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Conscious Conception: Elemental Journey Through the Labyrinth of Sexuality by Jeannine Parvati Baker, Tamara Slayton, Frederick Baker
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Frederick Baker, Jeannine Parvati Baker, Tamara Slayton Edition: Paperback Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published) Published: 1986-11 ISBN: 0938190830 Number of pages: 411 Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Book Reviews of Conscious Conception: Elemental Journey Through the Labyrinth of SexualityBook Review: So disappointed and left me with a bad taste Summary: 1 StarsI bought this book because I was interested in natural techniques to fertility and "consciously" conceiving my future child. I was hoping that the authors would have an unbiased, balanced perspective; however, I have found that this book is VERY "new age". Don't get me wrong, there are many new age principals that I agree with. I just think that the authors of this book are on the extreme deep end and are extremely biased by their own opinions.
One example is in the article "Health, Nutrition & Fertility" by Frederick Hamilton Baker. In regards to the amount of chemicals that are found in foods and therefore in our bodies causing infertility, he says "It's as if the soul isn't very interested in coming to unhealthy parents especially in these 'latter days' when there are already so many other early obstacles to fulfillment. (Unnatural birthing practice, lack of breastfeeding, childhood torture in the form of cribs and city housing, etc.)"
"Torture" as he uses it, is such an extreme viewpoint. I haven't read the whole book; it's unreadable. But one can assume from this statement that he is pro- bed sharing - which is fine, except I think it's really rather rude and ignorant to assume that all children are "tortured" by being put into cribs (I know plenty of them who love their cribs, my own son being one of them). He also expresses a belief that eating meat is deviating from a healthy "whole" diet. Regardless of what he feels is personally best for himself, I think it is small-minded to assume that that must be the case for everyone and a better proclamation would have been that if you are not a vegetarian, meat consumption needs to be moderated.
Elsewhere in the book is an article by Jeannine Parvati Baker called "Astrology: Stars in Our Eyes or Preventing Dis-Aster". I don't know what else to really say about this article except that it seemed to lack a point. She talks excessively of what sign the moon (for example) was in when she first ovulated and then after she gave birth one out of five times, the signs of all of her children, etc., and goes on to say that she sees a pattern without really discussing what that pattern is. I am pretty in to astrology, more so than the average person, and I really didn't get the point.
In fact, much of this book seems to be a little self-indulgent. The authors speak from their own heavily biased perspective without maintaining any sort of objectivity or sense of how their experiences might relate to the reader. It is unfortunate, for this book had great potential - it's large with beautiful illustrations throughout and alot of the topic material is good. The writers just didn't seem to be able to keep their feet on the ground long enough for this book to really be practical at all. And quite frankly, it is also offensive. It seems to me that the authors are taking the viewpoint that living a natural lifestyle in sync with nature that you can achieve fertility, healthy pregnancy, etc. My last pregnancy ended in a stillbirth because my son had a birth defect, and I eat and buy everything organic, never take medication, do most of what they are suggesting in this book anyway. And it still happened. My point being not that living a natural lifestyle is not good, but there are most definitely instances in which modern technology and medicine can be helpful. For example, many women suffer from clotting disorders and suffer repeated pregnancy losses until they are diagnosed and take blood thinners during pregnancy, after which they are able to go full-term and give birth to healthy babies. I get the feeling like Jeanning Parvati Baker was lucky (nothing more, nothing less) to have given birth to five healthy children. I don't think that it's because of astrology, or vegetarianism, or anything else that she is talking about in this book.
So in conclusion I would say this book is good if you are extremely into new age ideas, as this book is VERY new age (I don't even know how other reviewers said it wasn't at all; this book reeks of it). But if you are someone who is not at all into new age ideas, or you are into some but combine new age with conventional wisdom to find the balance that is right for you, then this book is pretty worthless. I wish I could return it and get my money back. I am going to try to buy some other books that might be related to what it was I was originally looking for, and hopefully they will be much better than this book was.
Summary of Conscious Conception: Elemental Journey Through the Labyrinth of SexualityConscious Conception is the comprehensive reference for fertility awareness. All natural methods of family planning, both ancient and current, are presented within the larger context of sexuality and an evolving spirituality, which embraces the religious wisdom traditions and goes beyond. The book is for anyone who wants to prepare before conception for the great journey as partners in creation: commonly known as becoming PARENTS. Couples who are labelled "infertile" will discover new possibilities and ways to naturally conceive. This book is also for anyone exploring fertile sexuality and desires a way to avoid contraception and pregancy both at once. The information is shared with the hope that every baby can be a welcomed baby AND strengthen sexual relationships. Rather then rely upon medical device, chemicals or surgeries, the invitation of Conscious Conception is to experience fertility as not in the way of sexuality, but rather, that fertile sexuality is THE way of spirituality. The authors boldly guide us through such real issues as abortion, adoption and choosing the gender and birth time of our babies yet always within a larger story of SOUL myth, metaphor and our evolution of ideas about sexuality and by extension, creation. One prevailing concept in Conscious Conception is that we can put to rest the "victim-of-fertility" archetype which has been at best the inspiration of great literature/tragedy for millennia, and at worst has released much pain and suffering upon our Earth. We can become conscious of our capacity to co-create as simple as knowing when one is hungry or thristy, we can know when we are fertile and act in ways which are best-for-life. This natural knowing is aided by attention to not only our physical bodies and fertility cycles, but our dreams and desires. What is emerging at the end of this millennium is the realization that fertility awareness is a SOURCE experience, one which puts us in direct relationship with creative energy. By becoming conscious of our fertility, we become more creative. It is our choice in what form we show the world our love a baby is but one option. Conscious Conception transcends the pro-choice and pro-life polemic. Conscious Conception is both at once simply stated, it's instruction is to "Choose Life". The propaganda which is put out by the contraceptive industry results in many unwanted children and abortions. All contraceptive methods have failure rates which mean real conceptions. Natural Family planning has the best statistics in effectiveness for one reason when there is any possibility of pregnancy, abstinance is practiced. When fertile, regardless of contraceptive promises, babies can be conceived, and sometimes are. Included are detailed ceremonies for healing previous abortions, both public and private rituals to resolve the past and be more present in the unfolding fertility story now. Abortion is not moralized as being "wrong" rather, it just hurts and is increasingly unneccessary as the practice of Conscious Conception/ Fertility Awareness is spread throughout the world. Again, contraception is deconstructed to show its inevitable failure while in contrast, when cyclical abstinance is employed, there are no conceptions. Plus the world's best kept secret fertility awareness inclusive of abstinance, enhances a long-term monogamous relationship in many ways that usage of contraception cannot. It also is optimal in short-term relationships as the practicioners need fear no untimely pregnancy. What would the world look like if every baby was a wanted, welcomed baby? If women knew ourselves and honestly communicated our truth in regards to fertility to our lovers? What if teens learned fertility awareness, which embraces the best of all ideas about sex education, and developed a real self to esteem? Conscious Conception describes such a world a world of the POSSIBLE FAMILY. Freebirth, waterbirth, tota
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