Yesterday, I sat across the kitchen table from one of my dearest friends, talking for the longest time. We each slowly, carefully, trustingly unfolded the pages of our current lives. With transparent courage, we revealed the contours of our lives to one another.
Today, I understand better, not only how she now experiences life, but how I experience my own inner life as well. I am aware how we each were engaging in a loving form of midwifery, mutually supporting and encouraging the exploration and presentation of our inner selves.
I became aware of realities which were not so clear or apparent before we sat down across from one another. I understood aspects of myself that were not so obvious earlier. I hope the service of midwifery she gave to me was reciprocated in what I offered to her in mirrored fashion.
This is what I want to do on a daily basis with every person, plant and rock I meet. It is what making love with the world, especially one another, is all about. It is what I do when I help someone else to experience the joy of living in their own skin. It is the gift we give to one another by our speech, by our looks, by our touch. I want to summon from others the joy of participating in the energy of the universe, the deep pleasure of being aware, the exuberance of being alive.
I engage in a small form of midwifery every time I am in contact with others. I especially affirm their presence and deep value when I acknowledge them in the fullest way I can, when I am fully present myself and clearly communicate that.
This is what I did last evening as I sat down in a circle of the members of my Sangha. When I first settled down, I relaxed into being deeply present. I then extended the invitation to be present to all those sitting to either side of me. Together we relaxed as we faced the center of the circle. We let go into a loving time of being in a common space.
We were quiet together, we spoke of the contours of our hearts. We revealed aspects of our lives and practice with trusting transparency. We listened attentively and drew awareness out of one another. We each took turns engaging in loving midwifery.