What do Witches, Drums & Jelly fish have in common? .....

I have always been fascinated by the stories of witches - the real ones, not the Hollywood/Disney variety. ... I was born and brought up, partly in Hertfordshire where we frequently visited friends living in Walkern. The Witch of Walkern is a well known tale, a true one. Jane Wenham of Walkern was one of the last Women, who were commonly midwives or healing women, to be trialled for witchcraft in 1712.

Coming out of Halloween season I am always reminded of the fact that 'witches' were seen as creatures of the night who sold the souls of others to the devil, particularly the midwives that successfully brought babies, often through the night, into the world. When it went wrong they would be blamed and banished for practicing witchcraft. Doctors - who were always male (women were not allowed to train in medicine) took great pains to discredit local healing men & women, brandishing them witches, when in fact it was more their own practices, led by religious beliefs, quackery and misogyny that caused much harm.

A research project, published in The Nursing Times in February this year uncovered some fascinating facts, primarily looking at the witch trials 1563–1736 in Scotland where some 3000 - 4000 people were accused of witchcraft. The researchers were able to identify 142 people, 85% female, 51% found guilty, 90% executed. Most were tortured and forced to plead guilty. The study looked into the biographies of these, mainly folklore practitioners whose work often used practices that would be recognised and used today - rituals such as bathing, washing or even burning of clothes wold now be seen as sanitisation and killing of disease - Florence Nightingale used these same practices to create a clinical nursing environment. - the birth of modern nursing as it's seen today.

As a mother and movement practitioner, working with many women through pregnancy and birth I have seen the work of many doctors, midwives and birth support partners that nurtures the female instinct to birth. It's that creation of support systems in hospitals and homes that facilitates this wholly safe environment for women. It's a knowing, a caring, an 'I've got you' practice that's roots are not in modern medicine but in the folklores and healers from our historic past.

This is just one of the subjects that I cover in my Pelvic Floor Power workshop, Why? Because that practice and support so needs to continue through a woman's health journey. It's a practice that acknowledges trauma and the fact that for centuries we have been conditioned to see female anatomy through a lense that's tainted with fear, weakness and inferiority.

And I believe it's time to change all that!

I am running a Pelvic Floor Power Workshop on Saturday 9.10am - 10.40am (GMT). It will include an hours talk where you will learn a little more on the above but also find out why Drums and Jelly Fish can give us insight into how our pelvic anatomy works! Yes really! We will also be doing a 30 minute relaxation and strengthening session, focused on the pelvic floor.

This really is for everyone. Whether you are a professional working with women through pregnancy, birth and peri/menopause or if you are experiencing problems with your pelvic floor and would like to make a change to your health. If you cannot attend live, don't worry - we will be sending a recording to you afterwards so you can watch in replay. Details are here. Plus use the code PF17 and it will take over 40% off the price of the workshop. Use the code by 5th November 2024.

Ref:

Healers and midwives accused of witchcraft (1563-1736) - What secondary analysis of the Scottish survey of witchcraft can contribute to the teaching of nursing and midwifery history https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38029694/.