Does this describe you? In the ten days or so since our sleep post, I’ve gotten some great emails from moms that are just stuck in a cycle and can’t figure out where to go from here. Many are just exhausted and starting down a road of depression or they’ve not gotten out of their PPD and their child is no longer a baby. I also looked back on the physical locations of some of the mothers sending me hate mail and noticed that nearly all of them lived in cold climates where Mother Nature has blessed them with a lot of snow lately… dark days, stuck inside with children, not a moment of peace, a husband who is off working until late at night… it can get to ya! This is the first of two posts on trying to help you break the cycle. Both posts will discuss working with your etheric body and what you can do. THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL CARE, THESE ARE ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS YOU MAY WANT TO THINK ABOUT. *legal stuff out of the way*
Steiner describes the etheric body or life-body as he sometimes called it, as working “in a formative way on the substances and forces of the physical body and thus brings about the phenomena of growth, reproduction, and inner movement of vital body fluids. It is therefore the builder and shaper of the physical body, its inhabitant and architect. The physical body may even be spoken of as an image or expression of the life-body.” These etheric forces work on our body through our lives and for mothers, we have to work to protect ourselves from being drained. Pregnancy, nursing and mothering young children can cause a drain on our etheric body. If we don’t work to guard our bodies then we can find ourselves easily drained and then running in a circle… “I want to get up but I can’t, I am too tired” turns into “Don’t tell me how to take care of myself! It is easier to just be grumpy and tired!”
What can we do physically to work on our bodies while nurturing young children? There are many things. I made myself familiar with them again as I am in the phase of my life where I am not just nurturing a 4 year old, but also growing a baby, those two things can take a lot out of a mom and I want to always be sure I have enough in my for my older children and of course my sweet husband. When people ask me *how* I do what I do, it comes down to a few fundamental things.
I make sure I get plenty of B vitamins, these help so much with stress and being a mother of young ones can be even more stressful. Make sure you get plenty of vitamin D. During the winter this can be especially hard with the darker weather, so a supplement may be in order. Keep regular sleeping and waking times, regular meal times, plan outside time – not just for the children but for you! I love staying curled up and knitting during the cold months, I could stay huddled in my office with my space heater writing all day, so I have to force myself to get up and be in the sun light. It doesn’t take much to feel better. Use full spectrum bulbs in your home, they cost a bit more, but they emulate the sun and will help with season disorders. Movement, even a bit will help too.
Our clothes make a big difference too. Are you wearing enough layers? We tend to focus on our children but forget about us. Simple things like a silk scarf around your neck, long johns – even cotton ones, warm socks, slippers. With our modern conveniences we have quickly forgotten how our grandparents lived… layers! Lots of LAYERS! I wear fingerless gloves in the house a lot during the winter months.
There are also a few biodynamic tonics and creams that seem to support the etheric, I have not tried them but many have been recommended, here are some links:
http://www.truebotanica.com/store/products/1/search.aspx
http://shop.urielpharmacy.com/aquavit-etheric-energizer-liquid-p592.aspx
http://shop.urielpharmacy.com/categories.aspx?Keyword=rose%20copper%20warming%20ointment
In part two of our post, we’ll talk about meditative and artistic things you can do to support your etheric body.
Blessings!
Melissa