Pushing Beyond Limits to Experience Limitlessness

Building womb capacity for birth

The other morning, I woke up to my bleed on the day I booked a boat hire to do a portion of the Great Walk of the Abel Tasman (Te Tai o Aorere). I took about 10 seconds to consider if I would be up for a 6-hour intense wilderness hike on day one of my bleed. Still, I knew I would be deeply fed and nourished by the land, so I loaded my day pack with tampons, snacks, water, and other necessities, popped some extra moringa capsules, and took a wild and wet water taxi from the village to my starting point.

We picked up a woman along the way who had fractured her ankle right before she and her young family planned their multi-day trek across the coast, but it didn’t stop her either. She was joyfully beaming, ankle-wrapped tight, and skipping across bays with water taxis while her husband and kids took the long route, not letting herself miss out on the beauty and pleasure of the experience. Even though she was in pain, you never would have been able to tell, because her spirit was shining.

I started with tea and prayers on the beach I was dropped at and then went off, womb slightly heavy, but heart open and spirit light. Every step of the hike was a moment of wonder, awe, and pure magic. I scaled down the cliffs to private coves, rested at swimming holes and the most beautiful beaches, hopped gleefully across suspension bridges, and received so much sweetness and blessings from the land and spirits.

The hike was strenuous and pushed me to my limits as I climbed up and down and up and down the coastline of my favorite part of the South Island. Eventually, at the end of the day, I made it to my pick-up spot along a stunning golden bay and let my body, with achy feet and hips, be restored by the sun, sand, and sea.