Secreting Religion
Journal for the Academic Study of Religion October 27, 2009 DOI: 10.1558/arsr.v22i2.161 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractNine women describe special events of consciousness during childbirth, with most reporting a meaningful encounter with death that acts as a primary catalyst. These narratives are examined through transpersonal psychology, suggesting a unique category of transpersonal consciousness specific to birth-giving women, tentatively termed 'reproductive consciousness.'
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 9 |
| Population | Women who experienced childbirth |
| Key finding | Most women interviewed reported a meaningful encounter with death during childbirth, which appears to be a primary catalyst for special events of consciousness, suggesting a unique category of transpersonal consciousness termed 'reproductive consciousness.' |
Abstract
I present narratives from nine women describing the special events of consciousness they experienced during childbirth. These narratives are discussed in terms of transpersonal psychology. Most of the women interviewed spoke of a meaningful encounter with death and this will be explored as the primary catalyst for such events. I will also outline how these events seem to suggest a unique category of transpersonal consciousness particular to birth-giving women for which the term ‘reproductive consciousnesses’ will be tentatively designated.