At Da-a-Luz oasis life is simple. Birth is normal. You smell nature. You sweat joy. Food is lush. Big smiles and strong hugs are the norm. You kiss hello and you kiss goodbye. Women circles happen under a willow tree. Wash; in the river. Life is simple. Life is perfect.
Vanessa Brooks is the director of a project that will change birth paradigms. She has created and now is building the first Holistic Midwifery School in Europe. Vanessa is a midwife, she is ‘with women’. She is a lay midwife, a traditional midwife, and she’s been witnessing mothers bloom and babies been born for the last 15 years. She believes in women’s capacity to give birth their way at home and acts as an advocate offering love. Empowering women to catch, observe and hug their babies on their own.
The school runs for a year with students that stay in The Field. I met Anna (Holland), Soirsha (New Zeland) and Rowena (Germany). During my stay also three elective student midwives from England joined the 10-day module: Asma, Connie and Emily arrived with an open heart to hear different things from their medical training. Fiona is a member of the team , she is an independant midwife, yoga teacher, massage therapist, a beautiful soul that chose this place to think about life.. And José! an amazing cook, a free spirited guy helping out with the most sensitive heart.
We shared stories, we shared other’s stories, we shared our stories. We shared information about holding space, antenatal classes, herbs, massage and shiatsu, yoga, ceremonies, postnatal care…
It was a special week. Sleeping in a teepee tent. Meditating with the sound of a stream. Laughing, dancing, meeting locals. Meeting future parents. Meeting parents with their babies. This was my own doula retreat, my self-care week. A treat to me from me. It reassured me I passionately love my job.
I’ll keep coming back…
The School offers year long apprenticeships in holistic birth and shorter ‘elective’ stays for midwives, doulas, birthkeepers… You can also support them becoming a member like me for €5 a month.
For info about this project please visit and support: www.Daaluzoasis.wordpress.com
Alexa Dean, July 2016
