Today we’d like to introduce you to Amelie.
Amelie, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I showed Matt the positive pregnancy test, after saying a few cuss words, he said: “it’s a boy!” I had this sensation go from my head to my gut, and immediately replied: “yes, he is.” That was the beginning of me reviving my intuition and trusting myself.
I loved everything about being pregnant. All the external things like the way people smiled when they saw my belly, sharing the experience with family, and the nights we’d be in bed feeling the baby move. I also loved the internal things pregnancy gave me, such as: empowering me to make decisions that felt good about the pregnancy and birth, learning to trust my inner guidance on who to see and what to do, learning what boundaries are and how to set them, and the biggest one – learning to surrender so that I can be present and enjoy the process.
What pregnancy did for me was awaken the inner knowing that I knew I had all along, but I shut off since I was a little girl and trained myself to doubt it. I feel like I didn’t want to do this traditionally or how I’ve heard it done in the past. I wanted an at home water birth. There were people close to me who didn’t think that was a good idea, but I realized that was their way of showing that they cared, and I wouldn’t be available for those conversations. Instead, I did what FELT GOOD for ME! I’m not a big reader or researcher, I tend to know if things are right for me if it feels good and I trust that. What that looked like during this time was running into people that I liked their birth story and decided “yes” that’s what I want. Stumbling upon articles and thinking “yes, that sounds right, those are the things I’m going to do”. Finding people and classes and feeling “yes, I want this.”
I had two successful water births at home and I was so grateful that that was my experience. As I began sharing my birth story to anyone who would listen there was a lot of receptiveness to it. A lot of people shared they didn’t know that that was an option. I felt it was important for me to continue to be open to my birth story, which came easily in person, but when I thought about sharing it online guilt and shame start coming up for me. What I realized was when I would talk in person it was the open dialogue that resonated with me. When it came to posting online it felt like I was bragging about what I did, and I felt bad if people had a less than pleasant, sometimes traumatic experience and I was being insensitive. What I came to realize is that my story is my story, your story is your story. We all grow, learn and heal from whatever comes up in our life.
From all of this, that is where the MOTHER SANCTUARY was birthed. I created this retreat for pregnant women to come together, find their village of women that are in this season of life, to connect, cry, release, and heal. This journey can be beautiful and sad, joyful and isolating. There is a full spectrum of emotions and things that can come up and my purpose with the Mother Sanctuary is to love on the mother so that they can love on the baby even more. <3
Has it been a smooth road?
Yes, struggles for sure, and I’m sure there will be more in the future, but I’m learning to embrace it. I think of it as areas that need healing or what needs to transform for me to expand. Before I decided to launch these retreats the idea sat for almost a year. It was ready I just was afraid to share it with the world. It wasn’t that I didn’t think people needed it, because I know for sure that people do, it was I doubted myself. Feelings of being a fraud “who am I to..”, things like that. Also like I mentioned before, because I had two water births at home, was I being insensitive to the women who felt trauma during their pregnancy and birth? What I realized and I discussed with many people is that, firstly, I don’t want to manifest myself an experience just so I can relate. Also, there were ways we can bring positivity or spirituality in a medicated birth, in a C-section, in an unmedicated birth. Whatever path you decide and whatever happens does not define you as a mother, woman, or person. What matters is how we transmute these experiences and show up as our best selves.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The Mother Sanctuary is a retreat I created for pregnant women to come together and honor themselves and the other women in this season in their life. We cover important topics, speak, and listen to one another. The women laugh and cry, heal and connect. There is so much power with in person events that I knew it couldn’t be an online course, it had to be days together so we can fully immerse ourselves. Some of the things the women experience (without giving too much away) are circle time where we talk while doing sacred ceremonies or crafts to further connect. There’s high vibe food to nourish the women. Some healers come. I wanted to create a transformative experience for these mamas and love that they can come to receive, fully receive and be showered mind, body and soul. They leave the retreat feeling even more connected to themselves, their baby, their partner, their pregnancy, and with a village of women who become their sisters.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
San Diego is incredible. Especially in the birth world, you have so many options here. The beauty of the Mother Sanctuary retreats is that they can be held anywhere!
Contact Info:
- Website: jesuisamelie.co
- Instagram: thee_amelie
Image Credit:
kiley shai photograhy, merakii photography, by the free
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