Unfolding draws on learning from many sources and years of working with women during their childbearing year. Penny Simkin's work with the definition, prevention, and healing of traumatic birth is always inspirational. I have been a Birthing From Within mentor for nearly a decade: Pam England and Virginia Bobro speak and teach about the power of deep listening, of birth stories as medicine. I have learned about stories, myths, and metaphors as medicine through the incredible writings of Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Women Who Run with the Wolves, 1996) and Dr. Anita Johnston (Eating in the Light of the Moon: How women can transform their relationship with food through myths, metaphors, and storytelling, 2000), and others, who believe in the power of healing through storytelling. As an instructor at Midwives College of Utah (MCU) of Midwifery Support Skills - a class for student midwives on supporting women survivors of sexual abuse and those who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or within the first year of life - I have learned the power of holding space for a woman to do her healing work in her own unique way. Nicole Croft of MCU, always my midwife, has offered guidance and steadiness to this project's completion.

Through Sacred Pregnancy and the Art of Sacred Postpartum, I have learned the art of beautiful, rich, ceremonial care of postpartum mothers. Work is always more fun with wonderful friends (Crystal Ogle, ViviAnne Fischer, Karin Peacock & Elaine Arnold, of my MCU Sister Circle) who offer knowledge and depth to the discussion of self-care, listening to mothers, and healing. It would not be possible without my daughters (Emma and Margaret - both who contributed images to this deck) and my husband, Don. Love you.All of this, combined with a dozen or so years of working in childbirth as a doula, childbirth educator, student midwife, breastfeeding educator, have helped bring these many pearls of wisdom into a beautiful strand of something new - a gentle healing offering for postpartum mothers.