Birth Control+Paganism?

[springsgrace]

Hi all, this is a bit of a taboo topic but I'm interested in your opinions:
Since so much of paganism is rooted in the idea of fertility, and there are many rites involving menstruation for females, I was wondering on your opinions on birth control's relationship with pagan faiths?
I've been on the Pill for just over a month now and I've noticed my "period" (withdrawal bleeding) made me feel like I was doing something wrong, or disobeying nature. Of course, as a young woman who does not want children right now, I will keep using it. But I was wondering if any of you had similar feelings or any thoughts on the matter? Thank you all!

[Xiao Rong]

I think birth control is absolutely a fantastic thing and not "against" Paganism at all (speaking as a young woman of child-bearing age who was on birth control for 6 years and is now on an IUD).

First of all, people trying to control fertility is as old as time. Throughout the ages, women have always sought birth control (and abortion) methods. I am sure many women turned to witchcraft both to promote fertility as well as to avoid pregnancy. The Romans drove a plant into extinction because its properties of birth control were so valued. If the ancients had access to the contraceptive methods that we have today, they would have been ALL OVER IT!

Secondly, the other thing to remember is that fertility was sacred and holy, but it could also be extremely dangerous. Maternal mortality rates were very high up until quite recently, so every time a woman gave birth was a matter of life and death (hence why women were so desperate to be able to control their fertility). Like many things in Paganism, fertility has both its light and shadow side, is both life-giving and death-dealing, and we should be seeking a balance.

For me, I see the capacity to bear children and bring life to the world as special and sacred, but I am content not to utilize it at the moment.

[Blackthorn]

I personally don't see birth control in any opposition to my faith. I've been on it for 7 years now. I'm a young woman and I embrace my femininity, but I never want to have children. I never fantasized about having children, when I played house as a kid I always "had" a multitude of dogs instead, and I don't expect I will ever change my mind. I agree completely with Xiao that the capacity to bear children and bring life to the world is special and sacred. I don't feel as if I am being disrespectful to the universe by preventing myself from ovulating. I feel like I am just one of many women in our communities that aren't fertile (whether by choice or biology)

(That said, my being on birth control is actually not at all related to preventing pregnancy, because I'm gay. I'm on it for other reasons but I thought I'd share my experiences anyhow.)

[Vesca]

Hi all, this is a bit of a taboo topic but I'm interested in your opinions:
Since so much of paganism is rooted in the idea of fertility, and there are many rites involving menstruation for females, I was wondering on your opinions on birth control's relationship with pagan faiths?

The fertility discussed in most paganism-related works tends to center more around earth fertility (renewal of seasons, crops, new game for food, germination of plants for food, fruit from trees, etc...) than around human fertility (at least, in my experience and from my reading list).

Yes, there are some authors who focus on female fertility, talk a lot about things like menstrual cycles working with the lunar cycles and how we (as women, and sometimes men with their "weepy days" as Raj would put it) are naturally synced with the moon because of those cycles.

But I've rarely heard anyone write or state that birth control is a bad thing in a pagan context. Continual renew, birth and growth of crops, trees, bunnies, cows, chickens, etc..? Good thing. Constant pregnancy every 10 months with a herd of kids following you around and pushing you into poverty? Or the idea that everyone in the world would be a good, non-abusive, or interested parent? Not a good thing.

The whole of the universe is subject to that cycle of death, rebirth, growth, death, etc... not just humans, and in perspective... what we do or don't allow to grow within our bodies is such a tiny speck in the universal picture that preaching one way or another is basically a waste of soapbox space. We do what we need to do that is right by us for whatever our reasons may be (within reason, of course), and we shouldn't be ashamed of it.

Contraception techniques and have been around for as long as its been known what causes babies to happen. I'm sure if bunnies and ducks had to worry about finances and homing their offspring, they'd be practicing those techniques too.

[springsgrace]

Thank you all for your replies!!!

[XxStarrySkiesxX]

I personally think that the earth would thank you for lessening thy load on it by controlling your number of children and waiting until you're ready to parent. Carbon footprint and all. There's a lot of people and quite the growing population. I view contraception as holy, personally

[Seraphin]

And there are certain situations when it will be harmful to a woman's health or emotional well-being and she needs the physical/ mental and emotional break from another fertilization or pregnancy. None of us is similar to another, even the twins, so each of our situations and conditions are different. If for some reason a woman or a couple is finding it hard to have more children this is something that needs to be discussed and addressed.

[Imperious]

Without exception, people who rationally approach birth control for the myriad of reasons for which it's appropriate, are showing a maturity that should be cherished. No Pagan viewpoint is against intelligence and good sense; not one worth a damn, anyway.

[SnowCat]

Without exception, people who rationally approach birth control for the myriad of reasons for which it's appropriate, are showing a maturity that should be cherished. No Pagan viewpoint is against intelligence and good sense; not one worth a damn, anyway.

Well said.

SnowCat

[Nyd]

There is also the NFP Method. You are only fertile a few days of the month. With this method you avoid having sex when you are fertile and most of the month you need not worry.

Other than that condoms are fine. Hormone based contraceptive methods I don't see as very good. Long term it can have bad effects on your hormones like estrogen dominance for ex. and even lead to health issues. Just because we can interfere with nature does not mean our methods are harmless. Most of our modern inventions aren't.

[SnowCat]

There is also the NFP Method. You are only fertile a few days of the month. With this method you avoid having sex when you are fertile and most of the month you need not worry.

Other than that condoms are fine. Hormone based contraceptive methods I don't see as very good. Long term it can have bad effects on your hormones like estrogen dominance for ex. and even lead to health issues. Just because we can interfere with nature does not mean our methods are harmless. Most of our modern inventions aren't.

My natural family planning baby is 37.

Snow

[Becks]

I was going to say that NFP is good if you don't mind having more kids, but Snow nailed it.

[Nyd]

It always failed for me too but I told myself I must have done something wrong. I switched to condoms after.

[mrsdavid1975]

I had two ten pound baby boys. The first pregnancy I almost died of pneumonia. The second I did die for a moment( heart stopped and breathing stopped. ). after having a reaction to meds they gave me to stop early labor. Then he was born with the cord wrapped around his neck three times .... I had my tubes tied after them I was grateful for my gifts and didn't want to push my luck.

Just as taking antibiotics isn't against the beauty of nature , I don't believe birth control is either.