Pregnancy Magic

Question:

I just recently began trying to practice wicca when I found out that I was pregnant. I am now 4 months along and find that I am becoming more magickal; I would like to know if there are things that I  shouldn't try to do.

Answer:

I think the most important thing for you to remember here is that magick is a NATURAL practice! In fact, you are very right; pregnancy is a time at which a woman is in one of her more powerful states of being… she is, very literally, creating life. Now what could be more magickal than that? The essences of a man and a woman are being combined, and a brand new life has begun… and the woman holds within her own body the body, spirit, soul of this new life. Its energy mingles with hers, which is how I’ve always understood the mood swings, emotional states, and sensitivity of pregnant women (by LOTS of personal experience!)

As far as what you shoudn’t try to do… obviously, negative magick working would probably be a Very Bad Idea. You might feel prepared to bear the consequences of your actions, but your unborn child has a right not to experience any karmic fallout you might be invoking. I could go on about this, but I think it is pretty much a no-brainer.

The only other consideration you need to keep in mind is that because your energies are linked with those of your child, you might want to be careful about the energy output and input that you engage in. You don’t want to drain yourself, because you will be, to some degree, pulling energy from your child, as well. Similarly, you wouldn’t want to take on energies that might be harmful, uncomfortable, or in any way less-than-beneficial for the baby. Personally, I believe the unborn child IS a person, already… obviously, this is a personally held belief, but in any case, do you really want to take a chance?

Examples of this would include performing healing energy work. I would be very unlikely to do so, because I always seem to ‘leech’ some of whatever ailment I’m trying to help exorcise. You wouldn’t want to impose stress, anger, pain, or depression on your child. Conversely, you wouldn’t want to push so much energy out of yourself that you suck energy from the baby at the same time. Of course, I also believe that little new life within you has a LOT of energy; he or she would have to, to be busily growing and developing! But you need energy, as well… your body is performing a miraculous creative work, and I would be very careful choosing what magick was necessary enough to warrant such an expenditure.

Overall, I would say trust your instincts. Mothers-to-be have a highly developed sense of what is not right. I remember during all five of my pregnancies, for instance, that I was able to stay just about as active as I ever had been, but there were certain activities that just felt wrong… sweeping with a broom, for instance. I could vacuum, pick up my other kids and haul them around on my hip, climb stairs, even maintain an intimate relationship with my (then) husband... but something about the motions of sweeping with enough force to clean a floor felt injurious. (I often had messes on my floor, and my back porch was never free of leaves, but I had no injuries to myself or my kids!) The same principle holds true with magickal workings. Think about what it is you want to do, why you want to do it, decide whether it is necessary and appropriate, then work carefully, with attention paid to the energy resources you have for yourself and your baby.

I will add one more thought for you to consider. This is a precious time for you and your child; you are connected now as you will never be again. Perhaps you might spend some time engaging that connection; use this once-in-a-lifetime phase to pour your love, hope, acceptance, and affirmation into that little God or Goddess within you. When I was pregnant, I would sometimes lie in my bed, a few times on the grass in my backyard, and even once on a beach at night, and commune with my child. Relax, do whatever you do to put yourself in a meditative state, and visualize yourself encircling that sweet new life with your love. Talk to him or her, if you wish; send those positive, protective energies into him. Tell her, with the words of your soul, how precious she is, and how wonderful. Sometimes I wonder if this simple, basic, not-very-sophisticated practice isn’t responsible for the amazing bond I have with my kids, even now that they are mostly in their teenage years.

At any rate, be good to yourself, and protect yourself from negativity during this time. And best wishes for a happy, healthy pregnancy and a lifetime of joy from your new little God/dess!