“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  She never existed before.  The woman existed, but the mother never.  A mother is something absolutely new.”

–Bhagwan Shree Raineesh

Happy Mother’s Day.  There is not a person alive who has not been touched by the divinely feminine instinct to nurture — to mother.  Whether you have given birth or not, mothering has had a huge part in shaping who you are and, ultimately, who you will become.  Is there one of us who has not had a mother?  The very source of human existence begins in a womb; and there is not a person alive who is born without a longing to be mothered.  We learn from the first woman in our lives that mothering — faithfully nurturing — is one of the basic forces that will help us to reach beyond our beginnings to fulfill our purpose on earth.

Not every woman will go on to bear children in her life, but that does not diminish her drive to nurture.  Not every child born will be raised and loved by the woman who first gave her life, but still the need to be loved and held dear and encouraged will be a part of who she is.  Stop for a moment and think of all the women who have had a part in mothering you.  Then stop and think of all those whom you have nurtured and encouraged — mothered — along the way.  The drive to nurture and love is so very much a part of being human and being feminine that it will find a place to show itself, whether or not a woman gives birth or parents a child.

Here’s to the Hallmark holiday that recognizes this aspect of the divine feminine.  Personally, I prefer Captain Kangaroo’s reminder that “it’s another be good to Mother day,” which he sang at the end of each of his daily programs for children.  Here’s to mothers and grandmothers and aunts and sisters.  Here’s to cousins and neighbors and teachers and friends.  Here’s to all the divinely feminine folks who have touched our lives with love and encouragement and who allow us to exercise that part of ourselves in supporting them as well.  Whether  you have given birth or not — whether you have raised a child or not, let’s join today in celebrating the part of us that is divinely destined to mother.  Happy Mother’s Day.