The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS, a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA

Encouragement and Moral Support for Midwives Under Siege

Correction from Marianne Williamson:

In 1992, I wrote the following paragraph in my book, A RETURN TO LOVE...

" 'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we subconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

This passage has been highly quoted and is said to have been included in the Inaugural Address given by Nelson Mandela. That is not true; what is true, however, is that the ideas inherent in the passage are as vitally important today.  Each of us is seeking a greater capacity to shine our own light, and my workshop is designed to help you do that.  In addition, Continuing Education Credits will be available for nurses, counselors, social workers and massage therapists. I hope you will join me in Atlanta (March 4-5), Los Angeles (April 1-2) or Seattle (May 6-7) for a weekend that provides a deeper inquiry into the nature of your spirit and your mission on earth.

Please visit Conference Works for details and for registration information:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?'

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Nelson Mandela, 1994 Inaugural Speech, originally written by Marianne Thompson