Book Pre-Review: Embodying the Sacred

By Peg Conway

Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, ICCE, Talk Birth (http://talkbirth.me)

This week I was excited to have the opportunity to review a new book, not yet released. Publication is anticipated within the next couple of months and I will re-post then with the actual cover image and pricing details.

Embodying the Sacred is a beautiful new book with roots in the Catholic faith. It seeks to answer the questions, “how does birth connect with faith? How can we speak of it in religious language that lives up to the intensity of giving birth? How can spirituality be a resource for childbearing? And why are the churches, deeply concerned for the unborn, so silent about normal childbirth?” The book helps pregnant women build their “spiritual birth bag” through cultivating their inner resources and their embodied connection to spirit.

Written clearly and with a lyrical and intimate style, the book contains a variety of reflections, prayers, and activities to help women make a personal connection with their sense of the divine and sacred. Something I found particularly enjoyable about the book was that not only did the author touch on the labyrinth as a metaphor for birth, she includes literal, purposeful labyrinth walks in the suggested activities for expectant mothers.

Embodying the Sacred speaks to the chord of the holy and sacred in all pregnant women, but readers should be aware that it uses language and prayers strongly rooted in the Abrahamic religions and uses predominantly masculine imagery and language for God. Women from a variety of faith backgrounds will find material to connect with in the book, but may find it necessary to substitute or modify the prayers to suit their personal beliefs and practices.

Pregnant women who are intrigued by the idea of building a spiritual birth bag and who are ready to dig deep and to go beyond the scope of traditional pregnancy and birth books will find a rich resource in Embodying the Sacred.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.