Dearest Wombs of the World Community,
We have just wrapped up our first Wombs of the World program in Mexico, and I am still savoring the incredible food, experiences, and connections. Each Wombs of the World program has its own unique energy, and this one was no exception.
Tanzania is so hands-on and intense, leaving us fired up, needing to alchemize the rage and wanting to do so much (enter WotW Foundation).
Ecuador is deeply introspective, transformative, and healing. With our partners Partera Di Anaku, we reignite why we do what we do.
And my hope for the Mexico program was for it to be FUN, and stacked with education. Ideally, a Mariachi band would greet each participant at the airport and set the tone... alas... instead, it is vibrant and musical and a dance through and through in other ways. There is so much to take in here: the history, culture, traditions, flavors, and plant medicine. It is an honor to learn. And yes, we did actually do quite a bit of dancing. (Turns out that in their practice of locating and positioning the womb, it is important to literally twerk to create the space for the uterus to settle properly... Amazing.)
We are excited to announce that the dates for our next Mexico program are set:
Applications are now open, and we look forward to dancing, learning, and growing with you! |
There are so many lessons that resonate across lands. During a cacao ceremony, I asked the midwife Pao, who was leading, about the appropriation of cacao ceremonies (having attended one too many at music festivals over the years). She shared that cacao is sacred, and in her family, the tradition of working with cacao has been passed down for generations. It’s not just about the ceremony itself but the relationship with the plant. Traditionally, there is a deep connection to the cacao tree, and it requires years of care and reverence before one can harness its energy to facilitate such a sacred ceremony.
A cacao ceremony, in its traditional form, is not just about consuming cacao; it's a spiritual practice meant to open the heart and connect participants to the earth, themselves, and each other. It was once known as a drink for the Gods. The cacao is prepared with deep intention, often blessed through prayer or ritual, and combined with herbs, spices, and sometimes flowers, each chosen for their energetic qualities. Each ingredient is added with purpose, and the ceremony itself honors the spirit of cacao, used by indigenous peoples as a tool for connection, healing, insight, and emotional release.
Partera Pao also explained that today, the holders of this sacred knowledge are being reborn all over the world, reminding us that anyone who truly hears the call of cacao and is willing to engage with it in a mindful, respectful way can access its power.
This echoes what we’ve learned from Taitai Oscar in Ecuador: the way to protect the seeds of knowledge is not by hiding them away but by sharing them with mindful learners across the globe. These connections and conversations are what I cherish most about our work at Wombs of the World. |
I am so excited about our new merch line!!! I may be having a bit too much fun with it... I am adding new things regularly so be sure to check it out! When you shop with us, you are supporting all our maternal health initiatives! |
✨The Revolutionary Birthworker Circles!✨ |
I am so looking forward to this new online offering! We only have two spots left in Saturday cohort. The birthworkers joining us are from around the world... The UK, US, Indonesia, Switzerland- this is so powerful.
And the reminder that while culture is dynamic, birth is universal. I am so excited to dive into deep conversations with these women.
Over six zoom sessions, we’ll explore:
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Do you feel the call? This is your chance to join the conversation, join the movement, join the revolution.
If you wanted to participate in a Wombs of the World program but have not been able to travel, this is a great place to get started.
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Are we traveling to Ecuador in 2025? Short answer: TBD (very likely, just not sure when!)Our amazing partner Partera Di Anaku is launching so many projects in her community that we are eager to support. Therefore we are taking a step back from hosting trips and stepping up our work with the WotW Foundation to support her community initiatives such as the traditional midwifery school in Cotacachi. More Midwives = Better Births We have one trip on the books for the foreseeable future, November 20-30th, 2024. Don't miss this opportunity!
There is so much happening with our Tanzania program! We are slowly but surely evolving into longer programs, and hoping to invite more medical professionals to join us. Doulas are so wonderful and definitely support the laboring women. And medical professionals will be able to fill educational gaps that the clinics are asking for. Please help us spread the word!
We are looking for midwives, L&D nurses, neonatologists and OBGYNs to join us and help make such a difference in lives of so many families.
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A Note from Me
Exactly one year ago today, I landed in Paris with the intention of making it my new home. My family originally moved to Paris in 1995 when I was 4 years old, and we moved back to the U.S. in 2005, right before I started high school. I could probably write a novel about the cultural experience of essentially being a French kid with an American accent suddenly thrown into an American high school... But for now, let’s just say it led me down two defining roads:
The last 12 months have been the most hectic and exhausting of my life. I’ve essentially been living out of suitcases, developing new programs, training facilitators on the ground in each location, getting the WotW Foundation functional, opening an affiliate branch of WotW in Europe (visa requirements!), launching merch lines, and setting up online educational programs and trainings. It’s been a wild ride trying to figure out how to make all this magic actually work. But now, one year to the day, I’m finally home—home. Back to my childhood roots, the place I feel most at ease in this world.
And now, a year later... Visa in hand, toiletries fully unpacked, and no international flights for exactly two months. I’m grateful for the chance to rest and refocus (well, mostly... we have a lot of other projects in the works!). Another huge shoutout to Jenny—none of this would have been possible without her patience, dedication, and incredible attention to detail.
If you are a birthworker in Europe, I’d love to connect with you! Please feel free to reach out, as we continue to grow our WotW community here.
Thank you for following the journey! We are super excited about everything that’s coming next!
With gratitude,Charlotte Brielle |
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