surge. LH causes egg to be released by ovary and goes into upper 1/3 of fallopian tube. Follicle sac closes and becomes corpus luteum which produces progesterone. Egg only lives one day –If egg not fertilized, then reabsorbed. If fertilized – goes to uterus & implants.
Self nourishing—chart cervical mucous, watch ovulation signs: Justisse Method of Cycle Sense (avail. from Terra) OR Take charge of your Fertility by Toni Wechsler . Let your prayers go the the Source, letting them go for fruition.
Nutrition: Rising estrogen can deplete B vitamins – if cranky get more brown rice, dark leafy, miso, B complex (vata apana prana syndrome)
Foods- pomegranates = ancient fertility food , red: eggs= B vitamin rich food, nutritional yeast
Herbs – high vitamin & mineral teas—red clover, nettles, calendula, oatstraw
Ovulation pain- ginger root, cramp bark, acute dosing patterns black cohosh
· Phase: Luteal phase 16-28 days Proliferation & implantation or premenstrual
Waning moon
Moving inward, change & prepare for possible pregnancy or menses
Hormone -If cycle discomfort—in luteal phase – pms
Liver breaks down excess hormones & balances blood sugar- if symptoms then need to cleanse and support liver.
Progesterone for about 14 days after ovulation by corpus luteum – sometimes shorter Thickens & supports the uterine lining w/ blood vessels, in case pregnancy is happening.
Self nourishing – complete projects, afternoon alone, in nature, meditating, going inward activities
Nutrition -Food—grounding blood sugar stabilizing=- roasted root veggies, beets, sweet potatoes, burdock root, toasted kelp or nori mixed with toasted ground sesame seeds
Calcium mag rich foods—10 days premenstrual need more CA/ MG – add green foods, oatstraw
Proteins help balance blood sugars; keep it balanced
Sweet nourishing – mochi, sweet potatoes, white miso, steamed apples
Sensitive to nutrient deficiencies at this time
Herbs = liver herbs – roasted dandelion, dandelion, burdock, Oregon grape, yellow dock
Nervous system support herbs= lemon balm, oatstraw, linden blossom
Fertility Foods
· All aphrodisiacs are rich in minerals: oysters, mussels, lobster, chocolate, etc.
Fat is the most important thing for female fertility. Cholesterol is a basic building block of hormones. Low-fat diets are a bad idea for women. Small amount of animal products is necessary to the diet, used as seasoning. If you eat animals you affect how they are treated. Vote with your dollars & demand quality.
-Vegetable oils are bad for fertility. High in omega-6’s and easily go rancid.
-Olive oil is great; olive is a fruit. Coconut oil, Ghee, & Butter are good.
-All wild foods contain omega-3 fatty acids.
-Fish oil may be better than flax for those whose heritage is from sea coasts—their physiology may not have a strong pathway for converting the flax. Flax goes rancid VERY quickly—best is to grind the seeds fresh daily to eat.
-Evening primrose oil helps with fertile mucus production-follow directions on bottle.
Ayurvedic Preparation
• Before becoming pregnant, especially if there are concerns about fertility, Panchakarma is recommended. This consists of external and internal oiling, hot baths or steam, medicated oils and decoctions of herbs in enemas, induced purgation whenever indicated. PK is followed by a month of rejuvenation with diet, herbs, lifestyle practices
• The generic preparations like Chyavanprasha, Brahmi Ghrita, and Agatsya Haritaki Avaleha are prescribed for the gain and maintenance of the strength and vigor.
• To avoid infertility, it is important for the woman to have a normal menstrual cycle, supported by following menstrual health guidelines (see upcoming post).
Fertility Awareness-
Charting the cycle will give good information about ovulation and any hormonal imbalances
Tuning in to her body helps the woman connect to her feminine reproductive & intuitive nature
Maya Abdominal Massage
Helps properly position the uterus to allow for sperm to meet egg,
Stimulate circulation & healthy functioning of the ovaries for better hormonal communications and development of follicle/eggs and fertile mucous.
Stimulate circulation and health of uterus to have healthier lining, better fertile mucous production
Helps get in touch with female organs and intuitive nature
Moxa
Can be helpful to help reduce coldness & dampness (K) in the reproductive organs
Saltwater Footbaths & Hot Water Bottle & Herbal Sitzbaths
Helpful if poor circulation in pelvic area, cold & dryness (V) in reproductive
Vaginal Steams-(when not trying for pregnancy that cycle)
To cleanse uterus before menses
To warm a cold pelvic area
Psycho-Spiritual Fertility Helps
Whole Person Fertility Program by Niravi Payne – This book delves into clearing psychological blocks to fertility.
Make a Baby Altar, with things on it that symbolize the baby you wish to attract to your family. This is great to do with your partner.
Sing to your body, your baby-to-come—ask me for songs or make your own
Wear a Fertility Necklace or Bracelet to symbolize your commitment to becoming pregnant.
Pray.
by Terra Rafael, WiseWomanhood Holistic Women's Health
Ayurveda – Maya Abdominal Massage~ Fertility Awareness~Energy Work
wisewomanhood@gmail.com
720.628.5015
Stress Reduction
-Lifestyle evaluation
-Self massage techniques
-Meditation techniques
-Yoga/exercise guidelines and support
Weight Normalization- Best begun before actual trying to conceive
-Body type evaluation
-Dietary & exercise recommendations
-Herbal support for digestion and metabolism
Western Herbs
Vitex agnus-castus. Vitex, Monk’s pepper, Chaste berry.
-Great for women in their 40’s who want regular ovulation. Tends to affect pineal and pituitary glands.
Fairly slow-acting, generally large doses. Tincture more cost-effective. Take 1 dropperful 4 times a day, for 2-3-4 years. Many women do feel it helps within 6 weeks. You should see an improvement by 4 months.
· Trifolium pratense—Red Clover
-one of the most pro-fertility herbs. All 4 hormone groups present. Works on human endocrine glands and provides basic building blocks. Helps with fertile mucus production. Infusion also mineral-rich.. Make quart of strong infusion and drink 2 mugs a day.
Female Tonic—RainForest Remedies from Arvigo Institute
-Blend of traditional Maya herbs used to cleanse and nourish the womb and female organs:
-Take according to Terra’s directions, for your particular situation- wrong use may be counter productive
Menstrual Cycle Nourishment – adapted from Shelley Torgrove’s handout
Herbs & internal processes to support the cycle. May not all be appropriate if doing Assisted Reproductive Technologies—check with Terra
Ex. When women live more outdoors without artificial light—women ovulate at full moon and bleed on new moon. Getting woman hooked with the moon cycle will tap into this natural regularity of the moon.
· Phase : Menses 1-7 days Bleeding Phase
New moon – time of letting go—inward & introspective visioning, dreamtime
A wide variability of amount & quality of blood can be considered normal. When starts or ends with old brown clots – old endometrial tissue not released last cycle.
Hormones - All hormones low, around day 4 pituitary starts pulsing Follicle Stimulating Hormone FSH so the ovaries start stimulating the eggs to begin developing.
Self nourishing – resting, warm clothes, baths; drawing; writing; new cycle—clean slate
Wear Red. Cloth menstrual pads—tampons work against the natural flow. If no periods—hook into the moon cycle to go through the cycle of nourishment.
Nutrition - Iron rich dark leafy greens, miso soup with ginger (helps w/ spasms), diluted carrot juice w/ parsley (if lots of clots in menses—seems to thin out clotting), mineral rich sea weeds—kelp , kombu, nori; light eating to avoid congestion of belly
Nourishing herbs – nettle infusion w/ black strap molasses, fresh ginger decoction or compresses, clary sage essential oil: low doses = antispasmodic; high doses = euphoric antidepressant
(2-10 drops for euphoric bath; with equal parts jasmine)
· Phase: Follicular days 5 – 14 or 15 Building phase
Waxing moon
Open strong grounded
Hormones: Eggs ripening in the ovaries—both ovaries ripen and produce estrogen. Causes endometrium to become thick & rich and fertile mucous in the cervix. Stimulating effect—creation energy
Self nourishing—journaling, giving voice to what is building & growing
Exercise, building new projects
Nourishing foods to build= lean animal or vegie proteins; raw almond butter; fresh flax seed oils, raw seeds
Herbs = estrogen balancing : dong quai, black cohosh, red clover
· Phase: Ovulation day 12- 16
Full moon – triggers pineal gland (can use night light) that stimulates the pituitary to stimulate ovulation (sleep in dark except during ovulation phase for lunaception)
(Many hormonal reactions to light is on skin, not necessarily the eyes.)
Peak of aliveness, senses more acute, heightened sexual energy & creativity
Determine ovulation backwards about 12-14 days from the beginning of the next menses or use BBT to see temperature shift indicating ovulation is occurring .(Each woman has her standard luteal phase length until perimenopause begins, when it begins to be more variable.)
Hormones - Dominant follicle produces lots of estrogen; pituitary reads it in blood= egg is ripe and sends out Lutenizing Hormone Surge. LH causes egg to be released by ovary and goes into upper 1/3 of fallopian tube. Follicle sac closes and becomes corpus luteum which produces progesterone. Egg only lives one day –If egg not fertilized, then reabsorbed. If fertilized – goes to uterus & implants.
Self nourishing—chart cervical mucous, watch ovulation signs: Justisse Method of Cycle Sense (avail. from Terra) OR Take charge of your Fertility by Toni Wechsler . Let your prayers go the the Source, letting them go for fruition.
Nutrition: Rising estrogen can deplete B vitamins – if cranky get more brown rice, dark leafy, miso, B complex (vata apana prana syndrome)
Foods- pomegranates = ancient fertility food , red: eggs= B vitamin rich food, nutritional yeast
Herbs – high vitamin & mineral teas—red clover, nettles, calendula, oatstraw
Ovulation pain- ginger root, cramp bark, acute dosing patterns black cohosh
· Phase: Luteal phase 16-28 days Proliferation & implantation or premenstrual
Waning moon
Moving inward, change & prepare for possible pregnancy or menses
Hormone -If cycle discomfort—in luteal phase – pms
Liver breaks down excess hormones & balances blood sugar- if symptoms then need to cleanse and support liver.
Progesterone for about 14 days after ovulation by corpus luteum – sometimes shorter Thickens & supports the uterine lining w/ blood vessels, in case pregnancy is happening.
Self nourishing – complete projects, afternoon alone, in nature, meditating, going inward activities
Nutrition -Food—grounding blood sugar stabilizing=- roasted root veggies, beets, sweet potatoes, burdock root, toasted kelp or nori mixed with toasted ground sesame seeds
Calcium mag rich foods—10 days premenstrual need more CA/ MG – add green foods, oatstraw
Proteins help balance blood sugars; keep it balanced
Sweet nourishing – mochi, sweet potatoes, white miso, steamed apples
Sensitive to nutrient deficiencies at this time
Herbs = liver herbs – roasted dandelion, dandelion, burdock, Oregon grape, yellow dock
Nervous system support herbs= lemon balm, oatstraw, linden blossom
Fertility Foods
· All aphrodisiacs are rich in minerals: oysters, mussels, lobster, chocolate, etc.
Fat is the most important thing for female fertility. Cholesterol is a basic building block of hormones. Low-fat diets are a bad idea for women. Small amount of animal products is necessary to the diet, used as seasoning. If you eat animals you affect how they are treated. Vote with your dollars & demand quality.
-Vegetable oils are bad for fertility. High in omega-6’s and easily go rancid.
-Olive oil is great; olive is a fruit. Coconut oil, Ghee, & Butter are good.
-All wild foods contain omega-3 fatty acids.
-Fish oil may be better than flax for those whose heritage is from sea coasts—their physiology may not have a strong pathway for converting the flax. Flax goes rancid VERY quickly—best is to grind the seeds fresh daily to eat.
-Evening primrose oil helps with fertile mucus production-follow directions on bottle.
Ayurvedic Preparation
• Before becoming pregnant, especially if there are concerns about fertility, Panchakarma is recommended. This consists of external and internal oiling, hot baths or steam, medicated oils and decoctions of herbs in enemas, induced purgation whenever indicated. PK is followed by a month of rejuvenation with diet, herbs, lifestyle practices
• The generic preparations like Chyavanprasha, Brahmi Ghrita, and Agatsya Haritaki Avaleha are prescribed for the gain and maintenance of the strength and vigor.
• To avoid infertility, it is important for the woman to have a normal menstrual cycle, supported by following menstrual health guidelines (see upcoming post).
Fertility Awareness-
Charting the cycle will give good information about ovulation and any hormonal imbalances
Tuning in to her body helps the woman connect to her feminine reproductive & intuitive nature
Maya Abdominal Massage
Helps properly position the uterus to allow for sperm to meet egg,
Stimulate circulation & healthy functioning of the ovaries for better hormonal communications and development of follicle/eggs and fertile mucous.
Stimulate circulation and health of uterus to have healthier lining, better fertile mucous production
Helps get in touch with female organs and intuitive nature
Moxa
Can be helpful to help reduce coldness & dampness (K) in the reproductive organs
Saltwater Footbaths & Hot Water Bottle & Herbal Sitzbaths
Helpful if poor circulation in pelvic area, cold & dryness (V) in reproductive
Vaginal Steams-(when not trying for pregnancy that cycle)
To cleanse uterus before menses
To warm a cold pelvic area
Psycho-Spiritual Fertility Helps
Whole Person Fertility Program by Niravi Payne – This book delves into clearing psychological blocks to fertility.
Make a Baby Altar, with things on it that symbolize the baby you wish to attract to your family. This is great to do with your partner.
Sing to your body, your baby-to-come—ask me for songs or make your own
Wear a Fertility Necklace or Bracelet to symbolize your commitment to becoming pregnant.
Pray.
by Terra Rafael, WiseWomanhood Holistic Women's Health
Ayurveda – Maya Abdominal Massage~ Fertility Awareness~Energy Work
wisewomanhood@gmail.com
720.628.5015
06 May 2009
Dragonflies
Dragonflies are everywhere today. The air is unusually lively with their wings whirring through the watery landscape, where my office looks out into trees and down into the creek. Mindy and I watch in wonder. She's been trying to get pregnant for a year, suffering more than one miscarriage along the way.
“This reminds me of my dragonfly encounter in Belize. Studying Maya Spiritual Healing, we'd take a break for lunch on the flower draped veranda and then go lounge in the peaceful, cool river to counteract the heat of midday. That river was so safe, so clear & refreshing. We would stand, chest deep in the water, relaxing & communing with nature.
One day while in the river, a pair of dragonflies landed on my shoulder. They were mating – something I'd never observed before. They bent their bottoms together, creating a heart-shaped coital position. They stayed together for at least half and hour, doing their heart tantra all the while.”
“That's amazing,”Mindy replies, as she turns towards me, “but to get back to my purpose for being here: Do you think that I'm pregnant now? That I will have a successful pregnancy?”
As Mindy speaks, I look beyond her, out of the window. There's a pair of dragonflies mating on the window, making a heart of fertility right now, right next to Mindy.
“Turn around Mindy and see what the dragonflies have to tell you.”
-by Terra Rafael
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