Critical Acclaim in International Doula

Ahh… December has been a lovely month for beautiful words written by amazing folks. Read what Jennifer Rokeby-Mayeux of International Doula (a publication of DONA-Doulas of North America) wrote:

I had the pleasure of reading Mary Burgess’s book Mending Invisible Wings; a Healing Journal for Mothers. The spiral bound journal style book is full of affirmations, activities and exercises to assist mothers as they heal from the loss of a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death.

The journal is divided into four parts, each with many exercises that lead the mother through a variety of activities that engage all the senses. Each exercise includes an action, affirmation and self-nurturance activity. This journal boasts plenty of space dedicated to journaling, writing and drawing, so everything can be contained in one private, personal space.

This book could be just the right gift to give to a mother who is dealing with the death of a child. The journal will allow the mother to work through her pain and grief at her own pace, guiding her through this difficult process.

Mending Invisible Wings: Healing From the Loss of Your Baby
By Mary Burgess with Shiloh Sophia McCloud
Palm of Her Hand Publications

(see Purchase section for more information on purchasing Mending Invisible Wings)

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Babylost Holidays

There are many emotions spurred during the holiday season, and for the woman who has lost a baby, holidays can be a tender, emotion-filled, and difficult time.

Have you, or has someone dear to you, lost a baby to miscarriage, stillbirth, or within the first year of life? Were you the midwife or doula to someone who lost a baby?

If so, consider this lovely journal for yourself or this babylost Mama: Mending Invisible Wings – a healing journal for mothers who have lost a baby.

Within its pages are writings from others: mothers, doulas, a midwife, a father… each of whom have traveled this path. There are gently guided Healing Expressions, encouraging the reader to acknowledge, honor, and release her emotions surrounding this loss, plus an entire section of healing ceremonies. Poetry is woven throughout, like a golden thread. There are many illustrations on thick paper – to color, paint, write in, scribble on, decorate… illustrations that speak to a grieving woman’s heart. There are lots of blank spaces and room to think and write and draw and cry on and dream. There are visualizations and affirmations and suggestions for honoring the woman’s body, that she may so deeply feel has let her down.

There is no more difficult journey than to lose one’s child.

It is hard to find the words to say.

A gift of Mending Invisible Wings is a lovely place to start.

with love, m.

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Leann Rimes – Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way

So beautiful, so moving – m.

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It’s Here… Mending Invisible Wings journal

Ahh… at last! It is here! Mending Invisible Wings – I have the first copy, here in my hands, and it is lovely.

My husband and I had a fire circle last night to celebrate its arrival… it is so beautiful, so complete, so full of potential.

I hope that this journal finds its way into the hands of those mothers who are deeply searching for some grief outlets. I hope that this journal can be part of hospital social services, so that social workers can offer it as a tool for mothers who have experienced the death of their baby… I hope that this journal takes to the wind and those with wings and is spread, like seed, as a healing  journal for women.

There is still much work to do. I give my first presentation of a few of the Creative Healing Expressions and Ceremonies, with poetry and readings, this Friday. Planting the seeds… taking to the wind… mending invisible wings… With this, I’m finalizing a 6- or 8-week class for mothers to join and go through the journal in a circle of women… that should be ready in early Autumn… keep posted for these details. And I’m also writing an Instructor’s Guide, for women who are ready to take on the role of supporting women through the loss of a baby, along with an interactive Instructor’s Class, to learn, to chat, to grow, to continue to heal ourselves as we support other women…

If you are interested in any of these things, or having me present a one-night Mending Invisible Wings class in your community, please contact me: maryburgess555@gmail.com

blessings for the journey,

m.

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Mama Day Card for Women who have lost a child

Love, Shiloh…

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Press Release for Mending Invisible Wings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Palm of Her Hand, Mary MacDonald

Web:       http://www.palmofherhand.com

Tel:         1-800-515-6623

Email:     palmofherhand@gmail.com

Helping Women Heal from the Loss of Their Baby

Healdsburg, CA – September 1, 2009.  That revolutionary company, Palm of Her Hand, founded by Visionary Artist and writer, Shiloh Sophia McCloud is at it again with another book designed to bless the world – and this time, the topic is something not many people like to talk about: the death of a baby.  Author Mary Burgess, Shiloh Sophia McCloud and Phyllis Klaus, poignantly talk about this subject in their new collaboration.

This incredible new journal and workbook, ‘Mending Invisible Wings’, takes the mother on a healing journey working through the grieving process after the loss of her child, during late pregnancy, at birth, or within the first year of life. True to form with other Palm of Her Hand books, the journal uses creativity and self-expression for healing.

Shiloh met Mary Burgess, a Doula from Bellingham, Washington, a year ago after Mary had created a draft book for this delicate topic.  The two collaborated with Palm of Her Hand and Cosmic Cowgirls Ink, as well as grieving mothers, midwives, doulas and birth experts like Phyllis Klaus, to produce this heartfelt offering.  Mary had as a doula, witnessed a stillbirth, and as a mother she experienced the loss of her first baby early in pregnancy and the more she began to share about it, the more she heard about all of the other birth practitioners, and hurting mothers, who were in need of support on a topic so tender, there are often no words.

Mending Invisible Wings addresses a small window of time in a woman’s life, when she has lost a baby, but it is an experience that hurts for a lifetime no matter how much time has passed.  “When a woman loses a baby, she finds that she has very few outlets for her grief, and very few people who will talk to her, listen to her, without adding their own stories. There are very few places that she can deeply, honestly express herself, her grief, her birth story, her journey of loss and all it encompasses. This book is vibrant, and welcoming and encourages a baby lost Mama to fully express herself, through writing, drawing, painting, visualization, poetry, gentle ceremony, and so much more” says Mary.

This unique offering includes poetry, illustrations to color, creative healing expressions, ceremonies, rituals and guidance on moving through to the other side of this challenging experience.  The previously released titles from Palm of Her Hand/Cosmic Cowgirls are ‘Heart of the Visionary: A Workbook for Entrepreneurs’, and ‘The Caring One’, for Alzheimers Caregivers. The publishing company is woman and girl owned and is dedicated to providing tools for healing and transformation on topics close to our hearts. The next two books deal with recovery from addiction, and recovering from cancer.

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